The Life of Christ

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE NATIVITY.

The Fields of the Shepherds.-An Eastern Khan.-The Cave of Bethlehem.
-The Enrolment.-Joseph and Mary.-"No room for them in the
inn."-The Manger and the Palace.-The Nativity.-Adoration of
the Shepherds.-Fancy and Reality.-Contrast of the Gospels and the
Apocrypha

CHAPTER II.

THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.

Four Circumstances of the Infancy.-Order of Events.-The Circumcision.—
The name Jesus.-The Presentation in the Temple.-Simeon.--Anna

CHAPTER III.

THE VISIT OF THE MAGI.

Importance of the Epiphany.-Herod the Great.-" Magi."-Traditions.-
Causes of their Journey.-General Expectation of the World.-The
Star in the East.-Astronomical Conjectures of Kepler, &c.-Evanescent
Stars.-Gifts of the Magi

CHAPTER IV.

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THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT, AND MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS.
Departure of the Magi.-Legends of the Flight into Egypt.-Massacre of
the Innocents.-Its Historical Credibility.-Character of Herod the
Great.-Silence of Josephus.-Death and Burial of Herod the Great.-
The Spell of the Herodian Dominion broken.-Accession of Archelaus.
-Settlement of Joseph and Mary in Galilee

CHAPTER V.

THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS.

Geography of Palestine.-Galilee.-Nazareth.-Reticence of the Evangelists.
-Truthfulness of the Gospels contrasted with Apocryphal Legends.
-Life of Galilæan Peasants.-Imagination and Fact.-"He shall be
called a Nazarene"

CHAPTER VI.

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.

Jesus Twelve Years old.—Journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem.-Scenes by
the Way.-Numbers of Passover Pilgrims.-Jesus missing from the
Caravan.-The Search.-Rabbis in the Temple.-"Hearing them and
asking them questions." "Why did ye seek Me?"-"They understood
not."-Submissiveness.

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CHAPTER VII.

THE HOME AT NAZARETH.

"The Carpenter."-Dignity of Poverty.-Dignity of Toil.-The Common
Lot.-Wisdom better than Knowledge.—Originality.—The Language
spoken by Jesus.-The Books of God.-Jesus in His Home.-Work
and Example of those Years.-Peacefulness.-"The brethren of the
Lord."-Solitude-The Hill-top at Nazareth.-Plain of Esdraelon.—
Centrality of Palestine

CHAPTER VIII.

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.

Characteristics of the Age.—Darkness deepest before Dawn.-Asceticism.—
John the Baptist.-His Character.-His Teaching.-His Audience.-
Scene of his Teaching-Ilis Message.-Bearing of John in the
Presence of Jesus.-Why Jesus was baptised.-Recognition as the
Messiah

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CHAPTER IX.
THE TEMPTATION.

Quarantania.-"With the wild beasts."-"Forty days."-The Moment of
Exhaustion.-Reality of the Temptation.-"Tempted like as we are.”
-Fasting.—Lapides Judaici.—The First Temptation.-Subtlety of it.—
"Not by bread alone."-The Suggested Doubt.-The Order of the
Temptations. The Temple Pinnacle.-The Tempter's Quotation.-
The Splendid Offer.-The Roman Emperor.-The Victory

CHAPTER X.

THE FIRST APOSTLES.

St. John's Gospel.-"The Lamb of God."-Andrew and John.-Simon.—
Appearance and Personal Ascendancy of Jesus.-Philip.-Nathanael.
-"Come and see."-"Under the fig-tree."-" Angels ascending and
descending"

CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST MIRACLE.

"On the third day."-An Eastern Bridal.-"They have no wine.”—The
Answer to the Virgin.-The Miracle.-Characteristics of this and other
Mirucles

CHAPTER XII.

THE SCENE OF THE MINISTRY.

Contrast between the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley.-Beauty of
Gennesareth.-Character of the Scenery.-Its Present Desolation and

Visit to Jerusalem.-Purification of the Temple.-State of the Court of the
Gentiles.-Crowd of Traders.-Indignation of Jesus.-Why they did
not dare to resist.-Question of the Rulers." Destroy this temple."--
Impression made by the Words.-Their deep Significance.-Extent to
which they were understood

CHAPTER XIV.
NICODEMUS.

Talmudic Allusions to Nicodemus.-His Character.-Indirectness of his
Questions-Discourse of Jesus.-His Disciples baptise.-Continued
Baptism of John.-Enon, near Salim.-Complaint of John's Disciples.
-Noble and sad Reply

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CHAPTER XV.

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.

Retirement of Jesus to Galilee.-Sychar.-Noontide at the Well.-The
Scene. Conversation with the Woman.-Jerusalem and Gerizim.-
Revelation of Messiahship.-Return of Disciples.-The Fields White
unto Harvest.-Believing Samaritans .

CHAPTER XVI.

REJECTED BY THE NAZAREnes.

Sequence of Events.-A perfect "Harmony" impossible.-A Prophet in
his own Country.-A Jewish Synagogue.-Nature of the Service.-
Sermon of Jesus.-Change of Feeling in the Audience.-Their Fury.-
Escape of Jesus.-Finally leaves Nazareth

CHAPTER XVII.

THE BEGINNING OF THE GALILEAN MINISTRY.
The Courtier's Entreaty.-His Faith.-Sequence of Events.-St. John and
the Synoptists. Jesus stays at Capernaum.-His First Sabbath there.
-Preaches in the Synagogue.-The Demoniac.-Peter's Mother-in-
law. The Evening. Eagerness of the Multitude. His Privacy
invaded.-Preaches from the Boat.-Call of Peter, James, and John.-
"Depart from Me."-Publicans.-The Publican Apostle

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CHAPTER XVIII.

THE TWELVE, AND THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

A Night of Prayer.-Selection of the Twelve.--Conjectures respecting
them.-James and John.-Peter.-Kûrn Hattîn.-Contrast with Moses
on Sinai.-Beatitudes. -Sketch of the Sermon on the Mount.-"Not
as the Scribes."-Authority.-Christ and other Masters.-Perfection.-
Beauty and Simplicity

CHAPTER XIX.
FURTHER MIRACLES.

A Man full of Leprosy.-Violation of the Letter.-Why was Publicity
forbidden?-Deputation of Batlaním.-Message of the Centurion.-
Pressure of the Ministry.-The Interfering Kinsmen .

CHAPTER XX.
JESUS AT NAIN.

ΡΑΘΥ

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Nain. A Funeral.-The Widow's Son raised.-Message from John
the Baptist. Overclouding of his Faith. - How accounted for..
Machærus. God's Trial of His Servants. - Answer of Jesus..
Splendid Eulogy of John.—“The least in the kingdom of heaven"

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CHAPTER XXI.

THE SINNER AND THE PHARISEE.

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Simon the Pharisee.-Jewish Customs at Meals.-The Weeping Woman.-
Simon's Disgust.-Answer of Jesus.-Parable of the Debtors.-Cold
Courtesy of Simon.-Pardoning of Sins.-Was it Mary of Magdala?. 186

CHAPTER XXII.

JESUS AS HE LIVED IN GALILEE.

▲ Scene in Galilee.-Jesus and His Followers.-His Aspect.-A Life of
Poverty-of Toil-of Health-of Sorrow-and yet of Holy Joy

CHAPTER XXIII.

A GREAT DAY IN THE LIFE OF JESUS.

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Order of Events.-Teaching from the Boat.-Parables.-Parable of the
Sower. Other Parables.-Effect produced.-Urgent Desire for Rest.-
The Eastern Shore.-The Three Aspirants.-The Storm.-"What
manner of Man is this?"-Miracles.-Gergesa.-The Naked Demoniac
from the Tombs.-"Thy name."-Loss of the Swine.-Alarm of the
Gadarenes.-Their Request.-Request of the Demoniac

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE DAY OF MATTHEW'S FEAST.

Return to Capernaum.—The Paralytic let through the Roof.—" Thy sins be
forgiven thee."-Feast in Matthew's House.-Scorn of the Pharisees.
-Question about Fasting.-The New Wine and the Old

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