Part 1
Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
[Illustration: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.]
SUNDAY STORIES
STORIES FROM THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
By
CATHARINE SHAW
Author of
"Cherry's Choice," "Mother's Bible Stories," "Suffer Little Children," etc., etc.
JOHN F. SHAW & CO., LTD. 3, Pilgrim Street, London, E.C.4
British Manufacture.
CONTENTS.
I. The Message to the Shepherds
II. "His Star"
III. The Flight into Egypt
IV. Found in the Temple
V. At Jordan
VI. "Nazareth where He was brought up"
VII. The Well at Nazareth
VIII. At Bethany
IX. The Temptation
X. The Deep Well
XI. "Suffer Little Children to come unto Me"
XII. "Follow Me"
XIII. Lazarus
XIV. The Widow's Mite
XV. "Do this in Remembrance of Me"
XVI. The Lame Man Leaping
XVII. Gethsemane
XVIII. The Trial
XIX. The King of the Jews
XX. The Soldiers Mocked Him
XXI. Jesus Carrying His Cross
XXII. The Cross of Jesus
XXIII. The Sealed Tomb
XXIV. The Resurrection
XXV. On the Shore at Dawn
XXVI. Going to the Father
XXVII. When the Earth was made Beautiful
XXVIII. Adam and Eve
XXIX. Cain and Abel
XXX. The Escape from Sodom
XXXI. The Tower of Babel
XXXII. The Friend of God
XXXIII. In a Thirsty Land
XXXIV. The Offering of Isaac
XXXV. A Bargain Between Two Brothers
XXXVI. The Ladder up to Heaven
XXXVII. Jacob meets Rachel
XXXVIII. The Story of Joseph
XXXIX. Jacob Comes into Egypt
XL. Moses and the Children of Israel
XLI. The Rod of God
XLII. Pharaoh's Refusal
XLIII. The Passover
XLIV. Bread from Heaven
XLV. The Tabernacle in the Wilderness
XLVI. Breaking God's Law
XLVII. A Great Victory
XLVIII. Caleb's Daughter
XLIX. The First King
SUNDAY STORIES
I. The Message to the Shepherds
In the dark night, all was still and quiet in those fields at Bethlehem, where the shepherds watched their flock and gazed up into the starry sky, waiting for the dawn.
But as they looked, suddenly they saw an angel of the Lord close to them, and a wonderful light shone all round them—such a glory as they had never seen before, even in the brightest day.
The shepherds were very frightened, but the angel spoke to them at once; and he said to them, what God says to us so many times in the Bible: "Fear not!"
You may think how anxiously the shepherds listened to the angel's words; and those words have been repeated thousands and thousands of times all over the world, and have made heavy hearts rejoice.
Listen to the angel's message: "Fear not! for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
Still the shepherds held their breath to listen, and still the glory of the Lord shone round them.
Was that all the message? What were the glad tidings which would make everybody joyful?
Ah! Here it is: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord!"
Did the shepherds turn and look eagerly towards the little village over the fields? "A Saviour? Christ the Lord?"
But hush! The angel has not finished his message: "And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
And then, as if the news was too great and too glad for them to keep silence any longer, suddenly there was with the angel thousands more angels, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men!"
Then all the angels went back to heaven, and the shepherds said to each other, "Let us go, and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us."
So they ran very quickly to Bethlehem, and there, in the stable of the inn, they found Mary and Joseph, with the Holy Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in the manger!
Then the shepherds understood what the angel had meant about the "sign"; that this little Babe was the One they were looking for, and was to be the Saviour of the world.
How glad they were! They were only poor men, those shepherds, among the poorest in the land, but they had the honour of being told of God's great gift, and they had seen Him with their own eyes.
No wonder that they went out and told everybody they met that the Babe lying in the manger was Christ the Lord.
II. "His Star"
How happy those men look! They are pointing to a bright star, and it is one which they are very glad to see.
They have come a very long journey; and they have had to go through hot deserts where there is no water to be had.
What made them take that journey, do you think?
When people go a long way, they generally want to see some one at the end of it. And these wise men from the East wanted to see some one too.
They had come all that way to see a King! When they reached the end of their journey and got to Jerusalem, their first question was, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him."
Now Herod was the king of the Jews at that time, a king set up by the Romans; and when he heard what the wise men said, he did not like it at all.
So he inquired of the chief priests whether they knew where Christ should be born; and when he understood that God had said in the Scriptures that He should be born in Bethlehem, he sent secretly for the wise men, and told them to search for the Baby King, and when they had found Him, to let him know, and he would come and worship Him too.
So the wise men left King Herod, and when they began their journey again, lo! The star which they had seen in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the dear little Baby with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him; and when they had opened their treasures—which you know the camels had brought all that way—they presented to the dear Lord Jesus gifts from their store, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Then God warned them in a dream to go back to their country another way, and not to return to Herod, who was a wicked man, and did not really want to worship the Lord Jesus at all.
Do you not think you would have liked to be with the wise men, and have found the dear little Baby, and have had the joy of giving Him gifts from your treasures?
If you say "Yes," dear children, then remember that you have a treasure which the dear Lord Jesus wants above all else—that is, the love of your heart! Do not forget that we can make Jesus glad now, by giving Him that!
III. The Flight into Egypt
I have told you about the wise men who saw the star of Jesus in the East, and how King Herod heard of it and was very troubled.
Herod was afraid that if the real King whom the godly Jews were expecting to come very soon should be born, he would lose his throne; so he sent for the chief priests and scribes, who knew more about the Scriptures than any one else, and asked them where Christ should be born.
They told him at once that in the book of the prophet Micah it was foretold, 700 years before, that the Ruler of Israel should be born at Bethlehem in the land of Judah.
So Herod sent the wise men to find the young Child, promising to come and worship Him too.
But the wise men were warned by God not to go back to Herod after they had seen the Lord Jesus.
Then Herod was so angry that he sent to Bethlehem and killed all the little baby boys he could find.
But God had taken care of the Lord Jesus, and before Herod's soldiers could get to Bethlehem, He was far away!
For God had spoken to Joseph in a dream, and had told him to take the little Babe, and Mary His mother, right away down into Egypt, and to stay there till He sent him word.
Joseph was a very good man, and obeyed God in all things.
When the Angel told him to go down into Egypt, he arose at once, and set out in the night with Mary and the Babe on their journey.
By and by, when the wicked King Herod was dead, God sent an angel again to Joseph, and told him to take the little Child and His mother back to Palestine, directing him to go to Nazareth, so that the words of the prophet might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene."
So Joseph and Mary left Egypt and came back to Nazareth, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son."
We must never forget, children, that Jesus is the Son of God! He became a little child, and lived on earth as a man, in order that He might die for us; but after His death on the cross, He rose from the grave, and went back to heaven, and there He is now, ready to help us at any moment when we speak to Him. He is alive for evermore!
Nazareth was not a very good place, but the Holy Child Jesus was brought up there for thirty years. He, who did no sin and was pure and good, lived in the midst of sinful people, so that He might be a holy pattern to all of us—showing that we may be good with God's help wherever we are!
IV. Found in the Temple
It is nice to think that the dear Lord Jesus was a boy, just the age that you little boys and girls are to-day.
And in His holy and blameless life, while He lived on this earth, we have the great Example of how we ought to live too.
The Jews went up to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Feast every year, and when Jesus was twelve years old, Joseph went up to worship as other Jewish men did, and the mother of Jesus went too.
A number of other people from the country villages travelled together, so that there was a very large company.
When they all set out to go home again, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and His mother and Joseph went a day's journey before they found out that He was not with the rest of the travellers.
But when they could not find Him, they turned back again to Jerusalem, and looked for Him for three whole days.
[Illustration: LISTENING TO THE LEARNED MEN AND ASKING THEM QUESTIONS.]
At length, they found Him in the Temple of God, listening to the learned men and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers.
Then His mother told Him how she and Joseph had looked for Him so long. And He gave them that gentle answer which, from the Son of God and the Son of man as He was, meant so much, "How is it that you looked for Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"
He was speaking of His Heavenly Father, and of the glorious and loving work which He had come on earth to do.
His mother Mary thought a great deal about His sayings, and though she could not fully understand all that was going to happen, she watched her gentle Son with ever-increasing wonder and love, as she saw His obedience and wisdom, and how He grew towards manhood, loved and praised by all who knew Him.
To all children, just growing out of children into boys and girls, our blessed Lord's obedience comes as a great encouragement.
The Bible says He was "subject" to His parents; that means that He was always ready to obey in His earthly home, and to live a quiet life in a carpenter's shop in the lowly town of Nazareth!
V. At Jordan
John the Baptist had been sent by God to baptize the people for the remission of sins, and to tell them that the Lamb of God who was to "take away the sin of the world" was soon coming to live among them, and to be their Saviour.
"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth . . . and was baptized of John in Jordan."
"And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and there came a voice from heaven, saying, 'Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"
"And John saw, and bare record, that this is the Son of God."
So now we know, children, what was happening all those eighteen years at Nazareth, while Jesus grew from a boy into a man.
The people at Nazareth were offended at Him, when, after His baptism, He began to go about the country healing the sick, and teaching the people about God; and they said, scornfully, "Is not this the Carpenter?"
But God gives us the whole history of those eighteen quiet years in one sentence—
"This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!"
When John saw Jesus coming to him to be baptized, he had exclaimed,—
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!"
And two of his disciples, hearing him speak, turned and followed Jesus.
May we hear those blessed words, and follow Him too!
VI. "Nazareth where He was brought up"
When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He lived among men for thirty-three and a half years.
We have in the New Testament only little glimpses of His life during the first thirty years.
First as a little baby; then, as a boy of twelve, we see Him journeying to Jerusalem to be present at the Passover Feast, and we are told that when He returned home to Nazareth He "was subject" to His mother and Joseph, and obedient to them in all things.
[Illustration: FOUND IN THE TEMPLE.]
Here for eighteen quiet years Jesus lived learning the trade of a carpenter, and working with His own blessed hands, making the simple things that were used by the country people around Him—seats, and tables, ploughs, and yokes for oxen.
Is it not nice to think that Jesus knows all about making yokes!
Do you not remember afterwards, how He said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of ME . . . for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light"?
So children, Jesus knows exactly all about the weight of "the yoke" you may have to bear. Everybody has some trial or burden; but Jesus says, if you will come to Him, the yoke He has made for you will be light.
I like to think that when He made yokes for the oxen, He made them as comfortable and easy and light as they could possibly be made, so that no rough edge should gall the patient animal as he pulled the heavy plough!
When Jesus was thirty years old, all the wonderful things began which we read of in the Gospels.
His first public appearance was when He came to John the Baptist to be baptized by him in the river Jordan, which we shall read about on the next page.
Soon after this He began His public ministry.
One Sabbath day, He went to the synagogue as was His custom, and stood up to read from the Holy Book.
The servant or attendant gave Him a roll of the Prophet Isaiah, and, when He had found the place, He began to read.
And what do you think the Son of God, the Saviour of the World, read to explain His great mission?
He read: "The Lord . . . hath anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised."
He comes to each one of us first of all with the promise of forgiveness. His name means that!
"Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins."
VII. The Well at Nazareth
In the story belonging to the last picture, we heard how God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream, and told him to take the Lord Jesus and His mother away from Egypt, and to go back to their own city, Nazareth.
Our next picture is of the public well at Nazareth, where people even to this very day go to draw all the water which they want.
For you know, children, that water is not "laid on" in eastern countries, but has to be fetched from long distances in jars or skins.
The women and children generally do this; and the Lord Jesus when He was a little boy must have gone daily to this well with His mother, keeping her company in the long hot walks to and fro, and helping her to carry the jars of water back to their home.
If you were to go to Palestine, the land where Jesus lived, you would see (besides, the women who come to the wells) the water-carriers, who have large pig-skins supported by straps to their shoulders.
These they fill with water, and tie up the neck securely with a string; and then they carry the heavy skin to the next town or village; and as they go along they call out—
"Ho! Thirsty ones, come and buy water! Here is water! Do you want to buy it?"
Then the people who have any money to spare, and who do not want to walk the long distance to the well, come out to the water-carriers and have their jars filled and pay for it.
Do you remember what God says about that in the 55th chapter of Isaiah?
"Ho! Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come and buy. Yea, come and buy wine and milk without money and without price."
Ah, children, God gives us His gifts without money and without price! The "Living Water" which Jesus promises, we have only to ask of Him and we shall be given it.
For Jesus is the Living Water Himself, and those who drink of that water and have Jesus in their hearts, will find that He makes them happy, and that having Him for their Saviour they have all they need!
We read of many wells in the Bible, and some of them are to be found now.
There is "Jacob's Well," where Jesus promised the Living Water to the woman of Samaria; and there is this well at Nazareth, which is called "Mary's Well" now, because people feel sure that Mary, the dear mother of Jesus, must have drawn water at it when she lived at Nazareth.
It is nice to think that the feet of Jesus as a little child walked along those roads; that His eyes rested on those very hills that surround Nazareth; that He picked some of the countless flowers that grow all over the fields and make a carpet of beautiful colours such as we never see here.
This was the home of Jesus all the time He was a child; and here He lived every day, and watched Joseph at his work in his carpenter's shop. It was here that He lived an obedient, dutiful life, and grew in favour with God and with men. It was here He pleased His Heavenly Father in all things.
It is a nice thought, children, that whatever age you are, He was just that age too; so that He knows what children's feelings are, and all their little trials or joys or temptations.
He lives in heaven now, it is true, but He is ready to help you if you look up to Him.
I do not mean looking up with your eyes, but with your heart and your thoughts.
Just a little word or two spoken in Your heart will bring help from Jesus!
A little prayer of three words has made many a person happy when he was miserable before.
"Lord help me!" or "Lord save me!" will bring Jesus near in a moment; and He does help and save!
VIII. At Bethany
There seems to have been one home especially where the Lord Jesus loved to visit.
We hear a great deal about the people who lived in this home, perhaps more about them than any other of the friends of Jesus.
Their names were Lazarus, Martha and Mary.
One day the Lord Jesus was going about healing the sick, and teaching people about His Heavenly Father, and in His journey He came to the village of Bethany, where Martha and Mary and Lazarus lived.
Martha was a very industrious, energetic woman, and when she saw Jesus and His disciples coming, I dare say she ran out to meet them, and invited them into her house to have something to eat.
She bustled about and spread the table; she told her servants what to bring to set before the large company who had suddenly come to her; and with joyful willingness she hurried to put before them whatever she could think of to make them welcome.
Suddenly her eyes fell upon her only sister, Mary. She was not bustling about and getting the dinner ready; she was sitting near Jesus, eagerly listening to His words, and satisfied to be in His presence.
Poor Martha! She loved to hurry about and make Jesus welcome, but to have her sister sit idle and enjoy to hear Him talk, was more than she could bear.
So she got quite cross and vexed. She felt that it was too hard; and she ran to Jesus and asked Him how it was He did not care that Mary had left her all the work to do alone, and begged Him to bid Mary come and help her.
And then Jesus turned to her and said those gentle words which have been a lesson to busy, bustling people all these hundreds of years: "Martha, Martha, you are too much troubled over these many things; only one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen the good part which shall never be taken away from her."
[Illustration: SHE WAS NEAR JESUS, EAGERLY LISTENING.]
Do you ask, children, what that one thing is?
It is learning of Jesus, and hearing His voice.
Even if everything else is lost to us, if we have Jesus we can be happy. Even the poorest and most wretched person in the world, who has heard the voice of Jesus, has the "one thing" which will make him happy here, and will give him endless joy by and by.
IX. The Temptation
Directly after the Lord Jesus had been baptized, and God had spoken out of heaven saying He was His beloved Son, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.
Perhaps you ask, dear children, "Why must Jesus, the Holy One, be tempted by Satan?"