Anonymous - Mother Stories from the New Testament
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Anonymous >> Mother Stories from the New Testament
[Illustration: Front Cover]
[Illustration: LITTLE ONES SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO HIM.]
MOTHER
STORIES
FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
A Book of the Best Stories from the
New Testament That Mothers
Can Tell Their Children
With Forty-five Illustrations
PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY
ALTEMUS' MOTHER STORIES SERIES
* * * * *
MOTHER STORIES
A Book of the Best Stories that Mothers can tell their Children
MOTHER NURSERY RHYMES AND TALES
A Book of the Best Nursery Rhymes and Tales that Mothers can tell
their Children
MOTHER FAIRY TALES
A Book of the Best Fairy Tales that Mothers can tell their Children
MOTHER NATURE STORIES
A Book of the Best Nature Stories that Mothers can tell their Children
MOTHER STORIES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
A Book of the Best Old Testament Stories that Mothers can tell their
Children
MOTHER STORIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
A Book of the Best New Testament Stories that Mothers can tell their
Children
MOTHER BEDTIME STORIES
A Book of the Best Bedtime Stories that Mothers can tell their
Children
MOTHER ANIMAL STORIES
A Book of the Best Animal Stories that Mothers can tell their Children
MOTHER BIRD STORIES
A Book of the Best Bird Stories that Mothers can tell their Children
MOTHER SANTA CLAUS STORIES
A Book of the Best Santa Claus Stories that Mothers can tell their
Children
Profusely illustrated and handsomely bound in cloth, with
ornamentation in colors
$1.00 PER VOLUME
COPYRIGHT 1906 BY HOWARD E. ALTEMUS
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE WISE MEN'S VISIT 7
THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS 10
JESUS IN THE TEMPLE 12
THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES 14
THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND 16
HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT 18
ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS 20
THE RICH FOOL 22
THE UNFRUITFUL TREE 24
SOWING THE SEED 26
THE ENEMY SOWING TARES 28
THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN 30
SEEKING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE 32
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE 34
THE PARABLE OF THE NET 36
THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS 38
CURING THE INCURABLE 40
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER 42
THE TWO BLIND MEN 44
FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND 46
CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA 48
THE WOMAN OF CANAAN 50
PETER AND THE TRIBUTE MONEY 52
THE GOOD SAMARITAN 54
IMPORTUNITY REWARDED 56
THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 58
THE GOOD SHEPHERD 60
THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY 62
THE PRODIGAL SON 64
PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER CURED 66
THE UNJUST STEWARD 68
THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR 70
"AVENGE ME OF MY ADVERSARY" 72
THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER 74
THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD 76
THE BARREN FIG TREE 78
THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN 80
WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT 82
THE FOOLISH VIRGINS 84
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS 86
MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND 88
JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN 90
THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER 92
TIMOTHY AND HIS MOTHER EUNICE 94
CHRIST BLESSING THE CHILDREN 96
[Illustration]
NEW TESTAMENT STORIES
THE WISE MEN'S VISIT.
The birth of Jesus Christ was announced by two remarkable events: the
coming of wise men from the East, and the appearance of angels to some
shepherds at Bethlehem.
The wise men were probably astronomers; and in watching the stars they
had seen one that had led them to leave their own country, and take a
long journey to Jerusalem. Most likely they rode on camels, and their
journey was a tedious one. But at last they reached Jerusalem, where
they inquired saying, "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."
Tidings of these inquiries were brought to King Herod, and when he
heard them he was much troubled. He was a wicked king; and feared that
if another king had been born, he would grow up and take the crown
away. Herod was also cruel and treacherous, and while pretending to
act rightly, often did many evil things. And now he intended to
destroy the infant King, who might one day take his sceptre away.
So he first sent for the learned men of the Jews, the chief priests
and scribes, and demanded of them where Christ should be born; and
when they had replied that it was to be in Bethlehem, he secretly
called the wise men before him, and inquired of them what time the
star appeared. After getting the information he needed, he dismissed
the wise men, bidding them to go to Bethlehem "and search diligently
for the young child; and when ye have found Him," said Herod, "bring
me word again, that I may come and worship Him also."
So the wise men left King Herod and Jerusalem, and journeyed onward
towards Bethlehem; and the star which they had seen in the East went
before them, till it came and stood over where the young child lay.
And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, for
they knew they had found Him whom they had come so far to seek.
But the wise men did not bring Herod word where Jesus was; and he was
so angry that shortly afterwards he sent his soldiers, and slew all
the children under two years of age that were in Bethlehem and its
neighbourhood. He thought by so doing to kill Jesus among them, but
God prevented him from doing so.
[Illustration: THE WISE MEN BEFORE THE KING.]
THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS.
It was night. In the fields near Bethlehem a company of shepherds kept
watch over their flocks. Probably they were holy men, and often
thought of God in the stillness of the early morn. And now they may
have been thinking of the coming of the promised Messiah.
While watching their flocks, the angel of the Lord came to these
shepherds, and a dazzling light shone round about them. They were much
afraid; but the angel said, "Fear not; for behold I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord." And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the
heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men."
When the angels had departed, the shepherds returned to Bethlehem; and
there, in a stable, they found the infant Jesus, lying in a manger,
watched over and cared for by His mother Mary and Joseph. And so great
was the surprise and joy of the shepherds that they went out and told
all they met of the wondrous things which they had seen.
Shortly after the visit of the shepherds, the wise men from the East
reached Bethlehem, and in a house they found Joseph, and Mary, and
Jesus. Then they fell down and worshipped Jesus, opening the treasures
they had brought, and offering Him precious gifts, gold and
frankincense and myrrh. But God warned them not to go back to Herod,
to tell him where the new-born King of the Jews was, and they returned
to their own country another way.
[Illustration: THE SHEPHERDS WORSHIPPING THE INFANT JESUS.]
JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.
When Jesus was twelve years of age, His parents took Him with them to
Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover. Great numbers journeyed from
different parts to keep this feast; and travelled in companies or
caravans, the women and old men riding on asses or mules, and the rest
going on foot. Thus Joseph and Mary, with Jesus, left Nazareth, and
with many others journeyed to Jerusalem, where they kept the Passover.
When the feast was ended, as they returned homewards, Joseph and Mary
discovered that Jesus was missing; but supposing Him to have been
somewhere among the company, they continued their first day's short
journey. When, however, evening came, and the caravan halted, and
Jesus was nowhere to be found, His parents sorrowfully returned to
Jerusalem seeking Him. At last, on the third day, they went to the
Temple, and found Jesus sitting in the midst of the aged and learned
Jewish doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. "And all
that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."
His parents were amazed when they saw Jesus in such company. But Mary,
while she rejoiced at finding Him, gently said, "Son, why hast Thou
thus dealt with us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee
sorrowing." Jesus replied, "How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not
that I must be about My Father's business?"
Jesus was the Son of God, and doing God's work was being about His
Father's business. Years afterwards He said, "I came not to do Mine
own will, but the will of Him that sent Me."
[Illustration: "SON, WHY HAST THOU THUS DEALT WITH US?"]
THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES
One day, as the crowds pressed round Him to hear the Word of God,
Jesus came to the Lake of Gennesaret and saw two boats drawn up on the
shore. Now one of these belonged to a man named Simon Peter, who was
at the water's edge washing his nets. Jesus entered into this boat and
asked Simon to push it off from the land a little. Then He sat down
and taught the people from the boat. And when He had done speaking to
them He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your
nets for a draught of fishes." Simon, answering Him, said, "Master, we
have toiled all through the night and have taken nothing, but as you
wish it I will let down the net again." And they let down the net into
the sea, but it enclosed so great a multitude of fishes that they
could not draw them up; and the net brake. Then Simon beckoned to his
partners, James and John, who were in the other boat, that they should
come and help them. And they came and filled both boats with the
fishes, so that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw it he fell down before Jesus, saying, "Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all that were with
him were astonished at the marvellous draught of fishes which they had
taken. And Jesus said unto Simon, "Fear not, Simon Peter; from
henceforth thou shalt be a fisher of men." Meaning that he was to go
about winning souls for God, instead of being a fisherman.
And when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all they
had and followed Christ.
[Illustration: THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES.]
THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND.
What a foolish man the builder of the house shown in our picture must
have been! Of course, when the wind blew and the waves dashed against
his house, it would fall. Look how the sea has washed the foundation
away, and how the roof is falling in! And the people; see how they are
fleeing to save their lives! And all this calamity because he built
his house upon the sand. But the other house, shown in the distance:
how firmly that stands! What a bold front it offers to the waves, and
how safely it resists the fury of the storm. Its foundations are sure,
because they rest upon the solid rock.
Jesus had been teaching the people. He had taught them many wonderful
truths, which you will find written in the fifth, sixth, and seventh
chapters of Matthew; and in closing He said, "Whosoever heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who
built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not,
for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish
man which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and
the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it
fell, and great was the fall of it." The lesson Jesus sought to
impress upon the people by this parable was, that it is not enough
simply to hear what He says. Many will do that; but it is only those
who remember Christ's commandments and keep them, whose work will
stand when the time of trial comes.
[Illustration: THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND.]
HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT.
Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee, and while
He was there a certain Centurion, or captain in the Roman army, had a
favourite servant who was sick of the palsy and in great pain. When
this Roman heard of Jesus, he sought the Jewish elders and implored
them to go to Christ and beseech Him to cure the sick servant. And the
elders came to Jesus and besought Him urgently to do this miracle,
saying, "He is a worthy man, this Roman captain, for he loveth the
Jews and hath built us a synagogue."
So Jesus went with them, and when He had come near the house, the
Centurion himself came to meet Him, saying, "Lord, trouble not
Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter my house. Speak
the word only, and this sickness shall depart and my servant be made
whole. For I am a man under authority of the Emperor, having many
soldiers under me, and I say unto this man, 'Go,' and he goeth; to
another, 'Come,' and he cometh, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he
doeth it. Wherefore, if I can so readily command my servants to do my
bidding, I know that if Thou biddest this sickness to go out from my
servant it will surely go."
Jesus marvelled at the man's words, and said to His followers,
"Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in
all Israel." And to the Centurion He said, "Go thy way; and as thou
hast believed, so be it done unto thee." And his servant was healed in
the selfsame hour, and when those that had been sent returned to the
house, they found the servant whole that had been sick.
[Illustration: CHRIST AND THE CENTURION.]
ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS.
On one occasion, a proud Pharisee, whose name was Simon, invited Jesus
to eat with him. But the invitation was a cold one. There was no kiss
of welcome, no water to bathe His hot and dusty feet, no perfumed
ointment for His head: nothing but a bare admission to a vacant place
at the table was granted to Jesus. But there He reclined, His left
elbow resting on a cushion, and His feet projecting beyond the edge of
the couch.
Now it happened that a poor, sinful woman was passing, who,
discovering that Jesus was in the house, timidly entered, and stood
behind Him. She had an alabaster box of ointment, and, as she looked
on Jesus, she wept. Her tears fell upon His feet; so, stooping down,
she tenderly wiped them away with her long hair; then she kissed the
Saviour's feet, and anointed them with the fragrant ointment. This was
done as a token of respect and love.
But an evil eye had noted the kindly act; and the proud Pharisee
thought within himself, if Jesus were the prophet He professes to be,
He would certainly have known that the woman was a great sinner, and
would not have allowed her to touch Him. But Jesus came to save
sinners. He loves them, though He hates their sins. He rebuked the
haughty Simon; and showed him how he had neglected the commonest rites
of hospitality towards his guest, while this poor woman had treated
Jesus with the greatest reverence. Then Jesus said, "Her sins which
are many are forgiven, for she loved much"; and He bade her go in
peace.
[Illustration: ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS.]
THE RICH FOOL.
There was a certain rich man who owned much land. And his fields and
vineyards were so productive that when the time of harvest came, he
had not room enough to store his corn and fruits. So after much
thought he said, "This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build
greater ones, and there will I store all my fruits and my goods. Then
I can say to myself, 'I have great store of goods laid up, enough for
many years; now I can take mine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.'"
But God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be
required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast
hoarded?"
Jesus says it shall be so with all those who set their minds upon
storing up riches in this world, rather than laying up treasures in
heaven by pleasing God and working in His service. Death will come
when they least expect it, and they will have to leave all their
earthly riches, and go where no treasure has been laid up for them.
And He said unto His disciples, "Take no thought for your life, what
ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on; for the life
is more than meat, and the body more than raiment. For all these
things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knoweth
that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of
God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, for it is
the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye have
and give alms; provide yourselves a treasure in the heavens that
faileth not, where no thief approacheth, or moth corrupteth."
[Illustration: THE RICH FOOL.]
THE UNFRUITFUL TREE.
A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and
sought fruit thereon, but found none. Then he called to the gardener
who attended to his vineyard, and said to him, "Behold these three
years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none. Cut it
down. Why does it encumber the ground?"
The gardener answered him and said, "Lord, let it alone this year
also, till I shall dig about it and manure it. And if it bear fruit
then, it is well; but if not, then, after that, thou shalt cut it
down."
In this parable the vineyard means the world, and the fig-tree ungodly
people whose lives do not produce good works--do not produce fruit in
the service of God. The Lord of the vineyard, that is, God, would
destroy such people, but Christ intercedes in their behalf, that time
for repentance may be given. "He is not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance." Christ came and
sought to change men's hearts, and make their lives fruitful for God.
The warning has been given, and when the Lord of the vineyard comes
again to seek good fruit the unfruitful trees shall be destroyed.
Am I a barren tree, dear Lord?
A cumberer of the ground.
Oh! give me grace to fruitful be,
And in Thy work abound.
[Illustration: THE UNFRUITFUL TREE.]
SOWING THE SEED.
A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed some fell by the
wayside and was trodden down, and birds came and devoured it. And some
fell upon a rocky place, where there was not much soil, and as soon as
it sprang up it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some
fell among thorns and weeds, and they sprang up with it and choked it.
But other fell on good ground, and sprang up bearing ears, some with
thirty, some sixty, some a hundred seeds.
When Jesus had told this parable, His disciples asked Him to explain
it to them. He said that the seed is the Word of God. The wayside
signifies the people who hear the Word but do not understand it, and
Satan comes and takes all thought of it out of their hearts as quickly
as the birds devour the seeds. The rocky places without much earth
denote those who, when they hear the Word, receive it with great joy
and profession of faith; but it never takes deep root in their hearts,
and when they are tempted they fall away and the good seed in their
hearts is withered up. The thorns and weeds are the pleasures and
riches of this life, which root so deeply and strongly in men's hearts
that the good seed has no chance, and is soon killed off.
But the good ground is the hearts of good people, who remember God's
Word and try, every day of their lives, to do as He wishes us to do,
and to live holy and useful lives. The seed falling upon their hearts
becomes strongly rooted and grows up vigorously, bearing good fruit.
What shall be said of _your_ heart, my young friend? Is it like the
wayside? the rocky place? the thorny ground? or like a good field that
has been well prepared for the seed?
[Illustration: SOWING THE SEED.]
THE ENEMY SOWING TARES.
A certain man sowed good seed in his field, but in the night, whilst
men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went
his way. When the wheat-blade had sprung up and showed the ear, then
appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came to
him and said, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? Whence
then come these tares?"
He said unto them, "An enemy hath done this." Then the servants asked,
"Shall we go, then, and gather them up?" But he said, "Nay, lest
whilst you gather up the tares, you root up the wheat with them. Let
both grow together until the harvest, and in that time I will say to
the reapers, 'Gather ye together first the tares and bind them into
bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Jesus' disciples asked Him to explain this parable to them, and He
said: "The field represents the world, and He that sowed the good seed
is Christ Himself. The good seed is the Word He preached; the wheat
plants are the good people who believe in Christ and do as He teaches.
The enemy who sows the bad seed is Satan, and the tares that spring
from them are wicked people who follow the promptings of the evil one
in their hearts. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers
are the angels of God. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned
in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world with wicked
people. Christ shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out
of His Kingdom all things that offend and them that do evil, and shall
cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing
of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father."
"For the Lord our God shall come,
And shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day
All offences purge away;
"Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast,
But the fruitful grain to store
In His garner evermore."
[Illustration: THE ENEMY SOWING TARES.]
THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.
Christ said that the kingdom of heaven could be likened unto leaven
(or yeast), which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour,
till the whole was leavened.
Now, this leaven, or yeast, is composed of tiny little plants, each
one so small that it cannot possibly be seen by the sharpest eye
except through a very powerful microscope. So small are they that it
would require three thousand of them, placed close together, side by
side, to make up the length of one inch. Like all other plants they
require food, and they find this in the dough they are placed in. You
know that all things are made up of atoms of chemical substances so
wonderfully blended together that only the chemist can separate them,
and when he has separated them they appear very different. Well, in
flour there are certain things so blended, and the yeast-plant takes
one kind of substance as food, and in doing so sets free another
substance called carbonic acid gas. This gas bubbles up and makes the
heavy dough spongy and light. If it were not for these tiny bubbles of
gas your bread would be as heavy and close as suet pudding. This is
the reason why yeast is put into dough for making bread or cake. One
of the most remarkable things about this yeast is, that when it gets
into any substance that contains its food, it at once begins to give
off buds, which, in a few moments, become full-sized and break away.
So rapid is this increase, that if a single yeast-plant were to be put
into a great mass of dough it would very quickly leaven the whole
mass.
And so it is with the love of God. When once it gets into our hearts
it will keep on growing until all our life is filled with it, and we
try in all things to please Him.
[Illustration: THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.]
SEEKING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE.
The people of Canaan, both in ancient and modern days, have made a
practice of hiding their treasures. This they have done to secure them
in times of danger. When invaders flocked into the land, the people
buried their gold and jewels, and fled. And often they died, or were
overtaken by their enemies and killed, so that they were unable to
return and regain their buried riches. Earthquakes also have taken
place, destroying towns and villages, and burying all the riches in
them beneath their ruins. Thus there is much hidden treasure in
Canaan, and numbers of the inhabitants spend their time seeking
diligently and anxiously for it.