The Temptation  

Story-JesusMP3s/08-SOJ.mp3

      After His baptism, Christ was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil.

      In going into the wilderness, Christ was led by the Spirit of God. He did not invite temptation. He wanted to be alone, that he might contemplate His mission and work.

      By prayer and fasting He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel. But Satan knew where the Saviour had gone; so he went there to tempt Him.

      As Christ left the Jordan, His face was lighted with the glory of God. But after He entered the wilderness, this glory disappeared.

      The sins of the world were upon Him, and His face showed such sorrow and anguish as man had never felt. He was suffering for sinners.

      Adam and Eve in Eden had disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden fruit. Their disobedience had brought sin and sorrow and death into the world.

      Christ came to give an example of obedience. In the wilderness, after fasting forty days, He would not, even to obtain food, depart from the will of His Father.

      One of the temptations that overcame our first parents was the temptation to indulge appetite. By this long fast Christ was to show that appetite can be brought under control.

      Satan tempts men to indulgence, because this weakens the body and beclouds the mind. Then he knows that he can the more easily deceive and destroy them.

      But Christ's example teaches that every wrong desire must be overcome. Our appetites are not to rule us; we must rule them.

      When Satan first appeared to Christ, he looked like an angel of light. He claimed to be a messenger from Heaven.

      He told Jesus that it was not the will of His Father that He should endure this suffering; He was to show only a willingness to suffer.

      When Jesus was struggling against the keenest pangs of hunger, Satan said to Him:

      "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

      But since the Saviour had come to live as our example, He must endure suffering as we have to endure it; He must not work a miracle for His own good. His miracles were all to be for the good of others. To the demand of Satan He answered:

      "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

      Thus He showed that it is far less important to provide ourselves with food than that we should obey the word of God. Those who obey God's word have the promise of all things needed for the present life, and they have also the promise of future life.

      Satan had failed to overcome Christ in the first great temptation; he next carried Him to a pinnacle of the temple at Jerusalem, and said:

      "If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone."

      Satan here followed Christ's example in quoting Scripture. But this promise is not for those who willfully venture into danger. God had not told Jesus to throw Himself down from the temple. Jesus would not do it to please Satan. He said: "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

      We should trust in the care of our heavenly Father; but we must not go where He does not send us. We must not do what He has forbidden.

      Because God is merciful, and ready to forgive, there are those who say that it is safe to disobey Him. But this is presumption. God will forgive all who seek pardon and turn away from sin. But those who choose to disobey Him He can not bless.

      Satan now appeared what he really was--the prince of the powers of darkness. He took Jesus to the top of a high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world.

      The sunlight lay on splendid cities, marble palaces, fruitful fields, and vineyards. Satan said:

      "All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me."

      For a moment Christ looked upon the scene. Then He turned away. Satan had presented the world to Him in the most attractive light; but the Saviour looked beneath the outward beauty.

      He saw the world in its wretchedness and sin, apart from God. All this misery was the result of man's turning away from God to worship Satan.

      Christ was filled with longing to redeem that which was lost. He longed to restore the world to more than its Eden beauty. He wanted to place men on vantage ground with God.

      For sinful man He was withstanding temptation. He was to be an overcomer, that they might overcome, that they might be equal with the angels, and be worthy to be acknowledged as sons of God.

      To Satan's demand for worship, Christ answered:

      "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Matthew 4:3-10.

      The love of the world, the lust for power, and the pride of life--everything that draws man away from the worship of God--was embraced in this great temptation of Christ.

      Satan offered Christ the world and its riches if He would pay homage to the principles of evil. So Satan presents to us the advantages to be gained by wrongdoing.

      He whispers to us, "In order to succeed in this world, you must serve me. Do not be too particular about truth and honesty. Obey my counsel, and I will give you riches, honor, and happiness."

      In obeying this counsel we are worshiping Satan instead of God. It will bring us only misery and ruin.

      Christ has shown us what we should do when tempted.

      When He said to Satan, "Get thee hence," the tempter could not resist the command. He was compelled to go.

      Writhing with baffled hate and rage, the rebel chief left the presence of the world's Redeemer.

      The contest was ended for the time. Christ's victory was as complete as had been the failure of Adam.

      So we may resist temptation, and overcome Satan. The Lord says to us, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." James 4:7, 8.

Early Ministry 

Story-JesusMP3s/09-SOJ.mp3

      From the wilderness, Christ returned to the Jordan, where John the Baptist was preaching. At that time men sent by the rulers at Jerusalem were questioning John as to his authority for teaching and baptizing the people.

      They asked if he was the Messiah, or Elijah, or "that prophet," meaning Moses. To all this he answered, "I am not." Then they asked: "Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us.

      "He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias." John 1:22, 23.

      In old times when a king had to travel from one part of his country to another, men were sent ahead of his chariot to prepare the roads.

      They had to cut down trees, gather out the stones, and fill up the hollows, so that the way would be clear for the king.

      So when Jesus, the heavenly King, was coming, John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way by telling the people, and calling on them to repent of their sins.

      As John answered the messengers from Jerusalem, he saw Jesus standing on the riverbank. His face lighted up, and stretching out his hands, he said:

      "There standeth One among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John 1:26, 27.

      The people were greatly moved. The Messiah was among them! They looked about eagerly to find the One of whom John had spoken. But Jesus had mingled with the multitude, and was lost to sight.

      The next day John again saw Jesus, and, pointing to Him, cried: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!"

      Then John told of the sign that had been seen at Christ's baptism. "I saw, and bare record," he added, "that this is the Son of God." John 1:29, 34.

      With awe and wonder the hearers looked upon Jesus. They questioned with themselves, Is this the Christ?

      They saw that Jesus bore no tokens of worldly wealth or greatness. His clothing was plain and simple, such as poor people wore. But in His pale, worn face was something that moved their hearts.

      In that face they read dignity and power; and every glance of the eye, every feature of the countenance, spoke of divine compassion and unutterable love.

      But the messengers from Jerusalem were not drawn to the Saviour. John had not said that which they desired to hear. They expected the Messiah to come as a great conqueror. They saw that this was not the mission of Jesus, and in disappointment they turned from Him.

      The next day John again saw Jesus, and again he cried, "Behold the Lamb of God!" John 1:36. Two of John's disciples were standing near, and they followed Jesus. They listened to His teaching, and became His disciples. One of the two was Andrew, the other John.

      Andrew soon brought to Jesus his own brother, Simon, whom Christ named Peter. The next day, on the way to Galilee, Christ called another disciple, Philip. As soon as Philip found the Saviour, he brought his friend Nathaniel.

      In this way Christ's great work on earth was begun. One by one He called His disciples, and one brought his brother, another his friend. This is what every follower of Christ is to do. As soon as he himself knows Jesus, he is to tell others what a precious Friend he has found. This is a work that all can do, whether they are young or old.

      At Cana in Galilee, Christ, with his disciples, attended a marriage feast. For the happiness of this household gathering, His wonderful power was put forth.

      It was the custom in that country to use wine on such occasions. Before the feast was ended, the supply of wine had failed. The lack of wine at a feast would be thought to show a want of hospitality, and this was regarded as a great disgrace.

      Christ was told of what had happened, and He bade the servants fill six large stone jars with water. Then He said, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast." John 2:8.

      Instead of water, there came forth wine. This wine was much better than that which had been served before, and there was enough for all.

      After working the miracle, Jesus quietly went away. Not till He had gone, did the guests know of the work He had done.

      Christ's gift to the marriage feast was a symbol. The water represented baptism, and the wine His blood, that was to be shed for the world.

      The wine which Jesus made was not fermented liquor. Such wine is a cause of drunkenness and many great evils, and God had forbidden its use. He says, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." "It biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Proverbs 20:1; 23:32.

      The wine used at the feast was the pure, sweet juice of the grape. It was like that which the prophet Isaiah calls "the new wine ... in the cluster;" and he says, "A blessing is in it." Isaiah 65:8.

      By going to the marriage feast, Christ showed that it is right to meet together in this pleasant way. He liked to see people happy. Often He visited them in their homes, and tried to have them forget their cares and their troubles, and think of God's goodness and His love. Wherever He might be, Christ was always trying to do this. Wherever a heart was open to receive the divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation.

      One day, as He was passing through the country of Samaria, He sat down by a well to rest. When a woman came to draw water, He asked her for a drink.

      The woman wondered at this, for she knew how the Jews hated the Samaritans. But Christ told her that if she would ask of Him, He would give her living water. At this she wondered the more. Then Jesus said to her:

      "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:13, 14. By the living water is meant the Holy Spirit. As a thirsty traveler needs water to drink, so do we need God's Spirit in our hearts. He who drinks of this water shall never thirst.

      The Holy Spirit brings God's love into our hearts. It satisfies our longings, so that the riches and honors and pleasures of this world do not attract us.  And it fills us with such joy that we want others to have it too. It will be in us like a spring of water, that flows out in blessing to all around.

      And every one in whom God's Spirit dwells, will live forever with Christ in His kingdom. Received into the heart by faith, it is the beginning of the life eternal.

      This precious blessing Christ told the woman He would give her if she asked for it. So He will give it to us.

      This woman had broken God's commandments, and Christ showed her that He knew the sins of her life. But He showed, too, that He was her friend, that He loved and pitied her, and that if she was willing to forsake her sins, God would receive her as His child.

      How glad she was to know this! In her joy she hurried away to the town near by, and called the people to come and see Jesus.

      So they came to the well, and asked Him to stay with them. He remained two days, and taught them, and many listened to His words. They repented of their sins, and believed on Him as their Saviour.

      During His ministry, Jesus twice visited His old home at Nazareth. At the first visit He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

      Here He read from Isaiah's prophecy about the work of the Messiah--how He was to preach good tidings to the poor, to comfort the sorrowing, to give sight to the blind, and to heal those that were bruised.

      Then He told the people that all this was fulfilled that day. This was the work that He Himself was doing.

      At these words the hearers were filled with joy. They believed that Jesus was the promised Saviour. Their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, and they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord.

      Then they remembered how Jesus had lived among them as a carpenter. Often they had seen Him working in the shop with Joseph. Though in His whole life there had been only deeds of love and mercy, they would not believe that He was the Messiah.

      By such thoughts as these they opened the way for Satan to control their minds. Then they were filled with wrath against the Saviour. They cried out against Him, and determined to take His life.

      They hurried Him away, meaning to throw Him over the steep side of a hill. But holy angels were near to protect Him. He passed safely through the crowd, and was not to be found.

      The next time He came to Nazareth, the people were no more ready to receive Him. He went away, never to return.

      Christ worked for those who wanted His help, and all through the country the people flocked about Him. As He healed and taught them, there was great rejoicing. Heaven seemed to come down to the earth, and they feasted upon the grace of a merciful Saviour. 

Teachings of Christ

Story-JesusMP3s/10-SOJ.mp3

      Among the Jews, religion had come to be little more than a round of ceremonies. As they had departed from the true worship of God, and lost the spiritual power of His word, they had tried to supply the lack by adding ceremonies and traditions of their own.

Only the blood of Christ can cleanse from sin. Only His power can keep men from sinning. But the Jews depended upon their own works and ceremonies of their religion to earn for them salvation. Because of their zeal for these ceremonies they thought themselves righteous, and worthy of a place in God's kingdom.

      But their hopes were fixed on worldly greatness. They longed for riches and power, and these they expected as the reward for their pretended piety.

      They looked for the Messiah to set up His kingdom on this earth, and to rule as a mighty prince among men. Every worldly blessing they hoped to receive at His coming.

      Jesus knew that their hopes were to be disappointed. He had come to teach them of something far better than they had sought.

      He had come to restore the true worship of God. He was to bring in a pure heart religion, that would manifest itself in a pure life and a holy character.

      In the beautiful Sermon on the Mount He explained what God thinks most precious, and what would give real happiness.

      The Saviour's disciples had been influenced by the teachings of the rabbis; and for these disciples, first of all, Christ's lessons were spoken. That which He taught them is for us also. We need to learn the same things.

      "Blessed are the poor in spirit," Christ said. Matthew 5:3. The poor in spirit are those who know their own sinfulness and need. They know that of themselves they can do no good thing. They desire help from God, and to them His blessing is given.

      "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15.

      "Blessed are they that mourn." Matthew 5:4. This does not mean those who complain and murmur, and who go about with a sour, downcast look. It means those who are truly sorry for their sins, and who ask God for pardon.

      All such He will freely forgive. He says, "I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13.

      "Blessed are the meek." Matthew 5:5. Christ says, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." Matthew 11:29. When He was wrongfully treated, He returned good for evil. In this He has given us an example, that we should do as He has done.

      "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." Righteousness is right-doing. It is obedience to the law of God; for in that law the principles of righteousness are set forth. The Bible says, "All Thy commandments are righteousness." Psalm 119:172.

      That law Christ, by His example, taught men to obey. The righteousness of the law is seen in His life. We hunger and thirst after righteousness when we want to have all our thoughts, our words, and our actions, like Christ's.

      And we may be like Christ if we really desire to be. We may have our lives like His life, our actions in harmony with the law of God. The Holy Spirit will bring God's love into our hearts, so that we shall delight to do His will.

      God is more willing to give us His Spirit than parents are to give good things to their children. His promise is, "Ask, and it shall be given you." Luke 11:9; Matthew 7:7. All that hunger and thirst after righteousness "shall be filled."

      "Blessed are the merciful." Matthew 5:7. To be merciful is to treat others better than they deserve. So God has treated us. He delights to show mercy. He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.

      So He teaches us to treat one another. He says, "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32.

      "Blessed are the pure in heart." Matthew 5:8. God cares more for what we really are than for what we say we are. He does not care how beautiful we may look, but He wants our hearts pure. Then all our words and actions will be right.

      King David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God." "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer." Psalm 51:10; 19:14. This should be our prayer.

      "Blessed are the peacemakers." Matthew 5:9. He who has the meek and lowly spirit of Christ will be a peacemaker. Such a spirit provokes no quarrel, gives back no angry answer. It makes the home happy, and brings a sweet peace that blesses all around.

      "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake." Matthew 5:10. Christ knew that for His sake many of His disciples would be put in prison, and many would be killed. But He told them not to mourn because of this.

      Nothing can harm those who love and follow Christ. He will be with them in every place. They may be put to death, but He will give them a life that will never end, and a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

      And from them others will learn about the dear Saviour. Christ said to His disciples:

      "Ye are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14. Jesus was soon going away from the world to His heavenly home. But the disciples were to teach the people of His love. They were to be as lights among men.

      The lamp in the lighthouse, shining out in the darkness, guides the ship safely to the harbor; thus Christ's followers are to shine in this dark world, to guide men to Christ and the heavenly home.

      This is what all the followers of Christ are to do. He calls them to work with Him in saving others.

      Such lessons were strange and new to Christ's hearers, and He repeated them many times. At one time a lawyer came to Him with the question: "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said unto him, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?

      "And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

      "Thou hast answered right," said Christ; "this do and thou shalt live." The lawyer had not done this. He knew that he had not loved others as himself. Instead of repenting, he tried to find an excuse for his selfishness. So he asked Jesus: "Who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:25-29.

      The priests and rabbis often disputed about this question. They did not call the poor and ignorant their neighbors, and would show them no kindness. Christ took no part in their disputes; He answered the question by a story about something that had happened a short time before.

      A certain man, He said, was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. The road was steep and rocky, and passed through a wild, lonely region. Here the man was seized by robbers, and stripped of all that he had. He was beaten and bruised, and left for dead.

      As he lay thus, a priest and then a Levite from the temple at Jerusalem came that way. But instead of helping the poor man, they passed by on the other side.

      These men had been chosen to minister in God's temple, and they ought to have been like Him, full of mercy and kindness. But their hearts were cold and unfeeling.

      After a time a Samaritan came near. The Samaritans were despised and hated by the Jews. To one of these people a Jew would not give so much as a drink of water or a morsel of bread. But the Samaritan did not stop to think of this. He did not stop even to think of the robbers who might be watching for him.

      There lay the stranger, bleeding and ready to die. The Samaritan took off his own cloak, and wrapped it about him.

      He gave him his own wine to drink, and poured oil on his wounds. He put him on his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him all night.

      The next morning, before going away, he paid the innkeeper to care for him till he should be strong again. So Jesus told the story. Then turning to the lawyer, He asked:

      "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?"

      The lawyer answered, "He that showed mercy on him."

      Then Jesus said, "Go, and do thou likewise." Luke 10:35-37. So Jesus taught that every person who needs our help is our neighbor. We are to treat him just as we ourselves would like to be treated.

      The priest and the Levite pretended to keep God's commandments, but it was the Samaritan who really kept them. His heart was kind and loving.

      In taking care of the wounded stranger, he was showing love to God as well as to man. For it pleases God to have us do good to one another. We show our love for Him by being kind to those about us.

      A kind, loving heart is worth more than all the riches in the world. Those who live to do good show that they are children of God. They are the ones who will dwell with Christ in His kingdom.  

Sabbathkeeping 

Story-JesusMP3s/11-SOJ.mp3

      The Saviour kept the Sabbath, and taught His disciples to keep it. He knew how it should be kept, for He Himself had made it holy.

      The Bible says, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8, 10, 11; 31:16, 17. Christ had worked with His Father in creating the earth, and He had made the Sabbath. The Bible says that "all things were made by Him." John 1:3.

      When we look on the sun and the stars, the trees and the beautiful flowers, we should remember that Christ made them all. And He made the Sabbath to help us keep in mind His love and power.

      The Jewish teachers had made many rules about the way to keep the Sabbath, and they wanted every one to obey their rules. So they watched the Saviour, to see what He would do.

      One Sabbath, as Christ and His disciples were going home from the synagogue, they passed through a field of grain. It was late, and the disciples were hungry. So they broke off some of the heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate the kernels.

      On any other day, one passing through a field or an orchard was allowed to gather what he wanted to eat. But it was not so on the Sabbath. Christ's enemies saw what the disciples were doing, and they said to the Saviour:

      "Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day." Matthew 12:2.

      But Christ defended His followers. He reminded His accusers of David, who, when in need, had eaten of the sacred bread of the tabernacle, and had given it to his hungry followers.

      If it was right for David when hungry to eat this sacred bread, then was it not right for the disciples when hungry to pluck the grain on the sacred hours of the Sabbath?

      The Sabbath was not made to be a burden to man. It was to do him good, to give him peace and rest. Therefore our Lord said, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27.

      "And it came to pass also on another Sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

      "And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against Him.

      "But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

      "Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?"

      "And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other."

      "And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus." Luke 6:6-9, 11; Mark 3:5.

      The Saviour showed how unreasonable they were, by asking them a question. "And He said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?"

      This they could not answer. So He said, "How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." Matthew 12:11, 12.

      "It is lawful;" that is, it is according to law. Christ never reproved the Jews for keeping the law of God, or for honoring the Sabbath. On the contrary, He ever upheld the law in all its completeness.

      Isaiah prophesied of Christ, "He will magnify the law, and make it honorable." Isaiah 42:21. To magnify is to make larger, to raise to a higher position.

      Christ magnified the law by showing in every part its wonderful meaning. He showed that it is to be obeyed, not only in the actions, which are seen by men, but in the thoughts, which are known only to God.

      To those who claimed that He came to set aside the law, He said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17.

      To fulfill means to keep, or perform. (James 2:8.) So when He came to be baptized by John the Baptist, He said, "Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Matthew 3:15. To fulfill the law is to obey it perfectly.

      God's law can never be changed; for Christ said, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matthew 5:18.

      When He asked the question, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?" Christ showed that He could read the hearts of the wicked Pharisees who accused Him.

      While He was trying to save life by healing the sick, they were trying to destroy life by putting Him to death. Was it better to slay upon the Sabbath, as they were planning to do, than to cure the suffering ones, as He had done?

      Was it better to have murder in the heart on God's holy day than to have love toward all men--love which is shown in kindness and deeds of mercy?

      Many times the Jews charged Christ with breaking the Sabbath. Often they tried to kill Him because He did not keep it according to their traditions. But this made no difference with Him. He kept the Sabbath as God wanted it to be kept.

      In Jerusalem there was a large pool of water called Bethesda. At certain times this pool was troubled; the people believed that an angel of the Lord went down into it, and stirred the waters, and that the first one who stepped in after the waters were stirred would be cured of whatever disease he had.

      Great numbers of people came to the place, hoping to be cured; but most of them were disappointed. At the moving of the waters there was such a crowd, that many could not even get to the edge of the pool.

      One Sabbath day Jesus came to Bethesda. His heart was filled with pity as He saw the poor sufferers there.

      One man seemed more wretched than the others. For thirty-eight years he had been a helpless cripple. No doctor could cure him. Many times he had been brought to Bethesda; but when the waters were troubled, another would step in before him.

      On this Sabbath he had tried once more to reach the pool, but in vain. Jesus saw him as he crept back to the mat which was his bed. His strength was almost gone. Unless help should come soon, he must die.

      As he lay thus, now and then lifting his eyes to look at the pool, a loving face bent over him, and he heard a voice say, "Wilt thou be made whole?"

      The man answered sorrowfully, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."

      He did not know that the One beside him could heal, not one only, but all who should come to Him. Christ said to the man: "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

      At once he tried to obey the command, and strength came to him. He sprang to his feet, and found that he could stand and could walk. What a delight it was!

      He took up his bed and hurried away, praising God at every step. Soon he met some of the Pharisees, and told them of his wonderful cure. They did not seem glad, but reproved him for carrying his bed on the Sabbath day. The man told them, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk." John 5:1-11.

      Then they were no longer displeased with him, but they blamed the one who had told him to carry his bed on the Sabbath day.

      At Jerusalem, where the Saviour now was, many of the learned rabbis lived. Here their false ideas about the Sabbath were taught to the people. Great numbers came to worship at the temple, and thus the rabbis' teaching was spread far and wide. Christ wished to correct these errors. This was why He healed the man on the Sabbath day, and told him to carry his bed. He knew that this act would attract the attention of the rabbis, and thus would give Him an opportunity to instruct them. So it proved. The Pharisees brought Christ before the Sanhedrin, the chief council of the Jews, to answer the charge of Sabbathbreaking.

      The Saviour declared that His action was in harmony with the Sabbath law. It was in harmony with the will and the work of God. "My Father worketh hitherto," He said, "and I work." John 5:17.

      God works continually in sustaining every living thing. Was His work to cease upon the Sabbath day? Should God forbid the sun to fulfill its office on the Sabbath? Should He cut off its rays from warming the earth and nourishing vegetation?

      Should the brooks stay from watering the fields, and the waves of the sea still their ebbing and flowing? Must the wheat and maize stop growing, and the trees and flowers put forth no bud or blossom on the Sabbath?

      Then man would miss the fruits of the earth, and the blessings that sustain his life. Nature must continue her work, or man would die. And man also has a work to do on this day. The necessities of life must be attended to, the sick must be cared for, the wants of the needy must be supplied. God does not desire His creatures to suffer an hour's pain that may be relieved on the Sabbath or any other day.

      Heaven's work never ceases, and we should never rest from doing good. Our own work the law forbids us to do on the rest day of the Lord. The toil for a livelihood must cease; no labor for worldly pleasure or profit is lawful upon that day. But the Sabbath is not to be spent in useless inactivity. As God ceased from His labor of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath, so we are to rest. He bids us lay aside our daily occupations, and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest, to worship, and to holy deeds. 

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