The Story of Jesus The Christ - Helen Braun Hojt

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or “ blas¬

      phemed,» should be put to death. What Jesus said would have

      been blasphemy if any one else had said it. But Jesus was the

      Son of God, and to him God had given power which had never

      been given to any one before.

      Jesus knew what they were saying, and he answered them.

      u Why do you think evil of me? ” he said; “ which words are

      easier to say, ‘ your sins are forgiven,» or 4 arise and walk ’? But

      I will show you that I did not say mere words, but that I, the Son

      of man, have the power to forgive sins.» Then he turned to the

      sick man and said, “ Arise, take up your bed, and go to your

      house.» And immediately that man who was not able to get to

      Jesus without being carried by his friends rose, rolled up his bed,

      took it under his arm, and walked away. His heart was full of

      love and thankfulness to God. The crowd, filled with wonder,

      left the house soon afterward, saying, «We have seen strange

      things to-day.»

      52

      A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

      After the people had all gone, Jesus went out to take a walk.

      While walking he came to the place where Matthew, a publican

      or tax-collector, was sit¬

      ting at his work. Jesus

      stopped and spoke to

      him, saying, «Will you

      follow me? ” Matthew

      probably knew Jesus,

      and was glad to be

      chosen a disciple of

      the great Master. He

      arose at once, left his

      work, and followed the

      Christ.

      The publicans were

      the men who gathered

      the money which the

      Jews had to pay to the

      Roman Emperor. Some

      of them were Romans

      and some were Jews.

      Calling of Matthew Probably many of them

      were dishonest men,

      who tried to collect more money than they should, especially

      from the poor. The scribes and Pharisees thought no publican

      was honest, and never tried to make one of them a better man.

      They looked down on them all as wicked men, who should not

      be allowed to associate with any one who was good.

      They hated to pay the taxes, and hated the publicans who

      collected them, whether they were Jew or Roman. But they

      hated the Jews who did this work the most, because they

      thought they should have more love for their country than to

      THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

      58

      help the Romans get money from them. But Jesus did not

      think as the Pharisees did, and chose Matthew, who was some¬

      times called Levi, to be one of his disciples.

      Matthew very soon made a feast and invited his publican

      friends to come to his house and meet the Master and the new

      companions he had chosen. It was the custom then to allow

      anybody who wished to go into. a house where there was a

      feast, and look on while the real guests were eating. So the

      scribes and Pharisees followed Jesus to Matthew’s house. When

      they saw Jesus at the table eating with these publicans, they said

      to the disciples, «How is it that your Master is willing to eat

      and drink with these wicked. people? ” Now Jesus heard what

      they said, and he himself answered them in these words:

      «They that are well need not a physician [or doctor], but they

      that are sick. I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners to

      repentance.»

      The Pharisees knew/what he meant by this answer. He

      called them the well and the righteous because they thought

      they were good enough, and did not need help to be better. He

      who had come to make people’s souls well and happy could do

      nothing for them because they would not take what he offered

      to give them. That is why he did not work with them. But

      the publicans, who knew that they were wicked people and were

      willing to be made better, were the sick; and Jesus, the great

      Physician, went among them because he could do them good.

      And now it was time again for one of the Jewish feasts at

      Jerusalem, and Jesus went to the feast. Many of the cities in

      those times were surrounded with strong walls, and in the walls

      were gates through which the people went in and out of the

      town. Jerusalem was one of these walled cities, and had five

      gates. Near one of them, known as the Sheep Gate, was a pool

      of water, called Bethesda, which means House of Mercy. Water

      54

      A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

      was never very plentiful in Jerusalem, and all the wells and pools

      were much prized by the people. But they were especially fond

      of Bethesda, for the water there was supposed to cure disease.

      Some one had built around the pool five stone porches, with

      steps leading down into the water. Here, sheltered from the

      weather, the sick people could wait until they could step into

      the pool. They could not do this whenever they wanted to. At

      certain times only there was a bubbling motion of the water*

      which they believed was made by an angel going into the pool.

      Then, as they thought, whoever stepped into the water first was.

      cured of any disease he had. Of course every sick person wanted

      to be the first, and as no one could tell when the moving of the

      water would be, the

      porches were usually

      filled with the people

      who were waiting for

      the time to come.

      It was on the Sab¬

      bath

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