New Testament Story in Verse
By ANNE FLETCHER.
The Archangel's First Visit.
TWAS in the days of Herod—
First king of that proud name—
Who reigned over Judea,
The land of Scripture fame.
A certain Zacharias,
Of the large, priestly force,
The temple of Jerusalem
Was serving in his course.
His wife, Elizabeth, belonged
To Aaron's favored line;
And they were righteous before God,
And kept the law Divine.
But this couple had no children,
And they were very old;
And lived alone, nor ever hoped
A son they should behold.
And it came to pass one morning—
As Scripture doth record—
That Zacharias burned incense
On the altar of the Lord;
And outside the people waited,
And stood in silent prayer;—
For in this way they worshiped
In that holy temple fair.
And, in that solemn season
To Zacharias' sight—
Standing beside the altar—
Appeared an angel bright.
And the good priest was troubled,
When he saw the spirit form,
And fear fell on him, and he shook
Like willow in a storm.
But the angel said to him: "Fear not,
Thy prayer is heard in heaven,
And to thy wife, Elizabeth,
A son shall now be given.
"And thou shalt call the baby John,
And thou shalt have great joy;
And many shall rejoice with thee
Over this precious boy.
"And he shall, in the holy sight
Of God, be great and high;
And wine, or ardent spirit,
His lips shall ne'er come nigh.
"The Holy Ghost shall early
Spread through his heart abroad,
And many of your ancient race
Shall he turn to their God.
"And in the power and spirit
Of Elias, he shall go
Before Him who is coming
To save the world from woe."
Then Zacharias, in surprise
And overwhelming bliss,
Demanded of the angel:
"Whereby shall I know this?"
And the angel, answering, said:
"I am that Gabriel,
Who stand in God's high presence,
And am sent glad news to tell.
"And, now, because thou doubtest,
Behold thou shalt be dumb,
And shalt not speak, until the child
I have foretold has come."
Meanwhile the people waited till
The priest should come outside,
And marvelled at his long delay—
What could to him betide?
And, when to them he did appear,
And could not speak a word,
They knew that he had seen, within,
A vision from the Lord.
And so he served the temple
Until the day had come
When, his ministration over,
He departed to his home.
The Archangel's Second Visit.
SIX months, and, sent again from God,
The angel Gabriel came
To a city of fair Galilee,
And Nazareth by name,
To a virgin, spouse to Joseph
Of David's royal race;
And the virgin's name was Mary,
Whose life was truth and grace.
The angel entered softly,
Where Mary sat alone,
Saying: "Hail! the Lord is with thee,
Thou highly favored one."
But, when she saw the stranger,
Mary was troubled sore;
For such a salutation
She ne'er had heard before..
But: "Fear not," said the angel,
"For, Mary, thou hast found
Favor with God, whose goodness
And mercy doth abound.
"And thou art greatly honored,
For God hath chosen thee
To nurse the high, anointed One
Whose name shall Jesus be.
"He shall be great, and shall be called
The high Jehovah's Son
And the Lord God shall give to Him
His father David's throne.
"And he shall reign o'er Jacob's house
For ever, evermore;
His Kingdom still shall flourish
When earthly reigns are o'er.
"Behold," he said, "Elizabeth,
Thy cousin, good and kind,
I've also promised her a son,
And the promise true she'll find.
"For God is the omnipotent,
All power is in His hand,
And nothing is impossible
To His Divine command."
Then Mary meekly said: "Behold
The handmaid of the Lord;
And let the honor be to me
According to thy word."
The angel then departed—
Ascending up above—
And left the gentle virgin bowed
In humble trust and love.
Mary's Visit to Elizabeth.
NOW Mary felt a longing
To see her cousin dear,
And with Elizabeth to spend
A season of good cheer.
And so in haste, and early,
She started forth one day,
And journeyed to a city
In Judea's hills away.
For there dwelt Zacharias,
And Elizabeth so pure,
And, entering in, the virgin found
A welcome, warm and sure.
For the Holy Ghost gave token
To Elizabeth's glad heart,
That her visitor, in God's wise plan,
Should have a happy part.
Then out she spake, exultant,
"O, why to me accord
The honor of a visit
From the mother of my Lord?
"And blessed is she for evermore,
Who humbly hath believed,
For every word shall come to pass
Which she from God received."
And Mary said: "O, how my soul
Jehovah magnifies!
And how my spirit joys in God,
My Saviour, 'bove the skies!
"For He hath had regard unto
His handmaid's low estate,
And henceforth all shall call me blest—
The humble and the great.
"For He, the high and mighty One
Hath done to me great things,
And holy is His honored name;
His praise my spirit sings.
"His mercy they that fear His name
Enjoy from day to day;
From age to age it is the same,
And shall be so alway.
"And He hath shown abroad the strength
Of His almighty arm;
For He hath chased the proud, who sought
To do the humble harm.
"He hath put down the mighty
From their haughty seats on high;
And lifted up the lowly to
The region of the sky.
"His hand hath filled the hungry poor
With daintiest of food,
And the rich he hath sent empty
Away from hope of good.
"He hath come to the assistance
Of His servant Israel's race;
In remembrance of His mercy,
His promise and His grace,
"As He spake, in the beginning,
To Abraham, our head,
And to Jewish tribes for ever—
Naught hath failed of all He said."
After this the virgin Mary
With Elizabeth, so true,
Made a pleasant three months' visit,
Then to her home withdrew.
Now that great thing did come to pass,
Which Gabriel had foretold,
In the sacred temple service,
To Zacharias old.
And soon Elizabeth received
The promised baby boy;
And gazing on the heavenly gift,
Her heart was filled with joy.
And all her friends and cousins,
To whom the tidings went,
Came with their gratulations,
Upon the glad event.
Then on the day of naming,
The parents both agreed
That John the infant should be called,
As Gabriel had decreed.
And the speech of Zacharias
Immediately returned;
He praised and glorified the Lord,
His heart with fervor burned.
And fear came on the neighbors all,
As these things were noised abroad;
And they said: "What kind of child is this
Who comes, foretold of God?
But the hand of God rich blessings
On the babe, each day, bestowed;
And the heart of Zacharias
With the Holy Ghost o'erflowed.
And he burst forth in thankfulness,
And praised, and prophesied
Of all the wondrous goodness
That should to men betide.
For the light of inspiration
Had shown to him, indeed,
That his son was the Elias,
Who should the Lord precede.
The Holy Child.
ROME was the world's proud mistress,
And would tax her subjects all:
Thus every man, to his own town,
Received Imperial call.
And Joseph, wed to Mary,
Must go to Judah's land,
And, with the sons of David,
Must take his lineal stand.
Then, from Nazareth, he journeyed,
With his fair and gentle spouse
To Bethlehem of Judea,
The place of David's house.
But when—their journey ended—
They sought repose to win,
Their lodging was a stable,
So crowded was the inn.
And to that stable, lowly,
In humble, human guise,
There came a babe most holy,
Descended from the skies.
'Tis written that the angel
Had to the virgin come,
And told her that this Holy Child
With her should make his home.
And now a rosy light from heaven
On Bethlehem's city shone;
And this was the first Christmas
The world had ever known.
For Jesus was the promised Christ,
So long ago foretold—
The King that all the Jewish race
Were longing to behold.
The Shepherds.
THE men, who watched the sheep that night,
Were seated on the ground,
When a glorious light from heaven
Shone brightly all around.
And, lo! an angel of the Lord
Appeared before their eyes,
And they were filled with sore affright,
With wonder and surprise.
The angel said to them: "Fear not,
For I have come to tell
News of the joyfullest event
The world has e'er befell.
"For, this day, unto you is born,
In David's' city fair,
A Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord,
And David's lineal heir.
"And this shall be a sign to you
That true is what I've said:
You'll find the babe in swaddling clothes,
And in a manger laid."
Then suddenly a crowd appeared
Of spirits, bright and fair,
And their glad voices, praising God,
Resounded through the air.
"Glory to God," they sweetly chant,
Who reigns in highest heaven,
And peace on earth for evermore,
And love to men be given.
Thus singing, shining, up they went
Away to heaven again;
And night and silence were restored
To ancient Bethlehem's plain.
"Come," said the shepherds, "let us go
Into the city old,
And see the strange, mysterious child,
Of whom we have been told."
And, leaving there their flocks, they went
Into the town near by;
And found the babe, as they had heard,
His gentle mother nigh.
And, having seen him, they made known,
To people all abroad,
The things that had been told to them
About the Son of God.
The people listened to the news
With very great surprise,
The wondrous things the shepherds heard,
And witnessed with their eyes.
But these strange things within her heart
The mother kept concealed,
And pondered o'er them, nor her thoughts
To any she revealed.
The shepherds, thrilled with gladness, praised
The God of heaven above,
For all things they had heard and seen
Of His unbounded love.
Good Old Simeon.
NOW, when a week had passed, the babe
Received the sacred sign
Which God to Abraham had given,
As covenant divine.
They gave him Jesus for his name,
According to the word
Of the archangel Gabriel,
Who stands before the Lord.
And, then, a few weeks later,
To Jerusalem they went,
Before the great Jehovah
The young child to present;
And to offer, on the altar,
In thankful sacrifice,
A pair of doves, or pigeons,
Of small and humble price.
At that time, in the temple gate,
There was an aged saint,
Who waited for the promised Christ
Nor did his firm faith faint.
A just and righteous man was he,
And Simeon was his name,
And the Holy Ghost, with power,
Upon his spirit came.
And it was thus revealed to him
That he should never die,
Until his mortal eyes had seen
The Lord's Christ, from on high.
And he came, by the spirit,
The temple court within
Just as his earthly parents
Their infant child brought in.
Then Simeon took the Holy Child
Into his arms, and said:
"Bless Thee, my God, for all the way
Thou hast Thy servant led.
"And now let me depart in peace
According to Thy word,
Since my old eyes have haply seen
My Saviour and my Lord;
"Whom Thou hast sent into the world,
To lighten all mankind,
And that Thy people, Israel,
Their precious Prince may find."
Then Joseph and the virgin
Were filled with great surprise
At the words that Simeon uttered—
So grave, devout and wise.
And Simeon blessed both parents,
And said to Mary then,
"This child is set that Israel
May fall and rise again;
"And for a sign, which wicked tongues
Shall slander and indict,
And that the thoughts of evil hearts
May be exposed to sight."
The Prophetess.
THEN, also, lived one Anna,
A prophetess of God,
Who, in His faith and service,
Her way, through life, had trod.
She was an aged widow, too,
Daughter of Israel's race;
And, coming in that instant,
She joined in thanks and praise;
And then throughout the city went,
And told the glorious news
From house to house, wherever dwelt
The pious, hopeful Jews;
Told that the great Messiah,
Long looked for, now had come,
An infant in a virgin's arms,
And in a lowly home.
The Wise Men.
NOW, when this wondrous babe was born
Into his low estate,
Another strange event occurred,
Which Scripture doth relate.
There dwelt, far off, in eastern land,
Wise men devout and good
Who nature's grandest mysteries
Revered and understood.
One night as eagerly they scanned
The splendors of the sky,
They saw a new, strange star appear
Among the worlds on high;
And said it came thus suddenly
Important news to bring—
The sign that Balaam had foretold—
Of Israel's glorious King.
And when they reached Jerusalem,
"Where is your King?" they said,
"For we have come to worship Him,
And by his star were led."
This question greatly troubled
Proud Herod, on the throne,
For, in the land of Judah,
He would be King alone.
At once he called the priests and scribes,
Demanding they should tell
In what place had it been foretold
That Christ should come to dwell.
And readily they answered—
Nor waited to take note—
"In Bethlehem of Judea,"
For thus the prophet wrote:
"Thou Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
Art not 'mongst princes small;
For out of thee shall come a Prince
And rule my people all."
Then Herod for the wise men called,
And, with foreboding fear,
He bade them tell him just what time
The star did first appear;
And said: "Go search in Bethlehem,
And when the babe you find,
I, too, will come and worship Him,
For thus I am inclined."
The wise men were rejoiced to see
The radiant star once more,
And gladly followed, as it led
The way to Joseph's door.
They opened, then, their treasures,
Gold, frankincense and myrrh—
Fit offering to a Prince Divine,
From reverent worshipper—
And joyfully bestowed their gifts
Upon the Son of Man—
And thus the custom, since observed,
Of Christmas gifts began.
The wise men to their lodging went,
For rest and sleep, that night;
But God came to them in a dream,
Before the morning light;
And said, "To Herod ye shall not return,
Nor tell my Son's abode."
And so returning to their home,
They took a different road.
Away to Egypt.
AND when they had departed thence,
To Joseph came a dream,
In which an angel of the Lord
Appeared and spoke to him:
"Rise, take the babe and mother,
And into Egypt flee.
For Herod seeks to kill the child—
Go, till I call for thee."
Then Joseph rose, obedient,
And while it still was night,
With the young child and mother,
To Egypt took his flight.
Then cruel, wicked Herod,
When the wise men told him naught,
Or let him know what house contained
The babe whose life he sought,
Sent forth his brutal servants
To kill each little boy,
In and around old Bethlehem—
Each mother's hope and joy;
All—every tender nursling,
From two years old and less;
Nor heeded Rachael's weeping,
Her mourning and distress.
But wicked, wicked Herod,
Who would be king alone,
Was soon thereafter called to die,
And leave Judea's throne.
And now the wrathful tyrant
Has no more power to harm;
And his fierce and jealous hatred
No more can cause alarm.
To Joseph, down in Egypt,
Now comes another dream,
Wherein an angel of the Lord
Appears again to him;
And says: "Now, back to Israel's land
With child and mother go;
For he, the murderer, is dead,
Who was the infant's foe."
Then Joseph rose and willingly
Obeyed this new command,
And, taking child and mother,
Returned to Israel's land.
But hearing Archelaüs
Was king in Herod's room,
He turned aside to Galilee,
Which was his former home;
And dwelt in Nazareth city,
Thus plainly may be seen
The truth of Scripture words: "He shall
Be called a Nazarene."
And there the blessed Jesus
Spent childhood's simple days,
And, as he grew, waxed strong and wise
By God's unholding grace.
THE CHILD CHRIST, MARY HIS MOTHER AND JOSEPH
JESUS RENDERED OBEDIENCE, NOT ONLY TO MARY, BUT TO JOSEPH—LUKE 2:51.
The Child in the Temple.
NOW, every year, these parents
Jerusalem did seek;
To keep the feast of passover,
And spend the holy week.
And when the child was twelve years old,
They did as heretofore;
And went up to Jerusalem,
The road oft traveled o'er.
They kept the feast as usual,
And, then, with cheerful mind,
Returned the way that they had come—
But Jesus stayed behind.
The parents traveled all day long,
Believing that their Son,
Somewhere, among the company,
Was coming safely on.
But when, at evening, they encamped,
And sought for Him around,
To their surprise and sore distress,
He was not to be found.
Still seeking Him they turned their face,
And traveled back again,
The old road to Jerusalem;
But seeking was in vain.
For three days long they went about,
Within the city lines,
Then, in the temple, found the lad,
Among the great divines.
He sat and heard the doctors talk,
And asked them questions wise;
And all who listened were amazed
At his profound replies.
And His parents were astonished
When they beheld Him thus,
And Mary said: "O why, my son,
Hast thou so dealt with us?
"Thy father, Joseph, and myself
Have three days sought for thee,
And sorrowed greatly, fearing we
Thy face no more would see."
Then Jesus, gravely, said to them:
"Wherefore my absence mourn?
My Father's work I have to do,
Till I to Him return."
And Mary, in her inmost heart,
Did secretely confine
The things He did, the words he spoke,
This wondrous Child Divine.
And Jesus rich in wisdom grew,
As passed the years of youth,
And gained the favor of all men,
By virtue and by truth.
John the Baptist.
NOW, in the fifteenth year, when reigned
Tiberias Cæsar grand,
And Pontius Pilate, under him,
Ruled over Judah's land,
And three of Herod's sons controlled
The regions North and East,
And Annas and Caiaphas were
Appointed, each, high priest,
The word of God came unto John—
Old Zacharias' son—
Who, in Judea's wilderness,
Had dwelt and prayed alone.
His raiment was of camel's hair,
There in his strange retreat,
While locusts and wild-honey
Comprised his only meat.
He preached where flowed the Jordan
Down through Judea's land;
Saying: "Repent ye, for the kingdom
Of heaven is at hand."
Now, the people all expecting
Their Messiah at that time,
Mused in their hearts if John were not
That prophet most sublime.
So the Jews sent priests and Levites,
Down from Jerusalem,
To see this new, strange preacher,
And closely question him.
And, "Who art thou?" they asked of him,
And humbly he confessed
"I'm not the Christ, looked for by you,
Nor with such honor dressed."
"What then? Art thou Elias?"
He said: "Not that I know."
Art thou a risen prophet?"
He firmly answered, "No."
Then said they: "Tell us who thou art,
That we may answer give
To them that sent us thither
Some knowledge to receive."
He said: "I am the voice of one
Who through the land doth cry,
'Make straight, as said Esaias,
The way of the Most High.'"
The messengers were Pharisees,
Who said: "Why then baptize,
If thou be not the promised Christ,
Or he that should arise?"
John answered: "I, indeed, baptize
With water from the stream;
But there is one among you now
Of whom you do not dream.
"'Tis He who cometh after me,
The latchet of whose shoes,
Because He is so mighty,
I'm not worthy to unloose.
"And He shall, with the Holy Ghost,
Baptize you and inspire,
And fill your souls with power divine,
And with celestial fire.
"Whose fan is in His hand, and He
Will thoroughly purge His floor;
And gather up His wheat, but then,
With fire the chaff devour."
And many other things said he,
Exhorting all who heard;
And preaching unto them, with zeal,
The Gospel's precious Word.
Emmanuel.
AND in those days it came to pass
That Jesus—Holy One—
From Nazareth came to Jordan,
To be baptized of John.
For He had reached just thirty years,
The age the law declared
Those called into the priesthood,
For service were prepared.
But John forbade Him, saying,
"'Tis I have need to be
A subject of Thy baptism,
And comest Thou to me?"
And Jesus, answering, said, to him,
"Suffer it now, for thus
To keep the law of righteousness,
It well becometh us."
Then, meekly, and with solemn awe,
Did John the Lord baptize,
And when the heavens were parted wide,
He saw, with great surprise,
As Jesus felt the water, and
With humble reverence prayed—
The Holy Ghost descending, like
A dove, upon His head.
And a voice, in tones majestic,
Came from the heavens, so bright,
Exclaiming, "This is my beloved Son,
In whom I take delight."
The Temptation.
THEN Jesus, with the Spirit filled,
And soul exalted high,
Was led from Jordan's bank into
The wilderness near by,
To be tempted of the devil—
Who in evil most delights.
There He, with wild beasts, made his home
For forty days and nights.
After this the Lord was hungry,
When the devil came, and said,
"If thou'rt the Son of God, command
These stones to be made bread."
But He answered, "It is written,
Man doth not live by bread alone,
But by each word, proceeding
From God, upon the throne."
The devil then conducts Him through
The holy city, fair,
And sets Him on the temple roof,
High in the ambient air;
And says to Him, "If so Thou be
The Son of God, indeed,
Cast thyself down from hence, and for
Thy safety take no heed;
"Since it is written, 'Unto God
In danger thou shalt flee,
For to His angel band He gives
A charge concerning thee.'"
Then Jesus unto him replied,
"Again the written word
Rebukes presumption and declares,
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord."
Again the devil takes Him up
Into a mountain—high,
And shows Him all the kingdoms of
The world, both far and nigh.
And saith unto Him, "All these things
Will I give unto thee
If Thou wilt own my princely power,
Fall down and worship me."
Then Jesus called him by his name,
"Satan," He said, "be gone,
For it is written, 'Worship pay
To Israel's God alone.'"
Then, thus repulsed, the devil fled,
Pursued his wicked way,
And angels came and ministered
Unto their Lord that day.
The Meeting with John.
THE next day Jesus, calm and pure,
Was walking all alone,
Down, near the banks of Jordan,
When He was seen by John;
Who said, while pointing unto Him,
"Behold the Lamb of God,
Who takes the world's dark sin away,
And bears the awful load."
Again did Jesus walk, when John
With two disciples stood,
Who, looking on Him, said to them,
"Behold the Lamb of God!"
And the disciples, at this word,
Followed where Jesus went;
Who, turning, gently asked of them,
Their purpose and intent.
"Master," they said, "Where dwellest thou?"
He answer, "Come and see."
They went, and stayed with Him that day,
In holy converse free.
Now, one of these men was Andrew,
Who, filled with thoughts profound,
And, meeting his brother, Simon,
Said, "We the Christ have found."
And brought him straight to Jesus, who
Said to him, as he came,
"Thou'rt Simon, son of Jonah, now
"Cephas shall be thy name."
The Meeting with Nathanael.
THE following day would Jesus
Return to Galilee;
And, finding Philip, saith to him,
"Come thou and follow me."
Then Philip found Nathanael,
And, unto him, he saith,
"We've seen the Christ of prophecy
Jesus of Nazareth."
Nathanael answered shortly,
"Thinkest thou can it be
That good come out of Nazareth?"
Saith Philip, "Come and see."
When Jesus saw Nathanael come,
Him did He kindly greet;
"Behold an Israelite," He said,
"In whom is no deceit."
Nathanael asked, "Whence know'st thou me?"
"Beneath the fig tree's shade,
Before that Philip called to thee,
"I saw thee," Jesus said.
Nathanael said to Him, "Rabbi"—
With wonder overawed—
"Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou art the Son of God."
"Because I told thee," Jesus said,
"I saw thee 'neath the tree,
Believest thou? Yet shall thine eyes
Much greater wonders see.
"For thou shalt see bright angels,
Through heaven's open span,
Ascending and descending
Upon the Son of man."
The Marriage at Cana.
THE third day spent in Galilee
There was a marriage feast;
In Cana was the wedding held,
And Mary was a guest.
And Jesus, to this marriage feast
Received a formal call—
The wondrous Gospel Teacher,
With His disciples all.
And when more wine was wanted,
The mother of the Lord
Requested Him to show His power,
And wine to them afford.
But Jesus answered, "Woman,
My youthful days are o'er,
And to direct my actions
Should be your part no more.
"To show to men, by miracles
My power, the wondrous sum,
'Tis mine to choose the proper time
Which has not fully come."
Then, Mary to the servants said,
"Hark what He saith to you;
And, whatsoever it may be,
That thou shalt surely do."
And there were set six waterpots,
That cleanly Jews might reach
To wash their hands, and they contained
Two or three firkins each.
Jesus unto the servants said—
Who paid respect to Him—
"These vessels all with water fill;"
They filled them to the brim.
Then He commanded, "Draw out now,
And bear a cup well filled
Unto the ruler of the feast;"
And they did as He willed.
And the ruler, when he tasted
The wine from water made,
Not knowing how it was produced,
Unto the bridegroom said:
"Each man who spreads a feast, sets forth
Good wine at first, of course,
And, when the guests have drunk it all
Produces what is worse.
"But never at a marriage feast
Has bridegroom done as thou
Who gave poor wine at first and kept
The good wine until now."
Thus, by this first of miracles,
Did Jesus show His power,
And His disciples knew Him Christ,
From that important hour.