AND, now, when Jesus entered
Into Capernaum;
A Centurion besought Him for
A servant, sick at home.
"I will come," He said, "and heal him."
The Centurion answered: "Lord,
I am not worthy Thou should'st come,
But only speak the word.
"For I, myself, am in command,
And whatsoe'er I say
To one, or to another man,
They instantly obey."
When Jesus heard him, in surprise
He said to those around:
"I verily, in Israel,
Such great faith have not found."
Then said to the Centurion: "Go,
Thy faith the work has sealed;"
And in the self-same hour he found
His servant had been healed.
Raising the Widow's Son.
IT came to pass upon the day
Succeeding this event,
That as He journeyed on His way,
Much people with Him went.
Along the road He traveled on,
Until He came to Nain;
When, just outside the city gate,
He met a funeral train.
In sorrow they were bearing forth
A weeping widow's son;
And many sympathized with her—
He was her only one.
And when the Lord saw her He had
Compassion on her grief;
And said unto her: "Weep no more,
I bring you sure relief."
He touched the bier, and all the friends
Stood still in mute surprise,
When to the dead He spoke: "Young man,
I say to thee arise."
And the dead youth sat up, alive,
And to her speechless joy,
The mother from the Lord received
Her resurrected boy.
The Pharisee and the Woman.
IT happened that a Pharisee
Invited Christ to eat,
When a poor, sinful woman came
And worshipped at His feet;
And washed them with her copious tears,
And wiped them with her hair,
And kissed them, and anointed them
With ointment rich and rare.
The Pharisee, within himself,
Said: "If this man were wise,
And were a prophet, he would know
This sinner to despise."
And Jesus, answering his thought,
Explained the woman's love:
She was a sinner who, now saved,
Her gratitude would prove.
And while the guests in wonder gazed,
He to the woman spoke:
"Thy sins are all forgiven—thy faith
Hath broken Satan's yoke."
The Blind and Dumb Man.
AGAIN a man they bring to Him,
Of Satan sore possessed,
Both blind and dumb, in wretched plight,
But Jesus gave him rest.
The sufferer both spake and saw,
When people, every one,
Who saw this miracle, exclaimed:
"Is not this David's Son?"
But the proud Pharisees, in heart
Ignored this title true;
And said the wondrous healing gift
To Satan's power was due.
Then Jesus knew their thoughts and said:
"What logic ye command!
If Satan cast out Satan, then
His kingdom cannot stand."
The Storm on Galilee.
AND as the multitudes increased,
And thronged about the Lord,
He said: "I other towns must seek,
And in them preach the word."
So He commandment forthwith gave
That His disciples go,
And get a ship in readiness,
Across the lake to row.
Then a certain scribe said: "Master,
I'll follow Thee to-day,
By land or water, wheresoe'er
Thou goest or shalt stay."
And Jesus answered: "Foxes can
Run into holes for rest,
And every bird of air can fly
Into a pleasant nest;
"But no place hath the Son of Man
Whereof it can be said:
'That is His home, where He may lay
In peace His weary head.'"
The scribe had nothing more to say;
He, doubtless, did not care
The fortunes of so poor a man
To follow and to share.
Another said: "Lord, let me go
My father's grave to make."
Said Jesus: "Let the world do that,
Come thou, my portion take."
And now the followers of Christ
Were all aboard the ship,
And He, o'ercome with weariness,
Lay down and fell asleep.
And the disciples, in alarm,
Their Master woke from sleep;
"Lord, we must have thine instant help
Or perish in the deep;"
When He, in calm and gentle voice,
Said: "Wherefore do ye fear,
O ye of little faith and trust.
While I, your Lord, am here?"
Then He arose in dignity,
And spoke His sovereign will,
Commanding both the winds and sea
To hearken and be still.
And instantly all nature's face
A tranquil aspect wears,
Hushed is the tempest, and the sky
Again serene appears.
The men each to the others, said,
In awe and great amaze:
"What kind of man is this, whose word
The fearful storm obeys?"
The Legion of Devils.
NOW when they reached the other side,
All fright and danger o'er,
The country of the Gadarenes
Received them to its shore.
But many steps they have not gone
To reach the city near,
When suddenly two unclad men
From 'mongst the tombs appear.
By unclean spirits sorely vexed,
No firm restraints could hold
Their demon-strengthened limbs, or keep
Their frantic souls controlled.
And in the mountains and the tombs,
With cries, both night and day,
They cut themselves, and caused such fear,
None dared to pass that way.
But when the Lord approached, a change
Came o'er these men possessed;
One fled—the other, falling down
In worship, sore distressed,
Cried: "What have I to do with Thee,
Jesus, Thou Son of God?
Torment me not, nor banish me
To my most drear abode."
Then Jesus said: "Come out of him,
Thou unclean spirit, vile,
And let thy presence ne'er again
His tortured soul defile."
And then He asked: "What is thy name?"
"Legion," the man did say,
For many, many devils bold
Within him had held sway.
The devils, knowing they no more
In this poor man could dwell,
Imploringly besought the Lord
To drive them not to hell;
And seeing a great herd of swine
Upon the mountain side,
Begged His consent to enter them,
With which the Lord complied.
But though there were two thousand swine
They could not fight nor flee,
The legion entered them, and all
Rushed headlong in the sea.
And they that fed the swine, alarmed,
Ran hastily away,
And told in town and country round
The wonders of that day.
Then every one went out to see
What wondrous things were done,
And still and calm the country lay,
And all the swine were gone.
And he who long had raged around,
A terror to mankind,
Sat peacefully at Jesus' feet,
Clothed, and of rightful mind.
And they who saw the miracle,
With eager tongues revealed
How he of legion once possessed
So suddenly was healed.
Then the whole multitude from all
The country round appear,
And beg the Lord to leave their coasts
For they were filled with fear.
Now, as the Lord took ship again,
The man thus saved from woe,
Prayed that he might be with the Christ,
Wherever He should go.
But Jesus answered: "Nay, return
To thine own house, and tell
What God hath done for thee, and hence
With thine own kindred dwell."
And the man did as Jesus said,
And told to great and small
Of his most glad deliverance
From Satan's dreadful thrall.
The Daughter of Jarius.
IT came to pass as Jesus thence
Returned, across the sea,
Many He found awaiting Him—
The men of Galilee.
And behold, Jarius, ruler of
The synagogue, drew near,
And knelt at Jesus' feet, and prayed,
In great distress and fear,
That Jesus to his house would go
And heal his dying child—
A little daughter, twelve years old,
In manners sweet and mild.
Then Jesus, whose glad work it was
To cheer each broken heart,
Went with him, followed by the crowd,
Who would not from Him part.
And a poor woman, suffering
From a severe disease,
Who, for twelve years, her money all
Had spent in doctors' fees;
When told that He was passing by
Came in the crowd, behind,
And said: "If I may touch His clothes,
I sure relief shall find."
And, stooping down, she gently touched
His garment's hem: when, lo!
She felt the fountain of her plague
Had ceased at once to flow.
When He, perceiving in Himself
Some loss of power Divine,
Turned and demanded of the crowd:
"Who touched this robe of mine?"
Then His disciples said to Him:
"The people throng round Thee,
They closely press on every side,
And sayest Thou: "Who touched me?'"
But He still looked around, when she,
Knowing she was not hid,
Came, trembling, fell down at His feet,
And told Him what she did.
But He said, kindly: "Daughter, thou
This act must not deplore,
Thy faith hath healed thee, go in peace;
No plague shall vex thee more!"
And while He spoke, from Jairus' house
Came messengers, who said:
"Trouble the Master now no more;
The little maid is dead."
But Jesus to the ruler turned,
And said: "You need not grieve;
All shall be well with thee and thine,
If only thou believe."
Before He reached the ruler's house,
He told the rest to wait,
And none but Peter, James and John,
Went with Him through the gate.
And when He entered in the house,
He found it full of grief,
Nor did the mourning company
Expect from Him relief.
Then He said gently to the friends:
"Why make this noise, and weep?
The damsel is not truly dead,
But taketh rest in sleep."
And they all laughed—a laugh of scorn—
Well knowing she was dead,
When He turned out the sneering crowd,
And calmly onward led.
The father and the mother, who
No doubting did betray,
And His believing followers,
To where the maiden lay;
Then took her gently by the hand,
And said, with pitying eyes:
"Talitha Cumi; damsel, I
Now say to thee arise."
Then instantly the maid arose,
And walked upon her feet,
When He in kindness ordered that
They give her food to eat.
Two Blind Men Healed.
NOW when the Lord departed thence,
Two blind men followed close,
And, "Oh! Thou Son of David," cried,
"Have mercy upon us."
And when He reached His lodging house,
The blind men entered too;
Then Jesus asked: "Do ye believe
That I this thing can do?"
They said: "Yea, Lord;" then did he touch
Their eyes, with fingers kind,
And said: "According to your faith,
Be ye no longer blind."
Forthwith they saw, and Jesus charged
That they let no man know;
But they went out and spread His fame
Wherever they did go.
The Disciples Sent Forth.
STRAIGHTWAY the Lord departed thence,
And came to His own home,
And in the synagogue He taught
When Sabbath-day had come.
The people wondered at His words,
And asked: "How can it be
That this man has such power gained
As we both hear and see?
"For is not this the carpenter?
We know his mother well;
His brethren and his sisters, too,
All here among us dwell."
And so they took offence at Him,
And Jesus said: "In vain
A prophet much esteemed abroad
At home would honor gain."
And He could do no mighty works—
Save healing a few sick,
And teaching in the villages—
Because their faith was weak.
But looking on the people with
Compassion in His heart,
As scattered sheep, and ignorant—
He called the twelve apart,
And sent them forth, through all the land,
To preach, by two and two,
To the lost sheep of Israel,
The Gospel, pure and true.
Death of John the Baptist.
HEROD, the king, his birthday kept,
And festive supper spread,
For lords, high captains and chief men,
Of Galilee the head.
And with the flowing of rich wines,
And strains of music sweet,
The daughter of Herodias danced
On light and airy feet;
Which dancing so much pleased the king
He promised, with an oath,
That whatsoever she would ask
He'd give her—nothing loth.
The daughter of her mother asked:
"What gift shall I desire?"
The wicked woman answered her:
"John Baptist's head require."
Straightway the brazen damsel came,
And, with petition bold,
Demanded John the Baptist's head,
Just as she had been told.
Although the king was sorely grieved,
He would not break his word,
In honor of the company
By whom the oath was heard.
Now, soon as John's disciples knew
Of his most cruel doom,
They took his body, tenderly,
And laid it in a tomb;
And to the Master straightly told
What had befallen John—
The deed which at the king's command
His servile guard had done.
But fear's dread torment soon drew near,
When Herod heard the news
Of the wonder working Jesus,
Now preaching to the Jews.
And he, with pale and trembling lips,
Unto his servants said:
"This is the Baptist whom I slew,
Arisen from the dead.
"Therefore do wondrous works in him
Show forth themselves, to prove
That he a mighty prophet was,
Appointed from above."
Feeding the Multitude.
THE twelve apostles, when the time
For their return had come,
Betook themselves with one accord
To Jesus, at His home;
And told Him all things that befell
While they had been away;
What they had done, what they had taught,
And how they fared each day.
Then Jesus at Bethsaida
Was with compassion moved,
To see the people crowd around—
The sheep He so much loved.
He talked to them of God and heaven—
The land above all lands—
And healed as many as had need
Of healing at His hands.
Then said the twelve: "Lord do Thou send
The multitude away,
That they some victuals may procure
Before the close of day."
But Jesus knew that poverty
Oppressed the multitude,
And kindly to His followers said:
"Can ye not give them food?"
"Two hundred pennyworth of bread,"
Philip at once replied,
"Would not a little food for each
Of this great crowd provide."
Then Andrew, Peter's brother, spoke:
"Here is a lad," he said,
"Who two small fishes has, beside
Five loaves of barley bread.
"But, what are they to such a crowd?"
The Lord said: "Bring them here.
Then seat the people on the grass,
By fifties, far and near."
And taking in His hands the bread
And fish, He looked toward heaven
And blest it in the name of Him
From whom all bread is given;
Then brake, and the disciples passed
The broken food around
To all the multitude, who sat
Expectant on the ground.
Then Jesus said: "Go, gather up
The fragments careless tossed
Upon the ground, in wanton waste,
That nothing may be lost."
And the disciples—patient men,
Went, stooping, o'er the field,
And fragment of the late repast
Twelve baskets full did yield.
And when the Lord perceived that they
Did meditate to bring
United force with the intent
That they might crown Him king,
He urged that His disciples should
Take ship and cross the sea,
While He dispersed the multitudes,
And followed secretly.
Jesus Walks Upon the Sea.
WHEN Jesus, up the mountain side
Ascended all alone,
To spend some hours in peaceful prayer
Before His Father's throne.
Meanwhile the twelve were toiling hard
In rowing o'er the lake,
But 'gainst the stormy winds they could
But little progress make.
And Jesus, on the mountain high,
Engaged in fervent prayer,
Looks on the lake and sees his friends,
And feels their toil and care.
Now comes the fourth watch of the night;
The tired men still row
Against a rising, boisterous sea,
While angry tempests blow.
But now, amid the wild uproar,
And darkness of the storm,
They saw approaching, o'er the waves,
Their Master's much loved form.
They failed to recognize their Lord,
With storm and darkness near,
Supposed He was a spirit form,
And cried aloud for fear.
Then straightway Jesus hushed their cries;
"Be of good cheer," He said;
They knew the kind, assuring voice:
"'Tis I, be not afraid."
Then Peter, warm, impulsive, bold,
Said: "Lord, if it be Thou,
Bid me and let me come to Thee
Upon the waters now."
Jesus said: "Come." Then Peter stepped
Over the vessel's side,
And walked securely and alone
Upon the stormy tide.
His eyes were on the Master fixed,
But, looking on the wave,
At once he did begin to sink,
And cried out: "Lord! Oh, save!"
Then Jesus quickly stretched His hand
And raised the sinking man,
Said: "Wherefore did'st thou doubt?" and placed
Him on his feet again.
And when they step aboard the ship,
There is a sudden peace,
The wind is still, the stars are bright,
The waves their motion cease.
And the disciples, bending low,
Their spirits deeply awed,
Said: "Of a truth we now are sure
Thou art the Son of God."
Then comes to pass another thing,
They cannot understand;
The ship, so lately out at sea,
Is now quite close to land.
And, resting from their hours of toil,
And filled with wonder deep,
The twelve around their Master's feet
Lie down in peaceful sleep.
The Bread from Heaven.
THE next day, for the absent Lord,
The people searched around,
Near to the place where He had fed
Five thousand on the ground.
Then Jesus said: "Ye seek me not
In honor of my power,
But for the bread I brake to you
In hunger's helpless hour.
"Labor not so for earthly meat,
Which perisheth away,
But for that meat which shall endure
Through everlasting day."
And then He preached to them the words
Of saving, Gospel truth,
Of Bread that keeps the soul in strength
And in immortal youth.
He told them that He was the Bread
Which had been sent from heaven,
That Bread of everlasting life,
To all believers given.
And some went back, and walked no more
With Him—the Truth, the Way;
Then to the chosen twelve He said:
"Will ye, too, go away?"
Then Simon Peter answered Him:
"Lord, to whom shall we go?
Thou hast the words of endless life;
From Thee doth wisdom flow.
"And we believe, and we are sure
That Thou are Jesse's Rod;
The promised Christ of Israel—
Son of the living God."
Jesus said: "Have I not chosen
Twelve of you to believe,
And witness to a sinful world
The truth which ye receive;
"And one of you a devil is?"
He spoke of Judas vile,
Who should, by wicked treachery,
The bishopric defile.
Now, when around Capernaum
The Lord had done much good,
He rose and traveled forth, to where
Old Tyre and Sidon stood;
And entered in a house, that He
Might of the crowd be rid,
And rest in peace there for a day;
But He could not be hid.
For a woman, whose young daughter
Had an unclean spirit, heard
That He was that great prophet who
Could heal her with a word.
And, hast'ning to Him, she knelt down,
And bowed her weeping face,
Relating in His willing ear
Her daughter's grievous case.
But Jesus answered not a word;
The apostles wondered why,
And said to Him: "Send her away,
We're weary of her cry."
And then He said: "I am not sent
Save to the sheep astray
From Israel's fold—beloved of God—
To guide them in the way."
Now this poor woman was a Greek,
And of Phœnician birth;
But she believed great David's Son
Was Prince of all the earth;
And that He loved all human kind,
Of every degree;
So, drawing near, she worshipped Him
Exclaiming: "Lord, help me!"
Then He replied: "It is not meet
To take the children's bread
And cast it out to dogs, while they—
The children—are not fed."
But she said: "Yea, Lord, very true,
Yet dogs, Thou know'st, do eat
The crumbs that from the table fall,
Beneath the children's feet."
"O, woman," Jesus answered then,
"Great is thy trusting faith;
And be it unto thee, and thine,
Whatever thy heart saith."
And she went joyful to her house,
And found the devil fled,
And her fair daughter calm and well,
And laid upon her bed.
Feeding the Hungry.
AND now, this gracious work performed
The Lord returned again
Unto the sea of Galilee,
And through Decapolis plain.
Unto a mountain He repaired,
And sought a quiet seat;
But many sufferers followed Him,
And crowded round His feet.
The eager multitudes brought forth
The blind, and dumb, and lame,
And Jesus healed them, every one,
Who to His presence came.
And all the people glorified
The God of Israel;
And, much astonished, they exclaimed,
"He hath done all things well!"
Then the Lord sent the people home,
And, taking ship again,
Sailed with the twelve along the sea,
Unto Magdala's plain.
There Pharisees and Sadducees
Came, tempting Him, and sought
A sign from heaven that they might know
The doctrines that He taught.
But He refused to give a sign
To hypocrites so base,
And leaving them, and taking ship,
Sailed to another place.
Curing the Blind.
NOW, coming to Bethsaida,
They bring a blind man down,
Beseeching Him to touch him,
But He leads him out of town.
Then, spitting, moistens the blind eyes,
And asks him if he sees;
And the man looks up and answers:
"I see men walk, as trees."
Then Jesus put His gentle hands
On the man's eyes again,
Made him look up—his eyes were healed,
And he saw all things plain.
The Apostle Peter.
THEN, after that, as Jesus with
His twelve disciples walked
To Cæsarea Philippi,
And gravely with them talked,
He asked them who the people said
That He, Himself, might be;
They answered John, Elias, and
The prophet Jeremy.
He saith: "But whom say ye am I,
Who long with you have trod?"
Peter exclaimed: "Thou art the Christ,
Son of the living God!"
Then Jesus answered him: "How blest
Simon Bar-jona, thou,
For flesh and blood hath not revealed
What thou, from heaven, dost know.
"And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter sure,
And on this rock I'll build my church
From gates of hell secure.
"Keys of authority and truth
Shall unto thee be given;
What thou dost bind or loose on earth
Is bound and loosed in heaven."
From that time forth the Lord began
To tell, and to explain
To His disciples, how He should
Be killed, and rise again.
But Peter said: "Nay, nay, my Lord
This, surely, shall not be;
Such treatment of the Prince of Life—
Were great indignity."
But Jesus turned and said to him:
"Satan, get thee behind,
Thou savorest not the things of God,
But pride of carnal mind."
And then said Jesus to them all:
"Who will my servant be,
Must deny self, take up his cross,
And humbly follow me.
"For whosoe'er will save his life,
Shall lose it in the end;
But he who yields it for my sake,
To life in heaven shall tend.
"For what is a man profited
If he shall gain the whole
Of this world's pompous wealth and power,
Yet lose his own poor soul?"
Jesus is Transfigured.
NOW Jesus tarried round these coasts
Till six days passed away;
Then He took Peter, James and John
Up in a mount to pray.
And, as He prayed, His face was changed,
And shining as the Sun;
His raiment became white as snow,
When glistening at noon.
And while He thus transfigured stood,
In His apostles' sight,
They suddenly beheld two men
Appear, with Him, in light.
'Twas Moses and Elias, who
Talked feelingly with Him
About the death He must endure
Soon at Jerusalem.
Then Peter spoke—his heart was full
Of holy love and fear:
"Lord, it is good," he said, "for us
To dwell forever here.
"Let us three tabernacles build;
The first shall be for Thee,
One be for Moses, man of God,
One for Elias be."
He spoke his heart's sincere desire,
But ere the words were said,
A bright cloud overshadowed them,
And covered every head.
And from the cloud a voice was heard,
"This is my Son beloved,
In whom I am well pleased—hear Him,
If ye would be approved!"
When the disciples heard the voice,
They fell upon their face,
O'ercome by fear and sore dismay,
In that most awful place.
And Jesus, touching each one, said:
"Arise and do not fear;"
And when they looked around they saw
No one but Jesus near.
And as they came down from the mount,
He bade them not disclose
What they had seen and heard that day,
Till from the dead He rose.
And they obeyed, and of that scene
No word to others said;
But 'mongst themselves enquired what meant
The rising from the dead.
An Only Child Healed.
THE next day, coming to the place
Where they had left the nine,
They found a crowd, glad to behold
The Master's face, Divine.
He asked the scribes: "What question ye
With my disciples here?"
When one in haste approaching Him,
And kneeling down in fear,
Said: "Lord, have mercy on my son—
He is my only child;
And a dumb spirit tortures him,
And makes him fierce and wild.
"And often in the fire he falls,
And in the water too;
And I spoke to Thy disciples,
But they could nothing do."
Then Jesus said: "O, men perverse,
Why can ye not believe?
How long shall I be with you ere
The faith ye will receive?"
Then to the father: "Bring to me
Your son." The child was brought,
When he fell, foaming, on the ground,
By the foul spirit wrought.
Then Jesus asked the man: "How long
Has he been troubled thus?"
He answered: "From a little child;
But, Lord, canst Thou help us?"
Jesus replied: "If thou hast faith,
Then thou shalt have relief."
The man cried out: "Lord, I believe;
Help Thou mine unbelief."
Then Jesus to the demon spoke:
"Deaf and dumb spirit sore,
I charge thee to come out of him,
And enter him no more."
The spirit cried and troubled him,
Till, like one dead, he fell;
But Jesus took him by the hand,
And, lo! the child was well.
And now the Master and the twelve
Into a house retired;
And the nine came to Him and asked
That which they most desired:
The twelve then asked: "Why could we not
Cast out that spirit, pray?"
He said: "Because your unbelief
Stood boldly in the way.
"For, verily, if ye have faith
As a small, mustard grain,
Then shall unto this mountain say,
'Remove to yonder plain.'
"It shall remove. Nothing shall be
Impossible to you;
Yet these foul spirits go not, save
By prayer and fasting, too."
Jesus Teaches Humility.
ONE day while Jesus sat at rest
He asked the twelve to say
What was it they disputed, as
They walked along the way.
But they replied not, for they had
Disputed which should gain
The greatest rank and power, when
Their Lord should come to reign.
Then Jesus said: "If any man
Desire the highest place,
He shall be last, and servant, too,
Within the realm of grace."
He set a child in midst of them,
Then took him in His arm,
And said: "Whoso receiveth such,
And shieldeth him from harm,
"Receiveth me, if, with true love,
He does it in my name,
And not only receiveth me,
But Him from whom I came."