Part 249 (1/2)

And Jesus said unto him, ”Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even G.o.d. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother.”

And he said unto him, ”Master, all these things have I observed from my youth.” And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, ”One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, ”With what difficulty shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of G.o.d!”

And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, ”Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the {212} kingdom of G.o.d! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d.”

And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, ”Then who can be saved?” Jesus looking upon them saith, ”With men it is impossible, but not with G.o.d: for all things are possible with G.o.d.”

And one of the mult.i.tude said unto him, ”Master, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.”

But he said unto him, ”Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?” And he said unto them, ”Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

_The Story of the Foolish Rich Man_.

Jesus said, ”The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my harvests?' And he said, 'This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my corn and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But G.o.d said unto him, 'Thou fool, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?'

”So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward G.o.d.”

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

Map of Palestine showing Jesus' last Journey.

by E. R. Hooker [End ill.u.s.tration]

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XII

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD.

_How the Lord Jesus Showed His Love for His Friends_.

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, ”Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.”

But when Jesus heard it, he said, ”This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of G.o.d, that the Son of G.o.d may be glorified thereby.”

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When therefore he heard that he was sick, he abode yet two days in the place where he was. Then after this he saith to the disciples, ”Let us go into Judaea again.”

The disciples saith unto him, ”Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?”

Jesus answered, ”Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him.”

These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, ”Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”

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The disciples therefore said unto him, ”Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover.”