The Pharisee and the Woman

It happened that a Pharisee

Invited Christ to eat,

When a poor, sinful woman came

And worshiped 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 forwith 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 parish 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 consendt to enter them,

With which the Lord complied.

 * * * *

But though there were two thousand swine

They could not fight no 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 tongue 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 the, 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

He ceased at once to flow.

* * * *

When He, percieving in Himself

Sone 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 truned,

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 truely 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 chartged

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 offense 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 is 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 him;

  * * * *

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.

  * * * *

The 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 Jeus 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 the 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.