16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

4 It is difficult at first for a superficial reader to perceive what there could have been in these few words to excite the anger of the Jews so vehemently, especially after what is said in verse 22.

But we must always bear in mind, in any report of a discourse of our Lord, and of his apostles after him, that these reports do not pretend to give a full account, but only a very condensed abstract, and often the merest heads of the subject treated of. A little consideration will convince us that the "gracious words" alluded to in this instance are omitted altogether, and that the few passages given

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum do also here in thy country.

24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land:

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

16. Luke iv. 28-30.

28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,*

29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their

were only the conclusion of the discourse, perhaps drawn forth by captious questions, or even in answer to what he saw working in their hearts, though not expressed. (See Mark xiv. 8; Matt. xii. 25: Luke vi. 8, and many other passages.) A very little amplifying of this passage would make the words a most solemn warning to them not to reject the heavenly Messenger promised so long, and now actually in the midst of them, lest, as in the end it proved, the gospel should be taken from them, and delivered to the Gentiles.

30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way. 5

17. Matt. iv. 13-17; Luke iv. 32. 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, a city of Galilee, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim :

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of

the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And he taught them on the sabbath days.

32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with

power.

18. John iv. 46-54.

46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain

5 "Passing through the midst of them." How could he pass through the midst of an infuriated multitude shouting out their rage against him, and in the very act of dragging him to execution?

This is the first instance, though far from the only one, where we hear of Jesus putting forth this kind of miraculous power: for a miracle it was, as truly as any other that he wrought. Perhaps he "hid himself" as in John viii. 59, i. e., became invisible to them. Perhaps, as in John xviii. 6, there was some sudden emanation from his deeply-veiled Godhead, some flash of the divinity concealed beneath his human form, which so overawed and paralyzed them, that they could not, or dared not, put forth their hands to take him. We know not; but that super

47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him his son: for he was at the point of that he would come down, and heal death.

48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy believed the word that Jesus had way; thy son liveth. And the man spoken unto him, and he went his

53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judæa into Galilee.

natural power was present, is as plain as when he made the blind to see.

But this we do know, that this incident, and such as this, proves fully, if proof were needed, how wholly voluntary was the self-sacrifice he offered for us. A word, a look of his, could have withered up his enemies, as Jeroboam's arm was withered when he put it forth to seize the prophet (1 Kings xiii. 4); or he might have called down fire from heaven, as Elijah did, to destroy them in a moment. (2 Kings i. 1012.) But he forbore; and wherefore? Because "the Father so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son;" and the Son so loved us that he "gave himself for us," that we sinners through his sacrifice might be saved. Can we ever love him enough, or devote ourselves enough to him after all this?

A

1. John v. 1-9.

FTER this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving

of the water..

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole ?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, and take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked and on the same day was the sabbath..

2. John v. 10-13.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

3. John v. 14.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

4. John v. 15, 16.

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

5. John v. 17-47.

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought the

more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that

have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

6. Matt. iv. 23, 24.

7. Matt. iv. 18-21; Mark i. 16-20;
Luke v. 1-11.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

him, Master, we have toiled all the 5 And Simon answering said unto nevertheless at thy word I will let night, and have taken nothing: down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of

fishes and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they left their father Zebedee in the ship with