CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE HOLY LAND. Physical Characteristics.—Varieties of Climate and Production.-Valley of the Jordan.-The Hill Country.-The Plains...... CHAPTER II. THE JEWISH COMMONWEALTH. .Page 19 Its Origin and Growth.-Religious Sanctions.-Moral Precepts.-Equality of the People.-Popular Suffrage.-Representative Assemblies.-Laws and Penalties.—The Judiciary.—Union of the Tribes.—Popular Education.—The National Church.—Political Economy.-The Scriptures.-The Theocracy a Republic....... CHAPTER III. DEGENERACY. 26 Establishment of the Monarchy.-Babylonish Captivity.-Anarchy.-Roman Subjugation.—Decay of the Commonwealth...... CHAPTER IV. JEWISH CIVILIZATION IN THE FIRST CENTURY. ......... 41 Taxation. The Publicans.-Brigandage.-Towns and Cities.-Houses.Salutations. Furniture. - Meals.-Dress. -Intercommunication. — Industrial Pursuits.-Resumé....... 48 CHAPTER V. THE BIRTH AND EDUCATION OF JESUS. Bethlehem.-Joseph and Mary.-Circumstances of Jesus's Birth.-Visit of the Magi.-Herod.-Massacre of the Infants.-Nazareth.-Childhood of Jesus.-Jewish Schools.-First Visit to the Temple.......... CHAPTER VI. THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS. 64 The Prophetic Order.-John the Baptist.-His Preparation.-His Appearance and Character.-His Preaching.-Baptism of Jesus.-Contrast in his Preaching.-Law and Gospel.-Testimonies to Jesus 81 CHAPTER VII. THE TEMPTATION. Mystery of the Subject.-The Wilderness.-Christ's Prophetic Vision.—The Problem of his Life.-Fasting.-A difficult Question.-Reality and Personality of Satan.-The threefold Temptation depicted.-Victory.. Page 93 CHAPTER VIII. THE MIRACLE AT THE MARRIAGE. First Disciples.-Oriental Wedding.-The Marriage at Cana.-Probable Character of the Family.-The Miracle.-Its Significance.-The Temperance Question.-Christ's social Character.. CHAPTER IX. THE REFINER'S FIRE. 103 The Temple.-Its History.-The Court of the Gentiles.-Corruption of the Priesthood.-Degradation of the Temple.-Christ's Indignation.-Expulsion of the Traders.-Prophecy of the Resurrection.-Conversation with Nicodemus.-The new Birth.-Principles of Christ's Gospel............ 114 CHAPTER X. THE WOMAN AT THE WELL. Sectarianism rebuked.-Samaria and the Samaritans.-The Jewish Well.The Samaritan Woman.-A religious Conversation.-Christ's Method.Leaves Samaria.-Effect of his Preaching there.-Returns to Cana... 126 CHAPTER XI. THE GREAT TEACHER. Healing of the nobleman's Son.-Imprisonment of John the Baptist.-The Jewish Synagogue.-Characteristics of Christ's Preaching.-His Studies. His moral Power.-His Rejection at Nazareth.-Call of four Disciples........ CHAPTER XII. 137 THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. The Sea of Galilee.-Past Life and present Desolation,-Ancient Therapeutics. Christ's Miracles of Healing.-Not natural Cures.-Their Characteristics.-Different Theories 151 CHAPTER XIII. A MISSIONARY CIRCUIT. Demoniacal Possession. -Kindred modern Phenomena.-The Demoniac at Capernaum.-Cure of the Demoniac.-Cure of Peter's Mother-in-law.— Healing of the Multitude.-Leprosy.-The Leper cleansed.-Cure of the Paralytic.-Call of Matthew. 164 CHAPTER XIV. JEWISH RELIGION AND JEWISH INFIDELITY. Origin of Pharisaism. —Oral Traditions.-The Talmud.-Its Characteristics. -The Scribes.-Conflicting Schools.-Formalism of the Pharisees.-Sadduceeism.-The Essenes.... ..Page 182 CHAPTER XV. THE SABBATH QUESTION. The Mosaic Sabbath.-Its Character.-Falls into disuse.-Reinstated by the Pharisees.Formality of their Observance.-A Festival.-Pharisaic Maxims.-Christ's Sabbath Observance.-A day of Freedom.--The Pool of Bethsaida.-Healing of the impotent Man.-Christ's Teaching in Galilee concerning the Sabbath.--Anger of the Pharisees.-The Battle begun 196 CHAPTER XVI. THE MUSTARD SEED. Nucleus of the Church.-Selection of the Apostles.-Their Characteristics.— Peter and John.-Perplexity of the Disciples.-Their moral Life.-Organization of the Church.-Ceremonies.—Early Creed.—Personal Allegiance...... CHAPTER XVII. THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 213 Ordination of the Twelve.-Mount of Beatitudes.-Unity of the Sermon.Object of the Sermon.-Jewish Expectations.-True Blessedness.—Fulfilling the Law.-Christ's Legislation.-Contrasted with that of Moses.Contrasted with Pharisaism.-Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting.-Worldliness and Worry.-Close of the Sermon.... CHAPTER XVIII. POPULAR FAVOR. 229 Cure of the Centurion's Servant.-Raising of Jairus's Daughter.-Restoration of the Widow's Son.-Stilling of the Tempest.-Cure of the Demoniacs.-Popular Enthusiasm..... 247 CHAPTER XIX. Degeneracy of the Age.-Christ's Religion joyful.—Liberty of the Gospel.— The Friend of Sinners.-The Harlot and the Pharisee.-Christ's Claims. -Envy of the Pharisees. —Effect of the Miracles.-The Unpardonable Sin.......... CHAPTER XX. PARABLES AND PHILIPPICS. 260 Change in Christ's Teaching.-Denunciation of the Pharisees.-Signs of the Times.-Ceremonialism.-Unwashen Hands.-True Purity.-Fears of Christ's Kinsfolk.-Warnings and Promises.-The Object of Parables.The Kingdom of God illustrated.-Parables by the Sea............ Page 275 CHAPTER XXI. THE PRISONER AT MACHÆERUS. The City of Macharus.-Herod's Harem.-Marriage of Herodias.—Her Disappointment.-Her Intrigues and their Success.-Political Preaching of the Baptist. His Imprisonment. His Embassage to Jesus. - His Death...... 290 CHAPTER XXII. THE CRISIS. The Apostolic Commission.-Retreat of Jesus and the Twelve.-The Plain of Butaiha. -Feeding the Five Thousand.-Its Effect.-Walking on the Wave.-Sermon at Capernaum.-Indignation of the People.............. 302 CHAPTER XXIII. EXILE. Tyre and Sidon.-Their Prosperity and their Decay.-The Syro-Phoenician Woman.-Seclusion. -Mount Hermon.-Instructions to the Disciples.— Tribute Money.-Prophecies.-The Transfiguration CHAPTER XXIV. THE JUDEAN MINISTRY. 318 Feast of the Tabernacles.-Characteristics of the Judeans.-Appearance of Jesus.-Temple Teachings.-Lay Preaching.-Attempted Arrest.—Christ questioned." Neither do I condemn Thee."-Rest in Bethany.-Christ mobbed.-The Good Samaritan.-The Publican and the Pharisee.--The Good Shepherd.-The Feast of Dedication.-Christ driven from Jerusalem 333 CHAPTER XXV. PARABLES IN PEREA. The Trans-Jordanic Region. -Its Population. -The Prodigal Son.-Few saved. The Marriage Supper. -Dives and Lazarus.—The Unfaithful Steward.―The Rich Fool.-Humility and Hospitality.-Almost a Christian.-The Laborers in the Vineyard.--The Commission of the Seventy.Marriage and Divorce.-Popularity of Jesus 352 CHAPTER XXVI. BETHANY AND EPHRAIM. Martha and Mary.-Their Affliction.-Death of Lazarus.-Christ's Delay. -His Reception.-The Sisters' Reproaches.-The Tears of Jesus.-The Resurrection of Lazarus.-The Lord's Prayer.-Importunity in Prayer.— Jesus goes up to Jerusalem......... 368 CHAPTER XXVII. TRIUMPH. The Passover.-Jericho.-Jewish Aristocracy.-Christ's rebuke of "Best Society."-Conversion of Zaccheus.—Cure of the blind Men.-Parable of the Pounds.-Ambition of Salome.-Jerusalem and its Suburbs.—Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.-Expulsion of the Traders.-The Greeks.— Songs of the Children....... .Page 382 CHAPTER XXVIII. CONFLICT. Perplexity of the Sanhedrim.-Plans and Purposes of the Priesthood.—Political Hopes of the Jews.-Degeneracy of Rome.-A moral Victory the only Hope of Judaism.-Combination of Christ's Foes.-Denunciation of the Pharisees.-Christ's Farewell to Jerusalem.. 397 CHAPTER XXIX. TREACHERY. Judas Iscariot.-Singularity of his Conduct.-A Judean.-His Ambition.His religious Prejudices. His Soul-conflict. His wounded Pride. Anointing of Jesus.-Judas's treacherous Purpose.-His Bargain..... 406 CHAPTER XXX. THE LAST SUPPER. Various Forms of its Observance.-Its Sacredness.-Original Conditions.— The paschal Feast.-Feet-washing.—“ Is it I ?”—Institution of the Supper. -Prophecies of Death.-Sadness of the Disciples............ CHAPTER XXXI. GETHSEMANE. 416 Jesus's Heart-struggles.-His Love of Life.-Clearness of his Prevision.His Love of Country.-Love of his Church.-His inexplicable Anguish.The Bitterness of Death.-The Bloody Sweat." Thy Will be done."The Betrayal.-The Arrest.-Flight of the Disciples...... CHAPTER XXXII. THE COURT OF CAIAPHAS. 426 Degradation of the Priestly Office.-Character of Annas.-The Sanhedrim assembled.-Preliminary Examination.-Peter's Sin and Repentance.— An Oriental Law-court.-Criminal Code of Judaism.-Disregard of the Code. - Location of the Trial.-Constitution of the Court.-Charges against Jesus.-Perjury.-Failure of the High-priest's Case.--Jesus put under Oath.—His Testimony to himself.-Sentence pronounced....... 440 |