John (Madonna della Sedia) Raphael 32
Christ and St. John Winterstein 35
Simeon and Anna in the Temple Old Engraving 39
The Boy John Andrea del Sarto 41
Jerusalem Old Engraving 43
Joshua's Host Crossing the Jordan Old Engraving 45
The Prophet Isaiah Sargent 55
The Boy Jesus in the Temple _H. Hofmann_ 58
A Street Scene in Nazareth From Photograph 60
Visit of Mary to Elisabeth Old Engraving 62
The Wilderness of Judea From Photograph 64
Traditional Place of Christ's Baptism From Photograph 67
The Baptism of Jesus Old Engraving 68
The First Disciples Ittenbach 83
The Marriage at Cana Old Engraving 85
Belshazzar's Feast Old Engraving 87
The Hill of Samaria Old Engraving 90
Jacob's Well From Photograph 92
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes Old Engraving 94
Raising the Daughter of Jairus _H. Hofmann_ 99
The Transfiguration Old Engraving 106
Moses on Mt. Pisgah Artist Unknown 109
Bethany Old Engraving 120
Resurrection of Lazarus Old Engraving 126
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. _Gustave Doré_ 133
Christ and St. John Ary Scheffer 140
The Last Supper Benjamin West 156
In Gethsemane _Gustave Doré_ 163
The Valley of Jehoshaphat Old Engraving 165
Christ Before Caiaphas Old Engraving 167
Christ Before Pilate (Ecce Homo) _H. Hofmann_ 170
Christ Bearing His Cross _H. Hofmann_ 185
The Virgin and St. John at the Cross Old Engraving 192
The Descent from the Cross Rubens 195
In the Sepulchre _H. Hofmann_ 199
Jesus Appearing to Mary Magdalene (Easter Morning) _B. Plockhorst_
202
The Descent of the Spirit Old Engraving 206
St. Peter and St. John at the Beautiful Gate Old Engraving 211
Ephesus From Photograph 227
The Isle of Patmos Old Engraving 231
Smyrna Old Engraving 234
Pergamos and the Ruins of the Church of St. John Old Engraving 242
Ruins of Laodicea Old Engraving 246
[Illustration: MAP OF THE LAND WHERE ST. JOHN LIVED]
A Life of St. John
CHAPTER I _A Home in the Blest Land, by the Sacred Sea_
"Blest land of Judæa! Thrice hallowed in song, Where the holiest of
memories pilgrim like throng, In the shade of thy palms, by the shores
of thy sea, On the hills of the beauty, my heart is with thee." --Whittier.
A Galilean boy, a fisherman, a follower of Jesus, one of the twelve
Apostles, one of the favored three, the beloved one, the Apostle of love,
the Apostle of childhood, the one of all men who gave to mankind the
clearest view of Jesus Christ--such was St John.
For young people he is a fitting study. To aid such is the purpose of this
volume.
Let us first glance at the land where he lived, surrounded by influences
that directed his life, and moulded his character.
Palestine was called by God Himself "The Glory of All Lands." He
made it the home of His people the Jews, who long waited for the
promised time when it should have greater glory by becoming the
home of the Messiah, the Son of God. Before He was born the Jews
were conquered by the Romans, and governed by them instead of the
Jewish judges and kings. The country was divided into three parts. The
southern was called Judæa; the middle, Samaria; and the northern,
Galilee, which was the most beautiful part. It contained the hills of
Galilee, and the plain and sea of Gennesaret, hallowed by the presence
of Jesus, and what He there did.
At the time of which we write, two thousand years ago, Galilee was not
inhabited wholly or chiefly by Jews. Other peoples, called Gentiles,
were mixed with the Jewish race which continued to cultivate the land,
and to tend the vineyards and olive-yards, and to dwell in the
fisherman's huts and moor their boats on the sandy beach. Some Jews
were artisans, working at their trades in the smaller towns. But there
were vast crowds of foreigners whose life was a great contrast to that of
the Jews. Their customs were those of the nations to which they
belonged. They spoke their own languages. They worshiped their own
false gods. Their amusements were such as they were accustomed to in
their distant homes. This was especially true of the Romans who had
theatres, chariot races, and gladiatorial combats, by the peaceful waters
of Galilee.
[Illustration: SEA OF GALILEE Old Engraving Page 21]
There were also Greeks who had sought new homes far from their
native land. Many Arabians came from the deserts on swift horses, in
roving bands in search of plunder. They wore brightly-colored dresses,
and flashing swords and lances, carrying terror wherever they went.
Egyptian travelers came with camels loaded with spices and balm. The
bazaars were crowded with merchandise from India, Persia and Arabia.
Long caravans from Damascus passed through Galilee, with goods for
the markets of Tiberius on Lake
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