Mother Stories from the New Testament | Page 2

one day take his sceptre
away.
So he first sent for the learned men of the Jews, the chief priests and
scribes, and demanded of them where Christ should be born; and when
they had replied that it was to be in Bethlehem, he secretly called the
wise men before him, and inquired of them what time the star appeared.
After getting the information he needed, he dismissed the wise men,
bidding them to go to Bethlehem "and search diligently for the young
child; and when ye have found Him," said Herod, "bring me word
again, that I may come and worship Him also."
So the wise men left King Herod and Jerusalem, and journeyed onward
towards Bethlehem; and the star which they had seen in the East went
before them, till it came and stood over where the young child lay. And
when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, for they
knew they had found Him whom they had come so far to seek.
But the wise men did not bring Herod word where Jesus was; and he

was so angry that shortly afterwards he sent his soldiers, and slew all
the children under two years of age that were in Bethlehem and its
neighbourhood. He thought by so doing to kill Jesus among them, but
God prevented him from doing so.
[Illustration: THE WISE MEN BEFORE THE KING.]

THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS.
It was night. In the fields near Bethlehem a company of shepherds kept
watch over their flocks. Probably they were holy men, and often
thought of God in the stillness of the early morn. And now they may
have been thinking of the coming of the promised Messiah.
While watching their flocks, the angel of the Lord came to these
shepherds, and a dazzling light shone round about them. They were
much afraid; but the angel said, "Fear not; for behold I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." And
suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly
host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men."
When the angels had departed, the shepherds returned to Bethlehem;
and there, in a stable, they found the infant Jesus, lying in a manger,
watched over and cared for by His mother Mary and Joseph. And so
great was the surprise and joy of the shepherds that they went out and
told all they met of the wondrous things which they had seen.
Shortly after the visit of the shepherds, the wise men from the East
reached Bethlehem, and in a house they found Joseph, and Mary, and
Jesus. Then they fell down and worshipped Jesus, opening the treasures
they had brought, and offering Him precious gifts, gold and
frankincense and myrrh. But God warned them not to go back to Herod,
to tell him where the new-born King of the Jews was, and they returned
to their own country another way.

[Illustration: THE SHEPHERDS WORSHIPPING THE INFANT
JESUS.]

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.
When Jesus was twelve years of age, His parents took Him with them
to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover. Great numbers journeyed
from different parts to keep this feast; and travelled in companies or
caravans, the women and old men riding on asses or mules, and the rest
going on foot. Thus Joseph and Mary, with Jesus, left Nazareth, and
with many others journeyed to Jerusalem, where they kept the
Passover.
When the feast was ended, as they returned homewards, Joseph and
Mary discovered that Jesus was missing; but supposing Him to have
been somewhere among the company, they continued their first day's
short journey. When, however, evening came, and the caravan halted,
and Jesus was nowhere to be found, His parents sorrowfully returned to
Jerusalem seeking Him. At last, on the third day, they went to the
Temple, and found Jesus sitting in the midst of the aged and learned
Jewish doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. "And all
that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."
His parents were amazed when they saw Jesus in such company. But
Mary, while she rejoiced at finding Him, gently said, "Son, why hast
Thou thus dealt with us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee
sorrowing." Jesus replied, "How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not
that I must be about My Father's business?"
Jesus was the Son of God, and doing God's work was being about His
Father's business. Years afterwards He said, "I came not to do Mine
own will, but the will of