Mother Stories from the New Testament | Page 4

and I say unto this man, 'Go,' and he goeth; to
another, 'Come,' and he cometh, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he
doeth it. Wherefore, if I can so readily command my servants to do my
bidding, I know that if Thou biddest this sickness to go out from my
servant it will surely go."
Jesus marvelled at the man's words, and said to His followers, "Verily,
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in all Israel."
And to the Centurion He said, "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed,
so be it done unto thee." And his servant was healed in the selfsame
hour, and when those that had been sent returned to the house, they
found the servant whole that had been sick.
[Illustration: CHRIST AND THE CENTURION.]

ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS.
On one occasion, a proud Pharisee, whose name was Simon, invited
Jesus to eat with him. But the invitation was a cold one. There was no
kiss of welcome, no water to bathe His hot and dusty feet, no perfumed
ointment for His head: nothing but a bare admission to a vacant place at
the table was granted to Jesus. But there He reclined, His left elbow
resting on a cushion, and His feet projecting beyond the edge of the
couch.
Now it happened that a poor, sinful woman was passing, who,
discovering that Jesus was in the house, timidly entered, and stood
behind Him. She had an alabaster box of ointment, and, as she looked
on Jesus, she wept. Her tears fell upon His feet; so, stooping down, she
tenderly wiped them away with her long hair; then she kissed the
Saviour's feet, and anointed them with the fragrant ointment. This was
done as a token of respect and love.

But an evil eye had noted the kindly act; and the proud Pharisee
thought within himself, if Jesus were the prophet He professes to be,
He would certainly have known that the woman was a great sinner, and
would not have allowed her to touch Him. But Jesus came to save
sinners. He loves them, though He hates their sins. He rebuked the
haughty Simon; and showed him how he had neglected the commonest
rites of hospitality towards his guest, while this poor woman had
treated Jesus with the greatest reverence. Then Jesus said, "Her sins
which are many are forgiven, for she loved much"; and He bade her go
in peace.
[Illustration: ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS.]

THE RICH FOOL.
There was a certain rich man who owned much land. And his fields and
vineyards were so productive that when the time of harvest came, he
had not room enough to store his corn and fruits. So after much thought
he said, "This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater
ones, and there will I store all my fruits and my goods. Then I can say
to myself, 'I have great store of goods laid up, enough for many years;
now I can take mine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.'"
But God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required
of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast hoarded?"
Jesus says it shall be so with all those who set their minds upon storing
up riches in this world, rather than laying up treasures in heaven by
pleasing God and working in His service. Death will come when they
least expect it, and they will have to leave all their earthly riches, and
go where no treasure has been laid up for them.
And He said unto His disciples, "Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on; for the life is more
than meat, and the body more than raiment. For all these things do the
nations of the world seek after, and your Father knoweth that ye have

need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all
these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, for it is the Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye have and give alms;
provide yourselves a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no
thief approacheth, or moth corrupteth."
[Illustration: THE RICH FOOL.]

THE UNFRUITFUL TREE.
A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and
sought fruit thereon, but found none. Then he called to the gardener
who attended to his vineyard, and said to him, "Behold these three
years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none. Cut it down.
Why does it encumber the ground?"
The gardener answered him and said,