CHAPTER V.

JESUS GOING ABOUT DOING GOOD.

AND now Jesus began to preach. I hope you will soon learn by heart the beautiful sermon called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus sat on a mountain, and a great number of people sat down below while He taught them. He went about, too, healing all manner of sickness, so that an immense number of sick people followed Him; and all who came were made quite well.

One day when Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two men in a ship. They were brothers, and were named Simon Peter and Andrew. Just as Jesus passed by, they were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. He called them,

saying, "Follow me.' ." They did not ask, "How can we? What shall we do if we leave our boat?" No; they left nets, ship, and all, and followed Jesus. They were allowed to go back to their ships when it was necessary for them to catch more fish to live upon. But Jesus had something else for them to do, and they were willing to give up all for Him.

A little further on were two more menJames and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a ship with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them too, and they followed Him. From that time they were always with Him.

Besides these four, there were eight others, whom Jesus called at different times. All twelve were called his disciples, because they were taught by Jesus. Sometimes you will hear them called apostles. That was when Jesus sent them out to preach.

And now, dear children, I am going to

tell you of some of the wonderful things which Jesus did, and which are called miracles. A miracle is something which does not commonly happen, but by the extraordinary power of God. One day Jesus was invited to a wedding, with his disciples. His mother, too, was there. I suppose there were more visitors than were expected, for there was not wine enough for all. Mary came and told Jesus this. She meant to ask Him to work a miracle, and she had no doubt He would, though He did not say so. She then told the servants to do whatever Jesus should bid them. Now, there were set there six large stone water-pots, which were used to contain water. The Jews were very particular about their washings, and these jars were made to contain an immense quantity—about twenty gallons each. They were now empty. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the water-pots with water," and they filled them to the brim. And now Jesus told them to draw out, and carry

the wine to the governor of the feast. How surprised the servants must have been to find that they were drawing out wine, for they knew they had only put water into the jars. The ruler of the feast did not know where this wine came from, but, when he had tasted it, he called the bridegroom, and asked him how it was that he had given his friends the best wine last. This was the first miracle that Jesus performed in Cana.

You will remember that I told you of a journey which Jesus took when He was twelve years old, and went with his parents to keep the Passover at Jerusalem. I shall have to tell you of other visits which He made there for the same purpose. The first time that we hear of his going into the Temple, after he began to teach and preach, He found people there selling oxen, and sheep, and doves. There were also men sitting there with tables before them, changing money. Do you not think the

holy Jesus must have been much shocked at such wickedness? Indeed He was. He made a scourge of small cords, and drove them all out of the Temple, with their oxen, and sheep, and doves. Then he overthrew the tables, and poured out the money. Jesus could not bear to see his Father's house made use of for any common

purpose.

And you, dear children, must learn from this to have great reverence for God's house. Never forget, when you are there, that you are in the immediate presence of God, and never suffer yourselves to give way to idle or careless conduct in that sacred place.

While Jesus was at Jerusalem, He did many miracles of which we are not told. A great many people believed, when they saw these miracles. There was one learned man, a Pharisee, and a ruler, named Nicodemus, who longed to know more of what Jesus taught. But he could not make up his mind to be laughed at, or persecuted,