



Produced by Michael Gray, Diocese of San Jose







ALTEMUS'
BEAUTIFUL STORIES SERIES


THE FIRST EASTER

BY

J. H. WILLARD


ILLUSTRATED


PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY



Altemus' Illustrated
Beautiful Stories Series

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.
THE FIRST EASTER.
ONCE IN SEVEN YEARS.
         The Story of the Jubilee
WITH HAMMER AND NAIL.
          The Story of Jael and Sisera
FIVE KINGS IN A CAVE.
         The Story of a Great Battle
THE WISEST MAN.
         The Story of Solomon
A FARMER'S WIFE.
         The Story of Ruth
THE MAN WHO DID NOT DIE.
         The Story of Elijah
WHEN IRON DID SWIM.
         The Story of Elisha
WHAT IS SWEETER THAN HONEY.
         The Story of Samson


Copyright, 1906
By Henry Altemus



[Illustration: TWO ANGELS.]

THE FIRST EASTER

IN the story of The First Easter, as in the story of The First
Christmas, there is much that is hard to understand, but if we review
somewhat the Blessed Life of Jesus, we shall better appreciate the
glorious significance of the day.

Jesus had passed through His human life, everywhere uttering words of
pity, and stretching out hands of mercy. To suffer was to have a
claim upon Him. He had not used His supernatural powers for His own
benefit, but for the good of others. He employed them freely,
helping, comforting, healing, blessing, wherever He went.

[Illustration: "HELPING, COMFORTING, HEALING, BLESSING."]

Shepherds, led by angels, were the first witnesses of Jesus' birth.
His boyhood was spent at Nazareth, and was entirely without sin. He
studied the Old Testament Scriptures in the synagogues, but in no way
did He become identified with the Pharisees or their instructions,
yet when He began His ministry He was able to teach with authority.

Jesus was baptized by John, who was only six months older than
himself, and then, after successfully resisting the temptations of an
evil spirit, He began to exercise His higher powers and gifts, thus
entering upon His public activity.

The life of Jesus was a wandering one during His short ministry on
earth. He visited Jerusalem twice, Samaria once, Nazareth once, and
Capernaum several times, besides pausing on the banks of the Jordan,
and traveling from place to place in Galilee. He said of Himself,
that He had not _"where to lay His head."_

It is thought that Jesus wore the usual dress of a rabbi, or teacher;
a blue robe worn over a long undergarment of white, or pale gray
striped with crimson; a covering of folded linen to protect His head,
and sandals for His feet.

Many beautiful incidents in the life of Jesus occurred between the
time of the first manifestation of His miraculous powers at Cana,
where He turned water into wine at a wedding feast, and the calling
of the Twelve Apostles.

On one of His visits to Capernaum Jesus was surrounded by sick and
helpless people, and He healed them all; made them well and strong
and happy. With heavy burdens lifted, and sorrowful hearts cheered,
the little town slept; but Jesus set out before daylight, and,
reaching a solitary place on a mountain, prayed to His Father, God.

Then from village to village, Jesus carried His message and ministry
of Love. One day a poor leper came to Him. Jesus touched him, and he
was a leper no more.

Not long, after this--again at Capernaum, four men carried a
paralyzed <DW36> on a litter to the house where Jesus was teaching.
The crowd about the door was so great that they could not enter, so
they lifted their burden onto the flat roof of the house, and having
made an opening, lowered the sick man, still on his litter, into the
room where Jesus was.

_"Son, thy sins be forgiven thee,"_ said Jesus, _"I say unto thee,
arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house."_
Instantly cured the man departed, carrying his litter as he had been
commanded.

The following Sabbath day Jesus publicly healed a man in the
synagogue, whose hand was withered and powerless. The unbelieving
rabbis, and others who were present, were so angry at Him for doing
this, that in their hatred and malice they consulted with the
supporters of the Roman government, whom they usually regarded as
enemies, as