30
The Story of Jesus
it too. It will be in us like a spring of water, that flows out in blessing
to all around.
And every one in whom God’s Spirit dwells, will live forever with
Christ in His kingdom. Received into the heart by faith, it is the
beginning of the life eternal.
This precious blessing Christ told the woman He would give her if
she asked for it. So He will give it to us.
This woman had broken God’s commandments, and Christ showed
her that He knew the sins of her life. But He showed, too, that He was
her friend, that He loved and pitied her, and that if she was willing to
forsake her sins, God would receive her as His child.
How glad she was to know this! In her joy she hurried away to the
town near by, and called the people to come and see Jesus.
So they came to the well, and asked Him to stay with them. He
remained two days, and taught them, and many listened to His words.
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They repented of their sins, and believed on Him as their Saviour.
During His ministry, Jesus twice visited His old home at Nazareth.
At the first visit He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
Here He read from Isaiah’s prophecy about the work of the
Messiah—how He was to preach good tidings to the poor, to comfort
the sorrowing, to give sight to the blind, and to heal those that were
bruised.
Then He told the people that all this was fulfilled that day. This
was the work that He Himself was doing.
At these words the hearers were filled with joy. They believed that
Jesus was the promised Saviour. Their hearts were moved upon by the
Holy Spirit, and they responded with fervent amens and praises to the
Lord.
Then they remembered how Jesus had lived among them as a
carpenter. Often they had seen Him working in the shop with Joseph.
Though in His whole life there had been only deeds of love and mercy,
they would not believe that He was the Messiah.
By such thoughts as these they opened the way for Satan to control
their minds. Then they were filled with wrath against the Saviour.
They cried out against Him, and determined to take His life.
They hurried Him away, meaning to throw Him over the steep side
of a hill. But holy angels were near to protect Him. He passed safely
through the crowd, and was not to be found.