[Ill.u.s.tration: ONE OF THE FIRST PICTURES EVER MADE OF "CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD." FOUND IN THE CATACOMBS, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CEMETERY]
Another very touching picture is of the raising of Lazarus. The artist who carved this had once been a heathen; perhaps in former days he had made and sold idols, but now all his life and talents were consecrated to G.o.d.
And here carved in stone, is the Good Shepherd, Christ bearing the lost lamb on His shoulder, just as He does in the picture you love so well at home; Christ, the Good Shepherd of your life, just as surely as He was the Saviour and Friend of these men and women who fell asleep so long ago!
Here is a picture of Jesus feeding the five thousand with the loaves and fishes; in this carving He is changing the water into wine; here, carved on a small panel, let into a tomb, is a Roman soldier crowning our Lord in mockery; and here is Pilate washing his hands in the vain hope that he could wash away his responsibility.
Now, there is one very wonderful thing about all these pictures: although so many martyrs lie buried here, nearly all the pictures and inscriptions are cheerful!
The heathen Roman writers tell a great deal about the dreadful sufferings of the Christians, but there is very little said about it on the tombs of the martyrs themselves. In peace; they are at peace: the torture, the shame is over for ever; the life of love and joy and victory is all before them.
How thoroughly these first Christians knew their Bible! How they loved to picture its scenes. Had all the writings of the New Testament been lost, we should have known the most important events of our Lord"s life on earth from these faded paintings and worn carvings alone.
Love, joy, peace; the love of Christ from which nothing can separate us; the joy which even the fires of martyrdom cannot quench; the peace which the world does not give, and cannot take away. This is the message which these first Bible pictures bring to us all. For to the early martyrs the Bible was what G.o.d intends it should be to us--a living power, a Divine Voice, a constant source of strength and inspiration on the heavenward journey.
STORIES FOR INTELLIGENT CHILDREN
A REALLY DELIGHTFUL SERIES, Charmingly Bound and Ill.u.s.trated
Price 1s. each. Cloth Boards
By MILDRED DUFF and NOEL HOPE
Over 30,000 already in circulation
BIBLE STORIES! Who does not love Bible Stories? Even the words themselves bring back memories of past years, when, as children, we listened to stirring tales of those men and women of old whose names are so familiar, and of whom we were then first taught. Crude in style perhaps many of the stories were, but none the less interesting.
Perhaps there were things we could not quite understand, and knowledge had not sufficiently advanced to explain, but we accepted them all.
Now great progress has been made in research; modern discoveries in Egypt supply the details which were lacking, and the old stories can be told again in a new style, in the light of fuller knowledge, with added interest, and with a force which previously had been impossible. How wonderful the result? Our Bibles become dearer to us than ever before; we need have no fear of being asked the reason of our belief; what we merely accepted before is now proved for us.
Let us take, for example, the story of Moses. In this, modern discovery has done splendid service, supplying just those details most needed, as though his sayings and doings had been preserved for our reading. "Where Moses went to School" is a fascinating t.i.tle.
To be obtained from Marshall Brothers, Ltd., Paternoster Row, E.C., or 9 North Bank Street, Edinburgh.
The Campfield Press, St. Albans