The four Gospels, each telling in its own way the story of the Life of Jesus, are the rich heritage of Christians. No one of the Gospels could be spared. But in reading any one of the four we miss some of the familiar words and incidents we love. Almost from the days of the Apostles there have been attempts to unite the Gospels in a single narrative. The first of these efforts, so far as we know, was undertaken by the devout scholar Tatian, soon after 173 A.D. His book served a useful purpose in his own and later generations, and is now a valuable witness to the antiquity and early acceptance of our four Gospels.

There have been many harmonies of the Gospel from the second century to the present; and they are all but indispensable to the scholar. Almost every minister keeps one at his elbow. But these, for the most part, are made for purposes of scholarly comparison, and not for general reading. Moreover, they are expensive.

The editors of this little book have undertaken to prepare an interwoven story of the Life of Jesus from the four Gospels for popular reading. A booklet that may be carried in the pocket, and may be sold, in paper binding, for ten cents, has been their ambition. They have been led to this undertaking by the large demand for copies of their booklet, "HIS LAST WEEK," which comprises the last third of this volume, whose use at Easter time has brought them many requests for the complete Gospel story, interwoven in the same manner.

The work of preparation has been done by three ministers of Oak Park, in suburban Chicago, who have shared equally the labor, but the undertaking has the support and co-operation of the entire group of fifteen local pastors, representing six different denominations. To this larger group of brethren is due a grateful acknowledgment of sympathy and assistance. The book has at least the value of an illustration in practical interdenominational co-operation. In the spirit of this fine fellowship it is commended to Christians of every name.

THE EDITORS

CONTENTS

I. His Birth and Boyhood=

1. THE DIVINE ANNOUNCINGS
The Word made Flesh. 13 The Promised Birth of John the Baptist. 14 The Angel's Visit to Mary. 15 Mary's Visit to Her Cousin. 16 Mary's Song. 17 The Birth of John the Baptist. 17 The Song of Zacharias. 18

2. THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF JESUS
Joseph and Mary. 20 The Birth of Jesus. 20 The Angels and the Shepherds. 21 The Circumcision. 22 The Presentation in the Temple. 22 The Visit of the Wise Men. 23 The Flight into Egypt. 24

3. THE LIFE IN NAZARETH
The Return to Nazareth. 26 The Boyhood Visit to Jerusalem. 26 The Eighteen Silent Years. 27

=II. The Beginnings of His Ministry=

1. JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST
The Voice in the Wilderness. 28 The Baptism of Jesus. 30 The Temptation in the Wilderness. 30 John's Testimony to Jesus. 31

2. THE BEGINNINGS OF FAITH
The First Disciples by the Jordan. 33 The First Miracle. 34

3. JESUS IN JERUSALEM.
Cleansing His Father's House. 36 The Visit of Nicodemus. 36

4. PREPARATORY PREACHING
Jesus Baptizing and Preaching. 39 John's Tribute to Jesus. 39 At Jacob's Well. 40 Preaching to the Samaritans. 41

=III. His Year of Popularity=

1. JESUS IN GALILEE
John the Baptist Imprisoned. 43 Reception of Jesus by the Galilaeans. 43 Healing the Nobleman's Son. 43 The Recall of the Fishermen. 44 A Day of Good Deeds in Capernaum. 45 The First Leper Healed. 47

2. BEGINNINGS OF CONTROVERSY
The Healing of a Paralytic. 48 The Publican Disciple. 49 The Old and the New. 49 A Sabbath Healing in Jerusalem. 50 Plucking Grain on the Sabbath. 53

3. MANY CALLED AND FEW CHOSEN
A Multitude of Disciples. 54 The Selection of the Twelve. 55

4. THE TEACHING OF THE KINGDOM
The Citizens of the Kingdom. 56 The Righteousness of the Kingdom. 57 The Danger of Hypocrisy. 59 Simple Trust in God. 61 Charitable Judgment. 62 Prayer. 63 Sincerity. 64

5. A TOUR IN GALILEE
The Worthy Centurion. 66 Raising the Widow's Son. 67 A Question from John the Baptist. 67 Jesus' Estimate of John the Baptist. 68 The Death of John the Baptist. 69 Forgiveness of the Repentant Woman. 70 The Ministering Women. 71

6. GROWING POPULARITY AND RISING OPPOSITION
The Concern of Jesus' Friends. 72 Warning of Eternal Sin. 72 The Demand for a Sign. 74

7. THE PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM
The Sower. 75 The Tares. 77 The Growing Grain. 77 The Mustard Seed. 77 The Leaven. 78 The Understanding of Parables. 78 The Hid Treasure. 79 The Pearl of Great Price. 79 The Drag Net. 79

8. A DAY OF MIRACLES BY THE LAKE
Jesus Stills the Storm. 80 The Legion of Demons. 80 The Dying Child and the Suffering Woman. 82 Healings by the Way. 84

9. WIDER EVANGELIZATION OF GALILEE
A Visit to His Home. 85 Preaching in the Villages. 86 The Twelve Sent Forth. 87

10. THE CRISIS IN CAPERNAUM
The Five Thousand Fed. 91 Jesus Walking on the Water. 92 The Disappointment of the People. 93 Rejection of the Tradition of the Elders. 97 The Plot of the Pharisees. 99

=IV. His Withdrawal with the Twelve=

1. THE MINISTRY BEYOND GALILEE
The Phoenician Retirement and the Gentile Cure. 100 Miracles and Multitudes Again. 101 The Four Thousand Fed. 101 The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand a Sign. 102 The Blind Man Healed. 103

2. JESUS THE MESSIAH
Peter's Confession. 105 The Passion and Resurrection Foretold. 105 The Transfiguration. 106 The Epileptic Boy. 108

3. THE TRAINING OF THE TWELVE
The Passion and Resurrection Again Foretold. 110 The Greatest Disciple. 110 Forgiveness. 112 The Shekel for the Temple. 113

=V. His Face Toward Jerusalem=

1. THE FINAL DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE
The Beginning of the End. 114 The Grateful Samaritan Leper. 114 New Disciples. 115<6. FRIDAY -- THE DAY OF SUFFERING
The Agony in Gethsemane. 199 The Betrayal and Arrest. 200 The Trial before the Jewish Authorities. 201 The Denial of Peter. 203 The Remorse of Judas. 204 The Trial before Pilate. 205 Jesus before Herod. 206 The Trial before Pilate Resumed. 207 The Sorrowful Way. 210 The Crucifixion. 210 The Burial. 214

7. SATURDAY -- THE DAY OF SILENCE AND SORROW
The Watch at the Tomb. 215

=VII. His Resurrection=

1. SUNDAY -- THE DAY OF RESURRECTION
The Earthquake. 216 The Empty Tomb. 216 The Appearance to Mary. 217 The Appearance to the Women. 217 Report of the Watch. 218 The Appearance at Emmaus. 218 The Appearance to the Disciples. 220

2. AFTER THE RESURRECTION DAY
The Appearance to the Disciples and to Thomas. 222 The Appearance to the Seven by the Sea. 222 The Appearance to the Eleven on the Mountain. 225 The Last Appearance and Ascension. 225