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The Old Testament Page

Introduction ......................................................9

Creation .........................................................10

The Serpent ...............................................12

Cain and Abel ............................................14

Noah’s Ark .................................................16

End of the Flood ........................................18

Tower of Babel ...........................................20

Abraham ....................................................22

Jacob and Esau .........................................24

Joseph .......................................................26

Joseph in Egypt .........................................28

Moses ........................................................30

First Stages of the Exodus ........................32

Plagues in Egypt........................................34

The Exodus................................................36

Egyptians in the Red Sea ..........................38

The Commandments .................................40

Crossing the Jordan...................................42

Jericho .......................................................44

Samson......................................................46

Death of Samson .......................................48

Ruth ...........................................................50

Saul............................................................52

David ..........................................................54

David and Saul...........................................56

Solomon.....................................................58

Elijah ..........................................................60

Job .............................................................62

Judith..........................................................64

Jeremiah ....................................................65

Daniel in the Lions’ Den.............................66

Tobit ...............................................................68

Rebuilding Jerusalem ................................70

The New Testament Page

Introduction ................................................73

Birth of Jesus.............................................74

Wise Men Visit Jesus.................................76

Flight into Egypt .........................................78

Jesus in the Temple ...................................80

Jesus Is Baptized.......................................82

Call of the Apostles....................................84

Wedding Feast at Cana .............................85

Great Catch of Fish....................................86

Jesus Cures ...............................................88

Sermon on the Mount ................................90

Jesus Cures the Servant ...........................92

Widow of Naim...........................................93

Jesus Calms the Sea.................................94

Jesus Casts Out a Demon ........................95

Jairus’s Daughter .......................................96

John the Baptist Dies .....................................98

Jesus Feeds the People ..........................100

Jesus Walks on Water..............................102

The Transfiguration ..................................104

Jesus Raises Lazarus..............................106

Jesus Calls Peter .....................................108

The Prodigal Son .....................................110

Workers in the Vineyard...........................112

The Good Samaritan ...............................113

Zaccheus .................................................114

Jesus Enters Jerusalem ..........................115

The Last Supper ......................................116

Agony in the Garden................................118

Judas Betrays Jesus................................119

Jesus before Caiaphas ............................120

Peter Denies Jesus..................................121

Jesus Is Scourged ...................................122

Contents

Page

Jesus Is Condemned ...............................124

Jesus Carries His Cross ..........................125

Jesus Is Crucified ....................................126

Jesus Dies ...............................................129

Burial of Jesus .........................................130

Jesus’ Resurrection..................................132

Road to Emmaus .....................................134

Page

Jesus Appears to the Apostles ................135

Spreading the Gospel ..............................136

Stoning of Stephen ..................................137

Conversion of Saul...................................138

Paul: “Lion of God” ...................................139

Deaths of Peter and Paul.........................140

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DAY by day, Saul became more darkand depressed. It was as if he were

suffering from a serious illness. In themeantime, Samuel traveled to Beth-lehem as God had commanded him, forit was there that he would find a manworthy to be anointed as the king ofIsrael. In Bethlehem, Samuel found ared-haired young boy. He was hand-some and strong. He asked, “Who isthat boy?” A man named Jesse answered, “He is

David, my son.”Samuel then knew what he had to do.

He called the boy over and anointedhim with holy oil, secretly proclaiminghim to be the king of Israel. And soGod’s plan was fulfilled. A short timelater, Saul wished to find someone whocould play the lyre because its musicwould comfort him when he feltdepressed and overwhelmed. Davidwas quite good at playing the lyre, sohe was brought to the royal court. Heplayed for Saul. Saul felt better whenhe listened to the music, and sometimes

he even broke into a smile. He lovedDavid and took him under his protec-tion.

But there was always anotherwar to fight. The Philistines invad-ed Israel again, and this time theybrought with them a great giantnamed Goliath. He wore ironarmor and carried a huge spear.Goliath stood in front of theIsraelites and cried out, “Why haveyou all gone to all this trouble? Letone of your men come out and fightme. If he wins, the Philistines will beyour slaves. But if he loses, you will beour slaves.”No one was brave enough to go out

and fight the giant. Day after day heshouted out his challenge.Then, one day, David said to Saul, “I

can’t stand it that this Philistine animalkeeps insulting the people of God. Oking, I will go out to fight him.”“You?” asked the shocked king,

“You’re nothing but a boy!”“No, I am God’s soldier.”“At least put on some armor, David,

or Goliath will tear you apart.”David put on the armor, but couldn’t

even move in it. He said, “O king, I wantto go fight Goliath dressed as I am.”He grabbed five stones from the

riverbed, and he confidently marchedtoward the camp of the Philistines, car-rying only his staff and a sling.Goliath saw him coming out, and as

he marched out to meet him he criedout, “What do you want, boy?”“I am going to fight you, because you

have been insulting the people of Godfor far too long.”Goliath roared with laughter. “Is that

so? It won’t be too long before the dogs

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David

PEOPLE hated and were afraid of lep-ers, and this is why they were kept as

far away as possible from other people.A poor leper dragged himself over toJesus. Jesus, unlike the others, did notrun away from him. He stood still, await-ing him. The leper threw himself at Hisfeet and said, “Lord, if You wish, You canheal me.” Jesus reached out His handand touched him saying, “I do wish it, behealed.” All of the wounds that had beencaused by the leprosy disappeared. The leper who had been healed cried

out for joy, and he wanted to showeveryone that he had been cured of hisleprosy. Jesus, however, said, “No! Donot tell anyone! Go to the priests andoffer a sacrifice to God.” The leper made this promise to Jesus,

but he couldn’t keep his word. He criedout, “Look at me! It’s me. Don’t you rec-ognize me? I’m healed!” Awestruck, theyasked him, “Who healed you?” Thehealed leper answered, “Jesus, it wasJesus, the Son of God!”

He then joyously ran to show himselfto everyone whom he could. Jesus be-came quite famous because of this.Many people came out to see Him andto listen to His preaching. Many ofthese were poor or they were ill andwanted to be healed. The wise men,priests, and doctors of the law alsocame out to see Him. Jesus went fromdistrict to district, from city to city. One day He came to Capernaum. He

arrived with a large crowd of His fol-lowers. He went into one of His friends’houses. There were so many peoplegathered around the house that no onecould get in or leave through the door.Among the people in the crowd werefour men who were carrying a stretch-er that held a paralyzed man.They cried out, “Make way! Make way!

Let us through, we’ve got to go in to seeJesus!” But the crowd was too dense andthey couldn’t get through. They climbedup to the roof of the house and theymoved some of the tiles aside, making

Jesus Cures

an opening. They then let down thestretcher with ropes. Jesus was movedwith compassion. These men truly hadfaith in Him. He looked down at the par-alyzed man who was looking up at Himwith eyes filled with hope. He said tohim, “My son, your sins are forgivenyou.” Among those in the house were some

priests who were scandalized by whatHe had said. They said to one another,

“Did you hear what He said? Blasphemy!Only God can forgive sins!” As soon asthey had said this, Jesus, Who had over-heard them, turned to them and said,“Which is easier to say, that your sins areforgiven or that you are to get up, takeyour stretcher and walk?” Then He saidto the paralyzed man, “Get up, take yourstretcher and go on your way!” The par-alytic got up, took his stretcher and left,praising God the whole way out.

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