THE next morning Mark took his place at the family board. The quick eye of his mother detected something unusual in his manner. The usual topics were discussed at the morning meal, letters opened, and at last Isaac Barnard departed to his business in the town. He had been too absorbed in his morning paper to notice Mark. He was happy if his boy were happy. The following week was the "Passover," and Mark felt that he could not go through a mock ceremony when he knew that Christ, the true Passover, had been sacrificed for him; so he determined that evening to confess to his father his present faith. He did not tell Reginald of his resolve.
Isaac returned at the usual hour. The dinner was over; father, mother, and son were gathered round the fire alone. This was not so at all times, as the house was often full of company. Silence reigned for some time. Sarah was plying her needle over some piece of fancy work, and Isaac was reading a newspaper. At last the voice of Mark was heard in the following utterance:
“Father, I cannot join in the coming feast, for I believe that Jesus of Nazareth is our true Messiah.”
This was enough. Sarah looked up aghast. Isaac rose to his feet, and stood as one transfixed. At last, with pallid face and trembling voice, he commanded his son to go to his room. He then violently rang the bell, and requested that Reginald Stevenson should be told that his presence was needed immediately. Poor Reginald was unprepared for this hasty summons. He came, and there, with calm dignity, he answered the following questions:
“Have you instructed my son to despise his father's faith?”
“No, Sir. I would rather teach him to
honor it, if your faith is to trust the God of Israel.”
“I do trust in the God of Israel.”
“I do, too, most implicitly.”
“Then I am favored in having such a tutor for my son. My son has confessed to me that he believes Jesus of Nazareth is our true Messiah.”
“I, too, Sir, firmly believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the true Messiah and my Savior-God.”
Isaac's rage and indignation could ill brook this, but he was a true gentleman, and controlled himself, and gave Reginald a hearing, as Felix of old gave Paul, and Reginald uttered the following words, fearing he might never have another opportunity—
“Yes, I do believe Him to be my Savior-God. In Him I fully trust. The God of Israel said in your Holy Writ, Without shedding of blood there is no remission,' and that same One also said, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth,' I am God, and beside me there is no other Savior. And, Sir, this name of Jesus is sweet in a believer's ear.
Isaac listened, his conscience was probed. He well knew those words, " Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission," and still year after year he went to the synagogue on the Day of Atonement, and after having spent hours in the recital of numerous prayers, the sound of the ram's horn at sunset had sent him to his home, believing that the sins of the past year were all forgiven. Years after this memorable evening, when his son was in the Jerusalem above, this son of Abraham thought of these words. However the hatred of that precious name broke out afresh when he thought of his only son. Sarah was silent, but was none the less interested; still the time came, when this gentle lady, in mistaken zeal, cursed her son on her dying bed.
The next morning Reginald Stevenson received a notice of dismissal, with a check containing a full term's salary in advance, as well as that almost due. Reginald, however, had sown the seed in that Jewish house that would spring up yet. Mark appeared at the breakfast table with a calm, restful expression, but mixed with sadness, for he well knew the issue of the circumstances that had happened-that unless he recanted, he would be an outcast. Poor Mark, however, had gone that morning to the throne of grace, and had there found grace to help in this time of need.
After the morning meal, his father requested Mark to follow him into the library, and although this parent was stern and inexorable, he could not, much as he tried, suppress a feeling of curiosity to know more of this Jesus of Nazareth.
“Mark," he said, "you are young, and therefore easily influenced. This idea that you have taken into your head is only the outcome of a fevered brain. You have had too much study lately. I wish you to take rest and change. I will seek another tutor, who shall accompany you wherever you express a wish to go.”
This was the first intimation that Mark had of his separation from Reginald.
Bitter was the thought; but he dared not utter it. Reginald had left that morning with no opportunity of seeing his beloved pupil. He commended him, however, to the God of his fathers, and now that God was going to act for him, to show him "the more perfect way.”
Mark thanked his father for this offer, and expressed a wish to see Jerusalem. This was eagerly granted, and when Isaac heard that word Jerusalem, his heart bounded with hope that his boy would not utterly reject his father's faith.
Isaac thought it prudent not to press his son to stay for the coming feast, and thus have a scene; he liked to take life easily, and so he hastily chose a clever man, one highly recommended for his talent and integrity; but he was a Jew. Isaac thought that this management on his part would withstand any more attacks from the Christian faith. But who can fight against the God of Israel? He is above all, and working all together for good for the One who loves Him. Mark was a chosen vessel unto Him. He was going to care for this young disciple. None ever trusted Him in vain, and this Mark was led to prove. His faith failed him not, though all seemed against him now.
The following day was fixed for his departure, and early that day a tall dark stranger was introduced to Mark by his father. The dark penetrating eye of this new friend took in at a single glance the character of the pupil committed to his charge. The dark handsome face and manly form, with eyes possessed of intellectual fire, and with a character well formed, strong in mind as well as in body, was a fit subject outwardly to accompany this Jewish youth in his travels. So Isaac thought, but man cannot read the heart.
Benjamin Alexander had been strictly brought up a Jew, but as he stood before father and son, there was a little volume in his pocket, that he was beginning to prize more than all the world beside. He had picked it up only a few days before in the streets of London—a beautifully bound pocket testament, that some person had dropped; but this precious volume was to drop seeds into Jewish hearts that would spring up into eternal life.
Oh my reader! how different are the feelings of a Jew, as he for the first time reads of the Redeemer's love, to the careless indifference with which that wonderful story is read by so many of those who have known it from their earliest days. Oh! careless reader of those wonderful words of life, wake up from thy sleep of lethargy; for the Judge stands at the door, "no time for mirth or trifling here.”
At 3 o'clock that afternoon a cab was at the door to take Benjamin and Mark to the railway station, where they took tickets for Dover and Calais. During the journey very little was said. The tutor saw that his pupil was sad, and indeed he was, thinking of his dear friend Reginald, and of hours that would be no more. Benjamin did not wish to intrude himself, so he withdrew from his pocket the little volume spoken of. He had commenced the first chapter of St. John, and was so interested that he was surprised to find that he was at the end of the railway journey, where the steamer was ready to start for Calais. Quickly he put the volume away, and escorted his charge to the steamer.
It was a calm and peaceful evening, and in a few hours they were on shore. A motley crowd met their gaze; the French tongue sounded strangely in their ears, although each was conversant with that language. They soon arrived at Paris, and drove to an hotel, and were supplied with everything in the way of comfort that money could procure.
There was a kind of reserve between teacher and pupil that time alone could efface; but time did at last, and these two found companionship like David and Jonathan of old, and this friendship as we shall afterward see was cemented by holier bonds.
They went to the south of France. Isaac gave Mark a letter of introduction to an old friend of his, David d'Israeli, who welcomed the son of his friend to his house, and there pupil and tutor found rest and change for five weeks. Botany was a favorite study with Benjamin, and he thought this in a measure would draw away the mind of his pupil from his trouble. God alone is our stay, we know, in times of trouble; still, He works by means in the beautiful laws of nature. Any study or employment that tends to take the mind off self is to be followed with alacrity. Where is the one who is truly happy whose mind is centered in self? If God is good in giving His weary workers rest and change, let them employ their minds in that which will tend to raise them towards their Creator. Mark and Benjamin spent much of their time in roaming the hills and dales of lovely southern France, studying the flowers and plants of every hue, thus raising their minds and hearts to that One, who said when contemplating the beauties of the lily, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
One evening, after the pleasant pursuits of the day, Mark was walking alone on the grounds of his host. The lovely mountains in the distance were rising in grandeur into heaven's ethereal blue. The evening was calm and lovely, speaking peace to all around save to Mark. Only one short week before had he been on other such grounds in his father's palatial dwelling. No mountains rose there to relieve the background; still wealth was there as well as here.
Mark was thinking of that evening when he heard for the first time from Reginald's lips wonderful words of life! He was thinking, too, of the little volume he had seen so often in his teacher's hand, and which he had so longed to read, and now a like one was in Benjamin's. He strolled on, and in one of the winding paths he espied Benjamin. The pupil linked his arm in that of his tutor, and on they strolled. No word had yet been uttered by either as to their faith. At last Mark said, in his usual frank way, "You seem to have a very interesting book; it is so small, and yet every day for the last week I have seen you reading it.”
Benjamin started; he knew not what to say. He had been reading day after day only a narrative of interest to him. He had not yet read it by the light of the Spirit of God. He little thought that he was to be taught the way more perfectly by his Jewish pupil.
Benjamin then said that he had picked up a volume in the street, and that it was a wonderful history of the Nazarene, and that it was so interesting that he had read its pages again and again, and he wished that he knew of some person who could explain it to him.
Mark said, "What is it you would know?
“I would know who this Jesus of Nazareth really is.”
Then Mark, in all the zeal of his youth and pent-up feelings, said: "I know who He is—He is the true Messiah, my Jehovah, my Savior-God, my Redeemer.”
Benjamin stood aghast, gazing earnestly into the face of his pupil, whose upturned, calm, heavenly expression contrasted so greatly with Benjamin's anxious one. There in the twilight did Mark pour forth into Benjamin's ear the same tale of a Savior's love that Reginald had so recently poured into his. Benjamin, though with a capacity to take in the writings of the greatest and cleverest men of the day, stood rapt in wonder when he heard the breathings of his Jewish comrade. How that Jesus was the Captain of His people's salvation; the same who stood before the Israelitish leader, Joshua, of old,, before he entered to fight the battles of the promised land, saying, "As captain of the Lord's host am I come." Benjamin was lost in wonder, indeed. Yes; the God of Israel did not bid His weak ones fight without telling them that He would go before them; and oh! Israel, if thou hadst trusted thy gracious Redeemer, who had brought thee out of Egypt's bondage, and through the blood of the paschal lamb carried thee safely through to the other shores of "Egypt's dark sea," how much wouldst thou have been saved! But, blessed be God, He loves thee still for the fathers' sake, and down-trodden Jerusalem will rise again; King Solomon will sit again on thy throne, and that throne will stand forever; but thou dost not think that thy King will be Jesus of Nazareth, and that thou wilt look on Him whom thou hast pierced. Blessed Jesus, every knee to Thee must bow, and own and crown Thee Lord of all!
“Jesus, in Thee our eyes behold
A thousand glories more
Than the rich gems and polished gold
The sons of Aaron wore.”
Then Mark told Benjamin from whom he had learned these truths, and there in the evening hour these two young Jews knelt down before the God of their fathers, and asked Him to show them what He would have them do.
Benjamin desired to hear more of his pupil. He had fully explained to him of the Passover; but there were of course many things that he could not understand as types of Jesus of Nazareth.
Benjamin said, " You know our fathers were told to sacrifice a bird, and to dip the wings of a living one into the blood of the dead one, and then to send it away into the heavens. What could this have to do with Jesus of Nazareth?”
Mark well remembered all that Reginald had told him as to this. "That the dead bird typified the Lamb of God that took away the sin of the world, and the bloodstained living one prefigured Christ entering the heavens, by His own blood for us. At any moment, as the sinless One, He could enter heaven; but when He took upon Himself the sin of the world, He was bound to expiate it, and God was so satisfied, that He raised Him from the dead and seated Him upon His throne—the throne of God and of the Lamb thus showing forth His Godhead. The throne of God and of the Lamb! Who could sit on God's throne, but Himself? He has said, I will not share my glory with another.'”
Now it was Benjamin's turn to find joy and peace in believing, which he did that same evening; and thus Reginald Stevenson gave place to a Jewish tutor, that he might, through him, find his Savior-God.
My Savior-God! Oh, what a word is this, that Thou, Creator of this vast universe, shouldest leave heaven's glories and Thy eternal throne, and walk this earth of Thine, and at last allow Thy creatures whom Thou couldest, with one breath, have sent into eternal woe, nail Thee to the accursed cross, that Thou mightest take them up into the heights of Thine eternal home, to walk with Thee when time shall be no more.
That very night, ere sleep closed his eyes, Benjamin Alexander was a new creature in Christ Jesus. He could say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth;" and that same Redeemer was the "despised Nazarene," and that He had loved him and given Himself for him.
The friends met the next morning at the breakfast-table, one in heart and one in purpose; but poor Mark was to have no earthly prop. Benjamin's career on earth had almost run its course: he was to go to be with that Lord whom he had so recently known. No persecution was he to receive. This was to be left for Mark, who naturally seemed the least able to bear it.
“God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform,
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.'