John 11:47-53 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man does many miracles.… At Ragenbach in Germany one afternoon a great number of people were assembled in the large room of the inn. The room door stood open and the village blacksmith, a pious, brave-hearted man, sat near the door. All at once a mad dog rushed in, but was seized by the smith with an iron grasp and dashed on the floor. "Stand back, my friends," cried he. "Now hurry out while I hold him. Better for one to perish than for all." The dog bit furiously on every side. His teeth tore the arms and thighs of the heroic smith, but he would not let go his hold. When all the people had escaped he flung the half-strangled beast from him against the wall, left the room and locked the door. The dog was shot; but what was to become of the man? The friends whose lives he had saved stood round him weeping. "Be quiet, my friends," he said, "don't weep for me: I've only done my duty. When I am dead think of me with love; and now pray for me that God will not let me suffer long or too much. I know I shall become mad, but I will take care that no harm comes to you through me." Then he went to his shop. He took a strong chain. One end of it he rivetted with his own hands round his body, the other end he fastened round the anvil so strongly that no earthly power could loose it. Then he turned to his friends and said, "Now it's done! You are all safe. I can't hurt you. Bring me food while I am well and keep out of my reach when I am mad. The rest I leave with God." Soon madness seized him, and in nine days he died — died gloriously for his friends; but Christ died for His enemies. (R. Newton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. |
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