Florence Nightingale’s Spiritual Journey: Biblical Annotations, Sermons and Journal Notes: Collected Works of Florence Nightingale, Volume 2

New Testament

New Testament [on the frontispiece] FN: The Four Gospels. John: Alexandrine mysticism, long dialectical discourses with an incident prefixed, exhibits Jesus publicly claiming his Messiahship from the first. Matthew, Mark and Luke: Galilean simplicity, short picturesque teachings, given as the growth of events, represent Jesus as ever privately concealing his Messiahship almost to the last. John [was] the first to follow Jesus by the Jordan, the last to leave him at the cross, with him in his solitudes and overheard his prayers, received the confession of his friendships and his griefs, his home sheltered the mother, who alone could tell the story of his early years. John’s gospel treats of a spot, which the others never approach except to close their story, of a time, of which the others are silent. [It] speaks not of the demoniacs, nor of the parables, which are their chief beauty, nor of the paschal supper, the occasion of their only rite, nor of the ascension. Matthew Matthew 1 and 2 FN: Ministry of Christ: 1. to fulfill the whole law in piety towards God, that is, zeal for his honour ; converts in prayer Mark 1:25,1 Luke 6:12,2 John 11:17,3 8:28-29,4 1 Where Jesus rebukes an unclean spirit. 2 Jesus prays all night on a mountain. 3 Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. 4 Jesus said, ‘‘I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me . . . and he that sent me is with me . . . .’’ / 233 8:12;5 [ch] 17: in goodness towards man—body and soul; Matthew 4:23;6 Mark 10:13,7 16;8 Acts 10:38.9 2. to preach: (1) the law of God requiring holiness of thought also; Matthew 5-7;10 (2) against traditions and ceremonies; Matthew 22:36-40,11 23:4, 16, 18, 23, 25;12 (3) pardon and life; Matthew 4:17;13 John 3:16;14 (4) punishment of death—particularly to hypocrites; Matthew 13:41,15 23:28,16 33;17 John 3:18,18 36,19 8:24;20 (5) his own commission; John 5:19-41;21 5 Jesus said, ‘‘I am the light of the world . . . .’’ 6 Jesus preached the gospel and healed ‘‘all manner of sickness and . . . disease among the people.’’ 7 ‘‘And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them . . . .’’ 8 ‘‘ . . . he took them [the children] up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.’’ 9 God ‘‘anointed Jesus . . . with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressd of the devil, for God was with him.’’ 10 The sermon on the mount. 11 ‘‘ . . . Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind . . . .Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’’ 12 All these verses refer to the abuse of traditions and ceremonies: Pharisees binding heavy burdens on others (4), nitpicking about oaths (16, 18), tithing herbs but ignoring the law (23), ritual cleansing without reference to its real meaning (25). 13 Where Jesus began to preach repentance. 14 ‘‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’’ 15 ‘‘The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.’’ 16 ‘‘Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.’’ 17 ‘‘Ye serpents . . . how can ye escape the damnation of hell?’’ 18 ‘‘He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already . . . .’’ 19 ‘‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life . . . .’’ 20 ‘‘ . . . if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.’’ 21 On the Father-Son relationship: ‘‘The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do . . . .’’ 234 / Florence Nightingale’s Spiritual Journey (6) his second coming; Matthew 24:15-28,22 24:35,23 25:31-46;24 John 5:27-29;25 3. to work miracles: (1) to feed; Matthew 14...