The Doré Bible Gallery, Volume 6

In Short

This volume presents key scenes from the New Testament, framing the nativity, childhood, and public ministry of Jesus through canonical scripture. The narrative moves from Caesar’s taxation decree to the arrival of the Magi, the escape from King Herod, and the tragic slaughter in Bethlehem. As Jesus grows, he astounds elders in the temple, preaches on the mountain, calms raging seas, casts out demons, and heals the sick. Lingering through the centuries, this timeless material captures the persistent tension between transformative authority, popular wonder, and religious skepticism.

The Story

The narrative opens during the reign of Caesar Augustus, whose decree forces Joseph and Mary to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be taxed. In that crowded city, Mary gives birth to her firstborn son, wrapping him in swaddling clothes and laying him in a humble manger. Nearby shepherds, terrified by an angelic apparition in their night fields, receive tidings of great joy and hurry into town to witness the newborn child. They return to their flocks praising God, while Mary silently treasures these moments in her heart. Shortly thereafter, wise men from the east follow a guiding star to Jerusalem, inquiring after the newborn King of the Jews. Their questions alarm King Herod, who privately urges them to search out the child under the guise of wanting to worship him himself.

After worshipping the child, the wise men depart, and an angel warns Joseph in a dream to flee with his family into Egypt to escape Herod’s deadly wrath. Enraged at being outwitted, Herod orders the slaughter of all male children two years old and under throughout Bethlehem and its surrounding regions, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children. The family remains safely in Egypt until the king passes away.

Years later, when Jesus is twelve years old, his family travels to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. On their return journey, his parents realize he is missing and spend three anxious days searching for him. They finally locate him in the temple, sitting among the learned doctors, asking questions and astonishing all who hear his deep understanding. He returns home to Nazareth, growing in wisdom, stature, and favor.

Upon entering his public ministry, Jesus travels throughout Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and performing miraculous healings. He restores the sick, those tormented by severe afflictions, lunatics, and the paralyzed. Vast crowds follow him as he ascends a mountain to deliver his famous sermon, speaking with direct authority rather than relying on standard scribal traditions. His power extends over creation itself when he calms a violent tempest on the sea, leaving his terrified disciples to marvel at his command over the wind and waves. He continues his work by driving out a devil from a dumb man, allowing the man to speak and leaving the crowds in awe. Yet, this growing influence meets immediate friction. The Pharisees accuse him of casting out devils through the prince of devils. When he returns to his hometown of Nazareth, the locals dismiss him as merely the carpenter’s son, offended by his claims and limiting his works through their lack of faith. Finally, when his disciples pluck corn on the Sabbath, the Pharisees charge them with breaking religious law, prompting Jesus to declare that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

How It Unfolds

The birth in Bethlehem Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem under Caesar’s decree, where Mary gives birth to Jesus in a manger because the local inn has no room. Angels announce the birth to field shepherds, who rush to view the child and spread the news before returning to their work.

The search of the wise men Magi arrive in Jerusalem following a prominent star, asking where to find the newborn King of the Jews. King Herod becomes deeply troubled by their search and instructs them to send word once the infant is found so he may secretly eliminate a rival.

Flight into Egypt and massacre Warned in a dream of Herod’s murderous intentions, Joseph flees with Mary and the child to Egypt under cover of night. Realizing he has been deceived by the Magi, Herod orders the massacre of all young boys in Bethlehem aged two and under.

Finding the youth in the temple At age twelve, Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem after the Passover feast without his parents' knowledge. After three agonizing days of searching, Mary and Joseph discover him in the temple, engaging in deep theological dialogue with the astonished religious scholars.

Ministry and the Sermon on the Mount Jesus travels through Galilee preaching, casting out demons, and healing those with paralysis, lunacy, and severe diseases. Great crowds gather from multiple regions, gathering on a mountain to hear him preach teachings delivered with striking authority.

Miracles and rising opposition While crossing the water, Jesus rebukes a fierce storm, bringing instant calm to the sea and astonishing his disciples. As he continues exorcising devils and healing the mute, the Pharisees accuse him of demonic alliance, and neighbors in Nazareth reject him due to their persistent unbelief.

The People

• Jesus wants to preach the gospel of the kingdom, heal the afflicted, and fulfill his divine calling. He faces the violent threats of earthly rulers, the disbelief of his hometown neighbors, and the rigid legal objections of the Pharisees. Throughout the narrative, he steps into public ministry, displaying effortless authority over illness, nature, and traditions.
• Mary wants to protect and nurture her son while navigating extraordinary circumstances. She faces physical danger during forced travels and the acute anguish of losing her child in a vast city. She quietly observes miraculous events, choosing to ponder these deep mysteries within her heart as her son grows into his public role.
• Joseph wants to shield his family from harm and obey divine instructions. He faces legal decrees requiring arduous travel, along with the lethal threat of Herod’s assassins. He acts swiftly upon angelic dreams, fleeing to Egypt by night to ensure the survival of his young family.
• Herod wants to secure his absolute political power against any potential rival to his throne. He faces the threat of a predicted king born in Bethlehem. Driven by paranoia and anger when outwitted by the Magi, he orders the indiscriminate slaughter of young children to eliminate the threat.
• The Pharisees want to preserve strict religious law and guard their own authority over the populace. They face a popular teacher who defies their traditional customs and gains vast followings. They challenge his authority, claiming his powers stem from evil forces and criticizing his actions on the Sabbath.

In Its Own Voice

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

This quiet opening highlights the stark contrast between worldly wealth and the humble conditions surrounding the birth in Bethlehem.

"And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."

Here, the narrative captures the early transition of Jesus from an obedient child within a family to an independent figure engaging directly with major religious scholars.

"And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

This dramatic moment at sea demonstrates the sudden shift from terror to quiet reverence that frequently accompanies his acts of power.

What It's Really About

The text examines the tension between divine authority and established earthly structures. It contrasts the quiet, unpretentious arrival of a spiritual leader with the paranoid, violent reactions of secular rulers like Herod. Throughout the narrative, true authority is demonstrated not through political office or formal status, but through transformative healing, command over nature, and radical moral teaching. The text constantly poses a question about recognition: while simple shepherds, desperate crowds, and foreign wise men easily recognize spiritual truth, the established elite and local neighbors remain blinded by pride, fear, and rigid adherence to tradition. Human institutions frequently privilege legalistic order over human need, setting up an inevitable conflict between compassionate action and dogmatic control.

Why Read It Today

This text offers readers a crisp, direct encounter with foundational Western narratives presented in classic, cadence-rich prose. Readers who appreciate historical literature, sacred texts, and dramatic storytelling will find immense value in its rhythmic phrasing and clear narrative movement. Reading this work evokes a sense of solemn simplicity; the prose moves swiftly from intimate domestic worries—like a mother searching for a lost child—to sweeping public moments before massive crowds.

The primary difficulty for modern readers lies in the archaic King James phrasing, complete with historical idioms, formal sentence structures, and older verb inflections. Additionally, the narrative includes stark depictions of ancient cruelty, such as Herod's political violence, which require a historical lens to process. However, the text repays a reader's patience by offering a clean, uncluttered view of these classic scenes. It leaves behind a lasting impression of quiet dignity, illustrating how powerful ideas manage to take root in the most vulnerable circumstances and endure despite intense opposition.