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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19190-h.zip b/19190-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e181dc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/19190-h.zip diff --git a/19190-h/19190-h.htm b/19190-h/19190-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4b89a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/19190-h/19190-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7728 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Men Called Him Master by ELWYN ALLEN SMITH. + </title> + <style type="text/css" media="screen"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .center p {text-align: center;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + /* PP adds -- vls */ + #book-content {margin:10%;} + ul#toc {margin:0 25%; list-style:none;} + ul#toc a {text-decoration:none;} + ul#toc li {text-align:left;} + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Men Called Him Master, by Elwyn Allen Smith + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Men Called Him Master + +Author: Elwyn Allen Smith + +Illustrator: Harold Minton + +Release Date: September 6, 2006 [EBook #19190] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEN CALLED HIM MASTER *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, V. L. Simpson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Book Cover: Men Called Him Master" /> +<img src="images/illus-002.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<div id="book-content"> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-003.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<h1>MEN CALLED HIM MASTER</h1> + +<div class="center"> +<p><b><i>By</i> ELWYN ALLEN SMITH</b></p> + +<p><b>THE WESTMINSTER PRESS - PHILADELPHIA</b></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<p><b>COPYRIGHT, MCMXLVIII, BY W. L. JENKINS</b></p> + +<div class="bbox" style="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size:smaller;"> +<p style="font-weight:bold;">Transcriber's Note</p> +<p class="center">There is no evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. +</p> +</div> + +<p><i>All rights reserved</i>—no part of this book may be reproduced +in any form without permission in writing +from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes +to quote brief passages in connection with a review +in magazine or newspaper.</p> + +<p>PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/flysheet.jpg" alt="Map of Palestine in the Time of Christ" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary="Table of Contents" width="80%"> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#HAVE_YOU_EVER_WONDERED"><i>Have You Ever Wondered?</i></a></td><td align="right">6</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#A_VOICE_IN_THE_WILDERNESS"><i>1. A Voice In The Wilderness</i></a></td><td align="right">7</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#FISHERS_OF_MEN"><i>2. Fishers Of Men</i></a></td><td align="right">14</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#A_MAN_OF_AUTHORITY"><i>3. A Man Of Authority</i></a></td><td align="right">25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#GOD_IS_NOW_KING"><i>4. God Is Now King!</i></a></td><td align="right">34</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#WHO_IS_THIS_CARPENTER"><i>5. Who Is This Carpenter?</i></a></td><td align="right">45</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_OLD_AND_THE_NEW"><i>6. The Old And The New</i></a></td><td align="right">54</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#MISSIONARIES_OF_THE_KINGDOM"><i>7. Missionaries Of The Kingdom</i></a></td><td align="right">64</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#HE_IS_MORE_THAN_A_TEACHER"><i>8. He Is More Than A Teacher</i></a></td><td align="right">74</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#HOW_WILL_YOU_KNOW_THE_MESSIAH"><i>9. How Will You Know The Messiah?</i></a></td><td align="right">80</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#YOU_ARE_THE_CHRIST"><i>10. "You Are The Christ"</i></a></td><td align="right">88</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#A_SECRET_IS_TOLD"><i>11. A Secret Is Told</i></a></td><td align="right">102</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_GREATEST_AMONG_US"><i>12. The Greatest Among Us</i></a></td><td align="right">113</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_MESSIAH_MUST_DIE"><i>13. The Messiah Must Die</i></a></td><td align="right">122</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#A_DAY_OF_VICTORY"><i>14. A Day Of Victory</i></a></td><td align="right">131</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#DISPUTE_IN_THE_TEMPLE"><i>15. Dispute In The Temple</i></a></td><td align="right">141</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_END_OF_HOPE"><i>16. The End Of Hope</i></a></td><td align="right">152</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_DARKEST_HOUR_OF_ALL"><i>17. The Darkest Hour Of All</i></a></td><td align="right">165</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#THE_ROCK_OF_FAITH"><i>18. The Rock Of Faith</i></a></td><td align="right">173</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a href="#SCRIPTURE_REFERENCES"><i>Scripture References</i></a></td><td align="right">185</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HAVE_YOU_EVER_WONDERED" id="HAVE_YOU_EVER_WONDERED"></a>HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?</h2> + + +<p><i>What kind of men were Jesus' disciples? What was it like to be with +Jesus in Palestine? Why did some of the disciples find it so hard to +understand Jesus? Who were the people who killed Jesus? Why did they do +it? This book has been written to help you to answer these questions. It +takes you right into Jesus' world so that you can hear his conversations +with the disciples and watch the things they did.</i></p> + +<p><i>The stories of Jesus and the disciples in this book are told in +different words from those you will find in your Bible, and background +has been built in from other records of the time. For example, the Bible +gives only the fact that one of the disciples was a Zealot; in this book +the disciple is shown speaking and acting as we know Zealots spoke and +acted. The story of the rich young ruler has been placed early in Jesus' +ministry to show that he would not accept every man who wanted to be his +disciple. The parable of the Good Samaritan has also been placed in the +early period as an example of the informal way in which Jesus taught. +That you may know what is from the Bible and what is added to make a +complete story, Scripture references for each event are given in the +back of the book. These references will help you to read and understand +the Gospels. As you read what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus while +he was on earth, you will see more clearly what it means to be one of +his disciples today.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></i></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-007.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="A_VOICE_IN_THE_WILDERNESS" id="A_VOICE_IN_THE_WILDERNESS"></a>1. A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS</h2> + + +<p>"Andrew! The baskets are slipping!" Two men on foot were driving heavily +loaded donkeys ahead of them. Across the back of Andrew's tiny beast +hung two huge baskets. One slanted crazily forward.</p> + +<p>"It ought to hold until we get to the top," answered Andrew. He looked +critically at the load and then at the path ahead. They were climbing +the bank of a wide gully cut by the floods that rushed down from the +barren hills into the valley of the Jordan River every spring. Andrew +shouted a command and the donkeys climbed slowly upward. At the top the +men stopped to catch their breath.</p> + +<p>"John," exclaimed Andrew in disgust, "I have tightened this thing on +every hill between Galilee and Judea!" He worked im<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>patiently at the +knotted ropes that bound the baskets on the donkey's back. John was not +listening. He was gazing at the scene before them.</p> + +<p>Torrents of muddy water poured through the gully during the season of +rains. Now the clay in the bottom was dry and cracked. Under the hoofs +of the animals it was as hard as stone. John pushed his damp hair back +from his forehead. His home province, with its green hillsides +surrounding the cool Lake of Galilee, was very different from this +burnt, rocky land of Judea, which lay southwest of where they stood. The +gully carried a sluggish stream of heated air up from the valley; he +could feel the damp warmth on his skin. Even on the hilltop there was no +cooling breeze.</p> + +<p>Andrew wiped his face with a dusty sleeve and left a dirty streak above +his brows. "There!" he exclaimed. "These baskets ought to stay on now." +The rope was drawn tightly around the belly of the donkey.</p> + +<p>"We should be at Bethany soon," remarked John.</p> + +<p>Andrew struck the donkey with his whip and said gruffly, "Come on!" as +though the animal had shaken its load loose on purpose. The little +caravan started again, Andrew in the lead.</p> + +<p>The road was built on the slope of the hills which closed in the plain +of the Jordan. Stretching far to the west the men could see fields of +ripe grain. The heat of early summer had come quickly this year and now +threatened to destroy the crop. Farmers were hard at work cutting the +wheat and threshing out the grain on platforms of earth pressed smooth +as stone.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure that John the Baptizer is still at Bethany?" called Andrew +over his shoulder. John did not answer. After a moment, Andrew added, +"Perhaps he has gone to some other place to preach." Still there was no +reply. Irritated, Andrew turned. John had dropped behind and was walking +with a stranger. Where had this traveler come from? He must have been +moving fast to overtake them so swiftly. His robe was hitched high at +the waist for easier walking. Andrew slowed and waited for the men.</p> + +<p>"Could you tell us, friend, where John the Prophet is baptizing?" John +was saying.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>The traveler smiled. "I hear he is at Bethany on the Jordan, near +Jericho. Do you want to hear him?"</p> + +<p>"We are his disciples," responded John proudly; then he bit his lip. +Andrew was frowning at him. It was dangerous to say a thing like that! +John looked at the stranger narrowly. He was from Galilee; his broad +accent showed that. John glanced at Andrew. Surely a Galilean was safe! +"The Prophet says that Israel will soon be free," ventured John. It was +a test question. The stranger smiled as though he agreed, and Andrew +asked enthusiastically: "Do you believe him? He says that God will +overthrow the Romans soon!"</p> + +<p>"How does John the Baptizer think all this will happen?" asked the +Galilean traveler. Andrew did not reply for a long while. Finally he +said: "The Prophet tells us that we cannot set ourselves free without +God's help. He says that if we had been willing to change our ways, God +would have rescued us long ago. Therefore we must get rid of sin and +pride and take our stand on God's side. When we do that, great things +will happen!" He looked directly at his fellow traveler. "Do you believe +this?"</p> + +<p>The stranger's answer was clear. "John speaks the truth."</p> + +<p>Suddenly they heard the thunder of galloping hoofs. A band of horsemen +was bearing down on them. Helmets and spears glinted in the brilliant +sunlight. Andrew and John shouted at the donkeys, but one of them moved +slowly. Desperately John whipped the animal. The donkey leaped. A rope +snapped and one of the heavy baskets dropped to the ground.</p> + +<p>The three men heard a soldier curse them. They could hardly see each +other for the thick dust. The basket lay trampled in the dirt; salted +fish were scattered all over the road. Andrew kicked the ruined basket +into the ditch. "May God soon burn Rome and all her soldiers! This land +belongs to us!" He ran a few steps as if to overtake the riders and +shook his fist. "God will strike you!" he shouted. The stranger was +helping John put what was left of the fish in the other three baskets. +Andrew turned to them.</p> + +<p>"I have seen whole armies of Romans march through fields of ripe wheat! +I have seen our towns burned by these destroyers!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> They have killed +thousands of our people! We have seen even our own friends killed by +these murderers!"</p> + +<p>The man answered quietly: "I know what they have done. But hating them +will not help." Andrew was taken by surprise.</p> + +<p>"We have been oppressed before," continued the stranger. "God has sent +John to us now, just as he has always sent prophets to tell us what we +should do."</p> + +<p>"What should we do?"</p> + +<p>"Just as you said yourself, we must repent of our sin," replied the +traveler. "God can do very little until he finds men who are willing to +obey him." Andrew had nothing to say.</p> + +<p>"There is a well not far ahead," remarked John. "We must water the +animals." Under a dusty palm over the next hill they found the well. The +stranger drew water for the donkeys and they drank noisily. Then he drew +water for the men. They had no sooner finished than Andrew urged: "Let's +hurry. We are not far from the place where John is baptizing."</p> + +<p>The road led down the slope and across the plain toward the river, which +had cut a deep gorge. At the edge the men paused to look. A hundred feet +below flowed the Jordan. It seemed sluggish now; but in the rainy season +it was swift and treacherous. The water was yellow and gray and only a +few shrubs clung to the banks. A short distance away the river turned +and disappeared behind the opposite cliff.</p> + +<p>"The crossing is below that bend," explained John to the stranger. "The +Prophet should be there." He gave his donkey a cut with the whip, and +the stolid animal moved faster. A few minutes later he cried out: +"There! See down there?" People were gathered at the edge of the river. +It did not take the men long to reach the gully through which the road +descended to the river. The fishermen tied their donkeys with the other +animals that stood tethered to bushes and small trees. In their haste +they forgot their companion.</p> + +<p>"Do you see the Prophet?" inquired Andrew, looking eagerly about. John +jerked at his sleeve.</p> + +<p>"There! By that rock on the bank!" They climbed up the slope where they +could see.</p> + +<p>John could not tell why he felt the way he did. It might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> have been the +appearance of John the Baptizer. He wore a rough camel-hair tunic and a +leather belt. None of the people who were there for the first time had +ever seen such a man before. He was very thin. His skin was tanned brown +and his hair and beard were long. Like the poorest people in Palestine, +he lived on grasshoppers and wild honey. Just then John the Baptizer +spoke. He looked old, but his voice showed that he was young and strong.</p> + +<p>"It is time you begin to show some sign that you are God's chosen +people," he cried out. "But you are just like your ancestors—you pay no +attention to God. You don't listen to the prophets. God is not going to +wait much longer. The time has come to repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is +near!"</p> + +<p>The crowd stirred. What was this? Could it be true that the end of the +world was coming soon?</p> + +<p>"Isaiah the Prophet said, 'Everyone shall see the saving power of God,'" +continued the Baptizer. "God is getting ready to clean off his threshing +platform. He will gather his wheat into his storehouse, but he will burn +the straw in fire that never dies down! Let every one of you get ready +for the coming of the Lord!"</p> + +<p>Near the front edge of the crowd a priest stood up. "How do you dare +talk this way?" he demanded. "Who are you—the Messiah?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am not the Messiah," replied the Prophet.</p> + +<p>"Then who are you? The Prophet Elijah?"</p> + +<p>"I am not Elijah."</p> + +<p>"Are you Moses come back to us?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Then who are you? The rulers in Jerusalem have sent me to find out. +What have you to say for yourself?" Andrew and John glanced at each +other. The rulers!</p> + +<p>John the Baptizer called out boldly to the whole crowd, "I am a voice +crying in the wilderness, 'Clear the way for the Lord!'"</p> + +<p>The priest from Jerusalem interrupted again. "If you are not the Christ, +nor Elijah, nor Moses, what right have you to baptize people?" The +people stirred; they did not like this man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me +is mightier. I am not fit even to tie his sandal laces. He will baptize +you with the Holy Spirit and fire. You must repent!"</p> + +<p>A man broke away from the crowd and stepped uncertainly toward the +Prophet. Words came from his lips as though it hurt him to speak. "I +have forced money out of people. I am a tax-gatherer. What can I do?" +Everyone there had been cheated by tax collectors.</p> + +<p>"Turn your whole life back toward God. Never again force people to pay +more money than is just."</p> + +<p>Several other people had joined the tax collector. "What must I do?" +asked a soldier.</p> + +<p>"Never take money from people by force. Never blackmail. Be content with +your pay." He looked at the group before him and said: "Let every man of +you who owns two garments share with the person who has none at all. If +you have food, share it too!"</p> + +<p>A whisper ran over the crowd. John had turned to some religious +officials, Sadducees and Pharisees, who stood watching. "You nest of +snakes! Who told you to flee from God's day of judgment? It is time you +repented!"</p> + +<p>"How can he talk that way to Pharisees?" said Andrew. He could tell even +from where he stood that the Pharisees felt the charge was unjust.</p> + +<p>"Why should we repent?" asked one of them. "We are descended from +Abraham himself. We were born to be God's chosen people!"</p> + +<p>"God can make children of Abraham out of these rocks if he wants!" burst +out the Prophet. "Instead of saying over and over again, 'Abraham is our +ancestor,' you ought to live so that people will know that you have +repented! The wood chopper is ready to destroy every tree that is not +producing good fruit. Every bad tree he will cut down and throw into the +fire!" John turned his back on them.</p> + +<p>"Look!" whispered Andrew in excitement. "There is the stranger we met on +the road!"</p> + +<p>The Prophet had walked down into the water to begin baptiz<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>ing those who +were waiting on the shore, but now he stopped and turned toward the +place where the Galilean was standing. He completely forgot the crowd. +In the silence Andrew could hear him protesting.</p> + +<p>"No! No! No!" The Prophet stepped back in awe. "I am not worthy to +baptize you. You should baptize me!" The two fishermen could not hear +the Galilean's reply, but they saw him walk down into the water, John +the Baptizer leading. The people stood as though fascinated. Recalling +the incident later on, Andrew and John realized that their tense +concentration on the two men at the river had driven every other thought +from their minds.</p> + +<p>John was baptizing the stranger. As he came up from the river, the +Galilean's face bore an expression of joy and praise which the fishermen +remembered as long as they lived. Some power had come upon him.</p> + +<p>"What happened, Andrew? What happened?"</p> + +<p>Andrew did not hear; he was staring at the Galilean.</p> + +<p>"Andrew!" John was insistent. "Something just happened. I don't +understand. What was it?"</p> + +<p>Andrew murmured. "He must be a prophet too."</p> + +<p>The people were talking excitedly. Everyone felt as John and Andrew did. +The Galilean had gone, and the Prophet was now baptizing the others who +waited. Shadows were creeping into the gorge as evening approached. +Groups started away toward the near-by towns.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear what the Galilean said to John the Baptizer?" asked John. +Without answering, Andrew started toward the knot of people near the +Prophet, and John followed. Andrew asked a man beside him, "Did you hear +what the Galilean said to the Prophet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," the man answered. "He said, 'Every man must take his stand on +God's side.'" Before Andrew could say any more the Prophet spoke. He +knew what the people were thinking.</p> + +<p>"Upon the head of this man of Galilee I saw the Spirit of God settle +like a dove from the sky," he declared. "God has chosen him to do His +work!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-014.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> +<h2><a name="FISHERS_OF_MEN" id="FISHERS_OF_MEN"></a>2. FISHERS OF MEN</h2> + + +<p>The morning sun was breaking over the hills that closed in the Lake of +Galilee on the east. Fog was thick over the water, but the fishermen in +the two boats that lay a short distance from the shore knew the sun had +risen, for the mist was full of white light. Between the boats was a +great net, partly under water. The fishermen, two in each boat, were +pulling the opposite edges over the side into the bottom of their boats. +Their breath hung in the chilly air. Andrew had returned to Galilee +after his trip to Judea and was working with his brother, Simon.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't mind hard work if we could catch fish," remarked Simon, +resting a moment.</p> + +<p>"We'll soon see what we've caught," replied Andrew. The net was almost +gathered in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It won't be much," grunted Simon, bending to his work again. After a +few minutes the boats lay side by side, the nets heaped high in them.</p> + +<p>"I have fished in this lake all my life," remarked James, the brother of +John, "and so has my father, Zebedee, but I have never seen so few fish +for a night's work!"</p> + +<p>Andrew felt as disgusted as Simon and James, but all he said was, "Let's +go ashore."</p> + +<p>James and Andrew guided the boats toward the spot where Zebedee had +built a fire of thorn twigs. The men jumped out and crowded around the +crackling flames. Zebedee had chosen several fish for their breakfast. +He raked some hot coals from the fire and laid the fish among them. They +smelled good to the hungry men. This was the best time of the +fishermen's day. Hard work was done. The fire was warm. The thought of +food gave them a good feeling.</p> + +<p>"Father, why is fishing so poor this year?" asked John.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, son," replied Zebedee. "Some years there are enough fish +for all Galilee and Judea. But in years like this, the people of the +five cities on our lake go hungry." He was thinking of times past. "If +the wheat crop is poor in Galilee, there may be riots."</p> + +<p>"That would only make matters worse," commented Simon.</p> + +<p>"Yes, unless King Herod has improved lately." Zebedee smiled sourly. "I +think that foreigner actually enjoys killing. How he loves our money! If +riots come, we are sure to be taxed even more." He took two of the fish +off the coals and laid them on a smooth rock. When they were cool +enough, he picked them up. "Breakfast is ready," he said. The men rose +and bowed their heads, while the older man prayed.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Praise ye the Lord.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He hath given food unto them that fear him:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He will ever be mindful of his promise.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Holy and reverend is his name. Amen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>While they ate, James asked, "Father, who is in the other boat this +morning?" Zebedee hired men to work for him.</p> + +<p>"Old Gideon the farmer, with our new man, a gentile from Sidon."</p> + +<p>"Why in the world did you hire a gentile, father?" asked John sharply.</p> + +<p>"Well, son, he is young and strong. He is willing to work for us." He +paused. "But I couldn't help wondering where he came from."</p> + +<p>"Did you ask him?"</p> + +<p>"No. He wouldn't answer questions about himself. But he knew fishing." +John shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I don't like it, father. Jews have no business working with gentiles. +And besides, if he is a runaway slave, we might get into trouble."</p> + +<p>"Now look, son. Half the people in Galilee are gentiles. Every day we +see them. What harm is there in working with them?"</p> + +<p>"Here comes the other boat," said Simon. The sun was driving away the +mist; Simon pointed to a fishing boat drawing closer to the shore.</p> + +<p>"Did you do any better than we did, Gideon?" called Zebedee.</p> + +<p>As the old farmer came toward them, the men could tell that his body was +rugged in spite of stooped shoulders. "No better; maybe worse. It's +getting as hard to make a living on the lake as by plowing the land."</p> + +<p>The newcomers sat down and hungrily ate the fish that Simon handed them.</p> + +<p>"Zebedee says there may be riots if the wheat is poor," said Simon. +"What do you think of the crop, Gideon?"</p> + +<p>Gideon squinted toward the hills as though looking at the fields that +lay beyond them. "My guess is that there will be enough." He frowned. +"Enough, that is, if the landlords don't grab it all."</p> + +<p>James glanced at Simon, concealing a smile. Old Gideon never got tired +of scolding the big landowners.</p> + +<p>"Before I was forced off my farm we had plenty to eat, even in dry +weather." He shook his finger. "And mind you, I had only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> five acres! +Now look what has happened!" He pounded his knee. "A man can hardly feed +his family with ten acres. Why? Taxes and more taxes!" He counted on his +fingers. "First, Herod takes one fourth of all our grain. That goes into +the bellies of the Romans. Then there is the tithe. That takes enough to +feed a hired man! Then we pay the Temple tax to feed the priests. They +get the first-born of all the sheep too. When a man's first son is born, +he must make a big gift to the synagogue. Farmers have to give part of +the wool at sheep-shearing; part of the wood at woodcutting; and the +best of the fruit at harvest." He looked around and spat on the ground. +"On top of that we pay for the schools and synagogues! Is it any wonder +we have hardly enough left to feed ourselves?"</p> + +<p>"But religious taxes are paid for the sake of God, Gideon!" protested +James.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes ... I know." Gideon couldn't argue the point; for a moment he +was silent. Then he looked sharply at James and snapped: "Do the +landlords pay religious taxes? No!" His voice was bitter. "That +tax-gatherer who bought me out knew ways to get out of paying the Temple +tax!"</p> + +<p>"Was it when you sold your farm that you became a fisherman, Gideon?" +asked James.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I almost had to serve a term of bondage."</p> + +<p>The gentile jerked up his head and said, "Were you a slave?"</p> + +<p>"No, but my brother bound himself for twelve years," answered Gideon, +looking at the gentile curiously.</p> + +<p>"Do the bondslaves make much trouble here?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Zebedee looked at him very closely. "In Galilee the slaves do not cause +riots. The Jews do."</p> + +<p>James explained. "In Palestine there are more free men than slaves. +Hunger causes most riots. But in a way, our whole nation is a slave to +Rome." His eyes challenged the gentile and no one missed his meaning +when he spoke again. "A nation can't run away from its master the way a +slave can."</p> + +<p>The gentile started. He glanced swiftly around the group. The men were +looking at him suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Are you a runaway slave?" demanded Zebedee point-blank.</p> + +<p>The man flushed and spoke shamefacedly. "Yes," he admitted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p>After a moment's silence, Andrew said: "The Romans treat us all the same +way. No one here will betray you." The man's face showed his relief.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will tell us where you are from," suggested Simon.</p> + +<p>"I am a Greek; a fisherman from Corinth. I was taken captive and made +the slave of a Roman soldier. We were sent to Sidon." He waved his hand +toward the west. "I watched my chance and ran away. Here I want to work +and remain unknown."</p> + +<p>John said: "Will you come with us to the synagogue? If you are going to +work with us, you should become one of us."</p> + +<p>"I will worship any god who will give me a happy life."</p> + +<p>"I can't promise that God will do that," answered John. "Our nation has +always suffered greatly." He looked at Andrew. "But we believe what John +the Baptizer tells us: God is soon coming to save us."</p> + +<p>The gentile shook his head. "I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he has not heard of the Prophet," Andrew said to Simon. He +turned to the slave and said, "God has sent a Prophet to warn us to turn +back to God."</p> + +<p>"What will your god do for you?" asked the other.</p> + +<p>Andrew spoke sternly to him. "God is not our servant! We are his +servants! We obey him."</p> + +<p>"John the Baptizer says God will soon set up his Kingdom," added John.</p> + +<p>"I must say the Zealots make better sense to me," interrupted Simon. +"After all, you have to make some effort yourself. You can't just sit +and wait."</p> + +<p>"Who are the Zealots?" asked the gentile.</p> + +<p>"They are warlike patriots who are always staging riots against the +Romans," explained Simon.</p> + +<p>"While I was at Sidon, the Romans were busy hunting down bands of these +people," observed the gentile.</p> + +<p>"Many brave men have been killed by Rome. We seem to be defeated in +every rebellion." Simon turned to his brother. "Do you remember Judah +the Galilean?" Andrew nodded.</p> + +<p>"Judah was a Zealot," continued Simon. "He gathered a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> group of brave +young Jews and raided one of Herod's forts. They took swords, spears, +and money to buy food. At the Feast of the Passover, they came out of +their hiding places in the northern hills." He pointed toward the +mountains where the snowy crest of Mount Hermon shone in the morning +light. "They hid swords under their robes and joined the crowds going to +Jerusalem. I was only a child but my parents took me to Jerusalem that +year.</p> + +<p>"The Zealots knew the Temple would be guarded by Roman soldiers, so they +surrounded it. The Roman commander saw men with swords in the crowd of +pilgrims filling the Temple and thought they were going to attack his +men, so he ordered his soldiers to attack first.</p> + +<p>"The Zealots were taken by surprise and the Romans gained the upper +hand. Then Judah saw his chance. He rallied his men, and they climbed on +the roof of the wooden buildings which surround the Temple courtyard. +From there they threw spears down on the Romans. It looked then as +though they had a chance to win.</p> + +<p>"To drive the Jews off these buildings, the Romans set them afire. They +were dry as tinder and burned fiercely. The Zealots had to get down. +Some killed themselves rather than surrender. Others leaped among the +Romans and died fighting. Those that escaped to the country hid in the +hills around Jerusalem. There Judah gathered together as many of his men +as were still alive.</p> + +<p>"The Roman general sent bands of his men into the hills to hunt down the +survivors. One morning there was a blare of trumpets and a group of +Roman soldiers came marching down the street. From the roof of the house +where I stayed with my parents we saw Judah of Galilee being prodded +along by guards in armor. He was hurt but he walked proudly.</p> + +<p>"I began to cry. Even my father had tears in his eyes. Although I was +only a young boy, I knew that Judah would be killed for fighting the +Romans. But I did not know how terrible it would be.</p> + +<p>"The Romans made all Jews who did not live in Jerusalem leave within two +days. It was a sad time. We had come in joy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> remembering how at the +first Passover Feast God had protected us from the Egyptians. We left +sorrowing. We saw a dreadful sight when we went out of the city gate."</p> + +<p>The fishermen had finished their food and sat with their eyes fixed on +Simon. James and Andrew had heard bits of this story before, but +listened eagerly for details as Simon talked. John's eyes seemed to be +saying: "Go on! Go on!" Zebedee was older and knew the story well. +Already his face showed pain and sorrow.</p> + +<p>"Judah had been condemned to die as a criminal. All criminals were +crucified. He was thrown to the ground and his body was spread on a +wooden cross. His hands were nailed to the crossbeam. His feet were +nailed also. The cross was set upright beside the road from Jerusalem to +Galilee. All the Zealots who had been hiding in the hills of Judea were +crucified with him.</p> + +<p>"When my father and mother took me out through the city gate, I saw +hundreds of crosses on both sides of the road. On each cross hung a +brave Galilean. When I saw that Judah was dead, my boyhood dream +crumbled. I have never forgotten."</p> + +<p>The fire had burned out while Simon talked. The morning sun glared on +the gray ashes. Lost in thought, the men gazed at the dead fire. Finally +Simon said: "It seems that every time we fight for the Kingdom of God we +suffer all the more. How does John the Baptizer explain that, Andrew?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't say anything about it that I remember," Andrew admitted.</p> + +<p>People were hurrying along the road back of the beach.</p> + +<p>"Come along, men," said Zebedee briskly. "We must clean the nets."</p> + +<p>"I think I'll try my luck in the shallow water," said Andrew. He picked +up a circular net with weights around the edges. He waded to his knees +and threw the net. It fell flat on the water and sank, trapping a small +fish under it.</p> + +<p>The others began to wash the nets, patiently picking out the seaweed and +pebbles caught in them.</p> + +<p>"Say! What's going on?" John pointed to a knot of people following a man +who was walking along the beach.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Probably some trader," remarked Simon.</p> + +<p>"He looks more like a teacher to me," said John.</p> + +<p>"Why not go over and see?" suggested Simon.</p> + +<p>In a moment John came running back. "It is Jesus, the Galilean whom +Andrew and I saw with John the Baptizer! Andrew! Andrew!" he called. +"Come and see him, Simon. Come on!"</p> + +<p>"I think I had better finish cleaning this net, John."</p> + +<p>"But this man is a Prophet!"</p> + +<p>"You go ahead if you want to." John gave Simon a disgusted look. When he +turned toward the crowd of people, he noticed that they were moving +toward him.</p> + +<p><i>I wish they would come over here</i>, thought John. As if he had read +John's mind, Jesus walked nearer the fisherman. Everyone was listening +to a scribe who was asking questions. Scribes knew the religious laws +and the sacred books thoroughly.</p> + +<p>"How can I get into this Kingdom you are telling us about, Rabbi?"</p> + +<p>"What is written in the Law? What do you read there?" asked Jesus. The +scribe answered: "You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, +your whole soul, your whole strength, and your whole mind. Also, love +your neighbor as yourself."</p> + +<p>"Correct," said Jesus. "Do that and you will live." Simon's hands were +busy, but he smiled to hear Jesus answer the educated man so easily.</p> + +<p>The scribe felt foolish because Jesus had made him answer his own +question. Hoping to escape embarrassment, he asked, "Just who is my +neighbor, Master?"</p> + +<p>"There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho," answered +Jesus. "He was attacked by some robbers who took everything he had and +left him badly hurt. After a while a priest came by, but when he caught +sight of the man lying in the ditch bleeding, he went on without even +looking a second time. A Levite came along a little later and he too +passed by on the other side of the road. Then a Samaritan came along." +Simon was listening intently. Like most of the people there, he looked +down on Samaritans, and wondered why Jesus had brought this one into the +story.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The two Jews had done nothing to help their fellow countryman, but the +Samaritan stopped," continued Jesus. "He put salve on his wounds and +tied them up. He put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn by the +road. He paid his bill so that he could stay as long as it would take to +get well. When the Samaritan left, he said to the manager: 'Take care of +him. If you have to do more for him, I will pay you back when I come +this way again.'" Jesus looked at the scribe. "Which of these three men +was a true neighbor to the man who was beaten?"</p> + +<p>"The man who was kind to him," admitted the scribe grudgingly.</p> + +<p>"Then go and be like that yourself!" said Jesus.</p> + +<p>Simon looked at Jesus amazed, the net in his hand completely forgotten. +<i>Not even John the Baptizer would say the Samaritan was better than the +others</i>, he thought to himself. <i>No wonder Andrew and John had talked so +much about this Rabbi whom they had first met in Judea!</i></p> + +<p>Attracted by the crowd, many more people had come down from the road. +They were pressing in on Jesus so much that he turned to Simon and asked +abruptly, "May I use your boat?"</p> + +<p>Simon was taken by surprise but he quickly recovered himself and said, +"Certainly, Rabbi."</p> + +<p>Jesus asked him to push out a little way. Then he turned around and +spoke to the people on the shore. "The Kingdom of God does not come like +a flash of lightning so that you can say, 'Here it is!' The Kingdom of +God is right now in your midst."</p> + +<p>"Does that mean that our enemies will be destroyed soon, Rabbi?" asked +Simon eagerly.</p> + +<p>"The Kingdom of God does not come by violence and bloodshed," answered +Jesus, "but by the power of God. It is not his will that you should kill +persons whom you hate. You should love your enemies! Do good to those +who hate you! Pray for those who abuse you. If a man slaps your cheek, +let him slap the other one too. If he steals your coat, give him your +shirt too.</p> + +<p>"If you love only people who love you, what does that amount to? Even +bad men do that! It is your enemies that you must love and help. You +must give without expecting to be paid back."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is impossible!" exclaimed Simon in dismay.</p> + +<p>"God's Kingdom has power to change all kinds of men," said Jesus, +looking straight at Simon. "His power is like a piece of yeast in a bowl +of dough—the tiny bit of yeast quickly works its way through all the +dough until every bit is changed. The Kingdom of God is also like a tiny +mustard seed. It is so small that a farmer can hardly see it mixed with +his wheat. But this tiny seed is so powerful that when it is planted it +grows larger than most trees."</p> + +<p>Simon shook his head. He did not say anything, but he doubted if any +such power existed.</p> + +<p>"Will you push the boat out into deep water?" asked Jesus. "I want you +to lower the net for a catch of fish."</p> + +<p>"Rabbi, we fished all night and took nothing," protested Simon. "But if +you wish, I will try again." Much puzzled by this sudden request, the +two fishermen pulled toward deep water. The people on the shore watched +them put up the oars; the boat drifted slowly in the wind. The two men +lowered the net. It had hardly sunk below the surface of the water when +the fishermen knew that they had dropped it directly in the path of a +great school of fish. Startled into action, they pulled desperately at +the net, but it was too heavy. The cords began to break. In great +excitement Andrew stood up and shouted to James, "Come and help us!"</p> + +<p>With James and John drawing the opposite edge of the net into their +boat, the four men succeeded in saving the huge catch. Jesus sat quietly +watching from the back of the boat, which was now filled with fish to +the point of sinking. Simon looked at Jesus and a strange fear took hold +of him. There had been no fish all night—and now, at the bidding of +this Rabbi, they had caught hundreds! Impulsively he fell on his knees +at Jesus' feet and said: "Lord, I do need to be changed! I am a sinful +man!"</p> + +<p>"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that catches all kinds of fish, +Simon," replied Jesus. "You must follow me. From now on you shall fish +for men." From the other boat, James and John had been listening to +every word that Jesus had spoken. He now turned to Andrew and the two +others. "If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> you will follow me, you too shall become fishers of men."</p> + +<p>When the boat came to shore, the people looked in amazement at the great +haul of fish, but the catch meant nothing to the four fishermen. Without +a single word they left Zebedee and followed Jesus back to Capernaum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-025.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> +<h2><a name="A_MAN_OF_AUTHORITY" id="A_MAN_OF_AUTHORITY"></a>3. A MAN OF AUTHORITY</h2> + + +<p>It was not long before reports of the new Rabbi at Capernaum had +traveled to all the cities around the Lake of Galilee. At Bethsaida, a +little town three miles across the lake from Capernaum, farmers gossiped +about the news as they worked in the green fields on the hills above +their town. The name of Jesus was on the lips of everyone in the noisy +market place; but the fishermen on the beaches knew most about the +Teacher who said that the Kingdom of God was very near.</p> + +<p>One Friday afternoon, a fisherman from Bethsaida, named Philip, was +netting fish from his small boat at the northern tip of the Lake of +Galilee. The Jordan River emptied into the lake at this point, and there +were often large fish to be caught. Spawned and fattened in the many +tiny streams that flowed into the upper Jordan, they came down the river +to feed on the weeds that grew thickly in the swamps at the river mouth.</p> + +<p>Philip glanced up at the sun. It was well past noon, time to be leaving. +Philip drew his net into the boat, set the oars into their crude +notches, and rowed steadily toward Bethsaida, about a mile distant. He +would have just enough time, he reflected, to clean up, get back to the +boat, and row across the lake before the Sabbath Day commenced at +sunset.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>Philip landed and drew his boat a short distance up on the beach.</p> + +<p>"Say, Philip! Why don't you pull it up farther?" Philip looked around +and saw a friend cleaning a net. Without pausing he replied, "I am going +to use it again."</p> + +<p>"Are you going far?" But the question was not answered; Philip was +already hastening up the narrow street toward his home. An hour later, +he returned. Anxiously he glanced toward the sun, now nearing the +horizon.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" asked the fisherman. Philip kept his back turned +to the curious man. After he had launched the rowboat and was pulling +away, he called out, "Across the lake." He knew the man had asked only +to find out if he would be back before the Sabbath started.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Philip rowed hard for Capernaum; he was conscientious and +did not want to break the Sabbath if he could help it. The white walls +and small domed houses of Capernaum were only a quarter of a mile away +when Philip heard a sound that told him he had left Bethsaida too late.</p> + +<p>The minister of the synagogue at Capernaum had blown his trumpet. Philip +twisted around and saw that the mellow note had come just as the red sun +sank behind the hills west of the lake. There were two more long blasts. +From this moment, the Sabbath rest began.</p> + +<p>The minister laid the trumpet down on the flat roof of his house. No Jew +worked after this signal. The women had already brought a full day's +supply of water into their houses and were forbidden to carry any more. +Fishermen were not supposed to clean nets or row. The market place was +silent, for no buying or selling was permitted. The minister did not +even carry his trumpet into the house. He would wait until sunset on +Saturday when the Sabbath ended and then he would put it away.</p> + +<p>He lighted the great synagogue lamp. This was part of Sabbath worship +and did not count as work. This shining light, hanging where Philip +could plainly see it as he drew his boat up on the beach in front of +Capernaum, made him feel a little guilty. Hurriedly he stored the oars +under the seats and set out for the home of Simon, his friend in the +city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>Simon's house was in a high part of Capernaum, set back against the +hills. It was not a long walk for Philip through the streets that led up +from the lake front. Leaving the street of hard-packed dirt, Philip went +under an arch into a square courtyard, open to the sky. The house was +built on four sides, and doors led from a narrow porch into the rooms. +Philip hesitated a moment and then knocked at one of the doors.</p> + +<p>"Philip!" Simon stood in the doorway, smiling at his friend. His broad +shoulders and short neck made him seem burly. "Come in, my friend!" +Simon called across the courtyard to his wife: "Bring some food! Philip +has come."</p> + +<p>Inside, oil lamps were lighted and Simon's children were playing on the +floor in a corner of the room. Philip was very fond of them. He ran his +fingers through the hair of the oldest, a black-haired lad of seven. The +child gave him a friendly smile.</p> + +<p>"What brings you to us on the Sabbath, Philip?" inquired Simon, half +teasing, half reproving.</p> + +<p>"I did not leave the river mouth until about three o'clock," explained +Philip, a bit ashamed. "I was very eager to come to Capernaum."</p> + +<p>Simon was immediately curious. "What made you come?"</p> + +<p>"Everyone in Bethsaida is talking about the new Rabbi who is teaching +here," answered Philip. "They say that he talks of a new kingdom." +Philip was a little surprised to see how intently Simon was listening to +his words, but he did not pause. "I thought you could tell me more about +him. I hear that he comes from Nazareth. When did you first find out +about him?"</p> + +<p>"A couple of months ago John and Andrew went up to Jerusalem and when +they came back they told us they had met this man," answered Simon. +"They saw him baptized by John the Baptizer. The Prophet told them that +Jesus was going to be a mighty servant of God. We didn't take it very +seriously though—you know how enthusiastic Andrew gets.</p> + +<p>"We never realized what kind of person Jesus was until we saw him +ourselves," continued Simon. "He isn't like an ordinary teacher. You +feel that he is so sure of himself and yet he is so humble." Simon was +deeply earnest. "Everything he says goes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> right to your heart, Philip. I +can hardly understand what it is—there is some power in him!" Simon's +wife entered.</p> + +<p>"Here is food for you," said Simon, as his wife set a bowl of boiled +fish on the table. Hungry from his trip across the lake, Philip +gratefully moved to the rough bench in front of the table and began to +eat.</p> + +<p>After a while he asked, "Then you know this Rabbi well?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Simon. "He has been down on the lake shore every day +this week. I have been with him most of the time."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't that take a good deal of time away from fishing?" observed +Philip.</p> + +<p>"Yes, some," replied Simon. "We do some fishing early in the mornings. +But it is true that we don't do very much."</p> + +<p>Philip was thoroughly puzzled by now. Simon had always been a hard +worker. But Philip could not think of a way to ask why his friend had +changed. For a while Simon remained silent. Nervously his foot stirred +the palm fronds that covered the floor. "You see, Philip," he finally +said very hesitantly, "I have really stopped fishing. I am now a +follower of Jesus."</p> + +<p>Philip was dumfounded. "You mean you aren't working with Andrew and +James and John any more?"</p> + +<p>"They have left Zebedee too," answered Simon.</p> + +<p>"What in the world...." blurted Philip. He stopped short. "How are you +going to feed your wife and children?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Simon looked at Philip frankly. "I do not know, Philip," he said, his +voice firm. "But this one thing I am sure of: I cannot turn back from my +decision to go with Jesus wherever he goes. I believe in him and am +willing to do anything for him."</p> + +<p>Philip knew there was no use protesting further. Simon had told him what +he intended to do. What could he say? Finally he asked, "When can I hear +your Rabbi teach?"</p> + +<p>"He will be in the synagogue tomorrow," replied Simon. "I am sure you +will understand why I feel this way," he added very earnestly.</p> + +<p>On Sabbath morning the streets which Philip had found so silent the +evening before were filled with people. From every part of Capernaum +they climbed to the place where the synagogue stood. It was on the +highest hill in the city, because no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> building was more important to the +people than their place of worship.</p> + +<p>Simon and Philip came hurrying with the crowd. At the door of the +synagogue they stopped to catch their breath and looked at the lake +below them. The water lay still and smooth in the morning light, but no +one knew better than the fishermen how quickly a wind storm could sweep +down the ravines between the hills around the lake and whip up dangerous +waves.</p> + +<p>"Where is the Rabbi?" asked Philip.</p> + +<p>"He is probably inside," answered Simon, turning to enter the synagogue.</p> + +<p>From behind a row of pillars they looked for Jesus among the men who +filled the room. In the middle of the room was a low platform with a +desk on it. Seats were arranged on all sides. Over their heads was a +balcony where the women sat. Simon pointed.</p> + +<p>"There is Jesus down near the front," he whispered to Philip. "We'll sit +with him." Philip noticed the tone of reverence in Simon's voice.</p> + +<p>A row of dignified men sat in front of a heavy curtain at the end of the +room. One of them came over to Jesus. Simon and Philip were too far away +to hear what he whispered, but evidently he asked Jesus, as the visiting +teacher, to take part in the service, because Jesus followed him and sat +down with the elders. The synagogue filled quickly. Philip thought that +many people must have heard about Jesus and come to Capernaum. Jesus +walked to the desk on the platform. Philip was impressed by his strong +voice repeating a prayer that was often used in the synagogue:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Blessed be Thou, O Lord, King of the world,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who formest the light and createst the darkness,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who in mercy givest light to the earth and to those who dwell upon it,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in Thy goodness, day by day and every day, renewest the works of creation.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Blessed be the Lord our God for the glory of His handiworks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And for the light-giving lights which He has made for His praise. Selah."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In the second prayer, Jesus asked God to forgive and help the people.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"With great love hast Thou loved us, O Lord our God,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And with much overflowing pity hast Thou pitied us,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our Father and our King.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the sake of our fathers who trusted in Thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Thou taughtest them the statutes of life,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have mercy upon us, and teach us.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Enlighten our eyes in Thy law;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cause our hearts to cleave to Thy commandments:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unite our hearts to love and fear Thy Name,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And we shall not be put to shame, world without end. Amen."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Then all the congregation repeated their Creed in unison.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one God....<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And with all thy soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And with all thy might.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'I am the Lord your God, who brought you ... out of the land of Egypt'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To be your God. I am the Lord your God."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Philip leaned over and whispered to Simon, "Do you think he will dare +say anything about founding a new kingdom?"</p> + +<p>"I have never heard him here before," answered Simon, "but he will say +what he thinks."</p> + +<p>After Jesus had repeated two prayers of thanksgiving, the minister of +the synagogue brought a heavy scroll to the desk. A man from the +congregation read some verses from Leviticus; then several other men +read short passages.</p> + +<p>The people stirred expectantly when Jesus stood up. Again Philip was +impressed by the clear and convincing manner of his speech. "Listen to +the words of the Prophet Isaiah," Jesus said.</p> + +<p>"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has consecrated me to preach +the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release for captives +and recovery of sight for the blind. He has sent me to set free the +oppressed and to proclaim the year of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> the Lord's blessing." Jesus +rolled up the scroll. Every person in the synagogue waited to hear what +he would say.</p> + +<p>"This very year," declared Jesus quietly but firmly, "is the year that +Isaiah is talking about. You do not have to wait any longer for God to +come to you. The words of Isaiah are true right now; God is here. The +prophets tell you about a great day, but that day is not far in the +future! God can be your King now! He can defeat every evil power. He +will rule you if only you will open your hearts to him."</p> + +<p>Philip turned to Simon. He was disappointed. "What can he mean by that?" +Simon did not answer. He was waiting attentively for Jesus to go on.</p> + +<p>"You think you are oppressed and poor," continued Jesus. "But I tell you +that you will never win freedom by fighting and by shedding blood. Only +the truth of God can make you free. Only his eternal treasures can make +you rich! It is useless to depend on earthly things: moths destroy +clothing; rust destroys iron; thieves steal money. Fire will burn down +barns. Do not spend your lives getting things that pass away. Rather, +store up treasures in the Kingdom of God. Only God's Kingdom is truly +real. Only in his Kingdom are you truly free. Only his treasures make +you really rich!"</p> + +<p>"But how shall we get this Kingdom? That is what I want to know!" +whispered Philip hoarsely to Simon.</p> + +<p>"He will tell you," answered Simon.</p> + +<p>"You spend all your time getting ready for a Kingdom that is far away," +cried Jesus. "You do not have to wait for God's Kingdom. God is here +now, working among you." His voice became stern. "The trouble is that +you do not really believe in God at all. You do not wish to give +yourselves to him. You always want to live for yourselves a little +longer. You are blind to the rule of God because you are stubborn and +unwilling to obey his will.</p> + +<p>"The prophets tell you what God wants you to do! Have you obeyed them? +No! Repent your sin! Give yourselves to God! On this very day you shall +find his Kingdom!"</p> + +<p>The people were looking at Jesus blankly. They had never heard anyone +speak like this before. But Philip was able to understand one thing: the +Kingdom of which Jesus had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> speaking was very different from +anything he had expected.</p> + +<p>Behind them Simon and Philip heard a man say, "He doesn't speak as the +scribes do!" Scribes always read or recited from memory the comments +which the great Rabbis had written on the Law and the Prophets.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a fearful scream in the rear of the building. A man +had jumped from his bench near the back of the synagogue and was rushing +down the aisle. Insanely he yelled: "Ha! Jesus of Nazareth! What +business have you with me?"</p> + +<p>"Let me out of here!" exclaimed a frightened man on the front benches. +"He has a demon!" In his haste to get out of reach, the man tipped the +bench over and it struck the stone floor with a bang.</p> + +<p>"Have you come to destroy us?" shrieked the madman. "I know who you are! +You are the Holy One from God!"</p> + +<p>"Silence! Come out of him!" In an instant, Jesus had taken complete +control of the man; as though all his strength suddenly melted away, he +dropped to the floor and lay still. A single moan broke the tense +silence of the synagogue. He seemed to be dying. Jesus motioned to the +elders and they brought a cup of water.</p> + +<p>In a moment the man stood up. He was weak but in his right mind. Utter +amazement filled the people.</p> + +<p>The elders were looking at one another, shaking their heads. "There is +no doubt about it. He is free!" Others asked in wonder: "Who can this +Rabbi be? He even has power over demons!"</p> + +<p>People pressed toward the front of the room to stare at the man whom +Jesus had healed. After a while, they began to drift away, talking +excitedly. Philip did not push forward with the curious crowd but stood +staring at Jesus. Even after the people had all gone, he continued to +gaze wonderingly at Jesus. He could hardly believe his eyes: The man who +had been so violent now sat quietly listening to Jesus.</p> + +<p>Simon came over to where Philip was standing. "Do you now see how +powerful his word is, Philip?" he asked. "Do you see why I follow him?"</p> + +<p>"Never in all my life have I known such a man," said Philip, almost +speaking to himself. He could not understand what was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> happening within +him. He did not feel excited; his mind was clear and cool—but Philip +knew that some strange power was at work. Everything had somehow +changed. Jesus turned to him.</p> + +<p>"Philip," asked the Master simply, "will you follow me?"</p> + +<p>Jesus' words were like the turning of a key. Philip wanted to speak only +words of obedience: "Master! I will go with you anywhere!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-034.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="GOD_IS_NOW_KING" id="GOD_IS_NOW_KING"></a>4. GOD IS NOW KING!</h2> + + +<p>Before nightfall, all Capernaum was talking about the Teacher from +Nazareth who had power to overcome demons. What strange person had +arrived in their midst? He had even dared to break the Sabbath law, for +healing on the day of rest was strictly forbidden. Some believed he was +planning to start a rebellion to set the nation free from Roman rule; +but to the sick and lame of Capernaum, the news meant just one thing: +someone had come to help them.</p> + +<p>Curious eyes had seen Jesus leave the synagogue with Simon. No sooner +had the sun set, marking the end of the Sabbath, than hundreds of +crippled and diseased persons crowded to the street where Simon lived. +Jesus would not refuse them. In the cool twilight he taught and healed +all who asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>As it grew darker, the disciples began to marvel that the people kept +coming. They knew everyone was very superstitious and hardly anyone ever +went out at night for fear of evil spirits. But as the hours passed, +Simon noticed many people who were not sick or crippled. They came for +another kind of help; they knew Jesus could give more than healing for +the body.</p> + +<p>In the babble of voices Simon suddenly heard a man cry out sharply. The +pain in the man's voice cut into Simon's heart like a knife. Simon +scanned the crowd, but in the darkness could not see him. No one moved +to let him through.</p> + +<p>Jesus looked toward the man. "Do you cry out to me?" he asked, raising +his voice above the noisy crowd around him. "Come and I will help you." +Unwillingly, the people made way and the man crawled toward Jesus. +Something was wrong with his legs. A hush settled over the crowd when +Jesus spoke. "Your greatest need is not to be free from pain—it is to +be rid of sin. Repent and turn back to God. Believe my word and you +shall enter the Kingdom of God!" Jesus stooped and laid his hand on the +man lying before him.</p> + +<p>"O Father," he prayed, "heal this man of his suffering, in order that he +may know thy truth and enter thy Kingdom." Jesus straightened up and +held out his arms to all the people. "Come to me, all of you who labor +and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest!"</p> + +<p>The disciples felt the power of their Master as they heard him call on +the people to repent. They had never known anyone like him; they had +never heard a message like his. Again and again they heard Jesus say: +"Do you understand why you have been healed? This is a sign that the +power of God has come among you."</p> + +<p>It was after midnight when the last person left. Jesus was very tired. +He looked at the black sky. There was no moon. The stars shed a faint +light on the hills above Capernaum. Jesus turned to Simon. "It is time +to rest." He went into the house.</p> + +<p>"The people had no fear of evil night spirits," remarked James.</p> + +<p>"They know he has power over them," commented Simon.</p> + +<p>In the morning, long before dawn, Jesus rose in order to pray<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> outside +the city. A few yards from Simon's home the street dwindled to a path, +and Jesus had to push through the stiff, dry grass which grew knee-high +all over the hillside. As he climbed, he walked around large rocks. When +he reached the crest of the hill, Jesus stood for a long while gazing +down at Capernaum, barely visible in the starlight. There was a little +breeze from the east. It smelled of both lake and desert.</p> + +<p>The memory of the sick and lame people filled Jesus with sorrow. Some of +these people really thought that everything would be all right if their +bodies could be healed! What a terrible mistake! Had they understood +what he had told them?</p> + +<p>Would they realize that they were thinking only of themselves? Perhaps +their lives were too cluttered with little hopes and ambitions to see +the will of God. How dearly they loved worthless things! Jesus found a +hollow where the bushes sheltered him from the wind and knelt to pray.</p> + +<p>Dawn was turning the gray sky to blue when Simon was aroused from sleep +by the noise of a crowd outside his house. He dressed hastily.</p> + +<p>"Where is the Healer?" shouted the people. Simon waved his hand for +silence.</p> + +<p>"He is not here." His words were instantly drowned by a hundred voices. +"Where is he?" everyone demanded at once.</p> + +<p>"I don't know where he is," answered Simon.</p> + +<p>"Will he be back? Where did he go?"</p> + +<p>Simon knew he would never succeed in sending them away. Andrew came out +of the house.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we could find him?" asked Simon.</p> + +<p>"We can try," answered Andrew, smiling wryly. Without explaining their +plan to the people, they set out toward the hills. Some of the people +tried to follow, but Simon gruffly sent them back.</p> + +<p>The two men followed a faint path toward the top of the hill. For about +a mile they walked, searching the slopes on both sides of them. "We may +not find him at all," remarked Simon. At that moment Andrew caught sight +of a patch of white ahead of them.</p> + +<p>"Is he up there?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Simon began to run. Jesus was kneeling in prayer. Andrew had seen a +corner of his woolen robe against the dark bushes.</p> + +<p>"Rabbi!" panted Simon. "Everyone is looking for you!"</p> + +<p>He had interrupted Jesus' prayer, but Jesus was not offended. "I am not +going back to Capernaum."</p> + +<p>"But, Rabbi," protested Simon, "hundreds of people need you. They are in +pain. What will they do without you?"</p> + +<p>"I must go to the other villages of Galilee and preach the news of the +Kingdom there too," replied Jesus.</p> + +<p>"But, Master, your word is the only help these people have ever had." He +realized that Jesus had fully made up his mind to go. "Think of the +blind and the crippled!" he cried desperately. "What will become of +them?"</p> + +<p>Jesus answered with firm conviction. "Simon, they have heard the news +that God has come to them. I have a greater work than healing the sick +bodies—my work is to proclaim to everyone the message which gives them +a whole new life! This is why God has sent me! I must go on to the +cities of Galilee!"</p> + +<p>Simon and Andrew knew they could not change their Rabbi's mind, so at +his command they returned to Capernaum and prepared for a trip through +Galilee. At noon the disciples left Capernaum, carrying only a small +amount of food, and met Jesus outside the city. Jesus knew it was hard +for Simon to leave his wife and children.</p> + +<p>By late afternoon they had reached Tarichaea, a town smaller than +Capernaum, about six miles south on the shore of the Lake of Galilee. +Here lived many rich men who owned the fertile farms on which all +Galilee depended for wheat. There was also a large fish business, +because in Tarichaea fish were salted and sold to men who came to buy +food for the Roman army.</p> + +<p>The market place was busy when Jesus arrived with the disciples, and a +group of people quickly gathered to hear him teach. A young man in fine +clothing joined the circle around Jesus. The disciples immediately +recognized that he was a member of the party of the Pharisees because he +wore large tassels on his robe. During a pause in the discussion he +asked a question which Simon thought must have been troubling him for +some time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good Teacher," he asked, "you have told these others how to enter the +Kingdom of God. Now what must I do to inherit eternal life?"</p> + +<p>Jesus looked at the young man keenly. "Why do you call me 'good'?" he +asked. "Only God is good." Then his tone softened. "You know the +commandments—do not commit adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not +speak lies—if you obey the law of God you possess eternal life."</p> + +<p>The disciples looked at the young man with the greatest respect. Here +was a really religious man! A Pharisee who kept all the Law—what more +could God require? And he was rich. Did that not prove he had pleased +God?</p> + +<p>"But, Teacher," replied the young man, "I have obeyed every one of these +laws perfectly since I was a child. But somehow ... it is not enough. I +am not satisfied."</p> + +<p>John was puzzled. <i>This man should be happy</i>, he thought. <i>I was just a +poor fisherman, but this man seems to have everything.</i> The other +disciples also wondered what Jesus could say to the young man.</p> + +<p>"You lack just one thing," said Jesus. "You must get rid of all your +possessions. Sell your property. Go and give your money to the poor. +Come and be my disciple."</p> + +<p>Shock and disappointment came over the young man's face. "I can't do a +thing like that!" he exclaimed. "Why should I give my money away?"</p> + +<p>"You must sell all that you have and give to the poor," insisted Jesus. +"If you want eternal life, you must put God first. If you go on clinging +to the things you own, no matter how little you may keep back, you will +never find the Kingdom of God."</p> + +<p>"But God gave me my money," protested the young Pharisee. "Is he not the +one who gives all good things? Why should you ask me to get rid of +things he himself has given me?" The disciples felt that his argument +was logical. "I have kept every detail of the religious rules," +continued the young man. "I even keep two fasts instead of one! I never +break the Sabbath. Don't you think I have earned eternal life?"</p> + +<p>Jesus answered simply; he did not argue. "Any man who wishes to enter +the Kingdom must seek the will of God above<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> every other goal. Where a +man's treasure is, there is his heart also. You have not given yourself +to Him. You trust in your possessions and in your good deeds."</p> + +<p><i>This is unreasonable!</i> thought the young man. He turned and left. Yet +the longing to be sure he had pleased God was strong still. "That is no +solution!" he insisted, arguing within himself. "God cannot ask me to +give up things he has given me. People turn from sins—not from their +good deeds!" But he could not forget Jesus' demand: "Repent! You love +your own riches more than you love God. Repent!"</p> + +<p>Jesus looked sorrowfully after the young man. "How difficult it is for a +rich man to enter the Kingdom!" he exclaimed regretfully. "It is easier +for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to +give himself to God!"</p> + +<p>The disciples listened astonished. Finally Simon blurted out: "But, +Master, if he cannot be saved, who can? He is a good man!"</p> + +<p>Jesus answered with the deepest feeling: "Simon, with man it is +impossible. But with God—all things are possible!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Simon, "if giving up things is the answer, we ought to have +eternal life. We have given up everything!" There was bitterness in his +voice, and everyone knew he was thinking of his children in Capernaum.</p> + +<p>Jesus felt great sympathy for Simon, and his answer was very gentle. +"Yes, Simon, you have given up much. But you need not fear—a man who +gives up his home and his property for my sake will never be sorry. He +will receive back a hundred times over the eternal gifts which God gives +those who love him. Many who now are rich will be the last in God's +Kingdom; but those who are poor for my sake will be the very first in +his Kingdom!"</p> + +<p>That night the disciples stayed in Tarichaea. They did not argue any +more about what Jesus had told the rich Pharisee, but they were more +troubled by these words than by anything else Jesus had said. His +teachings seemed against everything they had ever learned!</p> + +<p>The next day, as the band of men walked with Jesus toward Nazareth, +Simon brought up the question. "Teacher," he said earnestly, "I don't +understand why you talked to that young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> Pharisee as you did. He was +very sincere. The Pharisees do more to obey God than any others and this +young man looked to me as though he tried even harder than most. God had +even given him riches as a reward for his goodness! And yet you said he +had to get rid of all his wealth in order to enter the Kingdom of +Heaven!" Simon could hardly find words to express his strong feelings. +"I needed to repent, but why should he? He was already a good man!"</p> + +<p>James summed up the thoughts of them all: "Rabbi, if a man as good as +that can't enter the Kingdom, how can anyone?"</p> + +<p>Jesus said: "Simon, I want to tell you a story. Two men went up to the +Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee—like the young man we talked with +yesterday. The other was a tax collector, who had been dishonest.</p> + +<p>"The Pharisee stood by himself, a distance away from the ordinary folk +who went in and out of the Temple, and prayed this way: 'God, I thank +thee that I am not like other men—thieves, rogues, and immoral—like +that taxgatherer over there. You know I am a good man. I fast twice a +week and pay tithes of all my money.'</p> + +<p>"But the taxgatherer," continued Jesus, "went off in a corner where he +could hide from people. He wouldn't even lift up his eyes as he prayed. +Rather, he hung his head and beat his breast in the deepest shame and +said, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'"</p> + +<p>The disciples did not seem to understand, so Jesus said: "The +taxgatherer left the Temple accepted by God. But not the Pharisee! He +trusted in his own goodness rather than in God. If he had been humble, +like the taxgatherer, God could have forgiven him."</p> + +<p>"But I don't see what that has to do with the young Pharisee," protested +James. "He was not dishonest! Why should he be ashamed?"</p> + +<p>"This young ruler was like the Pharisee in the Temple," replied Jesus. +"He was so confident of his own goodness that he could not see how far +he was from what God wants him to be."</p> + +<p>"But, Master," urged Simon, "look at the things that the Pharisees do! +They educate our children in religion in the syna<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>gogue schools. They +never have anything to do with the Sadducees or priests who take money +from the Romans. They study the Scriptures more than anyone else; don't +these things count for anything?"</p> + +<p>"Men may do all these things and yet have no real faith in God," +answered Jesus. "The Kingdom of Heaven comes to men who love God above +everything else. There was something that meant more to that young man +yesterday than God—and that was his money. Other men depend on other +things; whatever they are, they must get rid of them. Even the most +upright Pharisee must forget his pride in goodness and trust God as +simply as a little child."</p> + +<p>John shook his head doubtfully. "The people will never understand that," +he said. "Even though the Pharisees are often very snobbish, they are +the best people in our nation."</p> + +<p>Jesus suddenly became grim. "The whole religion of the Pharisees sets +them against the Kingdom of Heaven!"</p> + +<p>The men looked at him in surprise. "But Master," urged James, "we need +them to help us set up the new Kingdom! They are more loyal to God than +anyone else. Besides, we can do nothing without their friendship."</p> + +<p>"I know them, James," answered Jesus. "Men who are sure of themselves +will never welcome what we have to tell them!"</p> + +<p>John shook his head but said no more. This was not his idea of the way +the Kingdom would come. The disciples felt sure Jesus could not mean all +he said. But two days later they realized they were wrong. Jesus had +meant every word.</p> + +<p>After a short trip through lower Galilee, the men arrived in Nazareth +where Jesus had lived until a few months before. His mother and brothers +were still there, but Jesus stayed outside the town until Sabbath +morning and then went with them to the synagogue.</p> + +<p>The rumors of Jesus' miracles had spread through all Galilee, and when +Jesus entered the synagogue many people looked at him curiously. He saw +many people he knew. There was the woman who had lived next to them for +twenty years and who was a special friend of his mother's; there were +several young men whom he knew well. He smiled across the congregation +at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> one young man who had helped him in the carpenter shop after his +father Joseph had died, when Jesus was forced to support the family.</p> + +<p>The minister of the synagogue, an old friend of Jesus', invited him to +lead the service. After the prayers, he sat down at the desk in the +center of the synagogue and opened the scroll to the Prophet Isaiah.</p> + +<p>Looking into the faces of many people who had known him from boyhood, +Jesus knew it would not be easy to tell them about the Kingdom. He read +the same passage he had read in Capernaum: "The Spirit of the Lord is +upon me, for he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor. He +has sent me to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for +the blind. He has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim the +year of the Lord's blessing."</p> + +<p>Jesus rolled up the scroll. Everyone waited for him to speak. "Today," +he declared, "these words of the Prophet Isaiah have come true right +here. God has sent his Holy Spirit upon me to tell you that he is now +among you. If you truly know that you need God, your ears will be open +to hear this word from him; but if you are proud, you will be deaf. Put +your entire trust in God and seek his will! I declare to you that God's +Kingdom is not far in the future; God has brought it to your door!"</p> + +<p>He paused and looked from person to person. "Who would have thought +Joseph's son would turn out so well?" whispered one of the elders to a +neighbor.</p> + +<p>"He does speak with ease," replied his friend, a grudging note in his +voice.</p> + +<p>"If we could see him do a miracle, we should know for sure whether he is +all he claims," said the elder.</p> + +<p>From the very first, Jesus had known that the people of Nazareth would +find it hard to believe in him. Looking at the elders, he said: "No +doubt you are ready to say to me, 'Do for us here in your own home town +the things you have been doing in Capernaum.' But prophets are never +accepted by the people of their own country. There were many Jewish +widows who needed Elijah's help when the great famine came over all +Israel, but God did not send him to any of them—they would not be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>lieve +in him. He sent him to a widow in Sidon, a gentile!</p> + +<p>"Elisha could have found many Jewish lepers who needed to be healed, but +not one of them was made clean. They would not believe in him! Rather, +he healed Naaman, a Syrian and a gentile!"</p> + +<p>A deathly silence settled over the synagogue. They were not as good as +gentiles! Gentiles, who were unclean outsiders! A carpenter's son +telling them that God would pass them by for gentiles! The men began to +murmur angrily. Jesus' voice rang out: "How can I do great deeds among +you when you do not really believe God at all?"</p> + +<p>Open anger swept through the synagogue. "How dare he talk like this to +us?" demanded one man, leaping to his feet. All over the room men began +to crowd toward the front where Jesus stood.</p> + +<p>"Let us have order here!" The minister could hardly make his voice +heard. A group of men rushed toward Jesus, who did not even step back. +"Over the cliff with him!" shouted someone. In a moment they were +shoving and hustling Jesus toward the door, yelling, "Over the cliff +with him!"</p> + +<p>Carrying Jesus with them, the crowd moved swiftly toward a place outside +the town where the hill dropped straight down. Then a peculiar thing +happened. The men seemed suddenly to realize what they were doing. This +was Mary's son! The son of Joseph, the carpenter who for many years had +made yokes for their oxen.</p> + +<p>Wrath seemed to melt away. The men let go of Jesus' robe. They seemed +almost afraid of him. None laid a hand on him as he walked through the +mob which only a moment before had wanted to kill him.</p> + +<p>An instant after Jesus was gone, anger again came over the men like the +backwash from an ocean wave. Some shook their fists in the direction +Jesus had gone, but not one had the courage to follow.</p> + +<p>The disciples did not attempt to follow Jesus. They were glad that no +one in the town knew them, and they wasted no time in leaving. They all +realized that men who were afraid of Jesus might take out their anger on +his followers. It was late that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> night before the disciples found one +another and started to hunt for their Master.</p> + +<p>Jesus had left the city and climbed to a high ridge where he had loved +to go as a boy. Now he looked down on the broad valley of Esdraelon, +stretching south to the foothills of Samaria, where so many of the great +battles of ancient Israel had been fought. Had he not always felt that +someday he would be rejected by his own home town?</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Jesus was not scorned by everyone in Nazareth. A few +people remembered the place he loved and they came to him there. They +were not rich people, and there were no elders from the synagogue among +them. They were the sick and crippled; they were people for whom life +was hard, and they believed the word which Jesus had spoken to them. The +disciples found him teaching and healing these few.</p> + +<p>"These have heard my word," said Jesus to the followers. "To them the +Kingdom is given." The disciples listened to Jesus telling the poorest +folk of Nazareth the news of the Kingdom. When they left, Jesus spoke +very plainly to the disciples.</p> + +<p>"Why are you so discouraged?" he asked. "Have we not preached the gospel +of the Kingdom here?"</p> + +<p>"They turned us out!" burst out James. "They laughed at us! They tried +to kill you!"</p> + +<p>Simon was bitter. "We should never come near this miserable village +again. We might have been killed!"</p> + +<p>"If men are to enter the Kingdom of God, they must repent," answered +Jesus. "It cuts them to the heart to confess that they have forgotten +God and his righteousness. They hate us for teaching them the truth +about themselves."</p> + +<p>The disciples sat in gloomy silence. Simon gazed out over the plains +below. Here through many defeats in battle the Jews had paid the price +of their sin—but Israel had not yet learned. Still the nation spurned +the prophets whom God sent. Would the Kingdom never come?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-045.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="WHO_IS_THIS_CARPENTER" id="WHO_IS_THIS_CARPENTER"></a>5. WHO IS THIS CARPENTER?</h2> + + +<p>After their harsh experience at Nazareth, the disciples were prepared +for other disappointments. Before they entered the next town on their +journey through Galilee the men talked soberly, a little fearfully, +about what might happen. But, one after another, the villages of Galilee +welcomed Jesus. The common people listened eagerly to the news that he +proclaimed, and many believed. The disciples began to forget that Jesus +had been driven out of Nazareth.</p> + +<p>Late one Friday afternoon just before the Sabbath began, Jesus led the +disciples into Chorazin, a town crowded in by the steep walls of a +valley north of Capernaum. A full hour before sunset the hills to the +west threw deep shadows over the village. It was cooler than Capernaum, +thought Simon. Soon he would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> be home with his wife and children! But he +was as glad as the others to rest in Chorazin over the Sabbath. They had +traveled all week, pausing only to tell the good news in the towns they +had passed through, and they were very tired.</p> + +<p>The men rose the next morning greatly refreshed, ready to worship at the +synagogue. They were sure Jesus would be asked to teach. Most of the +disciples expected the people to receive Jesus gladly, but Simon could +not forget the last time they had been in a synagogue—at Nazareth. It +was in the market places and on the streets, Simon remembered, not in +the synagogues, that Jesus had been most gladly welcomed.</p> + +<p>As soon as they entered the synagogue, Simon decided that the whole town +must have seen them arrive the night before; everyone was expecting +them. Invited by the minister of the synagogue, Jesus took his place +behind the desk on the low platform in the center of the room, and read +from the Prophets. Then he told the people very plainly that God was +among them in great power; that they must immediately give up everything +that kept them from understanding God's purpose and devote their lives +to him. Both the people and the elders listened closely, and Simon was +not surprised when many people gathered around Jesus as soon as the +service was over. The minister and the elders asked many serious +questions, and Simon saw that they were very sincere. The things Jesus +had said disturbed them deeply. No one noticed a very short woman +quietly walking up behind the men who surrounded Jesus.</p> + +<p>When at last there were no more questions, Jesus turned to go. The men +stepped back. For the first time, Jesus saw the woman. Shyly she moved +away. Instantly he realized why she had come. Her back was terribly +bent.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid," he said to her encouragingly; "come here!" She +hesitated.</p> + +<p><i>Does he realize that this is the Sabbath?</i> Simon thought in alarm.</p> + +<p>As though he were alone with the woman, Jesus laid his hand on her +twisted back and raised his eyes in prayer: "Father, I thank thee that +thou hearest me when I pray. Set this woman free, I beseech thee, from +the deformity which has bent her body<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> these many years. This I ask in +order that she may know that thou hast sent me with thy message of +life." While Jesus was praying, Simon glanced at the elders of the +synagogue.</p> + +<p>They were utterly amazed at what Jesus was doing. <i>Doesn't this Nazarene +know this is the Sabbath?</i> wondered the minister.</p> + +<p>Jesus had finished. He said, "You are freed from your infirmity." She +stood up straight. "May God be praised!" she exclaimed. There were tears +of joy in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"God's blessing on you. Rabbi!" The woman's friends had been watching +from the balcony and now they ran down to the main floor of the +synagogue and gathered around her.</p> + +<p>Amazed and outraged, the minister looked from the woman to Jesus and +back again. Angrily he turned to the people. "The Law says there are six +days in each week for work. That means there are six days for getting +healed. What more do you need? Why do you come on the Sabbath?"</p> + +<p>Simon glanced at Jesus and almost shivered. Jesus had seen the distress +and embarrassment of the woman. "You hypocrite!" The man cringed. He had +not imagined Jesus would dare speak to him like this. "Do you scold this +woman for coming to be healed on the Sabbath? Every single one of you +will lead your ox to water as soon as you get home. If that isn't work, +what is?" His scorn bit into the elders like a whiplash. "You say the +Law allows you to give your cattle water. Hasn't this woman the right to +be healed? For eighteen years her body has been twisted. She is a child +of Abraham! Isn't she more important than any animal?" Jesus looked +right through the men. They felt like fish wriggling on a spear.</p> + +<p>The friends of the woman stole triumphant glances at the elders. Simon +knew Jesus was getting into trouble, but it made no difference: his +Master was right!</p> + +<p>Without another word, Jesus strode out of the synagogue. The people left +in the room felt suddenly cold, and all but the elders hastened away to +their homes.</p> + +<p>Hardly wishing to look at one another, the elders sighed and sat down. +It was not just that they were angry. They were baffled by what Jesus +had said. Their respect for the Sabbath rule was sincere; they believed +it was the most important regulation in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> the entire Jewish Law. No one +who disobeyed it, they were certain, could possibly love God. "Never in +my life have I seen such a fanatic!" exclaimed the minister finally.</p> + +<p>"He is dangerous," agreed another. "What will happen to our religion if +the people begin to think that they don't need to keep the Sabbath?"</p> + +<p>"We must tell the people how serious a matter this is," said the +minister. "I am going down to Capernaum tomorrow. I will stop and talk +to our friend Symeon. He may know about this Jesus. Perhaps he can tell +us what we ought to do."</p> + +<p>At the inn where they were staying, the disciples were gloomy and +silent. They were worried about the dispute with the elders; but they +were troubled also about the thing Jesus had done that morning. Jesus +knew that he had perplexed them, and he was not surprised when the next +day, on the road down to Capernaum, Simon spoke up.</p> + +<p>"Master, we would like to ask a question," said Simon. The others +gathered closely around. "Moses told us at Mount Sinai, 'Remember the +sabbath day, to keep it holy.' He told us never to work on the Sabbath. +Yet, Rabbi, you healed the woman on the Sabbath. We <i>do</i> believe she is +more important than any animal—but still. Rabbi, you did break the +Sabbath rule! Do you want the Sabbath forgotten? Do you intend to cast +out all the laws and rules?" Simon's tense voice told Jesus he was +deeply disturbed. The other disciples looked at Jesus gravely.</p> + +<p>"I have not come to destroy the Law," he answered. "Rather, I am showing +you what it really means to obey the Law."</p> + +<p>"But you did heal the hunchbacked woman on the Sabbath, didn't you?" +persisted Simon.</p> + +<p>"Unless you obey the Law better than these men who make the Sabbath so +important, you can never enter the Kingdom of Heaven," replied Jesus.</p> + +<p>"We don't think they are right. Master," explained Simon. "We think that +the woman was more important than the animals, which they feed and water +on the Sabbath. But...." Jesus knew Simon was not satisfied.</p> + +<p>"Even though the Pharisees are very careful about little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> things," said +Jesus, "that does not mean that they know what God asks of them. They +obey the Sabbath rule—but inwardly they have forgotten justice and +mercy. They all know that it is wrong to kill another Jew. But much more +is required than that: if you even hold a grudge against another person, +you have no right to pray to God. The Pharisees give much attention to +small rules and forget the important things."</p> + +<p>"This seems so new," said Simon. "I don't understand very well."</p> + +<p>"I have only told you what Moses and the Prophets taught," replied +Jesus. "The meaning of their words has been forgotten, even though the +Pharisees talk about them a great deal."</p> + +<p>"But don't you think we are likely to get into trouble if we speak out +like this in public?" urged Andrew. "We can teach the people, but I +don't think we need to be so harsh with the Pharisees and the elders of +the synagogues. We ought to be careful. The Pharisees are really good +people and we must not offend them. How can we preach the good news to +the people if we do? When we go to the synagogues, I think it is much +safer to keep quiet."</p> + +<p>Jesus watched the men listening to Andrew and knew why they agreed. He +knew the inward emptiness of fear—fear of a future they could not know. +Andrew was right; their peril was increasing every day. But Jesus shook +his head. "My followers," he said, "do not think that I was sent to +bring peace to this nation. I came to bring strife. It cannot be any +other way. Men enter the Kingdom of God only through conflict and pain."</p> + +<p>When the disciples arrived in Capernaum on the day after the Sabbath, +they heard a report that dismayed them: John the Baptizer had been +thrown into prison by King Herod. They found out about it through one of +his followers who had come to Capernaum to find Jesus and was waiting +for them at Simon's home. The man's name was Jacob. Andrew and John +remembered him as one of the Baptizer's most loyal disciples.</p> + +<p>"What made the king do it?" asked Andrew.</p> + +<p>"John told the king he was doing wrong in the sight of God," replied +Jacob.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>John is no bolder than Jesus</i>, thought Andrew.</p> + +<p>Jacob added, "John himself told us just before he was taken prisoner +that we should come to you."</p> + +<p>Andrew turned to Jesus. "What will Herod do to him?"</p> + +<p>"There is no way to tell. We must be prepared to hear the worst."</p> + +<p>"Why did John send you to us?" Simon asked Jacob.</p> + +<p>"Some of us went to him and told him that more people were following +your Master than were following him," answered the man. "He just said to +us: 'Didn't I tell you that I am not the Christ? I am glad that Jesus +has many followers. He must grow even stronger, and I must decrease.' +When he was thrown into prison, I came to you."</p> + +<p>Andrew looked at Jesus and spoke the thought in the minds of them all: +"If we go on proclaiming the gospel, the same thing may happen to us."</p> + +<p>Jesus' answer was firm: "Nothing must stand in our way. We speak for +God."</p> + +<p>Never before had the men felt the strength of Jesus as they did now. +There was not a trace of fear in his actions. He knew that their danger +was increasing every day! And he acted with such authority! Everything +he said or did proved that he knew what he was about. It was his +certainty that convinced the people!</p> + +<p>An event occurred on the second day of their return to Capernaum which +showed the disciples that they might soon share the fate of John the +Baptizer. It did not take many hours for the report to spread through +all Capernaum that Jesus was back in the city. From every corner of the +town came those needing help—not only the sick and lame, but people of +all kinds who were restless and dissatisfied. So many people crowded +into the courtyard of Simon's home that Jesus decided to stand in the +doorway of his room where he could see them all. The porch roof shaded +him. He was about to raise his hand to quiet the people when Andrew +hurried to him.</p> + +<p>"Master," he whispered excitedly, "there are Pharisees and their scribes +outside."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, bring them in."</p> + +<p>Andrew was amazed. "But, Master, some of them are from Jerusalem!"</p> + +<p>Jesus knew what that meant. Over the crowd he caught Simon's eye. The +fisherman was worried. <i>From Jerusalem!</i> Simon was thinking. <i>They have +come to see if what we are teaching is against the Law of Moses.</i></p> + +<p>Jesus realized that news of his preaching must have traveled to +Jerusalem. He knew that officials of the Pharisees would come to hear +him personally. He expected no friendliness from them; but he was ready.</p> + +<p>He glanced behind him. "There is room for them there. Bring them in."</p> + +<p>Andrew looked anxiously at Jesus. "O Master, don't...."</p> + +<p>Jesus looked at him. "Courage, Andrew! Make certain that they see and +hear everything that happens."</p> + +<p>People stepped back respectfully as the scribes and Pharisees came in. +Jesus paid no special attention. He had turned to the people who stood +before him.</p> + +<p>"I have been sent by God with news," he began. "If you are poor, you can +be rich if you will humble your heart and trust God."</p> + +<p>He saw a man covered with sores. "Are you unclean?" he said, looking at +him. "God will accept you. You are clean in his sight if your heart is +turned toward him.</p> + +<p>"Are you full of fears and worries? Come unto me, all of you that are +burdened in spirit, and I will give you rest."</p> + +<p>There were many outside the house who could not get in because there was +no room. Among them were four men carrying a stretcher. On it lay a man +who was helpless from paralysis. His body had wasted away to skin and +bone. His four friends had heard about Jesus' power, but now they stood +in front of the house in dismay.</p> + +<p>"We can never get in," said one.</p> + +<p>"There's no use waiting until they leave," said another.</p> + +<p>"Let's take him back," said the first, discouraged.</p> + +<p>"No indeed!" The others were determined. "I am sure he will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> be healed +if we can just find some way to get through," said one of them.</p> + +<p>The fourth man was gazing at a staircase that led up to the roof of the +house next to Simon's home.</p> + +<p>"Look! Why can't we get in that way?"</p> + +<p>In a moment the men had climbed the stairs and stepped across the narrow +space that separated them from the roof of Simon's house. On the porch +under them, they could hear Jesus talking. It took about fifteen minutes +to lift the tile from the porch roof, tie ropes to the stretcher, and +lower the man toward Jesus.</p> + +<p>Everybody stared as the paralyzed man slowly came to rest at the feet of +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"My son!" Jesus' voice could be clearly heard in the hush of the +courtyard. "Your sins are forgiven."</p> + +<p>The statement took everyone by surprise. Andrew saw a scribe whisper to +a friend.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear what he said?" remarked the scribe whom Andrew was +watching. His friend nodded.</p> + +<p>A woman who knew the sick man said: "Is this man paralyzed because he +sinned? He was born this way, wasn't he?"</p> + +<p>"He has been a very good man," answered her husband.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to the scribes and Pharisees. "Why are you wondering about +what I said? Tell me which is easier, to say to this man, 'Your sins are +forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk'?"</p> + +<p>None tried to speak. Then Jesus said, "'But that you may know that the +Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins'"—he turned to the +sick man—"Get up! Pick up your bed and carry it away!"</p> + +<p>Strength surged into the wasted frame of the paralytic. He rose and did +as Jesus told him. A whisper ran over the crowd.</p> + +<p>The Pharisees and scribes sat silent. Watching them carefully, Simon saw +that they were puzzled. An elderly man, who appeared to be a leader, +whispered to a friend, "He actually claims to forgive sin! God alone can +do that."</p> + +<p>The Pharisees and scribes rose to leave. They walked through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> the crowd +without looking at the people. When they were outside, the elderly +leader shook his head very gravely. "I had hoped this man would be a +friend of the Law, but I am afraid he is not. 'Your sins are forgiven!' +What a blasphemous thing for a man to dare to say!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-054.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="THE_OLD_AND_THE_NEW" id="THE_OLD_AND_THE_NEW"></a>6. THE OLD AND THE NEW</h2> + + +<p>"Rabbi, it is a serious mistake for us to mix with outcasts!" Simon was +disturbed. Jesus had summoned a tax collector named Levi to follow him. +On this night the tax collector had asked Jesus and his disciples to +come to his home for dinner. "I know that Levi is different now," +protested Simon, "but we ought not to get mixed up with his old cronies. +We should take him away from that class of people!"</p> + +<p>Jesus came straight to the point. "Don't you want to eat at Levi's home +at all?"</p> + +<p>"No!" Simon answered bluntly. "After all, look who he is! A taxgatherer! +A traitor to our nation! For my part, I want nothing to do with him." +Simon realized that his tone was not respectful. "I am thinking of our +work, Master. People will not listen to us if we eat with those men. The +best people will look down on us!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Levi has sinned," answered Jesus. "That is why we called him to join +us. His friends have sinned. We are going to eat with them because they +need help. And do not forget, Simon, you will be judged by the same +measuring stick that you use on Levi's friends."</p> + +<p>"I am far from perfect. Rabbi," persisted Simon, "but I try to obey the +Law." His tone became bitter. "Anyway, I never worked for King Herod! I +cannot stand the idea of sitting down at the same table with tax +collectors. It might as well be a gang of robbers!"</p> + +<p>"Simon," said Jesus sternly, "before you start looking for the sliver in +Levi's eye you had better dig the tree trunk out of your own." Strongly +rebuked, Simon consented to eat with Levi and his friends, but he was +very unwilling.</p> + +<p>The next day two close friends of Symeon, the most respected citizen of +Capernaum, stopped to visit him. The report of what Jesus had done came +up.</p> + +<p>"What I cannot understand," remarked Symeon, a dignified man of about +sixty, "is how a man who wants to teach religion can actually associate +with such people."</p> + +<p>"For that matter," replied one of his friends, "look at the men who +follow him. They are very common people—fishermen, this tax collector, +and such like—not a Pharisee among them. Not one of them takes religion +seriously."</p> + +<p>"And yet I have heard this Nazarene myself," continued Symeon. "He says +many things that show he knows the Law very well. He knows he should not +eat with people like that Levi!"</p> + +<p>"Did you hear about the healing at the fisherman's house the other day?" +inquired the younger of the two visiting Pharisees. "Some men put a +paralytic in front of the Nazarene while he was teaching. The first +thing he said was, 'Your sins are forgiven.'" The others nodded.</p> + +<p>"The puzzling thing is that this young teacher seems very sincere," said +Symeon. "He really knows a great deal—and no one can deny that he has +great power. The people go out to hear him everywhere. I want to find +out his purpose. I have a suggestion that may help us see what he is +trying to do." The other men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> looked up. "You may think this is going a +little too far, but I should like to ask him to come to my house."</p> + +<p>"But he is not a keeper of the Law!" protested the young Pharisee. "We +should be as bad as he is, if we were to eat with him."</p> + +<p>Symeon nodded. "I realize that it will not be easy for you, but I think +we should do it. If there is something good in this Nazarene, we should +know it. If he is up to mischief.... Anyhow, I don't see how we can +understand him unless we talk to him." The others said nothing, and +Symeon took their silence for consent. "Of course," he added, "we will +not invite the others—the fishermen and that tax collector. That would +be too much! But I think it would be all right to have the Nazarene here +just once."</p> + +<p>When Jesus told the disciples that he was going to the home of Symeon, +Andrew was pleased. "I guess we have not offended the Pharisees too +badly after all," he exclaimed enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Simon too was relieved. "I hope. Master," he said, "that you will +explain why we ate with Levi."</p> + +<p>Jesus said very little. It was natural for fishermen and workers to want +the approval of the most respected citizens of Capernaum. Yet Jesus knew +how little the Pharisees cared for people like his own disciples.</p> + +<p>There were many guests in Symeon's home, for this was the season of the +New Year and every Jew left the door of his home open for any visitor +who cared to enter. During the meal, both friends and strangers +continued to come into the room, but Symeon was listening intently to +Jesus as they conversed about religion.</p> + +<p>"The men who obeyed God in past times were not the rich and the +powerful," Jesus was saying. "Very often our nation has listened to +God's voice only after defeat in war. When men know they are weak, they +turn to God."</p> + +<p>"Is this your purpose in going about and preaching to the people of +Galilee?" asked Symeon. Everyone listened for the answer.</p> + +<p>"I am sent to tell our people that God is their rightful King. His power +is present among us," answered Jesus plainly. "But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> most of you will not +take my message seriously. You trust other gods, and your hearts are +hard."</p> + +<p>The Pharisees looked at one another. Some were puzzled, others offended. +"But surely you misunderstand us. We keep the Law very carefully," said +Symeon.</p> + +<p>"If you are really a teacher sent from God, how can you mix with +outcasts?" The young Pharisee's question was blunt.</p> + +<p>"I am not here to call the righteous to repent," answered Jesus, his +eyes accusing the young man. "I am here to call sinners!" Irony came +into his voice. "People who are healthy don't need a doctor. It is the +sick who need help. It is to them that I am sent."</p> + +<p>The room was tense, but before anyone could ask another question, +Symeon's attention was drawn away. He glanced around the room. It +sounded as though someone were weeping! He examined the shadowy corners +where the light of the candles did not reach. At that moment a woman +stepped swiftly toward Jesus and dropped to her knees.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned and looked at her. He had not known she was hiding in the +darkness behind him. Her tears fell on his feet. She loosed the cord +that tied her hair. With its long waves she gently wiped Jesus' feet.</p> + +<p>Symeon, usually dignified, was irritated. "What kind of nonsense is +this?" he asked as he rose from his couch.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to him. "Do not rebuke her," he requested. <i>That is the +trouble with leaving the door open</i>, thought Symeon. <i>Women like this +are bound to get in</i>. Everyone there knew her. She had a bad reputation +in the city. Symeon felt humiliated to have such a person in his house. +<i>This Nazarene certainly knows all the worst people</i>, reflected the +young Pharisee cynically.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a lovely fragrance filled the room. The woman had broken open a +bottle of precious perfume and recklessly poured every drop on Jesus' +feet.</p> + +<p><i>Such waste!</i> thought Symeon angrily, realizing what she had done. <i>I +wonder if the Nazarene has any idea where she got the money to buy this +oil!</i> But he said nothing because he was very polite.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to his host. "Symeon," he said, "I have something to say to +you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is it, Teacher?" asked the Pharisee.</p> + +<p>"There was once a man who loaned money," said Jesus. "One of his debtors +owed him two hundred and fifty dollars; another owed him twenty-five +dollars." The guests were listening closely. "Neither of these men could +pay back the money, so the lender said to both of them: 'I forgive you +your debts. You don't need to pay me back at all.'" He paused and then +asked, "Now which of these two men would be more grateful?"</p> + +<p>"Why, naturally, the man who owed more money would be more grateful," +replied Symeon without hesitating.</p> + +<p>"Right!" said Jesus. "When I came into your house you didn't even offer +to wash my feet—and everyone does that for his guest! But this woman +has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair!</p> + +<p>"You didn't welcome me with a kiss—and everyone greets his guest that +way!" He pointed to the woman. "But she has been kissing my feet.</p> + +<p>"You didn't anoint my head with oil—and everyone does that for his +guest! But this woman has poured precious perfume on my feet!" Jesus' +voice was quiet, but all the Pharisees could sense the force of his +words when he said: "She has committed many sins, but they are all +forgiven and now her heart is full of love." Then Jesus spoke directly +to Symeon and each word seemed to strike him like a blow. "But a man +whose sins are not forgiven has no love in his heart." Then he said very +gently to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven."</p> + +<p>Symeon's face burned hot. Never had anyone spoken like this to him! He +was troubled by the suggestion that he was a sinner. All his life he had +done his best to obey the Law. Had he not always prided himself on his +good actions?</p> + +<p>Hurt and confused, Symeon heard a friend beside him whisper, "Did you +hear him say that this woman's sins are forgiven?" Abruptly Symeon +looked up at the man. He was right! It was an outrage for anyone to say +such a thing as this!</p> + +<p>"You have no reason to be sorrowful," Jesus was saying to the woman. +"Your faith has saved you."</p> + +<p>Symeon stood up, his shame forgotten. Why had he ever let this person +disturb him? Anyone who talked this way was a heretic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> and a blasphemer, +nothing better! Only God could forgive sin. They all knew the truth +about this Jesus now: such a man was dangerous to all true religion. As +a Pharisee who loved the Law, he would have to do all he could to keep +him from deceiving the people.</p> + +<p>Jesus said nothing to the disciples about the events of the evening in +Symeon's house. But two days later, while buying food, Andrew and John +heard a rumor which they discovered later came from Symeon. "Should we +tell the Master?" wondered John.</p> + +<p>"We must." Andrew was positive. They made a quick trip to Simon's home, +left their food, and hurried out to the shore of the lake. As usual, a +large group of listeners surrounded Jesus. "We shall have to wait until +we can talk to him alone," said Andrew.</p> + +<p>A man whom the disciples had never seen before was questioning Jesus. +"Rabbi, why do the Pharisees and the followers of John the Baptizer fast +while your disciples pay no attention to the fasting rule?" Andrew and +John exchanged startled glances; this was it!</p> + +<p>Jesus answered very clearly. "Tell me," he asked, "do the friends of +people who are getting married fast on the wedding day?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not. That is a time for rejoicing, not fasting."</p> + +<p>"Right," answered Jesus. "While the bridegroom is with his friends they +are not sorrowful. But a time comes when he leaves them. There is time +enough then to fast."</p> + +<p>"But, Rabbi," protested the man, "the Pharisees say it is a serious sin +not to fast."</p> + +<p>"Listen to what I say," said Jesus. "If you have an old coat with a hole +in it, do you patch it with a brand-new piece of cloth?"</p> + +<p>"No, of course not."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Jesus.</p> + +<p>"As soon as the new piece is wet by the rain," answered a woman very +quickly, "it shrinks and tears the cloth of the old coat."</p> + +<p>Jesus said, "If you try to add something new to the old, the new +destroys the old, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" asked the first man after a moment's +thought.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Listen again. When you make new wine, do you pour it right into a dry, +stiff wineskin that has been used before?" The people stored wine in +whole goatskins, tied up tightly at the legs and neck.</p> + +<p>"Of course not."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because as soon as the wine begins to ferment it stretches the skin +tight. New wine is powerful enough to rip an old bag to pieces!"</p> + +<p>"Do you understand now what I am telling you?" asked Jesus. "Never try +to put new wine in old skins. The old cannot hold the new. The gospel of +the Kingdom of God asks you to do much more than just keep the fasts."</p> + +<p>"The Pharisees don't say that," said the man doubtfully. "I don't know +who is right. It is a serious thing not to keep the Law of Moses."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what you remind me of?" Jesus said. "I saw some children in +the market this morning who couldn't decide what they wanted to do. Some +wanted to play that they were at a wedding; others, that they were at a +funeral. When they piped wedding music, the ones who wanted a funeral +wouldn't dance. And when they piped funeral music, the others quit. It +was impossible to please them all.</p> + +<p>"You and your teachers are like children who are never satisfied. John +the Baptizer came and fasted often—and you said he had a demon. Now I +come eating and drinking like other men and you call me a glutton and a +drunkard. You accuse me of being friendly with tax collectors and other +sinners. But what we do will prove to be right!"</p> + +<p>When the crowd broke up, Andrew and John walked back to Capernaum with +Jesus. "Someone had been talking to the man who asked that question," +declared Andrew.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know," answered Jesus. "We must expect the Pharisees to +criticize us. How careful they are to keep every little command of the +rabbis—but justice, mercy, and kindness they forget. They would strain +a gnat out of their soup and swallow a camel whole!" The disciples had +to smile at the way Jesus put it. "They cannot understand what we are +saying. We offend them—and when you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> offend men who take their religion +very seriously, you must be ready for real trouble!"</p> + +<p>The next Sabbath Day the disciples realized that the Pharisees were not +going to stand by while Jesus taught the people a new way of life. Jesus +had traveled to a small town near Capernaum where he had not been before +and so he was invited to speak in the synagogue. Several Pharisees were +present and very much interested in what Jesus said. They seemed +friendly, and after the service went walking with Jesus and a few other +people who clustered around Jesus. The group passed through a field of +grain outside the town. James and Levi were hungry, so they pulled the +tops off some wheatstalks. They rubbed the heads of wheat in their hands +and blew away the chaff. The Pharisees seemed offended by this, but at +first they said nothing. Other people saw what the disciples were doing, +and they plucked wheat too. The Pharisees became more and more disturbed +and finally could keep back their protests no longer. They came to +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Rabbi, we noticed that some of the men here were pulling wheat," one of +them said tactfully.</p> + +<p>Jesus said: "They are hungry. It is all right for them to pick wheat, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"The scribes say it is all right to pick single grains. Rabbi," they +replied, "but these men are rubbing out whole stalks, and that is +against the Sabbath rule." They were sure that Jesus understood.</p> + +<p>"Have you not read in the Bible that David and his warriors took bread +off the sacred table in the Tabernacle when they were hungry?" asked +Jesus. "That was against the rule of Moses—but David did it!"</p> + +<p>The Pharisees were dumfounded. The first almost stammered as he asked, +"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that if there was a higher law for David there may also be a +higher law for me and my disciples," answered Jesus plainly.</p> + +<p>"But ... but we do not understand," faltered the Pharisee. "You cannot +set aside a law. No one can. That is impossible. It is part of our +religion. Whoever pays no attention to the Law is an outcast and a +sinner."</p> + +<p>"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> replied Jesus. +"The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."</p> + +<p>The older Pharisee frowned and then flushed red. The muscles in his neck +tightened as he looked at Jesus. "You dare to say such things!" he burst +out. "You do not belong to us. You are an enemy of God!"</p> + +<p>All the way back to Capernaum the disciples talked about what had +happened in the wheat field. "They just keep watching us to see if we do +anything wrong!" protested James.</p> + +<p>"Personally, I don't think they even understand what we are doing," +ventured Andrew. "They never listen to what we say. They act as though +they knew everything about religion."</p> + +<p>"Yes, their kind of religion," remarked James indignantly. "They won't +even speak to a leper! Who is going to go out among the people of our +towns and let them know that God cares for them? Their religion is just +for themselves!"</p> + +<p>"Jesus is the only one who cares about the outcasts," said Simon +earnestly. "No one else does."</p> + +<p>Symeon hoped that Jesus would do something that would prove to everyone +that he did not believe in God. The thought that Jesus might win the +people over to himself struck panic into Symeon's heart. If that should +happen, something desperate might have to be done. Meanwhile, however, +he and a few others who knew how dangerous Jesus was had decided to +wait.</p> + +<p>On the next Sabbath Day, the whole matter came out into the open. As +usual, most of the Jews in Capernaum—common people and Pharisees, along +with Jesus and the disciples—came to the synagogue at the hour of +worship. The moment Simon and Andrew entered they saw that there would +be trouble: there was a man present with an arm made lame from +dropsy—and they knew Jesus would surely heal him if he asked. The +synagogue was crowded. The people bowed respectfully as Symeon and the +leading men of the town entered, but they smiled when they had passed: +Jesus was there, and they too had seen the man with the lame arm.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he would dare to heal him?" one of the Pharisees whispered +to Symeon.</p> + +<p>"I hardly believe he will," replied Symeon. "To break the Sab<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>bath law +right in the synagogue would be a direct attack on religion."</p> + +<p>At that moment the lame man went to where Jesus sat. Instantly the room +was quiet. Everyone knew the charge against Jesus: that he broke the Law +of God deliberately.</p> + +<p>Jesus looked at the man and said, "Will you come with me?" He led the +man to the front of the synagogue where he could speak to the elders and +Pharisees.</p> + +<p>"I ask you," demanded Jesus, "is it right to help or to hurt on the +Sabbath Day? Should one save a life?" The men said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Is there a single one of you that would leave a sheep in a ditch all +day long if it fell in on Sabbath morning?" Everyone knew the rule: A +farmer was permitted to save a sheep on the Sabbath.</p> + +<p>"Well, isn't a man worth more than a sheep?"</p> + +<p>The question was clear to every listener: Which was more important, the +Sabbath rule or this man's need? Simon smiled, but the Pharisees felt +differently. Symeon could hardly contain himself. He wanted to rise up +and cry out to everyone that these were trick questions; that this bold +Nazarene was trying to tear down the sacred Law of God himself; that +religion itself would be destroyed if he succeeded. But he sat still and +said nothing.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to the man. "Stretch out your arm," he said gently.</p> + +<p>The instant the man obeyed, his withered arm became as strong as the +other. A murmur of awe went over the congregation. Symeon rose and +strode out of the synagogue, followed by the religious officials of +Capernaum. Outside, Symeon turned to the others and declared firmly: "We +must save our holy religion at all costs. He has won over the people +with his trickery, but God is on our side! We must go to King Herod and +ask him to help us put this man out of the way!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-064.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="MISSIONARIES_OF_THE_KINGDOM" id="MISSIONARIES_OF_THE_KINGDOM"></a>7. MISSIONARIES OF THE KINGDOM</h2> + + +<p>It took less than a week for the report that Jesus had defied the +Pharisees to spread throughout all Galilee. Those who most welcomed the +news were the Zealots. For a long time, they had been plotting to rebel +against the Romans, but so far had found no plan that promised to be +successful. They believed that Jesus was the leader for whom they had +been waiting so long. He was brave. He stood up to the officials. He was +popular with the common people. One of their leaders decided to find out +what Jesus intended to do. His name was Simon. Well known in Galilee for +his courage, everyone called him "the Zealot." He made a special trip to +Capernaum that same week and came to Simon's home. Before the week was +past he became a follower of Jesus. But there were many things he found +it hard to understand.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," he asked Simon and James privately, "does the Rabbi intend to +set up the new kingdom now?"</p> + +<p>Simon was cautious. "The Master has said nothing about that."</p> + +<p>The Zealot glanced about to make sure that the door and shutters were +tightly closed. "Do you not know that he could easily persuade the +people to revolt against Herod?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>James was alarmed. "But we're not ready for that yet."</p> + +<p>Simon gave him a warning glance. He still mistrusted this man. "We plan +to tell everyone in this country our message," he said guardedly.</p> + +<p>"If you are going to establish a free Jewish nation, you must do more +than talk," declared the Zealot. "You should organize!"</p> + +<p>The fishermen looked at each other, doubting how much they should say. +Finally James said vaguely, "We think it won't be much longer."</p> + +<p>"Why can't we do something definite about it?" said the Zealot.</p> + +<p>"Do you really think he could be king of the Jews?" asked James.</p> + +<p>"I'm certain of it!" replied the Zealot. "My people would follow him to +a man!"</p> + +<p>James looked inquiringly at Simon. "I think most of the people would be +favorable, don't you?"</p> + +<p>Simon shook his head doubtfully. "We ought to see what the Master +thinks. King Herod has many Roman soldiers under his command!"</p> + +<p>"Listen, Simon," argued James. "The Master has spent plenty of time +teaching already. Everyone in Galilee has heard about the kingdom." +Simon didn't reply. "He intends to fight eventually," continued James. +"Didn't he say he came to bring conflict and not peace? I think it is +about time to stop talking and get to work!"</p> + +<p>Simon stared at the ground. "Well, one thing is sure," he admitted. "The +Pharisees are all against us. They will keep us out of the synagogues."</p> + +<p>"That is exactly why I think Jesus should openly declare himself king," +affirmed the Zealot strongly. "It is time to go forward!"</p> + +<p>Jesus had told the disciples to wait for him in Capernaum and had gone +to the hills for prayer. He knew his work had reached a turning point. +For several days he remained alone, praying and seeking wisdom from God. +When he returned to Capernaum, he called the disciples together.</p> + +<p>"My followers," he said gravely, when they were gathered about him, +"many times I have told you that the Kingdom of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> God cannot come without +suffering. Men who hate truth hate anyone who speaks the truth." The men +knew Jesus had made a decision. "The Kingdom of God has been proclaimed +only in Galilee," he continued. "The time has now come to carry the news +to all Palestine!"</p> + +<p><i>That means Judea!</i> thought James and John at the same time. In +Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were strongest.</p> + +<p>"Rulers will show us no mercy," said Jesus. "God is our only Source of +strength. We must tell the gospel in every village and countryside. We +must not miss a single Jew. You are to be my missionaries to this +nation!"</p> + +<p>The men stirred and glanced at one another. The Zealot vigorously nodded +his approval. No hiding in the hills for them; they were going forward! +Fear mixed with eagerness sent chills through them.</p> + +<p>Jesus rose and stood facing Simon, who went to his knees before him. +Jesus laid his hand on Simon's head and, lifting up his eyes, prayed for +him. He asked the Heavenly Father to strengthen him and to give him the +wisdom and courage he would need for the important task he was about to +undertake. One by one, Jesus blessed each of the twelve men. He knew +them better than they knew themselves and he prayed simply and frankly +for each one. Awe filled them as they listened. The work was so great, +and they were so weak! They were to teach and heal as Jesus himself had +been doing! A new spirit gripped them.</p> + +<p>"Shall we too be able to drive out demons and raise the dead, Master?" +asked Simon.</p> + +<p>"The power of the Kingdom is yours," declared Jesus. "You have both the +right and the power to destroy evil wherever you find it—whether +demons, sickness, or spiritual blindness."</p> + +<p>Then he gave them instructions for the journey that lay before them. +"You are to travel two by two. Preach only to Jews, not to Samaritans or +gentiles, for the time is short. Your work is to seek everywhere the +lost sheep of the people of Israel. Return when this is done.</p> + +<p>"Take only a walking stick and one pair of sandals—neither food nor +money nor extra clothes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How shall we live, Master? Where shall we stay?" asked Simon.</p> + +<p>"When you come to a strange town, find someone who will open his home to +you while you work there," answered Jesus. "Once you have decided with +whom you will stay, do not change. Hold fast to your first friend."</p> + +<p>"What if no one will take us in?" asked Andrew.</p> + +<p>"If you find no one who will help you, leave that town immediately," +answered Jesus. "God will judge any town that will not hear your +message.</p> + +<p>"This is your gospel: Tell all Jews that God has come among us. Tell +them that his power is right now at work. Tell them that he is the ruler +of all who trust him. Warn them to repent and turn to him now." The +disciples realized that they would have to face the people without +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves," warned Jesus. "You will +be persecuted. Never put your trust in persons in high positions, for +they will betray you.</p> + +<p>"If you are put in prison and brought into court, do not be anxious +about what you should say. The spirit of God your Father will help you, +and everyone who hears you will learn the good news that God's Kingdom +has come."</p> + +<p>"Master, how shall we ever have strength to do it?" burst out Andrew.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid!" Jesus was standing now, ready to bid them farewell. +"God has given you his own power. You carry news of eternal life; you +are doing the work of God's Kingdom!"</p> + +<p>A few days later, one of the Twelve visited Nazareth. He saw the mother +and brothers of Jesus and told them how Jesus was sending missionaries +of the Kingdom to every village in Palestine. Mary was at once fearful.</p> + +<p>"That will put him in great danger," she said nervously.</p> + +<p>"He has already made a big enough fool of himself," remarked one of her +sons rudely. He was a strong young fellow about twenty-five. "The +trouble with him is that people make too much of him."</p> + +<p>"Don't speak that way, Jude," protested Mary. She had spent many +sleepless nights wondering if the rumor could be true that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> Jesus had +become a fanatic and was not in his right mind.</p> + +<p>"Bah! The only trouble with him is that popularity has gone to his +head!"</p> + +<p>"What should I do, Jude?" asked Mary. "He is bound to get into some kind +of trouble if he goes on like this."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know." Jude wished his mother would stop worrying. "Perhaps +we can make him come home."</p> + +<p>Mary snatched at the suggestion. "Let us go to him right away." She +prepared hastily for the trip, greatly relieved to be doing something +about her strange son Jesus.</p> + +<p>Upon arriving at Capernaum, Mary and Jude went directly to the home of +Simon where they knew Jesus stayed. They found the courtyard crowded. +Mary was dismayed.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," said Jude. "He will come when I tell him you are here +waiting for him." He began to shove through the tightly packed people. +There were angry murmurs, but Jude paid no attention. As he got farther +into the courtyard he could hear a man shouting angrily. <i>That's not +Jesus' voice</i>, he thought. Finally he reached a place where he could see +his brother.</p> + +<p>Behind Jesus stood some of the disciples who had already returned from +their mission. All around him were sick and lame people, but he was not +healing them. He was standing silently before the man whose harsh voice +Jude had heard. The man was completely out of control of himself. Jude +couldn't see why he was so angry, but he thought this must have been +going on for some time.</p> + +<p>"Who is the angry one?" he asked a bystander.</p> + +<p>"Some scribe."</p> + +<p>The scribe had almost run out of breath, but Jesus still said nothing. +Irritated by Jesus' silence, he threw a final accusation at him.</p> + +<p>"You false prophet! You are a complete fake!"</p> + +<p>A man in the crowd suddenly cried out: "He is not false! He tells us the +truth as no man ever did."</p> + +<p>"He has brought healing to many," added another. "How could he do that +if he were not sent from God?" Others nodded.</p> + +<p>The angry scribe turned on the man. "Many magicians can heal and drive +out demons! I can show you a hundred right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> here in Galilee who can do +anything he can! Bah! This prophet of yours is a fake!"</p> + +<p>The man did not know what to answer. "I'll tell you why he can drive out +demons," snapped the enraged scribe. "I'll tell you! The prince of all +demons has got hold of him! That's why he can do it!" Scornfully he +drove home his point. "Why shouldn't he be stronger than the demons? He +is possessed by Satan himself."</p> + +<p>Simon flushed. The charge was crude and ridiculous. He opened his mouth +to deny it, but he realized he could not. How could he prove the scribe +wrong? Simon's anger turned to shame.</p> + +<p>Jesus' voice was calm and controlled, when at last he spoke. "Would +Satan cast out his own helpers?" he asked the man, coolly. There was a +touch of sarcasm in his voice. "A nation divided within itself will +fall! Has Satan risen up against himself and given me power to destroy +his own power over men?"</p> + +<p>Jude was amazed at the power of his brother's words. This did not sound +as though he were out of his mind!</p> + +<p>Jesus did not give the scribe a chance to reply. "No!" he declared, +speaking now to all the people. "I have no demon. No one can enter a +man's house and take his property without first binding the owner with +ropes. I have power to cast out demons because I have overcome the +prince of all evil!"</p> + +<p>The answer could not be denied. Looking sternly at the scribe, Jesus +said: "I tell you, men will be forgiven all their sins and blasphemies +except one: If you harden yourself against the Holy Spirit, you commit +eternal sin!" Jesus then raised his voice. "By the very finger of God I +cast out demons—and because I have overcome the evil one himself, God +is now ruling among you!"</p> + +<p>An excited woman cried out, "How fortunate your mother is to have such a +son!"</p> + +<p>"The person who is truly fortunate is the one who hears and believes the +Word of God," answered Jesus quickly.</p> + +<p>Jude looked at the woman startled. She had said his mother was +fortunate—but to Mary Jesus was a great worry! Remembering why he had +come, Jude began to push his way toward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +Jesus. When finally he could get no farther, he touched the shoulder of +a man ahead of him. "Would you tell the Rabbi that his mother and +brothers want to see him outside?"</p> + +<p>When the man delivered the message to Jesus, the disciples stepped +forward and started to clear a path, but Jesus put out his hand and +stopped them. He looked around at the faces of the loyal men who had +left everything to follow him and at the sick and anxious people sitting +on the hard-packed dirt of the courtyard.</p> + +<p>"Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" The words were gentle, very +different from his tone a moment before. "I tell you, you are my mother +and my brothers! Anyone who does the will of God is my brother, my +sister, my mother!</p> + +<p>"A true missionary of the Kingdom must be willing to give up his own +family for my sake and take the people of God's Kingdom for his family. +Anyone who thinks more of his own mother, wife, or child, than he does +of the Kingdom cannot be my disciple."</p> + +<p>"Master, we have given up everything to follow you," said Simon.</p> + +<p>"You may have to give even your life, Simon," answered Jesus. "Yet great +is your reward in heaven."</p> + +<p>Jude pushed his way out of the courtyard. The first thing he said to his +mother was, "Jesus seems like another person."</p> + +<p>Despair darkened Mary's expression. "Do you mean that what the people +are saying about him is true?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, no. I didn't mean that," Jude said quickly. "He is different in +another way. He is ... he is not like us any more." He tried to describe +Jesus but could not.</p> + +<p>"Well, what happened?" Mary was relieved but puzzled. "What did he do?" +Jude then told her all that he had seen from the moment he had entered +the courtyard. She listened, wondering at the son who had left her home +only a few months before. When Jude finished she turned to leave.</p> + +<p>"Wait, mother!" said Jude. "Don't you want to see him?"</p> + +<p>"There is no reason for us to see him, my son," replied Mary quietly. +"He doesn't need us to care for him. This is God's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> work that he is +doing." That same day Mary returned to Nazareth, filled with wonder at +the things that had happened.</p> + +<p>Not only Mary but the disciples too were amazed at Jesus' power. Even +the Zealot, the most eager to start spreading the news of the Kingdom, +saw how much he needed to learn before attempting to do Jesus' work. At +the table that evening, Simon spoke the feeling of them all.</p> + +<p>"Master, how shall we ever be strong enough to be your missionaries?"</p> + +<p>"Whoever knows God, lives by his power, Simon," answered Jesus. "The +evil one does not rule such men."</p> + +<p>"But I believe in God, Master," said Simon. "Yet I cannot heal anyone." +He paused and then added in a tone of despair, "I could never have +answered that scribe!"</p> + +<p>"Simon, if you had real faith in God—even a tiny grain—you would be +able to do great things."</p> + +<p>"I have prayed many times and still I do not have the strength," said +Simon humbly.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me," said Jesus. "Suppose you were to go to a friend's house +late at night and say: 'Friend, will you lend me three loaves of bread? +A visitor has arrived unexpectedly and I am out of food.' Suppose he +were to answer: 'Don't bother me. I'm in bed and the door is locked. I +can't get up.' What would you do?"</p> + +<p>After a pause, John answered, "Why, you just keep on knocking until he +<i>does</i> get up!" The disciples smiled.</p> + +<p>"True!" said Jesus. "He may not get up because of friendliness, but if +you keep on knocking, he'll give you the bread just to get rid of you! +But God is your friend! Will he not give you what you ask? But you must +not grow weary in asking.</p> + +<p>"In a certain town," he continued, "there was a very unfair judge. He +didn't care about anyone. There was a poor widow in that town who was +being mistreated. Again and again she went to the judge and asked him to +help her—but he never paid any attention. Finally he said to himself: +'I don't care about this woman, but she is becoming a nuisance. Perhaps +if I give her what she wants she will stop pestering me.'" Jesus said +very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> emphatically, "If this wicked man finally helped a widow because +she kept on asking for justice, won't God, who is good and just, answer +you if you pray sincerely?"</p> + +<p>Simon saw how little real faith he had in spite of all his praying. How +often he had thought to himself. <i>Now I'll pray and see what happens.</i> +He had been testing God, not trusting him!</p> + +<p>"O Master," he urged, "won't you teach us to pray as John the Baptizer +taught his disciples?"</p> + +<p>"When you pray, say: 'Our Father in heaven, holy be thy name. Thy +Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"</p> + +<p>Most of the time, the disciples had to admit, they thought only of +persuading God to do what they wanted.</p> + +<p>"Ask your Heavenly Father, 'Give us today the food we will need to do +our work tomorrow,'" said Jesus. "Anyone who serves God trusts him for +all things he needs day by day.</p> + +<p>"Then you must ask God to forgive you your sins. But if you are not +willing to forgive others, do not think for one moment that God will +forgive you."</p> + +<p>"Master, how often shall someone sin against me and I go on forgiving +him?" asked Peter. "Seven times?"</p> + +<p>"Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven." Jesus paused and then +went on. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who decided to settle his +accounts with his servants. The king ordered one man, with his wife and +children, to be sold into slavery, and all his possessions sold for cash +so that the debt could be met.</p> + +<p>"The servant fell on his knees and begged, 'Master have patience with me +and I will pay you every penny.' Out of pity, the king released him and +forgave him the whole debt.</p> + +<p>"On his way home, the servant met a fellow servant who owed him a very +small sum of money. He grabbed the poor fellow by the throat and +demanded, 'You pay me what you owe me!' The man fell on his knees and +begged, 'Have patience with me and I will pay you.' But he refused. +Instead, he put him into prison until the debt should be paid. The other +servants saw how unfair this was and they told the king what had +happened.</p> + +<p>"The king called for the unjust servant and said: 'You wicked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> servant! +When you asked, I forgave you all that you owed me—should you not have +been merciful to your fellow servant, as I was merciful to you?' Very +angry, the king threw the unjust man into jail to remain there until his +whole debt was paid.</p> + +<p>"Neither can you be forgiven," concluded Jesus, "unless you forgive +others from your heart."</p> + +<p>After a moment John said: "Do you really think God pays attention to us. +Master? He seems so far away. Oh, I know he watches over the nation—but +I am not sure he cares what happens to me!"</p> + +<p>Jesus nodded toward Simon. "Simon loves his children," he said. "Simon, +if your little son should ask you for a piece of bread, would you give +him a rock to eat? Or if he asked for a broiled fish, would you give him +a poisonous snake instead? Or if he asked for an egg, would you give him +a scorpion with a deadly stinger?"</p> + +<p>"No, of course not!" exclaimed Simon.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, if you can do that much for your children, do you not think +that God will do far more for those who trust him?"</p> + +<p>Jesus lifted his arms to pray. It seemed to Simon that Jesus was praying +specially for him when he asked the Heavenly Father to send the Holy +Spirit upon them all. As they left the place of prayer, Simon and Andrew +dropped behind the others.</p> + +<p>"What I cannot understand," said Andrew, "is how he knows all these +things. Where did he learn it all?"</p> + +<p>"It is strange," agreed Simon. "You would almost think he came down from +heaven, wouldn't you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-074.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="HE_IS_MORE_THAN_A_TEACHER" id="HE_IS_MORE_THAN_A_TEACHER"></a>8. HE IS MORE THAN A TEACHER</h2> + + +<p>Far away to the south, John the Baptizer was imprisoned in King Herod's +fortress at Machaerus. Through the bars of his tiny window he could see +the green waters of the Dead Sea far below and the rocky hills of Judea +beyond. He did not expect to lie in this dungeon long. At any moment the +Day of Judgment might come; God would send hosts of angels to punish +wrongdoers and to reward his faithful servants.</p> + +<p>John listened intently to the news that his followers brought about +Jesus. They told him all that Jesus did: his demand that all men should +repent; the new teaching about the Kingdom of God which was the talk of +men everywhere. John was amazed at the power Jesus had to heal many sick +people; he was glad when he heard that Jesus was not afraid of the +Pharisees.</p> + +<p>But as days passed, doubts began to creep into the Baptizer's mind. +Could God have chosen this man to deliver His people? John could not +understand why the deliverance did not come. Jesus was training only a +handful of disciples to preach. It would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> take more than that to bring +God's great day. At last the Prophet sent two messengers to Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Our Prophet, John the Baptizer, has sent us to ask a question," said +the leader. "Are you the One whom God has sent to judge the wicked and +justify the faithful?"</p> + +<p>This very question was stirring in the minds of the disciples. Why did +Jesus not tell them plainly who he was?</p> + +<p>"Are you the Messiah of God?" repeated the man. "Or should we look for +someone else?"</p> + +<p>"You know what I teach," answered Jesus. "You have heard about the +things that I do. Go back to John and tell him that the eyes of the +blind are opened; the lame walk; lepers are cleansed—the good news that +God is present among men is declared to everyone who will listen."</p> + +<p>"But, Rabbi," said the puzzled leader, "what shall we tell the Prophet? +Are you truly the Messiah?"</p> + +<p>"How do you expect to know the Messiah?" asked Jesus. "What will he do +that you will recognize him?" The men did not answer. "Isaiah the +Prophet said: 'Here is my servant, my Chosen One. He will not be loud +and noisy: He will not raise a great shout in public. He will not break +a bent sapling or even blow out the tiniest lamp flame!'"</p> + +<p>The followers of John murmured to themselves. "The Messiah—coming +silently?... You say he won't even break a twig?" The ideas seemed to +escape them, slipping away as soon as they were spoken.</p> + +<p>Andrew was distressed at Jesus' words. "Master, the Messiah is mighty! +He will come from the sky in great glory. How can you say that the +Messiah will come without people even knowing he is among us?"</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to the followers of John the Baptizer and said: "Go tell +John what you have heard. He truly knows the will of God if he +understands these things I have said."</p> + +<p>Impulsively Andrew reached out his hand to stop the men. But then he +drew back: <i>Jesus had told them to go</i>. He turned to Jesus the instant +they left and demanded, "How <i>does</i> the Messiah come?"</p> + +<p>"Andrew," replied Jesus patiently, "don't you understand yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> what I +mean when I tell you that the Kingdom of God is at hand?"</p> + +<p>Andrew could not hide his disappointment. Jesus knew how hard it was for +his disciple to grasp what he meant. Hopes that he had held for years +were not easy to give up quickly.</p> + +<p>"Then John the Baptizer was wrong?" Andrew's voice was subdued. "The +Messiah will not come with an army of angels to destroy the enemies of +his people?"</p> + +<p>Jesus answered gently. "Among all men, none is greater than John. He was +sent to prepare the way for me. Just the same, the very least person in +the Kingdom is greater than John."</p> + +<p>Andrew sighed. He could not believe Jesus was wrong. And yet it was hard +to be satisfied with a kingdom that did not set the people free from +oppression, even if it was a kingdom of truth and help for the poor.</p> + +<p>"You will soon be sent out to spread the news of the true Kingdom +through this land," said Jesus. "You must find out for yourselves how +great is the power God has sent among you."</p> + +<p>During the week that followed, Jesus led the twelve men through the +country on the other side of the Lake of Galilee. The power of his words +and actions amazed his disciples. Not until the day they returned to +Galilee, however, did the disciples begin to grasp for themselves the +true meaning of what was happening.</p> + +<p>While Jesus was absent from Capernaum with the Twelve, disease struck +down the daughter of a man named Jairus, an elder of the synagogue. +Jairus had strongly disapproved when the high priest ordered the elders +of his synagogue to forbid Jesus to preach there, but he had been unable +to do anything about it.</p> + +<p>The doctors in Capernaum could not help the girl. Jairus was terribly +worried. Then he thought of Jesus. Perhaps this great Teacher could heal +his daughter! His heart sank when Simon's wife told him that Jesus and +the others were in the country of Gadara, across the lake, and that she +did not know when they would be back.</p> + +<p>Every minute that Jairus did not spend at the bedside of the sick child, +he watched the lake for a sign of Jesus' return. Three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> nights he sat up +with his little girl. As he hastened anxiously to the shore of the lake +on the last morning, he said sadly to himself, "If the Rabbi does not +come today, I shall never see my child alive again."</p> + +<p>Near the lake he caught sight of a crowd of people on the shore and +broke into a run.</p> + +<p>Jesus had just stepped out of the boat. Jairus pushed into the crowd, +thinking only of his dying daughter. He knelt imploringly at Jesus' +feet.</p> + +<p>"O Rabbi! Help me! I am in great trouble!"</p> + +<p>The disciples looked at one another in mild surprise. Was not this one +of the elders of the synagogue?</p> + +<p>"These fellows are much humbler when they want something," remarked +Andrew to John.</p> + +<p>"I know what I'd do if I were in the Master's place," murmured John.</p> + +<p>Jesus instantly sensed the desperate worry that had driven every other +thought from Jairus' mind. "What is it you need?" The disciples felt +that the very tone of Jesus' voice was a rebuke to their vengeful +feelings.</p> + +<p>"My little daughter," said Jairus, brokenly. "At this very moment she is +dying. Please come and pray for her, that she may live, and not die!"</p> + +<p>"We must hurry," said Jesus and started swiftly toward Capernaum. The +people followed closely. The disciples hurried to keep up with Jesus, +but he paid no attention to them. The anxious father stayed close beside +Jesus.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Jesus stopped. "Hurry, Rabbi," begged Jairus earnestly. "She +may not live much longer." But Jesus seemed not to hear. He looked at +the disciples, who were wondering why he had stopped.</p> + +<p>"Who touched me?" Jesus turned around where he stood.</p> + +<p>Simon laughed shortly and said: "What do you mean, Master? In a crowd +like this, a dozen people could have touched you!"</p> + +<p>"Just the same, I felt someone." Jesus searched the crowd behind Simon. +Most of the people looked at him blankly. Jesus continued to scan the +crowd. Even Jairus held back his urgent protest to hasten.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>At that moment there was a disturbance in the crowd, and a trembling +woman came up to Jesus. "I touched you, Rabbi," she confessed tearfully.</p> + +<p>Jesus said to her kindly, "Why did you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Rabbi, I have been sick for twelve years. I have spent all my money on +doctors and I am worse than ever."</p> + +<p>"Why did you touch me?" asked Jesus.</p> + +<p>"I thought, <i>If I can touch only the edge of his robe, I shall be +healed</i>." Then very simply she added. "So I did, Rabbi—and now I am +well!"</p> + +<p>"It is your faith in God that has healed you," said Jesus to the +kneeling woman. "Do not tremble and be afraid. It is faith like yours +that God most desires."</p> + +<p>While Jesus was speaking, a man had hurried down the street toward them. +Jairus recognized one of his own servants. "Hurry, Master! Oh, hurry!" +he cried. But he knew it was too late.</p> + +<p>The servant came to him sadly. "She is dead. There is no use bothering +the Rabbi any more."</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to Jairus. "Courage, sir! Do not be sorrowful."</p> + +<p>"What a shame!" Simon remembered his own children and knew how the man +felt. "His little one is dead!"</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to the disciples and said, "You saw a woman healed through +faith." They looked at him, wondering what he meant. To Jairus, Jesus +said, "Come, take me to your home." All hope was gone for Jairus, but +obediently he led the way.</p> + +<p>Already the hired wailers filled Jairus' house. Their loud cries of +grief, the shrill sound of flutes playing funeral music, and the +hysterical weeping of the friends of the child's mother made such noise +that Jesus could hardly be heard.</p> + +<p>"Why all this wailing?" Jesus cried. The noise quieted a little. "The +child is not dead! She is only asleep!"</p> + +<p>The wailers burst into derisive laughter. "She sleeps soundly!"</p> + +<p>"Clear this crowd out of here," Jesus commanded. Jairus was glad to be +rid of them. Amid angry murmurs, he sent every single one of them out of +the house.</p> + +<p>Several of the disciples were waiting outside; they watched the hired +wailers leave. "What do you suppose is going on?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> asked Andrew. They +waited a little longer, but at last the suspense was too much.</p> + +<p>"Come on," said the Zealot, "let's go in." They pressed through the +front door into an empty room. "Where have they gone?" The sound of soft +weeping came from the next room. Hesitating now, they went nearer so +that they could look through a doorway. The men never forgot what they +saw.</p> + +<p>The little girl was standing beside the bed looking up at Jesus. He held +her hand in his. Her mother had thrown her arms around Jairus and was +weeping. Simon, James, and John stood speechless, staring at the child +who a moment before had been lying dead.</p> + +<p>"She is alive!" gasped Andrew. The child turned toward them, but the +disciples shrank back as though fearful of what they saw.</p> + +<p>"I'm hungry," she said.</p> + +<p>Jesus gripped Jairus' shoulder gently. "Give the child something to eat +now." Neither of the parents replied; but they kneeled before Jesus.</p> + +<p>The awed disciples turned toward Jesus. Could this man who gave life to +the dead be the Master they knew so well?</p> + +<p>"For your sakes," Jesus said, "I am glad I was not here when this child +died." His words struck deep into the memories of the disciples. "I have +come to tell you what life really is. This child was dead and lives +again. But I warn you: there is a kind of death from which no one can +return. And there is true life: whoever has this life can never die."</p> + +<p><i>Who is he—who is this One who raises the dead?</i> The minds of the +disciples raced, trying to grasp the meaning of what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Fear not the death of the body; he who believes in God can never die. +Just as I have given life to this little child I give eternal life to +all who put their trust in God."</p> + +<p><i>Who can he be—who can he be—to give eternal life?</i></p> + +<p>Jesus turned to the parents of the child. "Rise!" Then he warned them +and the disciples, saying: "No one must hear about this. Only you +understand its true meaning." Turning to the disciples, he said, "Let us +go now." Seething with excitement they could not control, the disciples +followed Jesus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-080.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="HOW_WILL_YOU_KNOW_THE_MESSIAH" id="HOW_WILL_YOU_KNOW_THE_MESSIAH"></a>9. HOW WILL YOU KNOW THE MESSIAH?</h2> + + +<p>One week later a messenger arrived at the court of King Herod, in +Tiberias, a city not far from Capernaum on the Lake of Galilee. He +carried reports from local officials throughout the provinces that Herod +ruled. As he read them, the king became more and more alarmed. Finally +he turned to a slave. "Tell my officers to come immediately!"</p> + +<p>When the high officials of the court arrived, Herod waved the papers and +said, "Every single governor reports that there are Jews going through +our cities and towns talking about some new kingdom!" He looked at them +sharply. "Do you know anything about this?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>After a moment one of them answered, "There is a carpenter from Nazareth +preaching something like that."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he has anything to do with this business?"</p> + +<p>"I am not sure," answered the man. "I know a Pharisee in Capernaum who +says this fellow wants to do away with the Jewish religion." The man +speaking was one of the Herodians whom Symeon had stirred up against +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"What sort of man is he?" demanded Herod.</p> + +<p>"He has great influence with the people," he said. "This Pharisee admits +that his miracles are not tricks."</p> + +<p>"Miracles!" Herod became very sober. "Who is this man?" he demanded. +"Has John the Baptizer risen from the dead?" Against his better judgment +he had executed the Prophet a few weeks before.</p> + +<p>"That is not possible," answered an officer.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a revolution on our hands if this really is John." Herod +turned to the officer who had spoken last. "Who is he, if he isn't +John?"</p> + +<p>"People say different things. Some say he is Elijah; others say someone +else, but they all think he is a prophet."</p> + +<p>"That is exactly what they said about John the Baptizer," exclaimed +Herod.</p> + +<p>"John never sent out missionaries!" objected the Herodian.</p> + +<p>"That only makes it worse!" The king pointed to the reports in front of +him. "What if these Jews are working for him?"</p> + +<p>"They might be," admitted the man.</p> + +<p>If Herod could have heard the conversation of Simon and Andrew at that +moment, he would have been even more anxious. They were in high spirits +as they walked the last mile of their trip back to Capernaum.</p> + +<p>"How glad everyone has been to hear about the Kingdom!" remarked Simon. +"Do you not think that these people are ready to make the Master their +king?"</p> + +<p>"They are very discontented," agreed Andrew. "Herod has crushed them so +that they are ready to do about anything."</p> + +<p>For a distance they walked in silence. Finally Simon said: "I cannot +understand what it is about the Master. Even evil spirits seem to fear +him!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you suppose this trip has made the others feel the way we do?" +wondered Andrew.</p> + +<p>When Simon and Andrew arrived in Capernaum, they found that James, John, +and the Zealot had returned ahead of them. They were telling Jesus about +their experiences.</p> + +<p>"The evil spirits themselves obeyed us in your name!" exclaimed John.</p> + +<p>"You have good reason to rejoice," answered Jesus. "Nevertheless, you +should rejoice because you have done the will of God—not because you +have conquered evil spirits."</p> + +<p>"Well, Master," remarked the Zealot practically, "not everyone was glad +to see us. I had trouble with the Pharisees. They just argue and argue."</p> + +<p>"We talked to them too," said Andrew. He was troubled. "Many times we +tried to tell them the news of the eternal Kingdom, but they would never +receive what we said."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the story of the Sower, Andrew?" asked Jesus.</p> + +<p>"I never understood what you meant. Master," answered Andrew.</p> + +<p>"Listen carefully. The farmer who went out to sow was planting the seed +of eternal life. Some fell on the road at the edge of the field, and the +birds ate it up. This is like the person who hears my word but +immediately forgets because Satan robs him of it.</p> + +<p>"Some of the seed fell on stony soil. It grew fast, but when the hot sun +shone it withered away because it had weak roots. This is like the +person who is very enthusiastic at first, but as soon as he has to work +or suffer, he gives up.</p> + +<p>"Other seed fell among weeds, which kept it from growing strong. This is +like the person who hears the word but is so worried or busy trying to +get ahead of other people that he forgets all about God.</p> + +<p>"But then there is the seed that fell on good soil; it grew deep roots +and produced a fine harvest. This is like the person who hears and +really understands my words. He knows what eternal life is, and helps +other people to find it."</p> + +<p>"Do you know," the Zealot broke in, "I should not be sur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>prised if some +of the Pharisees would join us when we show our strength!"</p> + +<p>"My Kingdom is not of this world," answered Jesus. "No one who is +seeking political power will join us. Only persons who want to do the +will of God belong in my Kingdom."</p> + +<p>"But, Master," responded the Zealot, "almost everyone listened eagerly +to us! It will not be difficult to start the Kingdom in Galilee!"</p> + +<p>"We probably could unite the Jews against Herod," replied Jesus, "but +that is not our business. God sent me into the world to proclaim the +news of an eternal Kingdom!"</p> + +<p>Simon turned to the Zealot. "You seem to think the people listened only +because they hope we will free them from the Romans. I do not doubt that +they would be glad to be rid of the Romans; but from what I saw, I think +they listened because we told them about the rule of God!"</p> + +<p>"Isn't that the same thing?" retorted the Zealot.</p> + +<p>Jesus saw that most of the disciples still did not understand clearly +what he was trying to do. But he had little opportunity to explain +further, because the people of Capernaum were every day crowding to the +home of Simon. When all of the Twelve had at last returned from their +mission, he said to them, "Let us cross the lake and find a quiet place +where we can rest and talk."</p> + +<p>They hoped to leave unseen, but many people followed them down to the +lake where Simon's boat was.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see what I mean?" exclaimed the Zealot. "What a wonderful +chance we have to lead them against Herod!"</p> + +<p>"Let us go over toward Bethsaida," replied Jesus. "I know a hill where +very few people pass by." James and John turned the boat toward the +hills nearly three miles across the lake.</p> + +<p>The disappointed people watched Jesus and the disciples push off. A few +men left the group and began to walk along the shore. Soon the others +realized that they were going to go on foot around the lake. Some +walked, but others ran.</p> + +<p>"I believe the whole crowd is going to follow us," remarked Andrew, +looking back.</p> + +<p>"They are like sheep without a shepherd," remarked Jesus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>By the time the disciples had rowed across the lake, the people were +beginning to arrive. "I think I know a place where we can get away from +them," said Philip. He had lived in this part of the country.</p> + +<p>"We cannot send them away, Philip," answered Jesus. When the boat landed +he led the crowd to a grassy spot on the hillside overlooking the lake +below.</p> + +<p>All afternoon Jesus taught them. When at last the sun touched the hills +of Galilee across the lake, the disciples interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Master," they said, "don't you think we had better send them away +before it gets dark?"</p> + +<p>"It is late," added Philip, "and there is no place to buy food here. +They will need to go to the villages."</p> + +<p>"That isn't necessary, is it?" said Jesus. "You give them something to +eat."</p> + +<p>The disciples looked at him blankly. "We didn't bring any provisions +with us. Master," said James. "And besides, even if we had, it would +never be enough to feed this crowd!"</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to Philip. "What shall we do, Philip?"</p> + +<p>"Master, even if there were a town near here, it would take far more +money than we have to buy enough food to give each person a tiny bit!"</p> + +<p>"How many loaves have we all together?" asked Jesus.</p> + +<p>The disciples found, as they expected, that the people had brought no +food. "This seems foolish to me," remarked James. Finally Andrew found a +boy with some loaves and fish. The boy let Andrew take the lunch to +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Tell the people to sit down in groups," said Jesus. Before them all he +held one of the loaves in his hands and thanked God for it; then he +broke it in pieces. "Distribute this among the people," he instructed +the disciples.</p> + +<p>"This boy's loaves and fish will satisfy your hunger now," said Jesus to +the eager crowd. "If you eat only this kind of food, you will eventually +die. I have another kind to give you: if you will eat the Bread of +eternal life, you will never die!</p> + +<p>"Come and eat this Bread—you will never hunger again. You must hear and +believe my word, for the Father in heaven has sent me to you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>While the people ate, they whispered among themselves in amazement. +Where had this food come from? They could hardly believe what the people +near Jesus said: that he had broken the loaves and fish again and again, +until everyone had enough.</p> + +<p>The Zealot turned to James. "They will do anything for a person who +gives them food," he said.</p> + +<p>Jesus knew the people were thinking how good it was to receive the food. +"God sent manna to your ancestors while they were in the desert," he +cried out, "but they died. The true Bread from heaven gives you eternal +life. Eat this Bread and you shall never hunger again!"</p> + +<p>"Give us this Bread!" called out a man in the crowd. "We do not want to +be hungry any more."</p> + +<p>"Do not follow me because I give you loaves and fish—that kind of food +perishes," replied Jesus. "Rather, believe my word, in order that you +may have eternal life!"</p> + +<p>But the people could think only of the free food Jesus had given them. +They paid no attention to his words. "We will do anything for you!" they +cried. Then another shout grew loud.</p> + +<p>"You shall be our king! You shall be our king!"</p> + +<p>"They are going to compel him to be king!" exclaimed the Zealot.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned his back and called his disciples about him.</p> + +<p>"What is he going to do?" The Zealot was alarmed. "Surely he won't miss +this opportunity?"</p> + +<p>"Let us go," said Jesus to the Twelve, starting toward the lake shore.</p> + +<p>The Zealot caught Jesus' arm. "But, Master...." He let go as Simon +gripped his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"He will be king all right," Simon told him. "But he is not the kind of +king these people want. I am sure of that."</p> + +<p>The crowd were dumfounded to see Jesus leave them so quickly. A few +attempted to follow, but they soon realized that twilight was swiftly +fading into the darkness of night and they turned back.</p> + +<p>"You row across to Capernaum by yourselves," said Jesus to the +disciples. "I will follow later." The wondering men got into the boat +and rowed away. Jesus stood watching them as they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> disappeared in the +deep twilight. Then he turned and walked alone into the shadowy hills.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes I wonder if he knows what he is doing!" burst out the Zealot, +bitterly disappointed. "What an opportunity! He just turned his back on +them!"</p> + +<p>"You know he has no desire for political power," said John.</p> + +<p>"How can we ever establish the government of God if we never do anything +practical?" asked the Zealot. "What will his teachings ever amount to +unless we put them in the place of the old laws?"</p> + +<p>Simon could not forget the words of Jesus. "He did not say, 'I am your +King.' He said, 'I am the Bread of Life.'"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked the Zealot.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure he intends to start a rebellion?" asked Simon.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what else all this talk of a Kingdom could mean!"</p> + +<p>"If he were an ordinary political leader—or even a Rabbi—there would +be no other way," said Simon, reflectively. "But there is something +about him that makes me think he is not going to do what we expect at +all!"</p> + +<p>A gust of cold wind struck them, and the men looked up. Even the western +sky was black. The boat was in the middle of the lake. Out of the dark +night the wind blew in ever stronger gusts.</p> + +<p>"We're in for a squall," said James, worried. The boat rolled. It was +heavily loaded, and water splashed in.</p> + +<p>"Steer into the waves," called Simon. James and John tried to pull the +boat around, but the wind had caught them. The boat swung broadside and +lurched dangerously in the trough of the waves. Water poured in. Simon +stepped swiftly to the center and sat down beside James. Together they +pulled the heavy oar; after a tense moment the boat swung slowly around.</p> + +<p>"We've got to bail this water out," said Simon. More came over the side +with each roll.</p> + +<p>"If we don't get this water out, we'll never get to shore," shouted +Simon.</p> + +<p>"What can we do?" cried the Zealot. Waves continued to leap over the +side into the boat. Desperately the men tried to bail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> out the water. +"We'll never make it!" they cried, seized by panic.</p> + +<p>Andrew clutched John's shoulder. "Look! What's that?" He pointed out +into the blackness.</p> + +<p>"It's a ghost!" screamed one of the Twelve. The men forgot the waves. +Terror gripped them. "O Father in heaven," cried Simon, "save us!"</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid! It is I!"</p> + +<p>Gradually it came to the men that it was the voice of Jesus they were +hearing. "Oh, save us. Master!" Fear began to melt away. Jesus was in +their midst.</p> + +<p>"Why are you terrified?" he asked. "Have you no faith, even after being +with me all this time?"</p> + +<p>The white crest on the waves disappeared. The boat lay deep in the +water, but danger was past. Almost afraid to look, the disciples turned +to Jesus. Who could he be—that he had power to calm the storm?</p> + +<p>"Did I not give life to the little child in Capernaum?" said Jesus. "Did +I not give bread to the hungry crowds? Do you not yet understand?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-088.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="YOU_ARE_THE_CHRIST" id="YOU_ARE_THE_CHRIST"></a>10. "YOU ARE THE CHRIST"</h2> + + +<p>The household of Symeon the Pharisee was stirring with excitement. +During the day the servants had put the house in perfect order, and now +the cooks were preparing a banquet for the evening. Symeon himself was +trying to make up his mind whether he should wear his highly ornamented +robe. Finally he decided against it and chose another with fine cloth +but very few trimmings. A sensible Pharisee did not try to dress too +elegantly when an important official was to be his guest.</p> + +<p>The banquet table was beautiful. The servants had lighted candles to +celebrate the victory of the great Jewish general, Judas Maccabaeus, who +had driven foreign tyrants out of Palestine and purified the Temple two +hundred years before. There was roast lamb, deliciously cooked, and all +the best food which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> Symeon could afford to set before his guest of +honor. Nothing could be too good for a scribe sent by the highest +authority of the Jewish religion, the high priest himself!</p> + +<p>Not until late in the evening did Symeon's visitor arrive from his long +journey. At dinner the men ate in dignified silence, but Symeon was +burning with curiosity. The messenger who had brought news of the +arrival of the scribe had told Symeon only that the high priest desired +more information about certain things that were happening in Galilee. +Symeon was sure that the matter concerned Jesus of Nazareth.</p> + +<p>Only when he had finished the dinner did the scribe speak to Symeon. +"You are a generous host, my friend."</p> + +<p>Symeon smiled and bowed his head gratefully. The scribe settled himself +comfortably. "I come on very delicate business. It must remain a +secret." The servants came in to clear the table, and he stopped +speaking. Then Symeon sent them out and closed the door. "The high +priest tells me that you know this Jesus of Nazareth. Have you kept a +close watch on him during the last few months?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Symeon, complimented by this confidential question. "I +know all that he has done."</p> + +<p>"As you remember, several months ago we ordered the elders of all the +congregations to keep this Nazarene out of our synagogues," continued +the scribe. "But of course that did not keep him from preaching to the +people in public places." He looked keenly at Symeon. "Not a word of +this must come to the common people!"</p> + +<p>"Naturally," agreed Symeon.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," said the scribe. "Do you think that we can convince +his followers that their Rabbi is not to be trusted?"</p> + +<p>"That will be hard," answered Symeon. "He is more popular than ever." +Then he told the scribe in detail how Jesus had fed the crowd of five +thousand people.</p> + +<p>"It sounds as though he might even have it in his power to persuade them +to revolt," observed the scribe when Symeon had finished.</p> + +<p>"They actually did try to make him their king!" exclaimed Symeon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Does Herod know about that?" asked the man.</p> + +<p>"We have told some of the people at his court about it," replied Symeon. +"If you want to know what I think—Herod is afraid to do anything! He +thinks the Nazarene is John the Baptizer risen from the dead!"</p> + +<p>"But this Jesus is as dangerous to Herod as he is to us!" exclaimed the +scribe.</p> + +<p>"That may be true, but just the same Herod knows that the people like +Jesus," said Symeon. "Still, I am sure the king would put a quick end to +this small-town prophet if it could be done without stirring up the +people."</p> + +<p>"Look, my friend," declared the scribe. "You know as well as I do that +these common folk will not follow anyone who goes too far for them. From +what you have told me, we ought not to have much trouble showing these +simple Galileans that he is not a loyal Jew at all."</p> + +<p>Symeon laughed bitterly. "Every day he breaks the tradition a hundred +times!" A frown came over his face. "The trouble is—the people like +it!"</p> + +<p>"That may be partly true," admitted the scribe. "But I believe these +country people are still real Jews at heart. They may be crude and +uneducated, but they will never follow anyone who is trying to destroy +the Law and break down our religion. The Nazarene can break a regulation +here and there, and they like it—yes! But let him say anything against +Moses, or Abraham, or the great Rabbis—they will desert him by the +hundreds!"</p> + +<p>"If that happened, Herod would throw the whole band of them in prison +without delay," replied Symeon enthusiastically. "I believe you have +struck on the way to stop this false Rabbi!"</p> + +<p>The scribe lowered his voice. "When do you think we could find him with +some of his followers?"</p> + +<p>"He is always at the lake in the morning," replied Symeon.</p> + +<p>About ten o'clock the next day, the men stepped into the sunlit street +in front of Symeon's home. Over their shoulders each wore a short cape, +beautifully decorated with four blue tassels, one at each corner. Many +Jews wore this cape, but only the Pharisees added extra long blue +tassels.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p>They descended the cobblestone street from the high part of Capernaum +where Symeon lived and went toward the lake below. People bowed and +smiled, but the two men paid no attention. They were used to having +people make way for them. They strode into the crowded market place, +already hot under the rays of the morning sun. The hoofs of many animals +had raised a cloud of dust. Everywhere farmers and fishermen were +shouting, trying to catch the ear of persons who came to buy. Only the +donkeys, laboring under huge baskets of food, refused to budge for the +officials.</p> + +<p>After a short walk through the narrow streets of Capernaum, Symeon +caught sight of the lake, blue and cool, dancing in the sunlight. He +pointed ahead of them. "The Nazarene is usually on the shore a little +way beyond those fishing boats." They were approaching a group of +fishermen who had drawn up their boats and spread nets on the beach.</p> + +<p>"We must show these people that he is not merely meddling with parts of +the Law," remarked the scribe. "The fact is that he is not a true Jew at +all!"</p> + +<p>A group of people had gathered on the shore, just to the right of the +road. "There they are!" exclaimed Symeon.</p> + +<p>The two men stopped briefly at the edge of the circle of people and then +walked boldly up to Jesus. Seeing their robes, everyone made way. "It is +widely reported, Rabbi," said the scribe, "that your disciples do not +keep all the sacred customs of our religion."</p> + +<p>Jesus answered them the same way he spoke to the common people that sat +around him. "Where do your customs come from?" he asked directly.</p> + +<p>Just the opening they wanted! The scribe did not miss his chance.</p> + +<p>"Moses himself gave us these commands," he declared. "Yet I heard that +your disciples do not wash their hands before meals as Moses commanded +us."</p> + +<p>Without a moment's hesitation Jesus retorted: "Have you forgotten that +Moses also commanded you to honor your father and your mother? Yet you +have made up a rule that allows a rich man to say to his aged parents, +'I can't support you—I have given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> all my money to God.' The fact is +that he has not given it to God at all; he has only paid a fee to the +priests!" Jesus was indignant. "You talk about Moses, but you yourselves +break his commands!"</p> + +<p>The scribe had to defend himself. "This rule was made by one of our +great rabbis," he said.</p> + +<p>"You have put human rules in the place of the commands of God," declared +Jesus. "Isaiah was talking about you when he said, 'These people give me +respect with their mouths, but their hearts are far away from me!'"</p> + +<p>"Do you dare attack the great Rabbis?" demanded the scribe angrily. +"Every true Jew at least respects their words. Yet you say that a man +need not purify his hands before he eats!"</p> + +<p>"It is not what goes into a man's mouth that hurts him," replied Jesus, +quietly. "It is the things that come out of a man—his words and +deeds—that harm him."</p> + +<p>"Are you saying that we should disobey this law?" retorted the scribe. +"Moses himself gave us this command!"</p> + +<p>"You cannot find eternal life just by keeping rules," replied Jesus. The +watching people wondered at his calmness. "If you are really in search +of the Kingdom of God, repent!"</p> + +<p>Dramatically the scribe turned to the people. "Do you see?" he demanded. +"This man is not one of us! He wants to change the laws that Moses has +given us! He is dangerous—do not believe him!" He stalked through the +awe-struck crowd and left, followed by Symeon.</p> + +<p>For a long time, Jesus sat silently before the people. By the time he +finally spoke, they were all wondering what he could say.</p> + +<p>"The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open to anyone who will put his +trust in God," said Jesus quietly. "The scribes and Pharisees claim that +they keep the Law of Moses. They say they speak with God's authority. Do +what they tell you if you want to—but do not act the way they do! They +have made so many rules for you that no one can obey them all! Do they +help you enter the Kingdom? No! They make life easy for themselves and +impossible for all others! They do all they can to attract attention. +Every day their tassels get longer! They sit in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>most important +places at feasts! They love the front seats at the synagogue! How they +enjoy having people step out of their way and say, 'Good morning, +teacher'! Men who belong to God's Kingdom do not want to be called +Rabbi; they are all brothers and have only one Father, God in heaven." +He stood up. "Let us leave this place," he said.</p> + +<p>Simon fell in step with Jesus as they turned toward Capernaum. The sun +was still as bright; the waves on the lake danced as merrily as before, +but the disciples took no joy in the beauty of the day.</p> + +<p>"Master, those men are trying to set the people against us," said Simon, +deeply concerned.</p> + +<p>"They can do nothing against God," replied Jesus.</p> + +<p>"But they are deceiving many people," warned Simon.</p> + +<p>"Anyone who will believe them is blind to my gospel," said Jesus sadly. +"Let them follow these blind leaders, if they insist—they will come to +the same bad end!"</p> + +<p>It soon became plain that Simon was right: the scribe's attack on Jesus +was having a serious effect. The next day each of the twelve disciples +went to a different place in Capernaum to preach the news of the Kingdom +of God. At the end of the afternoon, Andrew stopped to visit a fisherman +whom he had known since childhood. "The men ought to be coming in from +the lake soon," observed the wife of Andrew's friend. The dogs outside +began to bark. "There they are now!"</p> + +<p>"Andrew!" An older man entered. "I am glad to see you. What is this I +hear about you these days?" He sat down for a moment before washing. +"Have you been getting along all right since you left your fishing? What +is your Master doing? I hear some very bad rumors!"</p> + +<p>Andrew was taken back. "Why, I don't know what you mean."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps I should not have mentioned it," the old fisherman said. +"But I thought you could tell me the truth, if anyone could."</p> + +<p>"What have you heard?" asked Andrew, puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Everyone is talking about your Rabbi," answered the man. "Is it true, +what they are saying?"</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about it," said Andrew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought you would have heard," said the man, hesitating. "One of the +fishermen who listens to Jesus told us today that he intends to destroy +the Jewish religion!"</p> + +<p>"That is nonsense!" cried Andrew. "Where did he ever...." Suddenly it +came to him: This was what the scribe was telling people! "Look here," +said Andrew with great earnestness. "Do you really think that Jesus is +trying to keep people from believing in God and serving him?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't say that!" laughed the old fisherman. "I was only telling +you what I heard." A questioning tone came into his voice. "But he +<i>does</i> say that you do not have to obey Moses, doesn't he?"</p> + +<p>Andrew did not know what to answer. It was true that Jesus had said +there were more important things than purifying the hands before eating!</p> + +<p>"There is something else I heard," continued the older man. "How could a +really great Rabbi come from Nazareth? That town does not amount to +anything."</p> + +<p>"What difference does it make where he comes from?" protested Andrew.</p> + +<p>The old man shrugged and stood up. "It is a serious matter for your +Jesus to say all the great Rabbis are wrong. I always wondered if you +knew what you were doing when you gave up fishing." He looked keenly at +Andrew. "Today I took time off to go to listen to him myself. He talks +as if he knew more about God's will than Moses did! He goes too far for +me. After all, I am a Jew!" Abruptly he changed the subject. "Will you +stay for supper, Andrew?"</p> + +<p>"No ... no. I think I had better be going," murmured Andrew. Hurriedly +he left. He was much upset by the words of this trusted friend. Purple +shadows filled the narrow streets. Most of the people were already +indoors. Andrew felt terribly alone. In his haste he tripped over a +broken cart wheel and he was startled by its loud clatter on the paving. +He began to run. He was relieved to get to Simon's home.</p> + +<p>Jesus had not yet returned, but Andrew found the other disciples in the +midst of a serious conversation. "Everything the Master does proves that +God's power is in him," John was say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>ing. "We need him! Everybody in +this city needs him!"</p> + +<p>Andrew burst out: "Have you heard what people are saying? That scribe is +telling everyone that we are trying to wipe out the whole Jewish +religion!"</p> + +<p>"That is what we are talking about," said Simon. Andrew sat down as +Simon turned to John. "Of course, it is true that the Master really does +put his own teaching above the command of Moses."</p> + +<p>"I know he does," answered John passionately, "and he is right! What +should we do without him? We have already given up everything to follow +him!" He jumped to his feet and began to pace back and forth.</p> + +<p>"Many people are leaving us," said James, greatly worried. "We shall +soon have nobody."</p> + +<p>"Can he really be right and all the Rabbis and Pharisees and scribes +wrong?" exclaimed Andrew. "If he were the Messiah, I should feel +different, but...." He stopped. The other men were staring at him. The +Messiah!</p> + +<p>At that moment Jesus entered the room. He saw James's anxiety. John +stopped walking. Andrew was flushed with excitement. His last remark had +stamped an expression of amazement and doubt on the faces of all the +men.</p> + +<p>"My followers," said Jesus, grasping their thoughts immediately, "do not +be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me." He sat in the +midst of them. "God has sent me into the world with the light of his +gospel. I have not come to condemn the world, but to save people from +darkness. If they do not believe my word, that is because they love +darkness better than the light." John went back to his place and slumped +down. "Those who are truly seeking God know that our gospel is true and +come to us," continued Jesus. "But those who turn away from us do it for +just one reason: their lives are evil. It is true that they obey many +laws and seem very religious, but their hearts are proud. They do not +really depend on God. They do not live close to him. They cannot endure +the truth which shows them that they are in darkness."</p> + +<p>After a long silence, Andrew rose and walked out into the cool night. He +looked up at the clear stars and wondered ho<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>w long it would be before +they would look down on a happy nation, ruled by God's Messiah. The +turmoil in his heart had quieted while Jesus spoke. The new moon, thin +as a curved sword, gleamed high above. A faint wind rattled the palms on +the street in front of the house. Simon came out.</p> + +<p>"What if everyone leaves us, Simon?" asked Andrew abruptly.</p> + +<p>Simon's answer was firm. "He is the only one who has a message of +eternal life. If we leave him, to whom can we go?"</p> + +<p>Jesus had seen how terribly disturbed the disciples were by the +criticisms against him. Therefore, very early the next morning before +the people began to come to market, he took them to the lake. They had +no idea where he was leading them as they stepped into Simon's boat.</p> + +<p>What a relief it was to be away from the crowds of Capernaum! They were +glad for the silence of the lake, smooth as a mirror in the calm of the +dawn, after the noise and bustle of street and market. Through the mist +the men could see a few fishermen working hard to gather in their nets +with the night's catch of fish. Simon and Andrew recognized them, but +the men did not look up and the disciples passed unseen. In the days +when they too had gathered nets in the morning the four fishermen had +always been glad to feel the warming rays of the sun breaking through +the blanket of fog. The mist began now to tear into ragged pieces, +clinging here and there to the lake. The disciples caught sight of the +stately crest of Mount Hermon to the north, white with summer snow, +standing guard over all Galilee. A breeze sprang up and blew the +remaining mist to tatters. Little wisps of fog chased each other over +the surface of the water as though ashamed to be caught by the sun.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned his gaze from the noble mountain ahead of them and spoke to +the disciples. "I must warn you against the tricks of the Pharisees and +scribes. Their false arguments sometimes sound reasonable, but the evil +purpose of these men grows like a nasty mold. It will creep into your +very hearts and destroy the Bread of Life."</p> + +<p>James leaned over to Philip. "That reminds me—did you bring enough food +for this trip?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The provisions ought to be stored under the stern seat," answered +Philip.</p> + +<p>James reached under the seat. "Nothing here," he said.</p> + +<p>"What! No food?" The other disciples had heard what he said. They were +hungry. They forgot that Jesus was speaking. "Look under the front seat, +Andrew," said Simon. The men searched everywhere; there was but one loaf +in the boat. James turned to Philip in a temper. "What in the world are +we going to eat?"</p> + +<p>Jesus had watched them without saying a word. Now he spoke. "My +followers, what have you to worry about?"</p> + +<p>"This stupid Philip forgot to bring the food!" said James, irritated.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever gone hungry when you were with me?" asked Jesus +patiently. "You have seen me feed crowds—and yet you do not trust me! +Many times you have heard me say that I am the Bread of Life—and now +you are worried about your stomachs!" Tempers cooled as quickly as they +had risen. "Do you not understand the meaning of the things I do?" asked +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"You are right. Master," said James, shamefaced. "We should not worry +about food."</p> + +<p>"Is that all I mean to you?" asked Jesus. "You do not understand why I +fed the people, do you?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Simon and John brought the boat to land at a deserted spot near the +fishing village of Bethsaida, and Jesus led the men north along the +Jordan toward the Lebanon Mountains. For three days they traveled, +finally reaching the narrow valleys of the foothills of the Lebanons. +The land was hilly but very fertile. Many people lived here: a few Jews +but many gentiles. The disciples had never traveled this far north +before. As the mountains grew higher, they turned westward toward the +Mediterranean Sea. Jesus chose this road because he believed he could +find privacy in which to teach the disciples.</p> + +<p>However, things were not as Jesus hoped. About ten miles from Sidon, a +gentile city on the seacoast, they passed through a small village. The +disciples thought they had not been recog<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>nized, but a short distance +beyond the town John said, "There is someone following us!"</p> + +<p>The others glanced around. A woman was coming after them. "Let us hurry +on," said Simon. "Perhaps she will drop back." All of them quickened +their pace. After a moment Simon glanced around again. "She is running +after us!"</p> + +<p>The woman cried out: "O thou Son of David! Have pity on me!"</p> + +<p>Jesus paid no attention. "Have mercy on me, Son of David!" cried the +woman desperately. "My daughter has an evil spirit!"</p> + +<p>Still Jesus walked on. "Send her away, Master," said Simon. "She is just +going to keep on wailing behind us."</p> + +<p>Jesus stopped. "God has sent me only to the lost sheep of the flock of +Israel."</p> + +<p>"And she is a gentile," said James with satisfaction. When the woman +overtook them, he was sure Jesus would send her away.</p> + +<p>Kneeling, the woman said, "Do help me, Lord!"</p> + +<p>The disciples were taken back. How did she dare call him "Lord"! Who did +she think he was?</p> + +<p>When Jesus spoke to the woman his voice was kindly, but the words seemed +harsh: "Woman, it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it +to the dogs under the table."</p> + +<p><i>That will show her she has no right to bother us</i>, thought James.</p> + +<p>But James was mistaken. "No, Master," the woman answered smiling, "but +the dogs can wait patiently for the crumbs to fall from the children's +table, can't they?"</p> + +<p>Jesus' face lighted up. "O woman, you have great faith! You have found +the Kingdom of God. Go back to your daughter; your prayer is granted."</p> + +<p>The disciples were aghast. James burst out, "Master, what can this +mean?"</p> + +<p>"How can a gentile be included in our Kingdom?" demanded Simon.</p> + +<p>"Do you not yet understand why I have come?" answered Jesus. "My Father +sent me to declare that all who are far away from him may come back if +they will repent. The Kingdom of God belongs to anyone who will come."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But that cannot mean all the gentiles," protested Simon.</p> + +<p>"You have forgotten what the Prophet Hosea once said," replied Jesus. +"To certain people it was said at one time, 'You do not belong to +God'—but now these very people are the children of God!" There was +finality in Jesus' voice, and the disciples could say nothing more as +the woman went home to her daughter.</p> + +<p>Jesus knew from their sullen silence that the disciples resented his +kindness to the gentile woman. He saw Simon, Andrew, and James drop +behind the group.</p> + +<p>"How can he do a thing like that?" fumed Simon. "He came to help +outcasts—but not gentiles!"</p> + +<p>"She had the impudence to call him 'Lord'!" remarked Andrew.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, not one of them dared complain against Jesus even though +they went on talking among themselves after they left the country around +Sidon. Jesus made it so hard for them to follow him! Yet they were bound +to him, and nothing could drive them away.</p> + +<p>Jesus did not enter Sidon, but turned back toward the mountain passes +that led toward Caesarea Philippi, a city near the foot of Mount Hermon. +The disciples had preached the good news of the Kingdom in the villages +of upper Galilee, and every day they saw people that they recognized. +But something seemed to be wrong. When they had preached before, the +people had welcomed them with joy. But now people hardly even greeted +them! What had happened? Had they forgotten the Rabbi from Nazareth who +had healed their sick? Where were the people who had said that Jesus had +changed their lives and given them new hope?</p> + +<p>"Have the rumors about us spread here too?" asked James in despair.</p> + +<p>"Do you wonder the people think he goes to extremes?" asked James +bitterly. "If they knew he told a gentile woman she could share in our +Kingdom, everyone would turn away from us!"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes it almost seems as though the scribes were right!" confessed +Andrew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Simon caught him up instantly. "Do you think that Jesus is trying to +destroy the faith of our nation?" he asked sharply. Andrew did not +answer.</p> + +<p>"Why did we follow him in the first place, brother?" urged Simon. Still +Andrew said nothing—but he knew what Simon meant.</p> + +<p>"Should we go back to our fishing, Andrew?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" answered Andrew, thinking of the hopeless years before Jesus +came. "That could never be."</p> + +<p>"God has sent him to open a new day for us!" declared Simon firmly.</p> + +<p>Jesus had been walking with Philip, but now he dropped back beside the +other disciples. The road lay between high rock walls. Their footsteps +rang with a hollow sound. The shadows were deep; no other travelers were +in sight. James said quietly, "We were just talking about what people +are saying, Master."</p> + +<p>"What do they say about me?" asked Jesus. Simon knew that he sensed the +discouragement and doubt of his followers.</p> + +<p>"The Pharisees say that you are trying to break down the Law of Moses," +replied John hesitantly. There was a long silence.</p> + +<p>"Some people think you are John the Baptizer risen from the dead," added +Andrew.</p> + +<p>The Zealot said: "I hear some saying that you are Elijah come down from +heaven to prepare the way of the Messiah. That is what I thought at +first." A tiny stream of water, flowing over a rock, could be heard in +the silence that followed the Zealot's remark.</p> + +<p>"What else do people say about me?" persisted Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Many people think that you are a prophet. Master," answered Simon.</p> + +<p>Jesus looked quietly at the men around him. When he spoke his words came +deliberately. His voice was strong and deep. "But, Simon, who do you +believe I am?"</p> + +<p>To Simon, Jesus' question was like a powerful beam of light shining into +the darkest corners of his mind, driving away the last black shadows of +doubt. With a sigh he raised his head and caught sight of the brilliant +blue sky high above the dark val<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>ley that shut them in. The answer to +his Master's question was as clear as that sunny sky—why had he not +known it before? Simon's lips moved; then came his answer: "You are the +Christ, the Son of the living God."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-102.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="A_SECRET_IS_TOLD" id="A_SECRET_IS_TOLD"></a>11. A SECRET IS TOLD</h2> + + +<p>"You are the Christ—the Son of the living God!" Against the high rock +walls of the narrow ravine, the words echoed in the disciples' ears. For +many months not one of them had dared to say that he believed this was +true—but now Simon had confessed it plainly.</p> + +<p>"Simon," declared Jesus, "unless God had taught you this, you could +never have known it. From this time on your name will be Peter, the +Rock. On the solid rock of faith like yours, I will build my Church—and +nothing shall ever destroy it!</p> + +<p>"Whoever puts his faith in God is a member of my Kingdom. To you"—he +looked around at all the disciples now—"I have entrusted the keys to +the door of my Kingdom. If you teach men to believe in me, they shall +enter!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will tell every Jew that you are the Messiah!" burst out the Zealot +enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"No!" declared Jesus firmly. "This must remain a complete secret."</p> + +<p>The disciples were dumfounded. "But, Master," protested Andrew, "a +Messiah whom nobody knows can never lead the people!"</p> + +<p>"Now is the time for action!" exclaimed the Zealot.</p> + +<p>"I have work to do which you do not understand," answered Jesus. "I have +come to save the people—but in order to do it, I must first endure much +suffering."</p> + +<p>"We are ready to fight for you," answered Judas.</p> + +<p>"It will cost more than that," replied Jesus. "I will be rejected by the +high priest, the Pharisees, the scribes—and every authority in our +nation."</p> + +<p>"We can overcome them if we have to," said the Zealot impatiently.</p> + +<p>The answer came like an exploding bomb. "They are going to kill me," +declared Jesus plainly.</p> + +<p>The men looked at him speechless. "They may try to kill you," blurted +Andrew, "but they can never do it!"</p> + +<p>"I must die," repeated Jesus. "There is no other way for me to finish +the work that God sent me to do."</p> + +<p>A great force rose within Simon Peter; words flooded his lips. "No! This +cannot be! God would never let it happen! He has sent you to lead us! +You cannot die!"</p> + +<p>Jesus' stern voice cut him short, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not on +the side of God when you talk like that. You make it harder for me to do +what I was sent to do! If I were to do what you want, I could never do +my Father's work!"</p> + +<p>"Master, how can you say such a thing!" protested Andrew, defending his +brother.</p> + +<p>"You do not know God's purpose," answered Jesus, turning quickly. "You +have your own idea about what I should do—but you do not know the will +of God!" Then Jesus spoke with great force to all the disciples. "I am +not going to lead you to the victory you expect. If you are determined +to follow me, you will suffer. No one who seeks worldly gain is fit to +be my dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>ciple. But if you are willing to lose your life for my +sake—then you will find eternal life!"</p> + +<p>Peter was humiliated. To think that the Master could accuse him of +serving the evil one!</p> + +<p>"Peter," said Jesus, now gentle, "the people of Israel have many +needs—but I am sent to bring them eternal life in his Kingdom." Peter +sat with his eyes cast down. Jesus spoke to all the men.</p> + +<p>"There was once a time when I was tempted to preach some other message," +continued Jesus. "Soon after I was baptized by John in the Jordan River, +I went alone into the wilderness to pray and to seek the will of the +Heavenly Father. For forty days I fasted. The Tempter came to me in a +vision and said to me, 'If you are really the Son of God, turn this +stone into bread!' I could have great power over men if I were willing +to satisfy the desires of these hungry people!" The disciples remembered +how Jesus had refused to listen to the five thousand people who tried to +make him their king.</p> + +<p>"But I could not do that," continued Jesus. "I remembered what the +Scriptures say: 'Man does not live only on bread—but on every word of +truth which comes from God.'" Peter was looking at Jesus attentively.</p> + +<p>"Then in my vision Satan took me to the highest spire on the roof of the +Temple in Jerusalem," continued Jesus. "'Leap down!' he said, 'you will +not be hurt: Aren't you the Messiah? The angels will protect you! When +these people see you do such a marvelous miracle they will all fall down +and worship you!'" Jesus paused. "Do you see why this was wrong? The +Father does not give me special protection. He did not send me into the +world to astonish people with miracles so that they will accept me—he +has sent me to tell them his message of life!" The disciples again +remembered another thing Jesus had refused to do: he would not perform a +miracle for the Pharisees! "No man submits to the rule of God just +because you amaze him with miracles!"</p> + +<p>Jesus spoke now to Peter. "Finally Satan took me to the top of a great +mountain where we could see every nation in the world. In my vision I +saw all the people who were oppressed by unjust<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> kings. I saw all the +wealth and power of the earth. Then Satan whispered in my ear, 'I will +give you power to do anything you wish—to help people all you want—if +you will give up this plan to proclaim the rule of God and will worship +me!'" Worship Satan! The idea sent a chill through the disciples.</p> + +<p>"I did not come to set up a new empire on earth," declared Jesus, +turning to the Zealot. "That is not what God sent me to do! We must not +do our own will, but the will of the Father in heaven! I am here to +proclaim an eternal Kingdom!" There was a long silence. "So I answered +Satan, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you +serve.'"</p> + +<p>Peter now understood why Jesus had rebuked him. "But if you die?" he +asked. "How can you give men eternal life if you die?"</p> + +<p>"The Kingdom of God will come in great power when the Son of Man has +risen from the dead," declared Jesus.</p> + +<p>The disciples were not sure what the Master meant by his last remark. +They had more than enough to think about. After a few minutes they +climbed out of the deep valley. Before them lay rolling woodland cut +into sections by deep ravines which carried swift streams to the Jordan. +It was very different from the rocky hills the disciples had traveled +since leaving the territory around Sidon.</p> + +<p>"The Jordan River lies over there," said Simon, pointing east. The men +paused and looked while they caught their breath. Heavy trees hanging +over the edge of the deep river gorge concealed the stream itself.</p> + +<p>"Do we have to go through there?" inquired John. He remembered stories +that travelers told about this wild country: lions and wolves lurked in +the heavy growth of trees that covered the cliffs and gullies.</p> + +<p>"If we go to Caesarea Philippi, we will," answered the Zealot. He was +familiar with this part of the country, having traveled through it +before as far east as Damascus. John looked inquiringly at Jesus.</p> + +<p>"We will travel back to Capernaum in a few days," said Jesus. "But first +we will go over toward Caesarea Philippi." He led them down the slope.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do not blame him for not wanting to go back to Galilee right away," +remarked Andrew as they walked.</p> + +<p>"The people certainly do not follow him as they once did," agreed Simon.</p> + +<p>"Things are not as bad as he thinks," said Andrew. "There are many +people who would go anywhere with us. These scribes have turned some +people against us, but we can win them back!"</p> + +<p>Simon shook his head. "Perhaps. But the Master has usually known what to +expect. He has not been wrong other times."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am sure it is just discouragement!" insisted Andrew. "He will get +over it."</p> + +<p>Peter, however, was not satisfied. All the way down through the deep +ravines that descended to the Jordan he said nothing. The sun was behind +the hills by the time the disciples entered the dense growth of trees. +The road was narrow, and they had to pick their way with care because of +roots and overhanging branches. John looked fearfully from left to right +as they went farther and farther into the forest.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it is very safe in here at night," he whispered to James. +Several of the men were keeping a sharp watch, peering into the trees +and turning to look behind. They wondered if Jesus knew that the tangled +undergrowth might conceal vicious animals.</p> + +<p>"He must want to cross the river before nightfall," answered James.</p> + +<p>Peter and Andrew took no notice of the blackness of the jungle. At last +Peter said: "The Master does not get easily discouraged. He means more +than we think when he says he is going to die. He will tell us plainly +if we ask him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's not talk to him now!" replied Andrew quickly. "I think we +understand."</p> + +<p>Peter looked at him narrowly. "We ought to ask him, Andrew," he +insisted. "We must be sure!"</p> + +<p>"There is time enough later on." Andrew was evasive.</p> + +<p>"I believe you are afraid of what he might say!" Andrew would not meet +his brother's eyes. "Come with me!" Almost by force, Peter pulled his +brother along until they had overtaken Jesus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Master," said Peter, "tell us plainly what you meant by saying that you +must die."</p> + +<p>"If I go straight on with the task God has given me to do, I shall be +killed. You know what the Prophet says about God's servant: 'He was +despised, and rejected of men.'"</p> + +<p>"But, Master," interrupted Andrew, "what good can dying do? If you are +killed, how can we ever save the Jews?"</p> + +<p>"Not even the Son knows the will of the Father in some matters," replied +Jesus. "God's servants cannot always understand him. He asks us only to +obey and trust him."</p> + +<p>"You take away every hope!" cried Andrew. "What is going to become of +us?"</p> + +<p>Peter put his arm across his brother's shoulder to restrain him.</p> + +<p>"Anyone who wants to save his own life will surely lose it," said Jesus +gently. "But if you are willing to lose your life for my sake, you will +find true life."</p> + +<p>Andrew's mind was whirling. He could not grasp the meaning of Jesus' +words. Only Peter's strong grip on his shoulder kept him from answering +with senseless protests.</p> + +<p>They dropped behind the others and Andrew burst out: "We are wrong! All +this time we have been wrong!" He looked desperately at Peter and +whispered, "Let us go back to our fishing boats, brother!" They stood +facing each other in a little clearing.</p> + +<p>Andrew's panic shook Peter deeply. "Then you do believe that the scribes +and Pharisees are right, Andrew?" But his brother would not answer.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that the Master's power comes from Satan?" Peter asked +again.</p> + +<p>Andrew sat down heavily on a rock at the side of the road and buried his +face in his hands. Peter could hear him breathing hard as he murmured, +"Oh, I cannot escape from him—but I cannot understand him!"</p> + +<p>The other disciples had disappeared into the woods on the opposite edge +of the open glade. Their footsteps quickly died away. The silence of the +murky forest settled around the two fishermen. Tears came through +Andrew's fingers, but he made no sound. He did not observe that they +were alone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come, brother," Peter urged anxiously, "we must hurry. The others are +getting ahead of us. This forest is dangerous after dark."</p> + +<p>Peter was greatly relieved when he and Andrew finally caught up with the +others. A half hour later the men emerged from the forest and climbed +the slope that enclosed the basin of the Jordan on the eastern side of +the river. Their sandals were wet from fording the river, but they +hardly noticed it, so relieved were they to be once again in open +country.</p> + +<p>It was almost totally dark now. Only dimly could they make out the bulk +of Mount Hermon rising directly ahead of them, hiding the evening star. +Jesus led the tired men to an inn.</p> + +<p>"He must have intended to lead us here," exclaimed John, catching sight +of the faint glimmer of a lamp in the courtyard of the building. He, +Peter, and James stayed in a single tiny room.</p> + +<p>"This has been a hard day," remarked James wearily, stretching out on +the bed.</p> + +<p>"I do not believe we shall leave Galilee again until we go to +Jerusalem," observed Peter.</p> + +<p>"I wish we knew what would happen there," remarked John. "Do you think +he will really be killed?"</p> + +<p>"You know what Andrew says," replied Peter, avoiding a direct answer.</p> + +<p>"I cannot believe that the Master is just discouraged," stated James +flatly. "That is not like him."</p> + +<p>Peter nodded his agreement. He thought of how Andrew was inwardly torn. +"I cannot escape from him—but I cannot understand him!" he had said. +James blew out the oil lamp. The men settled themselves for the night. +Peter spoke. "If we follow him to Jerusalem, we must be ready to suffer +with him. We must not doubt."</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Simon Peter, how can the Messiah of God die?" asked James.</p> + +<p>The fishermen heard Peter sigh. "How it can be ... I do not know. I know +only that we must decide whether we shall go on. Now is the time to +decide...." His voice trailed off. Far into the night the fishermen +stared open-eyed into the darkness. When at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> last they fell into a +troubled sleep, they were no nearer the answer.</p> + +<p>At dawn there was a knock at the door of their room. The men stirred, +and Peter rose. Scarcely visible in the faint light stood Jesus. Peter +stepped back, and Jesus entered.</p> + +<p>"Will you come to pray with me in the mountain?" Jesus asked.</p> + +<p>The men dressed and followed Jesus outside. The road on which the inn +was built lay at the foot of Mount Hermon. Its snowy crest rose +majestically above them, shining brilliantly in the morning sun. A few +days before, the fishermen had seen this peak above the mist that lay +over the Lake of Galilee.</p> + +<p>The beauty of the mountain would have lifted the spirits of men whose +hearts were less heavy, but Peter, James, and John had awakened with the +same anxiety that had troubled their rest. They did not talk, but +climbed steadily toward the summit of the mountain.</p> + +<p>At last Jesus stopped. Below them lay the valleys of Galilee. Far to the +south a blanket of fog covered the lake. As Peter looked, he could not +keep back his homesickness; on the shore of that misty lake lived his +wife and children. The flood of sunlight had gradually crept down the +slope toward them, and now the four men felt its warmth. "Let us kneel +here and pray," said Jesus.</p> + +<p>While Jesus and the three fishermen were away in the mountain, a strange +scene occurred at the inn where the other nine disciples had just +awakened. Early travelers were moving along the road in front of the +inn. Among them came a man leading a donkey on which a boy was riding. +He stopped at the inn.</p> + +<p>"Has Jesus of Nazareth passed this way?" he asked the innkeeper, who was +standing there.</p> + +<p>"Haven't heard anything about him," answered the man curtly. Suddenly he +shouted, "Watch out!" The boy was falling off the donkey. His father +leaped to catch him, but the donkey shied away and the boy fell heavily +to the ground and lay still.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my son!" cried the father. He lifted the child gently and carried +him toward the inn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here, you!" shouted the owner roughly. "Get that boy out of here. He +has a devil!"</p> + +<p>The father hesitated and then started toward a long bench. "Let me lay +him here," he begged.</p> + +<p>"Well, all right," grumbled the innkeeper. "But don't take him inside."</p> + +<p>People had heard the noise and were looking out of the windows. Philip +and the Zealot came through the doorway.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with your son?" they asked sympathetically.</p> + +<p>"He has falling sickness," answered the man. "He often hurts himself +this way." He was wiping blood from a cut on the boy's pale forehead. +The lad opened his eyes and tried to rise.</p> + +<p>"Stay there, my son," urged the father. He turned to Philip and the +Zealot. "Can you tell me where I can find Jesus of Nazareth? I have +heard wonderful reports of his power to heal."</p> + +<p>The two disciples glanced at each other. At that moment Judas and Levi +came out of the inn.</p> + +<p>"This man is looking for the Master," said Philip.</p> + +<p>"Are you his followers?" cried the man. "I have traveled for five days +to find you! If only you will heal my son!"</p> + +<p>Travelers had stopped and clustered around the lad on the bench. Almost +all the guests at the inn had come outside. The four disciples looked at +one another; none offered to heal the boy.</p> + +<p>"Some of you visited my own village and healed many who had evil +spirits," said the father hopefully. He could not understand why the men +hesitated. They still made no move toward the boy. Andrew came out of +the inn.</p> + +<p>"Can you heal my son?" the man asked Andrew. Andrew glanced at the +others. He knew why they hung back. He looked at the boy. The father's +voice was urgent. The people watched intently as Andrew stepped up to +the boy, lying limp but conscious.</p> + +<p>"Be gone from him!" commanded Andrew, as though speaking to an evil +spirit in the boy. A shiver ran through his body, but then he lay still +again.</p> + +<p>Scornful smiles curled the lips of the people who watched. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> great +healer, this man! He tells the devil to leave and the boy is worse off +than before!</p> + +<p>Andrew flamed scarlet—but he was not thinking of the bystanders. In his +heart he knew he was powerless to help the boy. The father bent over his +son and then suddenly stood up. "You cannot help him! You have no +power!"</p> + +<p>Andrew was stunned. For a moment he stood stock-still. Then he turned +and walked away.</p> + +<p>"A fine proof of the power of the Nazarene!" remarked a man +sarcastically. The people recognized him as a priest who had stopped a +few minutes before to watch. The father of the boy looked around at the +people, desperately seeking someone else to help him.</p> + +<p>"Where is your Master?" cried the father desperately.</p> + +<p>"Yes, where is your Master?" echoed the priest in derision. "You had +better go and find him!"</p> + +<p>"He left a couple hours ago with three others," said the innkeeper, in a +very matter-of-fact way. "He went up there." He waved toward the great +mountain. The people looked where he pointed.</p> + +<p>"There he is!" cried a man in the crowd. Distant figures were moving +down the mountainside.</p> + +<p>"Now we shall see if this Nazarene can do better than his followers," +remarked the priest bitingly.</p> + +<p>As Jesus approached, he took in the whole scene at a glance: the sick +boy, the despairing father, the sneering official, and the beaten +disciples.</p> + +<p>"O sir, my son has a terrible sickness!" said the father. "He even falls +into the fire and hurts himself." He gave a pitiable little gesture +toward his son, stretched on the bench. "Your disciples could not help +him at all!"</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to his disciples. They looked at him dully. Andrew stood a +distance away; his face clearly showed his humiliation.</p> + +<p>Jesus' voice had in it more of weariness and sorrow than sharpness. "How +utterly faithless you are! You turn your backs on God himself! How long +must I teach you? How much longer must I endure your cold hearts?" He +turned to the man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How long has your son been like this?"</p> + +<p>"From the time he was a little child," replied the father. "If you can +do anything at all, help us! Do have pity on us!"</p> + +<p>"Why do you say, 'If you can'? Do you not believe that I can heal this +boy? Anything can be done for one who has real faith!" The disciples +knew that Jesus might as well have been speaking to them.</p> + +<p>"O Master," the man cried passionately, "I really do believe! Help me to +be rid of my doubt and fear!"</p> + +<p>Andrew realized that the man was like himself: torn between faith and +doubt. "Master, help me to believe too," murmured Andrew.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to the boy and spoke to him. He gave a loud cry and then +relaxed.</p> + +<p>"He is dead!" the father exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Jesus stooped and took the pale hand of the youth. Immediately he sat +up; then to the astonishment of everyone he stood.</p> + +<p>Jesus did not wait for the father's thanks. He did not even glance at +the crowd, but turned to his disciples.</p> + +<p>"You had no power because you had no faith," he said directly. "If you +truly believe in God, evil cannot stand against you. Without faith, you +are helpless. But even the tiniest bit of real trust is mighty enough to +change the whole world!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-113.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="THE_GREATEST_AMONG_US" id="THE_GREATEST_AMONG_US"></a>12. THE GREATEST AMONG US</h2> + + +<p>The next morning the disciples could not help noticing that Peter acted +differently. He had been as downcast and silent yesterday as the +rest—but now he was talking eagerly with James and John as they walked +ahead of the other men.</p> + +<p>"If John the Baptizer really was Elijah," exclaimed Peter, "then the +Kingdom ought to be very near!"</p> + +<p>"Will John be raised from the dead?" asked James.</p> + +<p>"Jesus said that the Messiah would rise," remarked Peter.</p> + +<p>James said, "I don't see what he could mean by that."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the voice from the cloud?" interrupted John. "Those +were the same words that he heard when he was baptized: 'You are my +beloved Son!' Only this time we heard the voice too."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It said, 'Listen to him!'" Peter's voice showed the awe he felt. "I +don't know what this vision means, but I am sure he is the Messiah +himself!"</p> + +<p>James and John did not reply. They needed their breath because they were +climbing a steep hill.</p> + +<p>When they reached the crest, all the Twelve stopped to rest. The road +had gradually turned east, and now the green lowlands of the upper +Jordan Valley lay behind them. But the men did not look back; they had +eyes only for the gleaming city that lay in the shallow valley ahead of +them, Caesarea Philippi. Beyond the domes and colonnades of the city +rose more mountains, ridge after ridge, climbing finally to the snowy +crest of the range, over nine thousand feet above. The level valley +before them, however, was green and fertile. Groves of trees and neatly +planted fields reached to the very edge of the foothills on all sides of +the city. Caesarea Philippi seemed like a diamond set among green +jewels.</p> + +<p>The columns of several pagan temples reminded the travelers that this +lovely city was the home of Philip, the son of Herod the Great. He had +spent much money to make it beautiful. But the disciples found little +pleasure in the sight.</p> + +<p>"Heathen people building temples to worship idols!" murmured James. As +the men descended the hill they walked along the foot of a high cliff, +rising to their left.</p> + +<p>"We will not enter this city," said Jesus. The men knew that a road +branched to the south toward Lake Huleh, which was not far from the Lake +of Galilee. John happened to look up at the cliff. "Where does the water +come from that runs down here?" he asked curiously. Shrubs of all kinds +clung to crannies in the damp rock wall.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps there is an underground stream," replied James, hopefully. They +were all thirsty. A moment later he saw a deep pool almost hidden at the +very foot of the cliff. "There it is!" he exclaimed. Several of the men +started toward the spring.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" called Peter sharply. He pointed up at the face of the cliff. +James looked up and saw that a deep hole had been carved in the rock. It +was framed by two stone columns and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> stone arch. Under the arch stood +a statue of Pan, the pagan god of nature.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Peter. "That water is unholy!" The other disciples caught +sight of the idol and shrank back.</p> + +<p>"This place is defiled!" exclaimed James in disgust. "We cannot drink +this water!" The presence of the idol was an offense to the men and they +deeply resented it.</p> + +<p>"Just wait until we get control of this land again!" burst out the +Zealot. "We will break these filthy images to pieces!"</p> + +<p>"Just to think that the land of God's promise is filled with heathen +idols!" Peter was seething. He turned to Jesus. "How much longer must we +endure this?"</p> + +<p>James interrupted. "It will not be long, will it, Master?"</p> + +<p>"Can we start for Jerusalem soon?" urged the Zealot. "Surely the time +has come for God to deliver his people!" Jesus said nothing, but led +them over the crest of a ridge till Caesarea Philippi disappeared behind +them. The road descended into a flat swamp land which reached as far +south as Lake Huleh, which they could now see. The air was heavy with +moist heat, and the people they passed looked unhealthy.</p> + +<p>The disciples scarcely noticed their discomfort, however, so eager was +their conversation. Again they tried to make Jesus promise that he would +use his power soon to conquer the Romans, but Jesus refused to join in +their discussion of how they would rule the land when the Romans were +beaten. Not one of them remembered his solemn warnings about the +suffering which they faced. Not one mentioned that Jesus had said he +would be killed in Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>Judas listened and said little. Finally he could stand their +conversation no longer. "How many of you have ever lived in Jerusalem?" +he asked, breaking in.</p> + +<p>"I stayed there a few weeks once," said James, puzzled by his question.</p> + +<p>"I used to go every year when I was a boy," said Levi.</p> + +<p>"Do you know any people who live in Jerusalem?" asked Judas.</p> + +<p>"John and I know some people we sold fish to," answered Andrew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>Judas could hardly keep the scorn out of his voice. "You don't know the +first thing about Jerusalem! You have no idea what you are getting into! +You don't know anyone there except a few low-class people!"</p> + +<p>The Zealot interrupted. "You seem to forget that I have a large number +of friends in Jerusalem," he said hotly. "The city is full of Zealots! +They all know me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the police keep track of every one of them," retorted Judas. +"Just as soon as the Romans see us with Zealots they will think that we +are trying to start trouble. The best thing for us to do is to keep away +from your friends!"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you think we will win the confidence of the Jews by mixing +with Pharisees!" snapped the Zealot.</p> + +<p>"We will have to be careful, of course," said Judas. "But I know the +right people. If we are clever, we will work from the inside."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think the Master knows what he is doing," cut in Andrew.</p> + +<p>Judas glanced ahead to where Jesus was walking alone and lowered his +voice. "You know I am loyal to him, but he has been in Jerusalem only a +few times in his life. He doesn't know any of the important people."</p> + +<p>"I can put him in touch with hundreds of men who will fight beside us," +said the Zealot, frowning at Judas. As Andrew listened to the two men +argue, he had to admit to himself that Jesus might need help when they +came to Jerusalem. He did not say any more.</p> + +<p>The twelve men and their Master came to a ford where a sluggish stream +flowed across the road toward the Jordan. Single file, the disciples +waded through the shallowest place. Andrew was the last to cross, and he +found himself with Peter, James, and John. The four fishermen let the +others walk ahead. Keeping his voice low, James said to the others: +"What is going to happen to the rest of us when we get to Jerusalem? +Those two men have been there and they know everyone! We might even be +pushed out completely!" The more they discussed it, the more worried +they became.</p> + +<p>James and John wanted to be alone to talk about the schemes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> of Judas +and the Zealot, so when the Twelve stopped for lunch, they went to a +near-by farm to buy food. After lunch they again fell in step with +Andrew and Peter.</p> + +<p>"You were absolutely right in what you said this morning," said Andrew +emphatically. "Simon Peter and I have decided that we must settle right +now before we get to Jerusalem who should have first place among us."</p> + +<p>"We should talk to the Master about it," said James.</p> + +<p>"No," answered John. "This is our affair. We must settle it among +ourselves. Simon Peter was the first one Jesus asked to give up his +fishing and follow him; he should be the leader."</p> + +<p>"I think so too," agreed Andrew heartily. Peter kept his thoughts to +himself. After all, why should Judas be the chief person? He was not +even a Galilean!</p> + +<p>"I am going to talk to the others," declared James, hastening ahead. +Judas and the Zealot were walking ahead with Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" said James to the disciples. "Do you realize that those two +men are going to try to push us out when we get to Jerusalem? We shall +not have any place in the new Kingdom at all, unless we protect our +rights!"</p> + +<p>"We think the best way is to decide now who should be first," said John, +continuing. The others nodded vigorous agreement. "I think Simon Peter +is the one who should be our leader! After all, the Master chose him +first."</p> + +<p>Silence settled over the men. James could not understand what was the +matter. Finally Philip said hesitantly, "We thought Levi might know how +to deal with the Romans."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't think so!" exclaimed John. "He knows only the Romans in +Galilee."</p> + +<p>"Besides, the best people in Jerusalem might hold it against him that he +was a taxgatherer," added James, without thinking how his words sounded.</p> + +<p>Levi flared up. "Well, I am not so sure they will like a fish peddler +any better," he remarked bitingly.</p> + +<p>"That is beside the point," snapped James. "Simon Peter was the +first—and you have to admit it!"</p> + +<p>At that moment the Zealot and Judas joined the group. "What are you +talking about?" demanded the Zealot. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> no one replied, Judas laughed +and remarked: "It's not hard to guess! Well, we shall see who is +greatest when we get to Jerusalem!"</p> + +<p>It was a long and hot trip from Caesarea Philippi to Capernaum, and the +men did not stop arguing until they came to the very door of Peter's +house. Their home-coming was spoiled. Everyone was in bad humor. Peter +remembered how he had longed to see his wife and children when he had +looked down on the Lake of Galilee from Mount Hermon. Now this bitter +dispute had completely taken away the pleasure of it. Peter's wife could +not understand why all the men, even her husband, ate supper in silence. +After they had finished eating, James rose and stood in the open +doorway, blocking it. He glared angrily at Judas and the Zealot.</p> + +<p>He could hardly restrain his bitter resentment against these men, and he +was determined to make the Master put them in their place.</p> + +<p>But it was Jesus who spoke first—before James could begin his angry +accusations. "What were you wrangling about on the road?"</p> + +<p>James felt his anger turn against the Master, who was sitting near the +door. He had not been wrangling! It was a matter of simple fairness!</p> + +<p>"Why were you wrangling on the road today?" Not one of the disciples +ventured to answer—the question was put to them a second time.</p> + +<p>"An evil spirit of envy and dispute has come among us," said Jesus. The +men sensed how deeply hurt he was.</p> + +<p>"If any of you wish to be first in the Kingdom of God, you must learn to +serve rather than to rule." While he was speaking, Peter's little +daughter peeked around the edge of the doorway. She drew back at the +sight of the men, but she was so curious that soon she put her head +around the corner again. Jesus saw the disciples smile and he turned. +"Come here, little girl," he said gently and held out his hands, +smiling. She came to him, and he lifted her to his lap. She leaned +trustingly against his shoulder and looked shyly at the men.</p> + +<p>With his arms around her, Jesus said, "If you are willing to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> serve even +this little child, then you have discovered what it means to be my +disciples. But if you do anything to keep even the most despised person +from believing in me, you would be better off in the bottom of the sea +with a great stone tied around your neck!"</p> + +<p>When James finally spoke, his tone was controlled. "But, Master, who is +to rule in the new Kingdom when we get to Jerusalem?"</p> + +<p>The disciples leaned forward. <i>Now we shall get this business settled!</i> +thought the Zealot.</p> + +<p>"Among the gentiles, a man is great if he rules over many people," +answered Jesus. "But in the Kingdom of Heaven it is the other way +around: you are great if you serve, not rule."</p> + +<p>"But when we get to Jerusalem, Master, who is going to run the new +government?" insisted James boldly.</p> + +<p>"Do you think of nothing but ruling others? You do not understand my +Kingdom at all." Then, slowly and emphatically, Jesus said: "James, if +you want to be great in my Kingdom, you must be a servant! If you want +to be the chief disciple, you must make yourself the slave of all the +others! I myself did not come to rule over many nations—I came to serve +the people—yes, even to give my life to buy them from slavery!"</p> + +<p>"Master, we know that the new Kingdom will be different," interrupted +Peter. "But we shall rule the gentiles, shan't we?" He did not wait for +an answer. "You ought to decide which one of us will have the main +authority."</p> + +<p>The Zealot looked at Peter suspiciously. <i>So that's how he thinks he +will get his way!</i> he thought. "Now look," he said to Jesus in his most +practical tone. "I know many people in Jerusalem who can help us...."</p> + +<p>James's anger boiled over. "Master, he is interested only in special +privileges!"</p> + +<p>"That is a lie!" snapped the Zealot, looking fiercely at James. "I want +only...." Peter's little girl was crying. Harsh voices and frowning +faces had frightened her. She clutched Jesus' robe with both tiny hands +and buried her head in his robe.</p> + +<p>"Here, let me take her," said Peter, starting to rise. But the little +girl clung all the closer to Jesus.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Except you become as little children," said Jesus, "you cannot enter +the Kingdom of Heaven." He stood up, holding the child in his arms; he +did not intend to listen to the angry debate any longer. "I have +appointed you to proclaim the news of the Kingdom of God," he declared. +"You are the salt which must season the whole earth. Everything depends +on you. But what if the salt loses its taste?" The men again felt in his +voice the deep grief they had caused him. "It is fit only to be thrown +out and trampled on! Let there be peace between you!"</p> + +<p>Jesus gently put Peter's daughter in her father's arms and left the +room. He walked down to the shore of the lake. The trip from Caesarea +Philippi had been tiring, and he longed to be alone. Under the tiny +white stars he was far from the jealousies and selfishness of his +followers. Sometimes they were truly noble and brave. They were loyal +too, and yet ... they seemed never to understand! In the quiet night +Jesus gave thanks to his Father in heaven for the men who had given up +everything to follow him; he prayed that they might soon understand the +true meaning of the Kingdom of God.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there were running footsteps behind him. Jesus stopped +abruptly. Had Herod already discovered that he was back in Galilee? Had +spies followed him here so that they could arrest him secretly? Two +figures emerged from the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Master!" It was John. James was with him. Relief flooded through Jesus.</p> + +<p>"We wanted to tell you about something we did." There was a note of +pride in John's voice. "Do you remember when James and I went to buy +food today? We found a man casting out evil spirits in your name. We put +a stop to it right away!"</p> + +<p>"We will never allow anyone to interfere with us," added James. "He +might even persuade some people to follow him. We want nothing like +that!"</p> + +<p>Jesus did not answer, but continued to look out over the dark lake. Why +had these men followed him all the way out here to tell him this? Were +they trying to convince him they were loyal in spite of the day's +dispute? Or were they trying to persuade him to do what they wanted? +Jesus turned to them. "What made you do a thing like that?" he demanded. +"Don't you know that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> we are trying to give the power of God to everyone +who will believe—we are not trying to keep it to ourselves!"</p> + +<p>"But he was not one of us," explained James, amazed.</p> + +<p>"That makes no difference," answered Jesus. "Are we jealous of his +power? Do we think always of our own reputation?"</p> + +<p>"But doesn't it make any difference who has power in our Kingdom?" asked +James, dumfounded.</p> + +<p>"We don't even know the man!" exclaimed John.</p> + +<p>"Do not forbid him," replied Jesus. "No one who does a mighty work in my +name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not +against us is for us. If a person so much as gives you a cup of water in +my name, God remembers him for it!" His voice was now calm, with the +note of sorrow which the men had heard twice before on this day.</p> + +<p>"Do you still not understand what is going to happen in Jerusalem?" he +said. "I have told you already that I shall be killed! I am not going to +Jerusalem to seek the praise of men, but to give up my life for the sake +of all men. I shall be betrayed into the power of the high priests. They +will hand me over to the Romans to be killed!"</p> + +<p>"Master!" cried James desperately. "Do not say such a thing!" Fear +chilled him, and the very night seemed to threaten. James had been +fighting this thought ever since Jesus had first mentioned his death. +"That can never, never happen!"</p> + +<p>"In spite of all I have said, you still understand little of my work," +said Jesus and left the two men. They did not try to follow, but stood +listening to the sound of his footsteps dying away. Then they turned +back. There could be no mistaking his meaning this time: the Master knew +he would die in Jerusalem.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-122.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="THE_MESSIAH_MUST_DIE" id="THE_MESSIAH_MUST_DIE"></a>13. THE MESSIAH MUST DIE</h2> + + +<p>The next day, Jesus left Capernaum with the Twelve, traveling swiftly on +the main highway toward Tiberias, Jericho, and Jerusalem. Early in the +afternoon, a wind rose from the south. The sky grew dark; clouds scudded +overhead as the disciples plodded along the dusty road. The Lake of +Galilee lay to their left. When the sun shone it was refreshing, blue +and cool. Now the water was gray, whipped into angry waves by the wind. +Only a few months before, the men had nearly drowned in a gale like +this.</p> + +<p>To their right were bleak hills, bare of trees. An anxious shepherd was +driving his sheep to shelter. The black, windy sky reminded the +disciples of all the fears that filled them: fear of their own future +and distrust of one another.</p> + +<p>"Where can we stay for the night. Master?" asked Andrew, raising his +voice above a gust that snatched the words from his lips.</p> + +<p>Jesus glanced at the sky. "Perhaps we can find an inn at Tiberias."</p> + +<p>The wind was hot and laden with dust. Its choking heat kept their skin +dry even though the men perspired freely. They covered their faces with +their robes to avoid breathing dust.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>The air was thick; they could not see the sun, though it was fully four +hours before sunset. They could not even see the crest of the ridge +rising above them to the right.</p> + +<p>"If the wind changes to the southwest, this is sure to turn to rain," +remarked James, almost shouting. John nodded. A moment later they heard +Andrew call to them.</p> + +<p>"Look there!" he shouted. "Up the hill." He was pointing to a +tumble-down shed a few yards from the road to their right.</p> + +<p>Greatly relieved, the whole group left the road and in a moment were +inside the shelter. "We are lucky to find this," said James, throwing +the cover off his face. "It is getting cooler, and the wind is +changing."</p> + +<p>The disciples had hardly caught their breath when they heard a familiar +sound. "Sheep!" exclaimed Philip. An instant later a tightly packed +flock of frightened sheep crowded into the shed. It overflowed in a +moment, but the bleating animals kept on pushing in. Suddenly their +shepherd stood in the midst of the men.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" He was completely surprised at finding people in his shed.</p> + +<p>"We were looking for shelter from the wind and rain," explained Peter.</p> + +<p>"Oh ... why yes!" replied the man. He was embarrassed in the presence of +all these strangers. "This is a very poor old shed," he said, smiling +apologetically. Shyly he turned away from the disciples and began to +count his sheep.</p> + +<p>The men watched. He was very slow and started over again three times. +They smiled at each other as though to say, "A simple fellow, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>The flimsy little shelter rocked under the gusts of the gale, now at its +height. The shepherd was too busy counting to notice. Suddenly he jerked +up straight. "There is one missing!" Before the disciples could stop +him, he plunged into the windy darkness.</p> + +<p>"Come back!" shouted James.</p> + +<p>"One is missing!" A heavy gust almost drowned the shepherd's reply.</p> + +<p>"You'll get hurt!" The man was gone. "How can he ever find<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> his way?" +protested James to the others. "There are gullies and high rocks! He +will be killed in the dark!"</p> + +<p>"He has practically all the sheep in," declared John. "He could wait a +little while till this lets up."</p> + +<p>"He would leave his flock here and search all night for a sheep," +remarked Jesus.</p> + +<p>"He ought not to risk his life like that," answered James.</p> + +<p>"A good shepherd is ready to face death to find just one sheep," said +Jesus.</p> + +<p>Death! The twelve men had been able to think of nothing but fear and +death the whole day through. Why did the Master talk about it so much?</p> + +<p>At that instant the shepherd came back. Under his arm was a lamb, +frightened but not harmed. "There," sighed the man, putting it gently +down. "Now all are safe."</p> + +<p>"You are hurt!" exclaimed Peter. He knelt and gently touched the man's +ankle. The shepherd flinched, but said, "Oh, it is nothing!"</p> + +<p>"Let me bandage it," insisted Peter. The man sat down; he was in pain. +"How did this happen?" asked Peter, tearing a strip of cloth from the +long loose shirt he wore.</p> + +<p>"I heard the little one crying and ran toward him," answered the man. "I +must have stumbled on a sharp rock."</p> + +<p>Jesus was watching the man. "You are a faithful shepherd," he said.</p> + +<p>The shepherd looked up quickly and smiled. This man understood! But the +disciples were quiet. They knew Jesus was thinking about his own work in +Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>The wind had veered around and now blew from the southwest. Spattering +drops turned into a steady, cold, driving rainstorm.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it will settle the dust," said Andrew hopefully. He was +thinking how dejected the sheep looked that had not found room in the +shed when he felt cold water on his back. "This place leaks!" he +exclaimed. Soon all the men were moving uncomfortably about, trying to +find places to stand where they could keep dry. But it was hopeless. The +rain poured through the cracks in the old roof.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We might as well be walking outside as standing here," declared the +Zealot in disgust. The suggestion seemed sensible.</p> + +<p>"Thank you for the shelter," said Jesus to the shepherd.</p> + +<p>The rain had not let up at all, but the men plunged into the night. "Be +careful of that ankle," said Peter, the last to go. The shepherd smiled +in farewell.</p> + +<p>Two hours later the company of miserable disciples arrived in Tiberias. +For an hour and a half they had been soaked to the skin. The wind had +become quite cold, and they were chilled through. Only after they +entered the city of Tiberias did they find an inn where there was room +for them.</p> + +<p>"This city is crowded with people going to Jerusalem for the feast," +observed James, as the disciples stripped off their wet clothing.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how Herod likes to have his home city full of loyal Jews," +replied John.</p> + +<p>"I just hope he does not find out we are here."</p> + +<p>The disciples were alarmed when Jesus insisted on teaching the next day +in the market place, where people gathered to gossip and buy food.</p> + +<p>"What if the tyrant discovers that we are here?" inquired Andrew +fearfully. "He could throw us into prison before we could escape!"</p> + +<p>"This is an important city for us," replied Jesus. "We must tell the +news of the Kingdom to all these pilgrims who are traveling to +Jerusalem." Nervously the disciples kept watch for the Roman police +while Jesus talked to the people.</p> + +<p>It was well that they did. "Here come some Pharisees," warned John. The +men were stepping around carts piled with food, taking care to avoid the +heavily burdened donkeys that crowded the street. The people dropped +back to let them pass. The two Pharisees smiled as they came up to +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"They seem friendly!" said John, astonished.</p> + +<p>"Don't let them deceive you," warned the Zealot.</p> + +<p>Jesus received the men graciously. The first said: "Rabbi, we have come +to warn you. You had better get out of Tiberias as soon as possible. We +have private information from Herod's court that he intends to kill +you!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>The disciples were alarmed. The Zealot was frowning and looking at the +Pharisees very suspiciously. "Why do you tell us this?" he asked +bluntly. They ignored his question, waiting to see what Jesus would say.</p> + +<p>Jesus' answer was stern: "Go tell that sly fox that he does not have the +power to stop my work!" The people were startled. How did he dare speak +like this about the king? "Now I am preaching the good news of the +Kingdom of Heaven and helping people," continued Jesus. "When I finish +this work I will leave—but I will go to Jerusalem only when the time +comes for me to be delivered up to death!"</p> + +<p>"Unless you leave Tiberias at once, you will certainly die here," said +the second Pharisee.</p> + +<p>"No." There was bitter humor in Jesus' tone. "It would hardly be right +for a prophet to be killed anywhere but in Jerusalem. It is always our +holy city that kills the messengers whom God sends!"</p> + +<p>The Pharisees turned and walked away. "Well!" exclaimed John. "For men +who want to save us from Herod they certainly act oddly."</p> + +<p>"They care nothing about our lives," said the Zealot sourly. "They are +just trying to scare us out of Galilee. Herod knows he cannot put us +into prison—there would be a riot!"</p> + +<p>The people were indeed very loyal to Jesus. Many who had listened to him +in their home villages greeted him with great joy when they found him +teaching in Tiberias and refused to go on without him.</p> + +<p>"We want you to lead us to Jerusalem," declared one man from Capernaum +who had often listened to Jesus at the lakeside.</p> + +<p>"I must stay here several days to teach others who travel through," +answered Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Then we shall wait." More and more people joined this man in asking +Jesus to lead them to Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>The disciples were greatly worried by this. "Herod is sure to hear of +this!" exclaimed Andrew, anxiously watching the people crowd around +Jesus.</p> + +<p>"He must know we are here by now," said John. Any moment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> the men +expected the officers of King Herod to come to arrest them. They were +greatly relieved when Jesus led a small group of especially loyal +followers into the hills west of Tiberias.</p> + +<p>"At least we are safe out here," observed John as they climbed the brown +hill above Herod's capital city. When Jesus stopped, they could see the +whole Lake of Galilee spread below them. High above the city rose the +towers of Herod's palace. Peter looked northward to where Capernaum lay. +Beyond the city he could see Mount Hermon, majestic and cool. A few days +before, he had stood on its slopes and gazed at Capernaum, where his +wife and children lived. Then he had expected to see them soon. But now +he knew he might never see them again.</p> + +<p>A ridge concealed the group with Jesus from the road which led west from +Tiberias to the Mediterranean Sea. "Tonight we shall rest in the hills," +said Jesus to them; there were about seventy beside the disciples. +"Tomorrow I will send you to prepare my way to Jerusalem."</p> + +<p>The thought of leaving Herod's territory cheered the disciples, but they +had not heard all that their Master had to say. "For a few more days I +am going to remain here to summon these people to repent and confess +that God is King," continued Jesus. "You are to stay with me. I am +sending these others into the cities that I will visit." He turned to +the Seventy: "Declare the good news of the rule of God. Tell them that +the Kingdom is here. Return to me on the third day. Then we shall set +out for Jerusalem!"</p> + +<p>The people began to talk excitedly with one another. "You must go two by +two," continued Jesus, raising his voice. "You have a great work to do, +and now is the time to do it! Pray, therefore, that you will find many +who will believe your message of the Kingdom of God and help you. Do not +let anyone stop you, but press on to tell the gospel in every city where +Jews live. You will be in danger; I send you out like sheep among +wolves. Just the same, have courage, for you carry good news. Preach +this message: 'The rule of God is here; give yourselves to him'!"</p> + +<p>After the Seventy had gone, great crowds continued to throng Jesus as he +preached in the market place of Tiberias. The anx<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>iety that the +disciples first felt when Jesus decided to await the return of the +Seventy gradually gave way to optimism when they saw the great +popularity of Jesus.</p> + +<p>"The king knows he cannot arrest us," said the Zealot. "Look at this +crowd!"</p> + +<p>"It will not be long before we are in Jerusalem!" said John. Jerusalem! +The disciples began to talk eagerly about the new kingdom.</p> + +<p>"Nothing must stop us!" declared James and John. When the Seventy +returned, they were enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>"Everyone listened to us!" declared the first two men to return. "People +brought their sick to us. They believed our teaching! Even the demons +obeyed us!"</p> + +<p>"Here is a man who wants to become a follower," said his companion.</p> + +<p>A third person stepped up to Jesus and said very sincerely, "I will go +with you anywhere."</p> + +<p>Jesus looked at him keenly and said: "My way is not easy. The foxes in +the woods have holes to sleep in. Even the wild birds have nests—but I +have no home and no place to give you."</p> + +<p>"I will follow you anywhere," said the man again.</p> + +<p>Through the day others returned. Every hour the disciples heard good +reports of the success of the Seventy. At sunset all the followers whom +Jesus had sent out gathered in the hills. The bright rays of the sinking +sun lighted Jesus' face as he raised his hand to quiet the excited men.</p> + +<p>"Satan is utterly defeated!" he declared. "The power of God is yours! +Nothing can stand in the way of God's rule!" The people could not +restrain their excitement. They burst into a babble of conversation. One +man cried out, "Master, we even have power over demons!"</p> + +<p>Jesus answered quickly. "You should rejoice because you know what it is +to be a part of God's Kingdom—not because you can do miracles!" He +raised his arms to pray. Like the silent shadow that had stolen over +them as the sun sank from sight, a reverent hush settled over the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Father in heaven, I thank thee that thou hast concealed thyself from +men who think they are wise. I praise thee that thou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> hast revealed all +these things to the humble and the simple. I praise thee that it is thy +purpose to rule over all who are willing to give their hearts to thee."</p> + +<p>While the group were returning to their lodging in Tiberias, James and +John made a discovery that shocked and angered them. One of the Seventy +had been turned roughly away from a town on the border of Samaria. +Indignantly the two fishermen came with the man to Jesus.</p> + +<p>"This man was driven out of a village in Samaria," they said angrily. +"Let us call down fire from the sky and burn up these people!"</p> + +<p>"No!" commanded Jesus. "We have not come to destroy men's lives but to +save them."</p> + +<p>"Why should these worthless Samaritans be allowed to stand in the way of +the Kingdom of God?" demanded James hotly. "We should destroy them. They +are enemies of God!"</p> + +<p>"Our own towns in Galilee have rejected us as harshly as any town in +Samaria," answered Jesus. He pointed northward toward the villages on +the Lake of Galilee. His voice sent a chill through the fishermen: "O +Bethsaida, you are doomed—you are doomed! If my miracles had been done +in Tyre or Sidon, they would have repented long ago. But you have turned +your back on me! And you, Capernaum! Will you become great? No! You +shall be utterly destroyed for your sin!"</p> + +<p>These towns—the ones James and John knew and loved the best—Jesus +condemned because they had not accepted his gospel! Did he believe +Galilee had rejected him? Of what mighty destruction was he speaking?</p> + +<p>By morning the fishermen had forgotten Jesus' somber warning. The little +waves on the lake sparkled in the brightness of the sun. As Jesus' +followers walked briskly with him along the road toward Jerusalem, they +could talk of nothing but their arrival in the holy city.</p> + +<p>"We shall be welcomed in Jerusalem," said Peter. "See how well liked the +Master is by all the pilgrims!"</p> + +<p>"That is true," agreed a man from Capernaum. "But just the same, Pilate +is a dangerous man. Did you hear what he did at the last festival?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," answered James. "What was that?"</p> + +<p>"Some Zealots from Galilee started a riot in the Temple. I did not see +what happened myself, but they say that the Roman soldiers put a stop to +the trouble and within a few hours Pilate crucified twelve of the +Zealots." He looked at the others. "There were many Galileans in +Jerusalem—but that did not stop Pilate!"</p> + +<p>"But we are not going to start a riot," James hastened to say. "As Judas +says, we will work from the inside until the right time." Peter glanced +curiously at the other men. No doubt of the future seemed to cross their +minds. Peter restrained a desire to interrupt. Finally James turned to +him and asked, "Do you think Jesus would let himself be trapped by the +officials?"</p> + +<p>Very forcefully Peter answered: "I do not think he will be trapped. I do +not know what will happen. But do not forget what he said; again and +again he has told us that he will be killed in Jerusalem!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am sure he doesn't mean it the way it sounds," said James +hastily. "He was discouraged when he said that."</p> + +<p>"Just the same, he definitely said his work in Jerusalem would cost his +life!"</p> + +<p>"There will be no new kingdom for any of us if that happens!" replied +James.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-131.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="A_DAY_OF_VICTORY" id="A_DAY_OF_VICTORY"></a>14. A DAY OF VICTORY</h2> + + +<p>Within two hours Jesus and his friends had reached the southern end of +the Lake of Galilee. They knew that the heavy rain had made the lake +rise almost to the point of flooding the water front at Tiberias. But +they never expected the sight that lay before them.</p> + +<p>Usually the Jordan wound sluggishly between low banks. Now a huge +overflow was pouring out of the lake, filling the wide river bed with +muddy water. The disciples looked with dismay at the uprooted bushes and +broken limbs swirling past them. They could hardly believe that this +destructive flood had been the narrow Jordan they had forded so many +times before.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that we can find a place to wade through?" James and John +were walking down the bank.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>James shook his head. "It is not deep, but it is terribly swift. Look +how wide it is!" A quarter mile of water lay between them and the other +side.</p> + +<p>"I guess we shall have to travel down the road on this side." They +turned back to the others.</p> + +<p>"I am not going through Samaria!" exclaimed James.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can find a shallow place to cross before we get that far," +replied John.</p> + +<p>None of the other people were willing to risk their lives by attempting +to ford the rushing river. "Come!" called Jesus to the ones who stood +wondering what to do. He started down the road toward Samaria; some of +the people looked doubtful, but no one objected. The road followed the +high hills that shut in the Jordan Valley on the west, but it was well +above the flood level of the river. Fully four miles to the east +stretched the broad lowlands of the Jordan, small hills, an occasional +steep bluff, and at the center, the flooded river.</p> + +<p>As the group traveled south, the flat valley narrowed and the hills came +closer on both east and west. Some of the farms near the river were +under water. "We may be able to cross near here," observed Andrew. They +had walked about five miles. "Do you remember if there is a bridge on +the road across to Gadara?"</p> + +<p>James pointed to a white strip below them. "The road is just ahead."</p> + +<p>Jesus walked past the crossroad without turning. "Surely he is not going +through Samaria!" exclaimed James.</p> + +<p>"Has he forgotten how these people treated our messengers?" asked John.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he does not want all the travelers on the other road to know he +is going to the Passover," guessed one man. "He is a complete stranger +to the people in this part of Samaria. We could go all the way through +the province before anyone would discover we are on our way to +Jerusalem."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we shall find lodging more easily along this road," observed +another.</p> + +<p>"I doubt if anyone will even sell us food," said James pessimistically. +"Samaritans are mean."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We shall soon find out," remarked Andrew. "This road leads right to +Scythopolis."</p> + +<p>This town was just over the border from Galilee. It was the largest of +the ten cities which together were called "Decapolis"; it was part of +ancient Samaria, and Jews usually avoided it. North of the city the +Jordan Valley grew suddenly wide; here the range of high hills along +which they were walking turned almost due west.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps there will be some here who know the Master is a great +prophet," said one of the men hopefully as the city came into view.</p> + +<p>"Probably never even heard of him," replied another. At that moment a +small group of men came out of a ramshackly house standing just outside +the city gate. Some hobbled; one crawled on his knees.</p> + +<p>"Lepers!" exclaimed John. "Don't get near them!" The ten sick men came +straight toward Jesus. Everyone sighed with relief when they stopped +several paces from the band of Galileans.</p> + +<p>"Unclean! We are unclean!" they called. The law compelled them to warn +everyone of their disease with this cry. "Master, have mercy upon us."</p> + +<p>They were indeed a pitiable sight. With inward pain, Jesus looked at +their wasted bodies, mere skin and bone. Repulsive scars from the +disease marked their faces.</p> + +<p>"These men seem to know the Master," murmured Andrew in surprise.</p> + +<p>"They might be Galileans," replied James. "Perhaps they live here +because they were driven out of their homes." The people were afraid +that the lepers might come near them, but the twelve disciples knew that +Jesus intended to help them.</p> + +<p>"Make ready and go immediately to Jerusalem," commanded Jesus. "Go to +the priest there and get a certificate showing that you are clean +according to the Law of Moses." The ten men turned without a word and +made for the leper house. In a moment they were out again, taking the +road around the outside of the city. On the way to Jerusalem they would +beg food.</p> + +<p>"Let us go into the city," said Jesus. He had hardly come into the +shadow of the high wall when one of the lepers came run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>ning back. He +threw himself down in front of Jesus and cried out: "Blessed art thou. +Master! God is good! I am clean!" It was true. The men could see no sign +of the terrible disease.</p> + +<p>"Where are the other nine?" asked Jesus. "Were they not healed also?"</p> + +<p>"This man is not from Galilee!" exclaimed Andrew under his breath.</p> + +<p>"Is this Samaritan the only one to come back and thank me?" Jesus asked +the people. He turned to the man. "Get up and go back to your own home. +Your faith has made you well."</p> + +<p>The gate into Scythopolis was like a dark tunnel because the wall was so +thick. Roman guards stationed on the inside examined the travelers as +they passed through. If they were surprised to find a large group of +Galileans in a town on the border of Samaria, they said nothing.</p> + +<p>"This town seems different from the one that refused us," admitted +James. Every one of the people who accompanied Jesus found a place to +stay. They discovered that many of the townsmen knew about Jesus. Some +even gathered curiously in the courtyard of the inn where Jesus rested. +By the time they left Scythopolis the next morning everyone knew they +were there.</p> + +<p>"The Master could make many disciples here," observed Andrew +enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>All the followers of Jesus were in high spirits. Even though Jesus kept +a fast pace, they did not fall behind. At noon they passed through a +large town, but Jesus paused only long enough for them to draw water to +drink. Farther south they entered the narrowest part of the Jordan +Valley. The road followed the brink of low limestone cliffs which +overhung the Jordan. The swift water was cutting into the banks; +whirlpools and rapids swirled below them. Occasionally they had to walk +around places where the river had undermined a section of the bank and +caused a cave-in.</p> + +<p>Even though the river constantly washed away portions of their farms, +the people raised heavy crops. The farmers lived in crowded villages +along the road. Between the wheat from the rich soil and the sheep that +grazed on the hills above, the people were quite prosperous.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<p>For two days Jesus pressed forward without a rest. As the group +approached the borders of Judea, the valley gradually widened until the +mountains across the river were blue in the haze that hung heavy in the +air. The damp heat had nearly exhausted the travelers, but some inward +force seemed to drive Jesus faster every hour. In the afternoon of the +second day they crossed the first of the streams that flowed from the +highlands behind Jericho. Ahead of the disciples, clear to the foot of +the distant hills, lay green fields of wheat, fig orchards, and +vineyards. Beside the road were rows of stately palms.</p> + +<p>"There is Jericho!" Everyone looked ahead. The city stood on a low, flat +hill. Its walls rose high above the trees. The Galileans could see very +clearly the beautiful theater built thirty years before by Herod the +Great, father of Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee. Beside it stood the +massive fortress which he had built to defend Jericho. Dominating both +city and plain stood the square stone tower of Cyprus; from this high +lookout Herod's soldiers could easily see any enemy who might dare +attack Jericho.</p> + +<p>Jewish pilgrims crowded the road. "They must have waded the Jordan at +the ford where we first heard John the Baptizer," commented Andrew to +John.</p> + +<p>"The way we came is shorter," answered John, thinking of the many loads +of salted fish he and Andrew had brought to Jerusalem on the road east +of the river. The disciples saw the Galilean pilgrims on the road +staring at Jesus and murmuring to one another. At length one man came up +to John.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't your Rabbi in Tiberias a few days ago?" he asked. John nodded. +The man and his friends joined the group with Jesus. Others followed.</p> + +<p>"This is not good," observed Andrew.</p> + +<p>"It certainly would be better not to cause any disturbance in Jericho," +agreed Peter.</p> + +<p>"We shall be in serious trouble if Pilate's local commander sends him +word that we caused a riot here," added Judas. "I hope these people keep +their heads."</p> + +<p>Outside the gate of Jericho sat the usual line of beggars, ragged, +filthy, and diseased. Some were silent, but others called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> out, asking +alms. Hardly anyone paid any attention. Suddenly there was a loud cry +from the side of the road.</p> + +<p>"Jesus! Jesus! Thou Son of David! Messiah! Have mercy on me!"</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" snapped someone. Others looked harshly at the beggar who had +shouted, but he could not see their hard faces. He was blind.</p> + +<p>"Jesus! Messiah! Have pity on me!" His voice was louder than before.</p> + +<p>"In the name of heaven, make that wretch be quiet!" burst out Judas. "We +shall have the whole Roman army on us if anyone hears him talking as +though Jesus were going to lead a revolution!"</p> + +<p>Jesus stopped. "Who is calling to me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, just some beggar," answered James.</p> + +<p>"Bring him to me." The man who had scolded the beggar said to him: +"Don't worry. The Master himself is calling you." The blind man leaped +to his feet, threw off his tattered coat, and pushed his way through the +crowd toward Jesus.</p> + +<p>"What do you want me to do for you?" asked Jesus.</p> + +<p>The beggar dropped to his knees. "O Master, that I might be able to see +again!"</p> + +<p>A hush had fallen over the crowd. Jesus said: "Open your eyes. Your +faith has made you well again." The man looked around him. He saw the +people, the city wall above him, the palm trees at the side of the road. +Jesus turned and led the crowd through the gate into Jericho. People +clustered around the beggar as he walked after Jesus. He talked loudly +and happily, hardly able to express his joy.</p> + +<p>Judas came up to Jesus. "Can't we send that man away? Think what will +happen if the Romans hear him babbling like this!"</p> + +<p>"Let him tell what has happened to him," answered Jesus. "We have come +to Judea to proclaim the gospel. That man has found the Kingdom of +Heaven. Let him declare it to everyone!"</p> + +<p>"We are losing our chance to win over the high priests in Jerusalem!" +burst out Judas. "Before tomorrow night word will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> reach them that the +people are trying to make Jesus king! They will all be against us!"</p> + +<p>"Well, there is nothing to do about it now," said the Zealot. The man in +front of Judas stopped in his tracks and Judas ran into him. "What is +the matter now?" he demanded impatiently.</p> + +<p>The Zealot pointed to a tree over their heads. "Look!" A man was +standing on a heavy lower limb of one of the sycamore trees that grew at +the side of the street. The whole crowd gaped. Jesus spoke with someone +in the crowd for a moment and then called to the man in the tree: +"Zacchaeus, come down here! I want to visit your home."</p> + +<p>Judas turned to a man beside him. "Who is that fellow?"</p> + +<p>"He is the chief tax collector in Jericho. He is very rich."</p> + +<p>"A tax collector!" exploded Judas. He turned to the Zealot. "Did you +hear that? He wants to stay with a tax collector! Why does he insist on +mixing with such people? Everyone will say he is a lover of traitors and +sinners!" If Judas had not known it was useless, he would have protested +to Jesus then and there.</p> + +<p>Zacchaeus climbed out of the tree and stood in front of Jesus. "May I +come to your home?" asked Jesus again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Master!" exclaimed Zacchaeus, and he turned to lead the way.</p> + +<p>The rumor spread fast. The Galilean Prophet was staying with Zacchaeus! +The deliverer of Israel—staying with a tax collector? Impossible! +Perhaps he was not Messiah at all!</p> + +<p>The publican knew that people considered him a traitor. He knew how much +it meant that Jesus had chosen him for a friend. The next morning, just +before Jesus left his home, Zacchaeus declared in the presence of all +the disciples: "I am not the man I was yesterday. I intend to be a +different person. If I have cheated anyone in collecting taxes, I will +give half of all that I possess to the poor; and I will give every man +whom I cheated four times what I took from him."</p> + +<p>Jesus smiled. "Zacchaeus, this day God has forgiven your sin and +accepted you in his Kingdom. Because you believe, you are a true son of +Abraham."</p> + +<p>After they had left, Judas could contain himself no longer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> "Master, +think of our task in Jerusalem!" he exclaimed. "What will the best +people think of us? They will never believe we come to do God's will if +we act as though we approved of lawbreakers!"</p> + +<p>"Judas," answered Jesus, "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save +those who are lost. Zacchaeus was waiting for someone to summon him to +repent and submit himself to God. My Father has sent me into the world +to tell just such people—outcasts, beggars, sinners, even +gentiles—that he is ready to receive anyone who will repent."</p> + +<p>Many people were waiting at the city gate for Jesus to lead them to +Jerusalem. Going before them, he walked from the fertile lowlands around +Jericho into the bleak hills of Judea. Above the city the travelers +paused for a last look. Beyond the green plain lay the river, hidden in +a tangle of trees, bushes, and high grass. Wise travelers crossed the +river only at the regular fords because this jungle concealed wolves, +jackals, bears, and lions even this far south. The Dead Sea lay +perfectly still. Mud flats marked the place where the Jordan emptied +into it.</p> + +<p>Andrew was glad that they traveled in a large group, for this steep road +was a favorite of robbers. In Galilee they often heard reports of +travelers being ambushed, beaten, and robbed in these lonely mountains. +In small knots the disciples argued about the outcome of the things that +had happened in Jericho. By the time they had covered the fifteen rough +miles to the outskirts of Jerusalem, the men were more deeply excited +than they themselves realized. All their hope and faith in the Master +was to be put to the test! Drawing near the holy city, the road crossed +the southern shoulder of the Hill of Olives and here the men first +caught sight of the capital city of Palestine. There were many beautiful +buildings; Pilate had just built a graceful new aqueduct through the +mountains to Jerusalem. The little town of Bethphage lay outside the +city wall. But the disciples had eyes only for Mount Zion and the +Temple. They never saw Jerusalem without a thrill. The Temple was the +symbol of their religious faith, the place where God had established his +glory. Mount Zion held the eye of every traveler who ascended to the +gates of the holy city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jesus called two of the disciples. "We will wait here at the Hill of +Olives," he said. "You go into Bethphage. Just after you enter the town +you will see a colt which has never been ridden tied to a post beside +the door of a house. Bring it to me. If anyone asks you what right you +have to do it, tell him, 'The Lord needs it, and he will send it back +immediately.'"</p> + +<p>On the way to Bethphage one of the men said, "Did you know the Master +had planned to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered his companion. Both men were surprised to find that Jesus +had prepared for his visit. When they got back to the Hill of Olives, +several men took off their cloaks and placed them on the back of the +colt. Jesus seated himself on the animal, and the entire group moved +toward the gate of Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>Pilgrims who crowded the roads stopped to watch, then recognized Jesus +and joined the crowd. Excitement became intense. When the gate of the +holy city came into view, several men ran ahead to clear the way. +Snatches of song and psalms of praise could be heard on every side. The +tremendous enthusiasm of the people did not break out, however, until +the procession entered the city.</p> + +<p>For a moment all was quiet as they walked under the cool shadowed gate. +Then the colt carried Jesus out of the gate into the city. It seemed to +the amazed disciples that a thousand people filled the cobblestone +street.</p> + +<p>"Hosanna! Save us now!" cried the crowd. "Blessed is the one who comes +in the name of the Lord God. Blessed is the messenger whom God has sent +to deliver his people! Hosanna! Hosanna!"</p> + +<p>"Pilate will hear about this within an hour!" shouted Judas in the ear +of the Zealot.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! There is nothing to fear. Look at this crowd! Pilate would +never dare arrest us!"</p> + +<p>Judas rushed up to Jesus and pulled at his robe. "Master, make them +stop! Make them stop!"</p> + +<p>Jesus' answer cut through the tumult. "If these people did not proclaim +the Kingdom, the very stones in the street would have to cry out!"</p> + +<p>Men were taking off their cloaks and throwing them in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> street in +front of Jesus. Palm branches which people had brought from Jericho were +scattered before Jesus as though he were a king advancing to his throne +on a royal carpet.</p> + +<p>"Blessed is the kingdom of our great King David!" shouted the people. +"Blessed is his Son who comes to deliver us!" As Jesus rode by, everyone +fell into step behind him, singing and shouting praises. Jesus led the +crowd up the hill of Zion straight to the Temple. He got off the colt +and entered. Hundreds pushed in after him, still shouting hosannas.</p> + +<p>What Jesus saw shocked him. It was early evening, and most of the people +who came to sacrifice had left. But the courtyard of the house of God +was neither empty nor quiet. A large number of young bulls and sheep +were tethered there and made a great disturbance. Jesus had seen these +animals here when he had visited Jerusalem before; indignation rose up +inside him. Priests were carrying water to the bullocks. Others were +putting away small tables where they counted money as they sold the +animals. The whole scene reminded Jesus more of a barnyard or a market +place than the Temple of God.</p> + +<p>With rising anger, Jesus walked slowly around the entire courtyard. He +examined everything in it very closely. The people saw his frown, and +their enthusiasm melted away. The shouting stopped.</p> + +<p>"What is he going to do?" murmured Andrew. Jesus turned his back on the +whole disgusting scene and walked out of the Temple.</p> + +<p>"Why has he gone?" everyone asked. Only the disciples followed Jesus. +The people scattered to the places where they lodged, wondering what +would happen on the morrow.</p> + +<p>"Why was he angry?" asked Andrew.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Peter.</p> + +<p>"There are many things I should like to know," observed Judas.</p> + +<p>There was deep feeling in Peter's voice when he spoke again. "There is +one thing certain: very soon we shall know when he intends to bring in +the new Kingdom. The people are for us. Perhaps tomorrow will tell!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-141.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="DISPUTE_IN_THE_TEMPLE" id="DISPUTE_IN_THE_TEMPLE"></a>15. DISPUTE IN THE TEMPLE</h2> + + +<p>Dusk on the Hill of Olives was quiet and restful after the excitement of +the day. The gentle wind in the olive trees, which grew thickly in the +Garden of Gethsemane, was so different from the noise and smell of the +Temple courtyard!</p> + +<p>While the disciples slept, Jesus went deeper into the Garden, where he +could pray alone. When he knelt on the rocky ground, the moon, almost +full, was just rising in the east. But when Jesus finally returned to +the Twelve and wrapped his coat around him to sleep, the moon was high +above, cold and white.</p> + +<p>The sound of travelers on the road through the olive orchard awakened +Peter the next morning. The morning sunlight threw long shadows on the +ground. Between the trees Peter could see pilgrims passing along the +road. Jerusalem would be crowded this Passover season! For a moment +Peter could not remember why he felt so excited when he awoke. Then the +events of the day before flooded into his memory. He stood up stiffly. +He had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> been cold all night; the hard ground was a poor bed for men who +would soon be ruling the gentiles! Jesus stood up and stretched.</p> + +<p>"Come, my followers!" he called. "There is work to do in the Temple!"</p> + +<p>The men arose and walked down the slope to a small spring that trickled +from under a rock. When they had washed, Jesus led them to the road that +crossed the Kidron Valley toward the Golden Gate of the Temple. All the +men were hungry.</p> + +<p>Along the road they found no food for sale. Everyone who lived outside +the city walls bought food in the market of Jerusalem. Just above the +Kidron, a leafy tree stood beside the road.</p> + +<p>"It is too early for figs," remarked Andrew. Jesus did not hear: he was +gazing at the tree. He turned to the twelve men.</p> + +<p>"This tree is a good picture of the religion of the priests. It has many +leaves and looks strong. But there is not one bit of fruit on it." He +pointed to the Temple above them. The sun shone brilliantly on Mount +Zion. It was a sight to inspire every pilgrim who climbed the Jericho +road. "The Temple is beautiful. There are many priests. Our Law is +righteous. Moses and the Prophets were great teachers. But our religion +is all fine appearance! It is producing nothing! Our priests and rulers +obey the Romans. The Temple is filled with people who spend their time +selling bullocks and exchanging money!"</p> + +<p>The disciples realized that Jesus had been deeply offended by the things +he had seen in the Temple the evening before. Jesus continued in a +quieter tone: "There was once a man who had a fig tree like this one +planted in his vineyard. He came to see if it was producing fruit, but +there was none to be found. There were no figs the next year either. +When he found none the third year, he said to his gardener: 'That tree +has not given us any fruit in three years. Cut it down. It is just +taking up valuable ground.'</p> + +<p>"But the gardener said: 'Let me give it one more chance. Let me dig +round it and put manure on it. If it does not bear fruit next year, we +will cut it down.'" With great force Jesus said: "Our nation has had +more than enough time to show results! God will judge us for failing +him! Let this fig tree teach you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> that God will condemn all religion +that does not produce real fruit, no matter how fine it may look!"</p> + +<p>Jesus' voice struck dread into the disciples. He sounded like Jeremiah +pronouncing doom on the city of Jerusalem. And he had said there was +work for him at the Temple! What did he intend to do? As the disciples +followed Jesus through the Valley of Kidron, they were uneasy.</p> + +<p>Jesus strode through the Golden Gate into the Temple without looking to +the right or to the left. He walked through Solomon's Porch into the +courtyard. Gentiles were allowed to come this far, but only Jews could +go farther. Several gates led through a second wall into another court. +Over each gate hung a great sign:</p> + +<pre style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;"> +NO FOREIGNER IS ALLOWED +INSIDE THE WALL +SURROUNDING THE SANCTUARY. +WHOEVER IS CAUGHT WILL BE PUT TO DEATH! +HE ALONE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE! +</pre> + +<p>One whole side of the outer yard was filled with stamping bulls and +sheep. The bawling of the cattle, the stirring of the nervous sheep, and +the fluttering of pigeons in cages piled high on the ground made great +confusion. Even this early in the morning dust filled the air over the +courtyard.</p> + +<p>High above the Temple area rose four stone towers. Andrew shaded his +eyes and looked up. Steel armor glinted in the sunlight. From this +lookout, called the Tower of Antonia, Pilate's Roman soldiers kept keen +watch over everything that happened in the Temple.</p> + +<p>But it was not the tethered animals or the bustling crowds that caught +Jesus' attention. Not even the Roman fort interested him after the first +glance. What grated most disagreeably upon him was the bickering of the +priests. Even above the noise the disciples could hear the priests +arguing with pilgrims who needed an animal to sacrifice.</p> + +<p>Jesus and the Twelve stopped to watch one priest. As they listened, +Peter saw his Master's anger rising. A Galilean had brought a young bull +all the way from his home. To the dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>ciples he looked like a farmer who +did not have much to live on. Such men usually sacrificed a sheep or a +pigeon. But this man must have wanted to give a better sacrifice. He was +watching the priest examine the legs of his bullock. Finally the priest +straightened up.</p> + +<p>"No! This beast will not do."</p> + +<p>"But I brought this bull all the way from Galilee," protested the +farmer.</p> + +<p>"I can't help that," answered the priest. "He is not good enough."</p> + +<p>"Not good enough!" cried the man in dismay. "That is the best bull I +ever raised!"</p> + +<p>"All right, then; look!" The priest pointed to a small cut on the rear +leg of the bullock.</p> + +<p>"But that happened on the trip," explained the farmer. "There is nothing +really wrong with him."</p> + +<p>"Do you want to offer a sacrifice to God which is not perfect?" The man +did not answer. "I'll tell you what I will do," the disciples heard the +priest say. "I will trade you a perfect sheep for this bull."</p> + +<p>The farmer's face reddened angrily. For an instant he seemed about to +strike the priest; then he jerked at the tether and led his bullock out +of the Temple court without replying.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to the disciples, his voice indignant. "That man brought +the best he had—and was turned away!"</p> + +<p>Jesus walked toward the Beautiful Gate, between the outer courtyard and +the inner court where the Temple building stood. At the foot of the +steps which led through the gate he stopped. On each side of the gate +were money-changers. Everyone who wished to give money had to go to the +tables where these men sat and buy Jewish coins with their Roman and +Greek money. Because there was a profit on this exchange, the Temple +treasury had grown rich. Pilate had forced the high priest to use some +of this money to pay for the great aqueduct that brought water to +Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>The men were weighing coins on their scales. Clinking money and noisy +arguing made the scene all the more like a public market. Jesus stood +before the row of tables, looking at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> money-changers. Suddenly he +spoke in a voice that was firm and clear. The arguing stopped; men +forgot the money and looked up. Silence settled over that part of the +Temple courtyard; Jesus had taken command. "It is written in the +Scriptures, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the +nations!' But you have made it a den of robbers!"</p> + +<p>Jesus stepped swiftly toward the first table and with a sweep of his arm +threw the table over into the dust. The scales crashed to the ground; +money rolled everywhere. In an instant Jesus was striding down the whole +row. The money-changers were terrified. Jesus did not leave a single +table standing. Scales and coins, records on parchment, and chairs lay +in confusion on the ground. The onlookers could hardly believe what they +saw; who could this be, who dared clear this courtyard as though it were +his own?</p> + +<p>Judas moved quickly toward Jesus. "Stop! Stop!" he cried out.</p> + +<p>But Jesus paid no attention. He turned to those who were selling animals +and pigeons and cried out: "Take these things away! You shall not make +my Father's house a house of trade!" He picked up a piece of rope and, +knotting a whip of cords, began to drive the bullocks out of the Temple.</p> + +<p>People stood as though paralyzed. Heavy swirls of dust hung in the +morning air. The empty cages from which the pigeons had escaped lay +scattered. Judas stood stock-still behind Jesus, not daring to protest +again. The Roman guards peered alertly from the Tower of Antonia, but +now all had become quiet below them.</p> + +<p>"Come! Let us leave this place!" Jesus walked across the broad royal +porch and down toward the market place of Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>The disciples finally started after him. "All Jerusalem saw him do it!" +exclaimed Andrew.</p> + +<p>Judas could hold back no longer. "Why did he have to do a thing like +this!" he cried passionately. "This will turn everyone against us!" The +other eleven men knew that the Romans had seen it all; within a few +minutes it would be reported to Pilate. "The priests will be against +us!" burst out Judas again. "What can we do when every important person +will say that we are wrong?" Not even the Zealot could find an answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>The disciples heard rushing footsteps behind them. Fear clutched them as +they caught sight of a crowd pouring down the street from the Temple. +They gathered around Jesus. "Hosanna! The Son of David has come to rule +his eternal kingdom! Save us now!" Through the narrow streets on every +side, people came running.</p> + +<p>"These people are not against us!" cried the Zealot. Peter caught sight +of the man whose bullock had been rejected by the priest. Of course, +this man would be on Jesus' side!</p> + +<p>Jesus waved his hand, and the crowd gradually became quiet. "The Kingdom +of God is present among you!" he said to them. "God rules every man who +trusts him. Nothing is impossible for a man who has faith!" For a moment +an outburst of hosannas drowned his voice. "God does not desire more +offerings and sacrifices! He wants you to trust him as your Father! He +wants you to love his will above everything else and to obey him +faithfully. Any man who hears and believes my word shall have eternal +life in God's Kingdom!"</p> + +<p>Already the crippled, blind, and diseased were pressing forward to the +place where Jesus stood. Looking at them with pity, Jesus repeated words +now familiar to the disciples: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for +he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me +to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for the blind. He +has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim this is the year +of the Lord's blessing!" It seemed a long time since Peter had heard +Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth.</p> + +<p>"You are the One the Prophets tell about!" cried a beggar in the crowd. +"You are the Son of David!"</p> + +<p>All day Jesus remained in Jerusalem, teaching and healing. Roman +soldiers came to investigate, but they did not disturb him.</p> + +<p>"Look at all these people," the Zealot said enthusiastically. "He must +be getting ready to declare himself king! He did just the right thing +this morning!"</p> + +<p>Judas turned on him. "The people cannot make anyone king," he said +bluntly. "The Romans and the priests are all that count!" The other +disciples wavered between hope and discour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>agement. Later in the day +Pharisees and priests joined the crowd. "See?" said Judas. "Already they +are spying on us." The hearts of the Twelve sank. Judas must be right. +They urged Jesus to leave Jerusalem immediately, but not until evening +did Jesus lead them back to the Hill of Olives.</p> + +<p>"At least he is not going to risk being arrested by staying in the city +at night," sighed Peter in relief. "The Roman soldiers will never find +us here unless someone tells them where we are."</p> + +<p>None of the disciples slept soundly that night. Again Jesus spent most +of the night in prayer. The men rose early, glad to be rid of the +discomfort of the cold ground, but dreading to enter Jerusalem again.</p> + +<p>Jesus did not seek the crowds in the market place; he walked straight to +the Temple. The money-changers had not come back; no animals stamped +their hoofs in the courtyard. James glanced up at the Tower of Antonia. +Did the guard know that Jesus was the man who had caused the riot +yesterday?</p> + +<p>Jesus paid no attention to guards or priests. He sat down near the gate +where the Jews entered the inner court to put gifts into the Temple +offering box. Within an hour the rumor spread through Jerusalem that he +was in the Temple. People began to come in great numbers. Scribes, +Pharisees, and Roman soldiers were there too. After Jesus had been +teaching awhile one of the scribes interrupted. He lived on the Temple +grounds.</p> + +<p>"What I want to know," he demanded, "is what right you have to call the +Temple of God your Father's house? How do you dare act as you do?"</p> + +<p>"I will ask you a question," replied Jesus. "If you answer it, I will +tell you what right I have to act as I do. Where did John the Baptizer +get his right to preach? From God in heaven, or was he given it by some +man, perhaps a priest?"</p> + +<p><i>From God, of course</i>, thought all the people instantly.</p> + +<p>The scribe knew what the people believed. He reflected, <i>If I say, "From +heaven," then he will ask us why we did not believe John's word. But if +I say, "From men"—no, that will never do! These people all think John +came from God!</i> After a long pause, the scribe said, "I do not know."</p> + +<p>"All right, then," said Jesus. "That is why you cannot under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>stand where +I get the right to act as I do! Listen to a story I shall tell you. A +man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a wine press, and +built a guard tower to protect it. Then he leased his vineyard to some +farmers and went away. At harvest-time he sent a servant to collect the +rent, but the farmers beat the man and sent him away with nothing. The +owner sent another servant, but the farmers clubbed him on the head and +insulted him. The farmers abused every man the owner sent; they even +killed some of them. Finally the owner thought, 'I am sure they will +respect my son.' So he sent his only son to collect the rent.</p> + +<p>"When the wicked farmers saw the young man coming, they said to each +other: 'This young fellow will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, we +will possess it!' So they beat the young man to death and threw his body +over the fence of the vineyard.</p> + +<p>"What will the owner of the vineyard do?" demanded Jesus. "He will +utterly destroy these evil farmers and will give the vineyard to other +people whom the farmers hated!"</p> + +<p>The scribe backed away and went into the inner court. "Look at him!" +whispered Judas to Peter. "Do you know what he is going to do? He is +going to report to the others!" Judas began to move away.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to be seen around here." Peter followed him to the outer +gate of the Temple. He was disturbed by what had happened the day +before, but he put on a bold manner with Judas.</p> + +<p>"I don't think there is any reason to be afraid," remarked Peter.</p> + +<p>Judas looked at Peter as though he had no sense at all. "Anyone can see +that we haven't a chance. The priests are plotting against us right this +minute. Look at that guard," he pointed at the tower; "he sees +everything we do!" Peter did not reply. "Anyhow, did you hear that story +Jesus told? You heard him say that they killed the son too, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>Peter jerked up his head. "Do you mean...."</p> + +<p>Judas nodded. "All the way from Galilee he has told us that he would be +killed here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>Peter looked over at Jesus. "He acts very deliberately. He seems to know +what he is doing."</p> + +<p>Judas laughed bitterly. "He knows what he is doing, all right!" He +caught sight of some Pharisees coming down the steps of the Beautiful +Gate. "There are some more!" He turned his face away from them.</p> + +<p>Peter started toward Jesus, but Judas hung back. "Don't you want to hear +what they say?" asked Peter. "Come on."</p> + +<p>"I'm keeping out of sight from now on. And you had better look out for +yourself too!" Peter did not wait to argue.</p> + +<p>"Rabbi," the Pharisee was saying, "we know you are a sincere and +fearless man. You have a reputation for never playing politics. You +always tell men to do what God wants." The people were surprised. This +Pharisee did not speak in a superior tone like the others. "Tell me, +Rabbi," asked the Pharisee, "is it right to pay taxes to the Romans or +not?"</p> + +<p>Peter knew instantly that it was a trap. If Jesus answered that the Jews +should pay the Roman tax, he would be called a traitor to his people. If +he said the tax was wrong, he would be reported to Pilate and arrested. +A clever trick!</p> + +<p>"Why do you try to trap me?" demanded Jesus. "Bring me a Roman coin." He +held it up and asked the Pharisee, "Whose picture is stamped on this?"</p> + +<p>"Caesar's," he answered.</p> + +<p>"All right, then," said Jesus. "Give to the Romans what belongs to +them—but be sure that you give to God what belongs to him!"</p> + +<p>Jesus had escaped the trap, but Peter was puzzled. What could he mean by +saying, "Give to the Romans what belongs to them"? They were not going +to live under the Romans much longer!</p> + +<p>The people were angry with this attempt to trick Jesus. They murmured +threats when another scribe spoke up, "Rabbi, what is the most important +command in the Law?"</p> + +<p>Jesus replied without hesitating. "The Lord your God is one God and you +must love him with your whole heart, your whole soul; your whole mind, +and your whole strength. And the second is this: You must love your +neighbor as yourself. No commands are greater than these."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think you are right, Rabbi," answered the scribe thoughtfully. "It is +much more important to love God and one's neighbor sincerely than to +make many sacrifices in the Temple."</p> + +<p>The disciples were suspicious; what new trick was this? But Jesus +answered the scribe warmly. "You are not far from the Kingdom of God!"</p> + +<p>Andrew came through the crowd toward Peter. "Have you seen Judas?"</p> + +<p>"We were talking just a minute ago." Both the men searched among the +people. "He must have gone!" The fishermen were puzzled. "He did not +want the officials to see him with us," remarked Peter.</p> + +<p>Later in the afternoon the people began to leave the Temple court. The +disciples became anxious. With hardly anyone around, the Romans could +easily arrest Jesus! In a few more minutes there would be almost no one +in the Temple. But still Jesus talked to a few persons who needed him. +When they left the men sighed with relief. "Where is Judas?" asked +Jesus. Not one of the disciples knew.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Judas had not left the Temple, as Peter supposed. At that very moment he +was only a few yards away from them. After talking to Peter, he had +walked through the inner court to the council chamber of the high +priest. His knock interrupted a secret meeting.</p> + +<p>A priest opened the door. "What do you want here?"</p> + +<p>"I want to talk with the high priest." Inside he saw the rulers of the +Temple.</p> + +<p>"Let him in," ordered Caiaphas, the high priest. "You are with the +Galilean!" he said accusingly the instant he saw Judas.</p> + +<p>"I was, but I am no longer," replied Judas. "Now I know that he is +really very dangerous!" The men looked at him suspiciously. Judas +plunged ahead, trying to please the hard-faced men. "This Jesus does not +really love the Law. He disobeys the great Rabbis! He cannot help us +against the Romans. The Kingdom he talks about is a dream! All he does +is arouse the people, and I am afraid he will bring Pilate's vengeance +upon us all!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>The priests were surprised. The high priest demanded, "Well, what do you +want?"</p> + +<p>"I will help you take him for thirty silver coins." The dreadful offer +was made. He was pale, and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Will you help us arrest him secretly—so that the people will not find +out?" Every eye was on Judas.</p> + +<p>"I will."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then. It is a bargain."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-152.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="THE_END_OF_HOPE" id="THE_END_OF_HOPE"></a>16. THE END OF HOPE</h2> + + +<p>Late that night Judas crept into the olive orchard. Silently he lay down +among the disciples; but he did not close his eyes. He listened alertly +to catch any sound that would tell him that the others were awake. There +was only uneasy breathing and restless turning. He lifted his head and +looked carefully among the sleepers. Where was Jesus?</p> + +<p>Stealthily Judas arose. He knew the ground well; many times he had +strolled in this peaceful grove during visits to Jerusalem. He walked +through the olive orchard to the road that led to Bethany. Across the +Valley of Kidron the walls of Jerusalem gleamed white in the moonlight. +Still he saw no sign of Jesus.</p> + +<p>Judas did not cross the deserted road, but walked carefully toward the +section of the orchard that lay farthest from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> sleeping disciples. A +low wall loomed ahead; here the great press was built which crushed the +oil from the olives. Silently Judas climbed over the wall and stood +still for a moment, listening intently. But Judas heard nothing. He +started across the enclosure around the olive press, but stopped +suddenly.</p> + +<p>Only a few steps away from Judas knelt Jesus, his face bowed almost to +the ground. The moonlight striking down through the trees shone around +him. Judas was shivering in the frosty night; for an instant he wondered +how Jesus could endure the cold. Judas breathed softly; he had not been +heard! Then, so gently that Judas was not even startled, a voice +sounded. Jesus was praying.</p> + +<p>"Heavenly Father, I have proclaimed thy gospel to the disciples whom +thou hast given me. They have believed thy word. They know that my +message comes from thee; they believe that thou didst send me.</p> + +<p>"Bless them. Heavenly Father. I am going to leave them; they must stay +in the world. Keep them by thy power, holy Father. I have given them thy +Word, and the world hates them because they belong to thee. I do not ask +thee to take them out of the world; protect them from the evil one. +Consecrate them by thy truth; thy Word is truth. As thou hast sent me +into the world, so I have sent them into the world."</p> + +<p>Judas stood like a statue; the Master was praying for him! Jesus had not +finished.</p> + +<p>"I do not pray only for my disciples. Heavenly Father. I pray for all +who believe in me: make them all one together! Help them to be one as we +are one—I in them and thou in me. O Father in heaven, just and +merciful, the world has not known thee, but I have; and my followers +know that I have come from thee. Give them the love which has bound thee +to me and me to them."</p> + +<p>The prayer ended. How terribly calm Jesus was! He was so sure that God +was right there! With an effort Judas controlled a mad desire to flee +and instead walked quietly away. But when he was out of earshot he broke +into a run. Not knowing where he was going, he ran until his breath came +in gasps. He found himself among houses. It was Bethany, empty and bare +in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> night, but here where people lived he felt secure from the +terror of the Garden where Jesus was talking with God.</p> + +<p>Dreading to go back to the Hill of Olives, Judas slumped down on a bench +beside the town well. He remembered the day he had first heard Jesus +preach in Jerusalem. What mysterious power had compelled him to follow +this strange Rabbi? Since then he himself had often preached the gospel +of the Kingdom which he had learned from Jesus.</p> + +<p>Judas pressed his fists against his temples. Never, never could he +escape this man from Nazareth! God was in him! Every memory of his life +with Jesus rose up and condemned Judas for his bargain with the priests. +He could never keep it! He would go back to Jesus and confess his great +sin! He stood up shivering. It was the cold of the night, he told +himself. He took a few faltering steps toward Gethsemane and stopped. +What could he be thinking of? Was he serious about giving up his plan to +put Jesus in the power of the high priest?</p> + +<p>Judas dropped again to the bench. He had promised to help the high +priest for good reasons. Jesus <i>was</i> a very dangerous man! If he should +confess his bargain to Jesus now, he might be helping to overthrow the +sacred religion of his nation! No! He must go through with it! Jesus +must be stopped!</p> + +<p>The moon was pale in the dawn when Judas finally forced himself to go +back to the olive orchard. He could not put Jesus' prayer out of his +mind. How could he ever face him? Yet Judas found courage and strength +in the thought that God knew that he was doing this difficult thing for +the sake of true religion. Comforted by this, he crept to the place +where the men slept and lay down on the hard ground. Just the same, his +heart was cold within him as he watched the dawn change the sky.</p> + +<p>A half hour later the sun was still hidden behind the hills of Judea; +gray light filled the olive grove. The disciples slept, but Judas was +wide-awake. Suddenly he heard a footfall. Among the trees he saw a +figure moving toward them. For an instant panic gripped him. Was someone +else guiding the priests to the place where Jesus stayed? Judas shook +Peter by the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Simon Peter! Peter!" The fisherman did not move. Judas shook him +harder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Eh? What is it?" Peter was heavy with sleep.</p> + +<p>"There is someone coming." Instantly Peter was awake. Judas pointed to +the man, now very near them. Peter stood up, and Judas followed him. +They recognized a young man whom they had seen often in the Temple.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to find you awake," he said to Peter. "I have come to warn +you of danger." Judas' heart leaped. Had this fellow seen him going into +the priests' council chamber?</p> + +<p>"I am a student in the Temple," explained the young man. "I have heard +your Rabbi every day." Peter looked closely at the face of the youth. He +seemed sincere. "Yesterday the priests had a meeting. They are going to +stop your Rabbi!" Fear was like a heavy hand on Judas. This fellow was +going to betray him to Peter!</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Peter. The other disciples were aroused by +Peter's voice. Several sat up and stared at the three men.</p> + +<p>"I do not know just what they plan to do," continued the student. "But I +know that they want to accuse him before Pilate." Relief flooded through +Judas. The man did not know!</p> + +<p>Jesus still slept soundly, but the others gathered around. "This young +man says that the priests are plotting to arrest us," Peter said to +them. The dawn light, dimmed by the morning mist, threw an ashy gray +color over the faces of the Twelve. Peter could see that they were +afraid and very suspicious of the visitor. He turned sharply to him. +"Why have you come out here?"</p> + +<p>The young man did not hesitate. "Your Rabbi knows the truth about us. We +all know he is right; that is why the others hate him so!" He looked +down at Jesus. "But I believe his word! God has sent him to call us back +to Him!"</p> + +<p>Judas turned away. The courage of this young man made the disciples +ashamed. After a moment James said, "We thank you for coming here." The +young man smiled and answered: "I must go back to the Temple. Let no +harm come to your Rabbi!"</p> + +<p>Without comment the twelve men watched him leave. The warm sunlight +awakened Jesus when the mist began to drift away. He was surprised to +find all the men up. A few were talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>ing quietly; others sat alone. +Judas' back was turned. Peter came over to Jesus. "A student from the +Temple came here while you slept, Master. He told us that the priests +are plotting against us." All but Judas were looking at Jesus. He stood +up. His cloak was soiled from constant use. Small twigs and dirt clung +to the coarse cloth. But tangled hair and rumpled clothes could not hide +the Master's great dignity. His voice was untroubled when he answered. +"Today is the Feast of the Passover. Today the lamb is killed so that +the people may be saved. The Father in heaven has sent the Son of Man to +be delivered up. In a little while you will see me no more; then after a +short time you will see me again."</p> + +<p>"We do not understand what you are saying. Master," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"You will soon be full of sorrow—but the people who hate me will be +glad that they have overcome me," answered Jesus. "But your sorrow will +turn to joy. Right now you are full of fear—and you will be even more +afraid! But do not lose heart: I will return and give you the kind of +joy that no one can take away from you."</p> + +<p>The disciples could make nothing of Jesus' words. What could he mean by +saying, "I will return"? Jesus prepared to go into Jerusalem. With +growing dread, the disciples realized what he intended to do. Would he +pay no attention to the warnings of the young man?</p> + +<p>As they came into the Temple, Jesus found a large crowd that had +gathered early to meet him. The disciples felt like prisoners giving up +all hope of freedom.</p> + +<p>At first not a priest or Pharisee was anywhere to be seen. So eagerly +did the disciples keep watch that they hardly heard what Jesus was +saying. "Do not let anyone deceive you," he warned the people. "In the +last days many false prophets will come in the name of God—but do not +follow them! If you are my true followers, men will hate you and try to +kill you. But even when you are dragged before kings and priests and put +on trial, tell everyone the gospel of God! Do not worry or try to +prepare ahead of time—I will give you answers that your enemies cannot +escape."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look!" whispered Andrew. "There they come!" Judas saw a priest he had +talked to the day before walking toward Jesus. But the Master paid no +attention.</p> + +<p>"In those days," he continued, "your own friends will betray you. They +will put you to death. Everyone will hate you for my sake—but do not be +afraid! If you are willing to give your life for me, you shall have +eternal life." Like darts his words struck into Judas.</p> + +<p>"The time will come when Jerusalem will be surrounded by enemy armies," +declared Jesus. "Then she will soon be destroyed. Let everyone flee to +the hills for his life, for in those days God will punish this wicked +city for her sin. Every single building will be leveled to the ground!"</p> + +<p>"Our beautiful Temple!" cried a man in the crowd. "Look at these great +stones! Will all this be destroyed?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you solemnly," declared Jesus, "the day is coming when not one +stone in this Temple will be left standing!"</p> + +<p>The priest broke in. "How do you dare say that? This is the house of +God. It took the finest workmen in Israel forty-six years to build it. +God will not let his Temple be destroyed!"</p> + +<p>"You do not know how to save your Temple!" retorted Jesus. "You think it +is holy because you make many sacrifices in it! But I tell you that your +enemies will tear down your Temple and kill your children, all because +you do not know that God has come to you!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" exclaimed the priest. "Look at the monuments we have +built in memory of the prophets!"</p> + +<p>"You decorate the tombs of the prophets and say to yourselves, 'If we +had lived then, we would have treated them better!' But you kill the +prophets that God sends you, just as your ancestors did!</p> + +<p>"Your religion is like a filthy cup: bright and shiny on the outside, +but dirty inside! Your Temple is beautiful, but your religion is +rotten!" The priests shrank back from the sheer force of Jesus' anger.</p> + +<p>"You are like whitewashed tombs: clean on the outside, but inside they +stink with rotten bones! You put on a show of goodness—but your hearts +are filled with hypocrisy and wickedness!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>The disciples were horrified. Jesus was attacking the very priests +themselves! Did he realize what would happen?</p> + +<p>"God will punish you for killing the prophets, just as he condemned your +wicked fathers for their sins! You snakes! You nest of vipers! There is +no way for you to escape eternal fire!"</p> + +<p>The priests flushed crimson. The people watched them stalk into the +inner court. Judas saw the hatred on their faces and knew that they +would never be satisfied until they had killed Jesus. He was glad now +that he had gone over to their side.</p> + +<p>"We had better leave this place!" whispered Andrew to Peter. He looked +toward the gate where the priests had gone. But Jesus was talking to the +people again.</p> + +<p>"He will never leave!" answered Peter.</p> + +<p>Panic seized the Zealot. "Come on! We must get out of here!" He kept +looking at the guards in the tower.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of?" demanded Peter, turning on him. "We can't +leave the Master alone!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to be caught like a rat in a trap!" The Zealot looked at +the high walls around them.</p> + +<p>"I will not leave this place until the Master does," declared James +firmly.</p> + +<p>"You will never get out," warned the Zealot.</p> + +<p>"Just the same, I'm staying," repeated James stubbornly.</p> + +<p>All day the crowd listened eagerly to every word that Jesus spoke. Even +in their despair the disciples knew that Jesus would consider the day +well spent. "How I wish he would leave!" burst out John, late that +afternoon. "Where will we eat the Passover meal tonight?" During a pause +he asked Jesus the question.</p> + +<p>"You and Peter go into the city," answered Jesus. "You will meet a man +carrying a water jar. Follow him to his house. Tell the owner that the +Rabbi says, 'Where is the room in which I am to eat the Passover with my +disciples?' This man will show you a large room upstairs, with table and +couches arranged for us. Prepare the Passover meal there."</p> + +<p>The two disciples were amazed: Jesus had planned the meal ahead of time! +Glad to get out of the Temple, they did as they were told. At twilight, +Jesus and the others arrived. All except Jesus were completely worn out. +They had given up all hope.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> Who could tell what might happen before +this night was over? Like men in a daze, the disciples washed their +hands in basins which Peter and John had filled with water. Then they +lay down on the couches around the table.</p> + +<p>But Jesus did not immediately lie down with the others. Curiously the +men watched him take off his robe and tie a towel around his waist. He +began to pour water into a basin. Then Jesus carried the basin to where +Andrew lay and knelt at his couch. The fisherman hardly knew what to +say. Slaves and servants washed the feet of guests! Silently Jesus +washed the feet of all the Twelve, coming last to Simon Peter.</p> + +<p>"Master! You shall not do this for me!" He drew away from Jesus, who was +kneeling at the foot of his couch.</p> + +<p>"Peter, you do not understand why I am doing this—but very soon you +will!"</p> + +<p>"I will never let you wash my feet!" protested Peter.</p> + +<p>"Unless I wash your feet," answered Jesus gravely, "you cannot share in +my suffering and my glory."</p> + +<p>Peter realized how much this act meant to Jesus. "O Master, wash my head +and my hands too!"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Jesus, drying Peter's feet with the towel, "since I have +done this, you are clean all over. No more is needed." Reverence filled +the disciples as they listened to his words; but not until he had put on +his robe and taken his place at the table did they understand.</p> + +<p>"Do you know why I have done this?" he asked. "You call me your Rabbi +and your Master—and that is right: I am your Master. If I am willing to +wash your feet, should you not serve one another? No servant is greater +than his Master. You must learn this: if any man wishes to be great in +the Kingdom of Heaven, he must be the slave of all men for my sake."</p> + +<p>The disciples began to eat. The supper was simple. A piece of roast lamb +in a shallow bowl was the chief dish. There was a plate of unleavened +bread, a vegetable, and a bowl of sauce made of dates, raisins, and +vinegar. There was nothing else except a single large cup of wine mixed +with water. Each man took a piece of meat in his hand and ate it. Some +first dipped it into the vinegar sauce. The men were glad for the food, +but it did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> not drive away their discouragement. Everyone knew it could +not be long until they were arrested. Amid these dark thoughts, Jesus +spoke. "The hand of him who betrays me is with me on this table!"</p> + +<p>The disciples could hardly believe their ears.</p> + +<p>"One of us—betray you?" asked Peter. They looked at each other.</p> + +<p>"One of you at this table will betray me, but woe to him who does this +deed!" declared Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Is it I?" asked James. He seemed to doubt even himself.</p> + +<p>John leaned back to Jesus. "Tell us who it is, Master."</p> + +<p>"It is not I, is it, Rabbi?" urged Judas.</p> + +<p>Jesus turned to him. "Are you sure it is not you?" He looked accusingly +at Judas. Then Jesus said sternly, "Whatever you are planning to do—do +it quickly!" Judas left the room immediately.</p> + +<p>"He must be going out to pay for the food," remarked Andrew.</p> + +<p>"Master, I don't care what the others may do; I will stay with you!" +declared Peter.</p> + +<p>Jesus looked at him sadly: "Peter, you are going to face a terrible +test, but I have asked God to help you. You must help the others."</p> + +<p>"Master," repeated Peter, eager to convince himself that he was not +afraid, "I swear that I will do anything for you. I am ready even to die +for you!"</p> + +<p>Jesus shook his head. "You have promised more than you can do. Before +the cock crows at dawn you will deny three times that you ever knew me!"</p> + +<p>When the men had finished eating the meat, Jesus picked up a piece of +the unleavened bread and held it in his hands. "I have looked forward to +eating this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins." He +raised his eyes. "Heavenly Father, I thank thee that thou hast shown +mercy and love to thy children. I thank thee that thou hast hidden these +things from the wise and revealed them to babes."</p> + +<p>Then Jesus broke the bread and gave the pieces to the disciples, saying: +"Take this bread. It is my body; I am the Bread of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> Life. If you believe +in me, you already have eternal life. Just as I have broken this bread, +my body will be broken when I suffer for you. Every time you break +bread, therefore, remember what I have done for you."</p> + +<p>The men were not sure that they understood all that Jesus meant, but +they knew they were somehow sharing the life of their Master as they +took the bread and ate it. Then Jesus took the large cup of wine and +water in his hand. "This cup of wine stands for a promise of salvation: +take it and drink the wine, every one of you. This wine is my lifeblood, +which I give that you may have eternal life. Whenever you drink it, +remember my promise to you." Jesus handed the cup to John, who was +reclining next to him. John sipped from it and passed it on. Reverently +each man drank from the cup. Jesus put it on the table and arose from +his couch. The group stood and chanted together a psalm of thanksgiving:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I love the Lord, because he heareth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My voice and my supplications.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because he hath inclined his ear unto me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The cords of death entangled me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the pains of hell laid hold on me:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I found trouble and sorrow.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then called I upon the name of the Lord:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yea, our God is merciful.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Lord saveth the simple;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I was discouraged, and he saved me.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Return unto thy rest, O my soul;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the Lord hath blessed thee greatly."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Come! Follow me!" Abruptly Jesus walked from the room, down the stairs, +and into the dark street. The moon had just risen; it hung low over the +Hill of Olives, blood-red in a black sky, giving almost no light. Jesus +walked swiftly toward the city gate. The disciples glanced up and down +each street they crossed, alert for any sign of soldiers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>It did not take them long to reach the foot of the Hill of Olives. Jesus +did not go to their usual resting place. Instead, he led the eleven men +toward his place of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were +panting for breath when Jesus entered a narrow gate through the stone +wall that Judas had climbed over the night before.</p> + +<p>The Garden was dark. Among the dense trees the moon could not be seen at +all. During the week, the men had slept under clear skies; but now there +was a damp chill that threatened a storm on the morrow. When Jesus +stopped, his followers sank wearily on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Wait here for me while I pray," said Jesus. A note of distress had +crept into his voice. He turned to Peter, James, and John. "Come with +me." They groped their way through the woods, their hands before them. +Jesus stopped. "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Wait here and +pray for me." The men had never known Jesus to be like this before; he +was almost appealing to them for help. A short distance away Jesus knelt +on the ground. The hard day, the meal, and the walk up the hill had made +the fishermen drowsy, but they heard Jesus praying very earnestly. "O +Father, thou canst do all things! If it be possible, spare me this +suffering. Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." They heard his +voice no more.</p> + +<p>Peter did not know how long he had slept when he was awakened by Jesus' +shaking his shoulder. "Simon Peter! Are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay +awake and pray with me even one hour?" James and John roused themselves. +"Stay awake, all of you. Pray that you will not fail me now when I need +you most! I know you want to be my true friends—but you have not the +strength!"</p> + +<p>Hard as the three men tried, they could not stay awake. Twice more Jesus +came and aroused them. The last time Peter awoke the moon was high, but +was almost hidden behind a cloud. He could make out the faint outline of +the figure of Jesus standing beside him. A chilly wind had sprung up and +rattled the leaves. The night wind carried a warning Peter could not +understand. James and John slept heavily.</p> + +<p>"Still resting?" said Jesus. The two men stirred and looked at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> Jesus, +greatly ashamed. "Come! Get up! The hour has come when the Son of Man is +to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men!" Through the black woods +rang the sound of a sword clanging against a steel shin guard. Peter +leaped to his feet. "James! John!"</p> + +<p>Through the gnarled trees the men saw a sight that struck terror into +their hearts: led by Roman soldiers, a mob carrying torches was +advancing toward them. The yellow flames whipped in the wind and cast +hideous twisting shadows as they came nearer the Garden.</p> + +<p>"They must know we are here!" whispered James. "Come on! Let's get out +of here!" The two fishermen fled into the darkness.</p> + +<p>Torchlight glinted on spears and helmets. There was no sign of the other +eight disciples. Peter stood rooted to the spot from which he had risen. +Jesus watched calmly. Some in the noisy crowd carried clubs. The light +from the flares struck through the trees and fell full on Jesus' face.</p> + +<p>"There he is!" The cry echoed in the Garden. A wall of smoking torches +and gleaming swords and shields closed around Peter and Jesus. There was +no escape now.</p> + +<p>A Roman soldier stepped forward. "Hold up that torch!" he commanded his +aide. In the wavering light he peered into the faces of Peter and Jesus. +Another figure stepped from the group.</p> + +<p>"Judas!" Peter was stunned.</p> + +<p>"Hail, Master!" said Judas. Then very deliberately, as though forcing +himself, he kissed Jesus.</p> + +<p>"Do you betray me with a kiss, Judas?" asked Jesus, sadly. The traitor +could not bear the voice of the man he had once called his Master; he +turned and rushed out of the circle of Jews and soldiers. Peter never +saw him again.</p> + +<p>The captain gave a sharp command, and several soldiers stepped toward +Jesus. The group of men broke into angry shouts. Jesus' stern voice rang +through the clamor. "Why do you come to arrest me with swords and clubs +as though I were a robber? Day after day I was in the Temple +teaching—you never tried to arrest me there!"</p> + +<p>For an instant the torches ceased waving. Then the mob surged all the +more angrily upon Peter and Jesus. Peter snatched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> his short sword from +his belt and struck a wild blow. A man cried out sharply. The captain +shouted a command: soldiers pushed through the rabble and seized Jesus. +A burly soldier knocked Peter backward; he fell heavily and lay still.</p> + +<p>When Peter came to his senses, he was breathing hard. He had no idea how +long he had been stretched on the ground half stunned. He lifted himself +on one elbow. Torches were moving down the road. The sound of the mob +was faint in his ears.</p> + +<p>For the first time Peter realized that he was alone. The Master was +gone! What would he do without him? Loneliness swept over the fisherman. +He leaped to his feet and dashed headlong through the trees where the +soldiers had led Jesus. He tripped over a root and plunged to his knees; +branches lashed his face when he arose, but in his panic he did not feel +them. He burst out onto the road. In the distance the tiny lights were +going out, one by one, as the procession entered the gate of Jerusalem. +With a cry of helpless despair, Peter ran down the hill toward the +city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-165.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="THE_DARKEST_HOUR_OF_ALL" id="THE_DARKEST_HOUR_OF_ALL"></a>17. THE DARKEST HOUR OF ALL</h2> + + +<p>As Peter ran he realized that he did not know where the Roman soldiers +were taking Jesus. What if he should lose sight of them? He was gasping +for breath by the time he reached the city gate.</p> + +<p>The Temple was closed. Would they lead the Master to Pilate? In the +darkness, Peter could barely make out the massive bulk of the fortress +of Antonia, the Roman prison. No sound broke the silence within its +walls. Peter ran a few steps and stood panting at the first street +crossing. Desperately he glanced one way and the other. If only there +were someone to tell him which way they had gone with Jesus! Would they +go to the house of the high priest himself? Peter turned and ran toward +the south side of Jerusalem, his sandals clattering on the stone paving.</p> + +<p>At every turn in the winding street Peter peered into the darkness, +hoping to see the wavering light of torches ahead of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> him. He did not +notice a dark figure standing against the wall of a house that closed in +the narrow street until he ran into him. Startled but glad to see +someone, Peter asked, "Sir, have you seen soldiers and men with clubs +passing this way?" The question was out before he realized his danger. +What if this stranger were an enemy? He could not even see his face.</p> + +<p>The man's answer was cautious. "Some men went by here a few minutes +ago." The voice seemed familiar to Peter. "Did they have a prisoner?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"The torches were too dim for me to see." Peter forgot to thank the +stranger in his haste to overtake Jesus. He rounded the next corner, +running, then stopped short. Flickering straight ahead of him were +torches. Soon he was close enough behind the men who carried them to see +more clearly. The yellow flames threw weird patterns on the houses: +shadows of men twisted and dodged on the walls as the torchbearers swung +the lights to and fro. Peter followed cautiously, coming no closer than +necessary. His heart leaped when he heard a step behind him. He jerked +around and saw a young priest. Fear clutched at him. He was trapped! +Before he could move, the man spoke. "There they are." Peter recognized +the voice. It was the person he had run into a moment before! The priest +looked at him curiously and exclaimed, "You were with the Galilean, +weren't you?"</p> + +<p>A denial sprang to Peter's lips. Then he recognized the priest: it was +the student who had come to the Hill of Olives that very morning! "What +are they going to do?" Peter could keep back his anxiety no longer.</p> + +<p>The young priest shook his head gravely. "I fear the worst. Look! They +have stopped!" He pointed. The torches shone on a heavy wooden gate. It +swung open, and the group started to enter.</p> + +<p>"Let's follow them in," urged the priest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" protested Peter. "They will recognize me. They wouldn't let me +in anyway." But the priest was already hastening ahead. Peter followed. +His friend entered with the last of the group, and the gates swung shut.</p> + +<p>A servant woman stood outside to question everyone who wanted to go into +the house of the high priest. Torches fastened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> to the walls on each +side of the gate threw a pool of yellow light on the street. Peter could +hear many people inside; torchlight flickered on the high walls of the +palace of the high priest, rising behind the gate. Driven by curiosity, +Peter came closer and closer. The woman looked at him but said nothing. +Peter hid his face; he was glad the torches were smoky and low.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the gate opened, and Peter saw his friend. "Let this man in," +he ordered the servant woman. There was nothing for Peter to do but go +in. As soon as he stepped into the light the woman said loudly: "Wait a +minute! Aren't you one of this Galilean's followers?"</p> + +<p>Peter froze with fear. "No!" he snapped, and plunged through the gate to +get away from her. Sweat stood out on his forehead. A narrow escape!</p> + +<p>Peter was relieved that the large courtyard of the high priest's palace +was so crowded. He shrank into a shadowed corner and anxiously searched +for Jesus. In this great house met the Sanhedrin, the great council of +all the rulers of the Jews. Peter saw the rough soldier who had knocked +him down standing outside the door. Jesus must be inside! There was +nothing to do but wait.</p> + +<p>Peter began to feel cold. Near the center of the yard several men had +built a charcoal fire. Peter was tempted to warm his hands, but +immediately gave up the idea: these very men had seen him in the Garden! +He walked back and forth in the shadows, but it did not help much: his +feet were getting numb. He wished he had never come into the courtyard. +If he tried to get out, the woman would see him.</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes passed. What was happening in the priest's dark palace? +Peter shivered and pulled his coat tight around him. How good that fire +would feel! At last he could stand it no longer. Taking care to keep the +firelight from shining on his face, he went nearer.</p> + +<p>"How long will it take to condemn him?" Peter heard one of the men ask +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"It won't be long," answered another. He was in the uniform of the high +priest's servants.</p> + +<p>"Too bad his disciples got away!" growled the first. "I would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> like to +get hold of that one that struck Malchus with his sword!" A man came out +of the palace and joined the others around the fire.</p> + +<p>"He's a stubborn fellow!" exclaimed the man. "He won't answer any +questions!"</p> + +<p>"What about the witnesses?" inquired a man who had not spoken before.</p> + +<p>The other laughed. "They tell different stories! They can't agree on +what the Galilean said!"</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," said the high priest's servant confidently. "No matter +what happens, they won't let him get away now." The last spark of hope +in Peter died. The priests were determined to kill Jesus. The end had +come. Peter did not notice that the man in front of him had moved so +that the firelight shone directly on his face.</p> + +<p>"Say! Weren't you with that Galilean?" Like a thunderbolt the question +struck Peter. He stiffened with terror and cursed himself for having +dared to come near the fire. "Of course not!" he answered gruffly, and +backed away. The man who had seen him strike Malchus with his sword had +not heard the question. Peter sighed. His luck could not last much +longer.</p> + +<p>A group of people were going through the gate. Perhaps he could slip out +without being noticed. The priest who had got him in here had +disappeared. A cry went up at the door of the palace. Guards were coming +out of the priests' council room!</p> + +<p>Suddenly Jesus stood in the doorway. Peter's throat went dry. What had +they done to his Master? His face was swollen from many blows. It +glistened wet in the firelight—they had spit on him! Jesus stumbled as +he came down the short stone staircase. A rough fellow kicked him. "Get +along there!" He laughed coarsely. Pity flooded through Peter, then rage +at the man who had hurt Jesus.</p> + +<p>"What is the verdict?" A man was speaking to Peter.</p> + +<p>"The verdict?" Peter mumbled the words stupidly. Another man answered +the question.</p> + +<p>"He is doomed to die."</p> + +<p>Peter looked from one to the other. "Die?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They are going to ask Pilate to sentence him to death."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>The others looked at Peter curiously. Someone grabbed him roughly by the +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Say, you! Didn't I see you in the olive orchard?" A guard! He waved to +the others. "Come over here! Here is one of the Galileans. Listen to his +accent!"</p> + +<p>Like icy water, fear swept Peter's daze away. Faces full of scorn +surrounded him. Panic-stricken, Peter wrenched loose.</p> + +<p>"In the name of God, I never even heard of this Jesus!" he swore. "What +are you talking about?" Then a shrill sound caught Peter's ear. The +words stopped in his throat. Outside the wall a rooster was crowing. +Peter's lips were open, but no sound came from them. He was staring at +the man who had accused him, but he didn't see him. The flush of anger +and panic drained from his face. Jesus had heard.</p> + +<p>With terrible dread, Peter watched his Master turn. Their eyes met. Time +stood still. Peter forgot everyone else: there were just the two of +them. Master and cursing disciple. The sadness in Jesus' eyes burned +through Peter. "Do you betray me too, Peter?" the Master seemed to say.</p> + +<p>"Come on! Get going!" A guard slapped Jesus heavily. Driven by the rough +men, Jesus went out of the gate.</p> + +<p>Like a sleepwalker, Peter followed. The guards did not try to stop him. +The servant woman at the gate did not notice him. For an instant he +stood in the street watching the men take Jesus away. The gate closed +behind him. Then the terrible dream broke; scalding tears flooded +Peter's eyes. They came from his very heart. He walked a little way down +the dark street and stopped, leaning against a stone wall. Desperately +he pressed his face into his hands. How could he stand this bitter +remorse? If only he had been faithful to his Master!</p> + +<p>Peter was certain that the end had come; he dreaded seeing his Master +condemned to death by the Roman governor, Pilate. All night he walked +the deserted streets of Jerusalem. But when morning came he could not +stay away from the fortress of Antonia, where he knew that Jesus would +soon be brought before Pilate.</p> + +<p>In the cold dawn it was a forbidding sight. Herod the Great, who had +ruled before Pilate's time, had covered the massive rock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> on which the +fortress stood with stones too steep and smooth for attackers to climb. +The walls rose sixty feet above this and towers were built at each +corner. The guards on the highest towers were one hundred and eighty +feet above the pavement inside the fortress. From it they could see +everything in the Temple below as well as the countryside north, east, +and west of Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>A short stairway led from the Temple porch into the fort. A crowd of men +were gathered in the Temple' courtyard, among them not one who had ever +heard Jesus teach. Peter had lost all fear of being seen. As he waited, +his mind was entirely taken up with thoughts of what might be happening +to his Master behind the closed doors of Pilate's judgment hall.</p> + +<p>Peter was surprised to see Pilate come out of the fort down the steps +into the Temple. Where was Jesus? Why did Pilate come here? Then Peter +remembered: the priests would not enter the Roman building, for fear of +making themselves impure for the Passover.</p> + +<p>After a delay Pilate came slowly out of the high priest's council +chamber. He stopped and looked at the men crowded before him. A few +cried out, "Where is the Galilean?"</p> + +<p>Pilate waved his hand for silence. "I have examined this Jesus. He has +not committed any crime."</p> + +<p>A priest in the crowd cried out loudly: "He is stirring up the people! +He has made trouble both in Galilee and in Judea."</p> + +<p>"I have examined him, and so has Herod," declared Pilate. "We agree that +he does not deserve to die. I am going to order my soldiers to whip him +and let him go." The crowd was still. Then a priest cried out: "No! Away +with him! He is destroying our holy religion!" The rabble in the court +burst out with angry shouts: "To the cross with him!"</p> + +<p>Pilate turned around and went into the fortress. The priests were +worried lest Jesus be set free. They began to argue with the men in the +courtyard. "Do not let him escape now!" they urged. "Make Pilate crucify +him!" A shout arose when a group of Roman soldiers came out of the fort +into the Temple; Jesus was with them.</p> + +<p>A cry broke from Peter's lips when he saw his Master before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> the crowd. +Thorn branches had been twisted into a wreath and pressed on his head. +He wore a purple robe. Peter could see he was in pain. "Behold! Here is +the man!" cried Pilate.</p> + +<p>"Crucify him! Crucify him!"</p> + +<p>Pilate hesitated. "If you let him go, you are an enemy of the Roman +emperor!" shouted a priest. Peter could tell that Pilate was afraid. He +walked to the stone seat where he announced his decisions. Embedded in +the pavement before him was the Roman seal and some Latin words. The +Roman guards led Jesus to another seat. He was very weak from his +beating. While the people were shouting, Pilate turned toward the +priests gathered in a knot near his judgment seat and said bitterly: +"You have wanted a Jewish king—well, here he is! Behold the king of the +Jews!"</p> + +<p>The high priest looked coldly at Pilate and said, "We have only one +king: Caesar." Pilate looked down at the ground. There was one more +possibility. This innocent Galilean might yet go free. Pilate remembered +that custom allowed him to set free one prisoner at Passover time—a +prisoner whom the people chose. Amid the commotion in the courtyard, +Pilate stared at the Latin words on the pavement before him. If only the +people would ask that Jesus be released!</p> + +<p>"I shall let one prisoner go free," cried the governor. "Shall it be +Bar-Abbas or the king of the Jews?"</p> + +<p>A priest called out, "Give us Bar-Abbas!" Then the crowd took up the +cry, "We want Bar-Abbas!"</p> + +<p>Bar-Abbas! A murderer? Peter could hardly believe it! The cries grew +louder. "Give us Bar-Abbas!"</p> + +<p>"What shall I do with Jesus, called 'the Christ'?" Pilate asked, +cornered. The people saw that he feared them, and their hateful screams +made Peter shiver.</p> + +<p>"Crucify him! Crucify him!" The crowd surged toward Jesus, and the Roman +guards drew their swords to protect their prisoner. Pilate saw that only +blood would satisfy the people. Amid the tumult he sat silent, his eyes +once again on the Latin words before him. At last he stood up. He was +beaten. The crowd was almost out of control. Several times he raised his +hand and started to speak, but each time he could scarcely hear his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +voice. The leader of the palace guard glanced anxiously at Pilate and +waved to a group of soldiers waiting inside the fort. They made a tight +circle around Jesus.</p> + +<p>Pilate dropped his hand limply and turned to the priest. "Do with him +whatever you want." The bloodthirsty mob surged toward the guards, but +could not break through the line of soldiers, which stood like a steel +wall until the door of the fort had slammed shut behind Jesus.</p> + +<p>Peter made no attempt to follow. He took little notice of the men around +him, who gave him curious stares. Peter walked to the place where Jesus +had stood. He looked down and read the words which were written on the +pavement in front of the judgment seat:</p> + +<pre style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;">JUSTICE AND MERCY.</pre> + +<p>Pilate too had betrayed the Christ!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus-173.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="THE_ROCK_OF_FAITH" id="THE_ROCK_OF_FAITH"></a>18. THE ROCK OF FAITH</h2> + + +<p>The Passover Feast was ended, and the pilgrims from Galilee were leaving +Jerusalem. The friends of Jesus, and especially the eleven disciples, +were dazed by the death of their Master. In the blackest discouragement, +wondering what they should do, they gathered at the house where Jesus +had eaten his last meal. They repeated over and over again the story of +the things that had happened. Some talked about returning to Galilee. +Two followers who lived in Emmaus, a town several miles west of +Jerusalem, decided to go back to their homes.</p> + +<p>The two men took the road that led over the hill of Calvary where Jesus +had died. The cross still stood. Moving in the breeze was the sign which +Pilate had ordered tacked to the very top: THE KING OF THE JEWS. At the +hour of Jesus' death this hill had trembled as a storm thundered through +the sky. But now Calvary was quiet. In the bright morning the two men +could hardly believe that here they had heard the death cry of their +Master: "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the men came near the cross, they stood silent for many minutes. +Finally Cleopas, the older of the two remarked, "They haven't taken the +sign down yet."</p> + +<p>"Do you think others will be crucified on his cross, Cleopas?" asked the +other.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps." After a long silence, Cleopas added: "Do you remember the +centurion who was in charge of the soldiers? Just after Jesus died, I +heard him say, 'This man truly was a son of God!'"</p> + +<p>"Do you think any of the others believed?" mused the other man.</p> + +<p>"Most of them scoffed!" answered Cleopas bitterly. "One priest said over +and over, 'You saved others—now save yourself!' and laughed." Tears of +anger sprang into Cleopas' eyes.</p> + +<p>"That is where his mother stood when he told John to take care of her," +remarked his companion. At that moment the wind tore loose the parchment +nailed at the top of the cross. It drifted to the ground a few yards +away. The younger man looked at Cleopas: "Shall I get it?"</p> + +<p>After a moment Cleopas replied: "No. Let it lie there. Why keep things +that make us remember these days?" He turned his back on the cross and +started down the hill toward Emmaus. His companion said nothing; he knew +the bitterness that made Cleopas speak this way.</p> + +<p>The road down to Emmaus was rough but heavily traveled. From all Judea, +camel caravans carried olive oil and wool to Joppa, the main seaport of +southern Palestine. Up from the sea rode Roman soldiers to guard +Jerusalem, Jericho, and the forts across the Jordan.</p> + +<p>Toward sunset the two travelers came in sight of the Valley of Aijalon, +sloping down to the sea. Here King Saul had fought many bloody battles +with the ancient Philistines. The low-hanging sun made a great golden +blaze on the Mediterranean Sea, twenty miles away.</p> + +<p>"We are not far from Emmaus now," remarked Cleopas. A warning cry +sounded behind them: "Caravan!" The two men moved to the side of the +road, and found, when they turned, that another traveler had joined +them. He had been very close<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> behind, but the two men had been so deep +in conversation that they had not noticed him. After the camels had +passed, kicking up the dust with their wide, padded feet, the stranger +walked on with them.</p> + +<p>"What is all this you are talking about?" he asked in a friendly way.</p> + +<p>Cleopas glanced at his companion. Was it dangerous to answer frankly? +Certainly they were safe here! "You must not have stayed in Jerusalem +very long if you have not heard about what happened," he replied.</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked the man.</p> + +<p>"It is about Jesus of Nazareth," answered Cleopas. "He was a Galilean. +The common people all thought he was a Prophet. God truly had given him +a message for us! He warned us to repent and give our lives to God if we +wish to have eternal life." Cleopas paused and his companion took up the +story.</p> + +<p>"You see, the high priests hated Jesus because he called them hypocrites +to their faces. He was right: they are cruel to the poor! They make many +sacrifices, but just the same they do not really love God. Three days +ago the priests took him prisoner and handed him over to Pilate to be +crucified. We hoped that he would begin a great new day for our +people—but now he is dead." The men had reached the foot of the hill. +Green grass grew where a tiny brook trickled beside the road.</p> + +<p>"We did have a surprise though," added Cleopas. "Some women in our group +went out to the tomb where we laid him but they could not find his body! +They saw a vision of angels who told them he was alive. Some of us went +and looked for ourselves. His body was gone—but no one saw Jesus."</p> + +<p>The stranger looked keenly at the two travelers. "You have read the +Prophets, haven't you?" he asked. "They say that the Messiah must suffer +before he can be victorious."</p> + +<p>Cleopas looked at the man curiously. "What do you mean?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"All the things happened just as the Prophets said," repeated the +stranger. "The books of Moses say: 'The Lord thy God will raise up a +Prophet among you, from among your very brethren, like me. You must +listen to his word!' Is not your Rabbi that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> One? And Isaiah too. He +said: 'Behold, my Servant, whom I have chosen! I will put my Spirit upon +him and he shall declare judgment to gentiles. He shall not strive or +cry out; no one shall hear his voice in the streets!' Your master is +this Servant of God! Did he not die on a cross? Isaiah said that he +would be treated like a criminal!"</p> + +<p>"But if he was the Messiah, why did the priests hate him?" cried +Cleopas.</p> + +<p>"They always kill the messengers of God. Isaiah said, 'They hear, but do +not understand; they see, but their minds are blind—their hearts are +cold.' These priests will not let God give them eternal life!"</p> + +<p>All the rest of the way to Emmaus the two friends talked earnestly with +this stranger who understood the Scriptures so well. They had never +realized that the Prophets taught that the Messiah would die. They had +always thought he would triumph over everybody! They remembered now that +Jesus had said some of these very things.</p> + +<p>At last they came to the village. It was dusk. Cleopas stopped in front +of a small house. "Come in with us and spend the night, for the day is +almost over," he said. With a smile, the stranger accepted.</p> + +<p>It had been a long journey, and the three men were very hungry. After +washing, Cleopas brought bread and fish to the table. They lay down on +the hard couches. The guest picked up a small loaf and raised his eyes +to bless it. He broke the bread and handed it to the men. They took it +from him—and suddenly they knew who he was. There was only one who had +ever given them bread like that! It must be the Master himself! They +dropped to their knees. Joy, reverence, and fear filled them. When they +looked up, Jesus was gone. "No wonder our hearts burned within us while +he talked to us on the road!" exclaimed Cleopas.</p> + +<p>"We must tell the others!" answered his companion. "Let us hurry back to +Jerusalem."</p> + +<p>By the time the moon rose, Cleopas and his companion were halfway to +Jerusalem. It made the shadowed ravines between the mountains seem +blacker than ever, but they were grateful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> for the faint light on the +road. They knew that robbers could very easily hide among the rocks that +lay along the highway. Yet fear was almost forgotten in their great +eagerness to get to Jerusalem and tell the news: the Master was alive!</p> + +<p>The two travelers pressed forward at a pace swifter than they would have +thought possible on this steep road. For lack of breath, they talked +very little. Twenty miles was a full day's journey—but it was just +midnight when the two men hastened past the guards at the Joppa Gate of +Jerusalem and half ran to the house where they had left their friends +that morning.</p> + +<p>The building was completely dark. Not a trace of light showed through +the closed shutters. Cleopas knocked sharply on the wooden door. In the +silence they heard only their own heavy breathing and realized that they +were very tired. Cleopas knocked again. There was a muffled footstep +inside; then the bolt scraped and the door opened a crack.</p> + +<p>"Open up!" whispered Cleopas impatiently. It seemed to take a long time +for the man at the door to recognize them and open the door. Cleopas and +his friend rushed up the stairs and burst into the upper room.</p> + +<p>Everyone was there. In the instant before he spoke, Cleopas realized +that something had changed since he had left in the morning. The men +were not dejected; they were talking excitedly. But Cleopas did not stop +to find out why.</p> + +<p>"We have seen him! He is alive!" The disciples leaped to their feet. +James stared as though he had not understood. "We saw him on the road to +Emmaus!"</p> + +<p>"You too!" exclaimed Peter.</p> + +<p>"He ate with us in my home," declared Cleopas. He turned to Peter in +amazement. "Did you say you have seen him?"</p> + +<p>"I saw him this morning. After the women told us they had seen a vision +at the tomb, John and I went to look for ourselves. They were right! The +Master's body was gone. I came back here and then set out alone for +Galilee. I had traveled about an hour when the Master appeared to me, +standing in the road. He commanded me to return here."</p> + +<p>"When we first saw him, we did not know who he was," said Cleopas. Then +he told everything that had happened. At first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> many wondered if the +story could be true, but as they listened, their joy and amazement grew. +When Cleopas finished, they stirred and sighed. Here was one at least +who certainly believed Jesus was alive!</p> + +<p>The air was heavy in the crowded room. An iron pan filled with burning +charcoal stood near the wall. Several broiled fish, left over from +supper, lay on the coals. Cleopas and his friend looked at them +hungrily. Peter handed pieces to them. James rose from the rough wooden +bench on which he sat and opened the shutters. Andrew poured oil from a +large jar into the nearly empty lamps. The men breathed deeply of the +cool air that swept through the window. The lamplight sprang up. Hope +and wonder flickered through the disciples' minds, still dulled by the +sorrow of the Master's violent death.</p> + +<p>"If I could just see him myself!" murmured John.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Jesus was there. He did not come in—he just appeared standing +in the midst of them. John drew in his breath sharply. Was this a ghost? +Did the others see? The men shrank from the place where Jesus stood.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid. It is I! Look at my hands and my feet. Do you not see +the wounds of the cross?" The men stared. In the palms of his hands +James could see the marks of nails. His voice was real too! The men did +not trust their eyes. Several reached out timidly and touched the scars. +They moved like men in a dream.</p> + +<p>"Have you any food?" asked Jesus. Peter took another piece of fish from +the charcoal stove and handed it to Jesus. When the disciples saw their +Master eat, their doubts vanished. They began to talk, trying to realize +that the impossible had really happened; their Leader was really living!</p> + +<p>"Master," burst out James enthusiastically, "are you going to drive out +the Romans now and give the Kingdom back to us?" The others suddenly +became quiet, listening for his answer.</p> + +<p>"It is not for you to know when the Father in heaven will do that, +James," replied Jesus. "In his own time he will destroy all evil. He has +already come among you: all you must do is accept the power he gives you +to obey his commands."</p> + +<p>"Master, what do you want us to do?" asked Peter. Hearing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> his brother's +strong voice, Andrew could hardly believe that only that morning Peter +had tried to leave Jerusalem because everything reminded him that he had +denied his Lord.</p> + +<p>Jesus looked around at the circle of his disciples and raised his hands +over them. "Just as the Father sent me into the world," he said, "I am +sending you. May the Holy Spirit fill you with power. Go into every part +of the world and tell all men that the Christ has suffered and risen +from the dead to give them eternal life. Those who repent and believe +this gospel shall be forgiven their sins. But if anyone does not believe +your words, the anger of God hangs over him!"</p> + +<p>As mysteriously as he had come, Jesus left the men. They remained +silent. Each man saw in the face of the others a joy none could express. +At last Peter spoke: "We must let everyone know that Jesus has risen +from the dead!"</p> + +<p>Day by day the disciples learned that Jesus was doing greater things +among them than he had ever done before. Faith which had been uncertain +was now sure. Every afternoon the disciples went to the Temple to pray +and tell the story of Jesus' power. Some people were surprised, for they +thought the work of Jesus would stop when he was crucified. But many +believed the word of the disciples and became followers with them.</p> + +<p>It was not long before the success of Peter and the others came to the +attention of the high priest. One day, immediately after the hour of +prayer, he called his councilors together. "Did you see that fisherman +who used to follow the Galilean we killed?" he demanded. "He was +standing boldly in the Temple declaring that his Rabbi is alive!" Purple +veins stood out on the face and throat of the angry man. "Have you ever +heard such an insolent lie? They have invented the whole story from +beginning to end!"</p> + +<p>"The other men were with him," added a councilor. "They succeeded in +getting the people very much stirred up."</p> + +<p>"It must be stopped! If we can silence them with threats—all right. If +not...." He lapsed into silence. Then his anger boiled to the surface +again. "What man in his right mind could believe such a fairy tale? That +upstart from Galilee—risen from the dead!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>A young priest sighed and spoke. "What can we do? Those men seem to +believe very sincerely that it happened."</p> + +<p>The high priest was instantly suspicious. "You sound as though you +agreed with them," he observed bitingly. "I'll tell you what we must do! +Keep a sharp watch on them. The minute they make trouble—arrest them! +We can do whatever we want then."</p> + +<p>Just before the hour of prayer the following afternoon, Peter and John +entered the Temple with the worshipers who were streaming from the city. +To the two disciples it seemed a long time since Jesus had been there, +but nothing was changed. The row of slender columns which enclosed the +inner court was majestic in the afternoon sunlight. Words of Moses, +carved in the stone of the Beautiful Gate, invited every Jew to enter +for prayer. There were no money-changers there. Since Jesus had driven +them out, neither they nor the sellers of animals had tried to come +back.</p> + +<p>Two men carrying a cripple on a litter passed Peter and John. The +disciples had seen him before, begging money from all who walked by. His +helpers placed him near the Beautiful Gate as Peter and John climbed up +the steps toward him. The beggar looked at them, smiled, and held out +his hand. "Will you give a little money to a lame man?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Peter and John stopped in front of the man. He was a miserable +sight—dirty, ragged, and thin from hunger. His bony legs were paralyzed +and useless.</p> + +<p>"Look at us!" commanded Peter. The beggar looked at them expectantly. +"We do not have any money," said Peter, "but we will give you what we do +have! By the power of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!" +Peter stooped and pulled the man to his feet.</p> + +<p>People had turned at the sound of Peter's voice. The beggar was standing +alone! The man looked at his feet; then, utterly amazed, took a cautious +step. The trumpet sounded from the roof of the Temple, calling the +people to prayer, but none paid any attention; they rushed toward the +beggar to see what had happened. Swiftly Peter led the man toward the +outer part of the Temple courtyard. The people crowded after Peter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the trumpet signal the high priest left the council chamber and +entered the rear gate of the inner court. How strange! The Temple was +deserted! Two other priests came into the court. "What has happened?" +they asked, baffled. "Where are the people?"</p> + +<p>Through the columns, the high priest saw people running. "Look!" he +exclaimed. He turned and waved to several burly guards in the uniform of +the high priest's palace. "We need you here!" They followed the priests +toward the sound of the crowd.</p> + +<p>People were pushing forward to catch a glimpse of the beggar clinging to +the two disciples. Peter raised his hands and cried out so all could +hear: "Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why are you +staring at us as though we had healed this man by our own strength? We +did not do it at all!" Astonished at his words, the people became very +quiet. Peter saw the high priest, but his voice did not waver.</p> + +<p>"My friends, this man was not healed by any power of ours. He was healed +in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, God's Chosen Servant. The God of +Israel sent him to tell you the gospel of life, but you refused to +listen to him. You handed him over to Pilate to be killed! Even when the +governor wanted to release him, you demanded that this holy and just One +from God should be crucified!" The high priest turned and spoke to the +guards, but Peter did not hesitate a moment.</p> + +<p>"We declare to you that God raised Jesus from the dead—we have seen him +ourselves! His power healed this man! I know that you killed the Lord of +Life without realizing what you were doing. But the Prophets knew this +would happen to the Christ; they said he would suffer! God has chosen +this way of saving you!" There was a disturbance at the edge of the +crowd. Guards were thrusting the people roughly aside in their haste to +get to him. "Repent now!" cried Peter boldly. "Ask God to forgive you +for the terrible thing you have done, in order that your sin may be +blotted out. God sent Jesus to be your Saviour!"</p> + +<p>The guards burst through the crowd and seized Peter. Quickly his wrists +were tied with rope. A cry of protest rose. Two men stepped in front of +the guards as they shoved Peter toward the gate of the Roman fort next +to the Temple, but they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> quickly beaten off by curses and the +threat of the clubs.</p> + +<p>"What must we do?" cried a man in the crowd, cut to the heart by Peter's +words.</p> + +<p>In spite of the guards Peter bravely called out: "Repent and give your +whole life to God! Believe in the name of Jesus Christ, the Saviour!"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" The chief guard struck Peter with his club. When they came to +the priests, the guards stopped. The high priest and the fisherman from +Galilee stood face to face. Peter's clothes were torn, and his hands +were bound behind him. The anger of the high priest had turned to +scornful triumph. For a moment he stood sneering at Peter; then he +stepped toward him and slapped him heavily across the face. "You liar! +You will find out that you can't blaspheme the Law of God!"</p> + +<p>Peter's face showed red marks. His eyes shone with a strange joy, and he +smiled. His voice was fearless, its sound filled the whole Temple. "I +shall never stop telling what I have seen with my own eyes! I shall obey +God, and not man!" Pain shot through his shoulder as a guard struck him +a heavy blow and shoved him roughly toward the fortress gate. Without +looking back, Peter walked courageously into the Roman prison.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SCRIPTURE_REFERENCES" id="SCRIPTURE_REFERENCES"></a>SCRIPTURE REFERENCES</h2> + + +<table summary="Scripture References"> +<tr><th>PAGES</th><th>CHAPTER 1</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td> <td>Matt. 3:1-6</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td> <td>Luke 3:10-16</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td> <td>Matt. 3:7-10</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td> <td>Matt. 3:13</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 2</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_21">21, 22</a></td><td>Luke 10:25</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td><td>Luke 17:20, 21</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td><td>Matt. 5:38-48</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td><td>Matt. 13:31-33</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td><td>Luke 5:4-11</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 3</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td><td>Mark 1:23-27</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 4</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td><td>Matt. 11:28</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_37">37-39</a></td><td>Mark 10:17-31</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td><td>Luke 18:9-14</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_41">41-43</a></td><td>Luke 4:16-30</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 5</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_46">46, 47</a></td><td>Luke 13:10-17</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td><td>Matt. 10:34</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td><td>Mark 6:17</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td><td>John 3:30</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_51">51, 52</a></td><td>Mark 2:1-12</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 6</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td><td>Matt. 7:1-5</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_57">57, 58</a></td><td>Luke 7:36</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td><td>Mark 2:17</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td><td>Luke 5:32</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td><td>Mark 2:18-22</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td><td>Matt. 11:16-19</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td><td>Matt. 23:23, 24</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td><td>Mark 2:23-28</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_62">62, 63</a></td><td>Mark 3:1-6</td></tr> +</table> + + + +<table summary="Scripture References"> +<tr><th>PAGES</th><th>CHAPTER 7</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_65">65-67</a></td><td>Matt. 10:1-23</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td><td>Mark 3:21</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td><td>Mark 3:22-27</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td><td>Matt. 12:24-32</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td><td>Luke 11:27, 28</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td><td>Mark 3:31-35</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td><td>Luke 11:5-10</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_71">71, 72</a></td><td>Luke 18:1-8</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td><td>Matt. 6:9-15</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td><td>Matt. 18:21, 22</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 8</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_74">74, 75</a></td><td>Matt. 11:2-15</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_77">77-79</a></td><td>Mark 5:21-43</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 9</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td><td>Mark 6:14-16</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_82">82, 83</a></td><td>Mark 4:13-20</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_84">84, 85</a></td><td>Mark 6:34</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_84">84, 85</a></td><td>John 6:1-15</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_86">86, 87</a></td><td>Mark 6:45-52</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 10</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td><td>Mark 7:1-23</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_92">92, 93</a></td><td>Mark 12:38-40</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td><td>Matt. 15:14</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td><td>John 14:1</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td><td>John 3:17-19</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_96">96, 97</a></td><td>Mark 8:14-21</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td><td>Matt. 15:21-28</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_100">100, 101</a></td><td>Mark 8:27-30</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_100">100, 101</a></td><td>John 6:66-68</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 11</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td><td>Matt. 16:17-20</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td><td>Mark 8:31-38</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_104">104, 105</a></td><td>Luke 4:1-13</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td><td>Matt. 16:25</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_109">109-112</a></td><td>Mark 9:14-29</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + + + + +<table summary="Scripture References"> +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 12</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_113">113, 114</a></td><td>Mark 9:2-10</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_115">115-119</a></td><td>Mark 9:33-37</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_120">120, 121</a></td><td>Mark 9:38-41</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td><td>Mark 9:31, 32</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 13</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td><td>Luke 13:31-33</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td><td>Luke 10:1-12</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td><td>Luke 9:57, 58</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_129">128</a></td><td>Luke 10:17-21</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td><td>Luke 9:51-56</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td><td>Luke 10:13-15</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 14</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_133">133, 134</a></td><td>Luke 17:11-19</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td><td>Mark 10:46-52</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td><td>Luke 19:1-10</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_139">139, 140</a></td><td>Mark 11:1-11</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 15</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td><td>Luke 13:6-9</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td><td>Mark 11:15-17</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td><td>John 2:13-16</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_147">147, 148</a></td><td>Mark 11:27-33</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td><td>Mark 12:1-9</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td><td>Mark 12:13-17</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td><td>Mark 12:28-34</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_150">150, 151</a></td><td>Luke 22:3-6</td></tr> +</table> + + + +<table summary="Scripture References"> +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 16</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_156">156, 157</a></td><td>Mark 13:1, 2, 9-23</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_157">157, 158</a></td><td>Matt. 23:25-36</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td><td>Mark 14:12-16</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td><td>John 13:1-17</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td><td>Mark 14:17-21</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td><td>Matt. 26:31-35</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td><td>Matt. 11:25</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_160">160, 161</a></td><td>Matt. 26:26-29</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td><td>Mark 14:32-42</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td><td>Mark 14:43-50</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 17</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_167">167-169</a></td><td>Mark 14:53-72</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td><td>Luke 22:61</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td><td>Luke 23:13-16</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td><td>Luke 23:18-25</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td><td>John 18:38 to 19:16</td></tr> + +<tr><th></th><th>CHAPTER 18</th></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_173">173-176</a></td><td>Luke 24:13-35</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td><td>Luke 24:36-43</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td><td>Acts 1:6</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td><td>Matt. 28:18-20</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td><td>Luke 24:46-48</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#Page_180">180-182</a></td><td>Acts 3:1 to 4:4</td></tr> +</table> + + +</div><!-- end book-content --> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Men Called Him Master, by Elwyn Allen Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEN CALLED HIM MASTER *** + +***** This file should be named 19190-h.htm or 19190-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/9/19190/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Men Called Him Master + +Author: Elwyn Allen Smith + +Illustrator: Harold Minton + +Release Date: September 6, 2006 [EBook #19190] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEN CALLED HIM MASTER *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, V. L. Simpson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +MEN +CALLED HIM +MASTER + +_By_ ELWYN ALLEN SMITH + +THE WESTMINSTER PRESS - PHILADELPHIA + +COPYRIGHT, MCMXLVIII, BY W. L. JENKINS + + +----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note | + | | + | There is no evidence that the U.S. copyright on this | + | publication was renewed. | + | | + +----------------------------------------------------------+ + +_All rights reserved_--no part of this book may be reproduced +in any form without permission in writing +from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes +to quote brief passages in connection with a review +in magazine or newspaper. + +PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + +CONTENTS + + + _Have You Ever Wondered?_ 6 + + 1 _A Voice in the Wilderness_ 7 + + 2 _Fishers of Men_ 14 + + 3 _A Man of Authority_ 25 + + 4 _God Is Now King!_ 34 + + 5 _Who Is This Carpenter?_ 45 + + 6 _The Old and the New_ 54 + + 7 _Missionaries of the Kingdom_ 64 + + 8 _He Is More than a Teacher_ 74 + + 9 _How Will You Know the Messiah?_ 80 + + 10 _"You Are the Christ"_ 88 + + 11 _A Secret Is Told_ 102 + + 12 _The Greatest Among Us_ 113 + + 13 _The Messiah Must Die_ 122 + + 14 _A Day of Victory_ 131 + + 15 _Dispute in the Temple_ 141 + + 16 _The End of Hope_ 152 + + 17 _The Darkest Hour of All_ 165 + + 18 _The Rock of Faith_ 173 + + + + +HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED? + + +What kind of men were Jesus' disciples? What was it like to be with +Jesus in Palestine? Why did some of the disciples find it so hard to +understand Jesus? Who were the people who killed Jesus? Why did they do +it? This book has been written to help you to answer these questions. It +takes you right into Jesus' world so that you can hear his conversations +with the disciples and watch the things they did. + +The stories of Jesus and the disciples in this book are told in +different words from those you will find in your Bible, and background +has been built in from other records of the time. For example, the Bible +gives only the fact that one of the disciples was a Zealot; in this book +the disciple is shown speaking and acting as we know Zealots spoke and +acted. The story of the rich young ruler has been placed early in Jesus' +ministry to show that he would not accept every man who wanted to be his +disciple. The parable of the Good Samaritan has also been placed in the +early period as an example of the informal way in which Jesus taught. +That you may know what is from the Bible and what is added to make a +complete story, Scripture references for each event are given in the +back of the book. These references will help you to read and understand +the Gospels. As you read what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus while +he was on earth, you will see more clearly what it means to be one of +his disciples today. + +[Illustration] + + + + +1. A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS + + +"Andrew! The baskets are slipping!" Two men on foot were driving heavily +loaded donkeys ahead of them. Across the back of Andrew's tiny beast +hung two huge baskets. One slanted crazily forward. + +"It ought to hold until we get to the top," answered Andrew. He looked +critically at the load and then at the path ahead. They were climbing +the bank of a wide gully cut by the floods that rushed down from the +barren hills into the valley of the Jordan River every spring. Andrew +shouted a command and the donkeys climbed slowly upward. At the top the +men stopped to catch their breath. + +"John," exclaimed Andrew in disgust, "I have tightened this thing on +every hill between Galilee and Judea!" He worked impatiently at the +knotted ropes that bound the baskets on the donkey's back. John was not +listening. He was gazing at the scene before them. + +Torrents of muddy water poured through the gully during the season of +rains. Now the clay in the bottom was dry and cracked. Under the hoofs +of the animals it was as hard as stone. John pushed his damp hair back +from his forehead. His home province, with its green hillsides +surrounding the cool Lake of Galilee, was very different from this +burnt, rocky land of Judea, which lay southwest of where they stood. The +gully carried a sluggish stream of heated air up from the valley; he +could feel the damp warmth on his skin. Even on the hilltop there was no +cooling breeze. + +Andrew wiped his face with a dusty sleeve and left a dirty streak above +his brows. "There!" he exclaimed. "These baskets ought to stay on now." +The rope was drawn tightly around the belly of the donkey. + +"We should be at Bethany soon," remarked John. + +Andrew struck the donkey with his whip and said gruffly, "Come on!" as +though the animal had shaken its load loose on purpose. The little +caravan started again, Andrew in the lead. + +The road was built on the slope of the hills which closed in the plain +of the Jordan. Stretching far to the west the men could see fields of +ripe grain. The heat of early summer had come quickly this year and now +threatened to destroy the crop. Farmers were hard at work cutting the +wheat and threshing out the grain on platforms of earth pressed smooth +as stone. + +"Are you sure that John the Baptizer is still at Bethany?" called Andrew +over his shoulder. John did not answer. After a moment, Andrew added, +"Perhaps he has gone to some other place to preach." Still there was no +reply. Irritated, Andrew turned. John had dropped behind and was walking +with a stranger. Where had this traveler come from? He must have been +moving fast to overtake them so swiftly. His robe was hitched high at +the waist for easier walking. Andrew slowed and waited for the men. + +"Could you tell us, friend, where John the Prophet is baptizing?" John +was saying. + +The traveler smiled. "I hear he is at Bethany on the Jordan, near +Jericho. Do you want to hear him?" + +"We are his disciples," responded John proudly; then he bit his lip. +Andrew was frowning at him. It was dangerous to say a thing like that! +John looked at the stranger narrowly. He was from Galilee; his broad +accent showed that. John glanced at Andrew. Surely a Galilean was safe! +"The Prophet says that Israel will soon be free," ventured John. It was +a test question. The stranger smiled as though he agreed, and Andrew +asked enthusiastically: "Do you believe him? He says that God will +overthrow the Romans soon!" + +"How does John the Baptizer think all this will happen?" asked the +Galilean traveler. Andrew did not reply for a long while. Finally he +said: "The Prophet tells us that we cannot set ourselves free without +God's help. He says that if we had been willing to change our ways, God +would have rescued us long ago. Therefore we must get rid of sin and +pride and take our stand on God's side. When we do that, great things +will happen!" He looked directly at his fellow traveler. "Do you believe +this?" + +The stranger's answer was clear. "John speaks the truth." + +Suddenly they heard the thunder of galloping hoofs. A band of horsemen +was bearing down on them. Helmets and spears glinted in the brilliant +sunlight. Andrew and John shouted at the donkeys, but one of them moved +slowly. Desperately John whipped the animal. The donkey leaped. A rope +snapped and one of the heavy baskets dropped to the ground. + +The three men heard a soldier curse them. They could hardly see each +other for the thick dust. The basket lay trampled in the dirt; salted +fish were scattered all over the road. Andrew kicked the ruined basket +into the ditch. "May God soon burn Rome and all her soldiers! This land +belongs to us!" He ran a few steps as if to overtake the riders and +shook his fist. "God will strike you!" he shouted. The stranger was +helping John put what was left of the fish in the other three baskets. +Andrew turned to them. + +"I have seen whole armies of Romans march through fields of ripe wheat! +I have seen our towns burned by these destroyers! They have killed +thousands of our people! We have seen even our own friends killed by +these murderers!" + +The man answered quietly: "I know what they have done. But hating them +will not help." Andrew was taken by surprise. + +"We have been oppressed before," continued the stranger. "God has sent +John to us now, just as he has always sent prophets to tell us what we +should do." + +"What should we do?" + +"Just as you said yourself, we must repent of our sin," replied the +traveler. "God can do very little until he finds men who are willing to +obey him." Andrew had nothing to say. + +"There is a well not far ahead," remarked John. "We must water the +animals." Under a dusty palm over the next hill they found the well. The +stranger drew water for the donkeys and they drank noisily. Then he drew +water for the men. They had no sooner finished than Andrew urged: "Let's +hurry. We are not far from the place where John is baptizing." + +The road led down the slope and across the plain toward the river, which +had cut a deep gorge. At the edge the men paused to look. A hundred feet +below flowed the Jordan. It seemed sluggish now; but in the rainy season +it was swift and treacherous. The water was yellow and gray and only a +few shrubs clung to the banks. A short distance away the river turned +and disappeared behind the opposite cliff. + +"The crossing is below that bend," explained John to the stranger. "The +Prophet should be there." He gave his donkey a cut with the whip, and +the stolid animal moved faster. A few minutes later he cried out: +"There! See down there?" People were gathered at the edge of the river. +It did not take the men long to reach the gully through which the road +descended to the river. The fishermen tied their donkeys with the other +animals that stood tethered to bushes and small trees. In their haste +they forgot their companion. + +"Do you see the Prophet?" inquired Andrew, looking eagerly about. John +jerked at his sleeve. + +"There! By that rock on the bank!" They climbed up the slope where they +could see. + +John could not tell why he felt the way he did. It might have been the +appearance of John the Baptizer. He wore a rough camel-hair tunic and a +leather belt. None of the people who were there for the first time had +ever seen such a man before. He was very thin. His skin was tanned brown +and his hair and beard were long. Like the poorest people in Palestine, +he lived on grasshoppers and wild honey. Just then John the Baptizer +spoke. He looked old, but his voice showed that he was young and strong. + +"It is time you begin to show some sign that you are God's chosen +people," he cried out. "But you are just like your ancestors--you pay no +attention to God. You don't listen to the prophets. God is not going to +wait much longer. The time has come to repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is +near!" + +The crowd stirred. What was this? Could it be true that the end of the +world was coming soon? + +"Isaiah the Prophet said, 'Everyone shall see the saving power of God,'" +continued the Baptizer. "God is getting ready to clean off his threshing +platform. He will gather his wheat into his storehouse, but he will burn +the straw in fire that never dies down! Let every one of you get ready +for the coming of the Lord!" + +Near the front edge of the crowd a priest stood up. "How do you dare +talk this way?" he demanded. "Who are you--the Messiah?" + +"No, I am not the Messiah," replied the Prophet. + +"Then who are you? The Prophet Elijah?" + +"I am not Elijah." + +"Are you Moses come back to us?" + +"No." + +"Then who are you? The rulers in Jerusalem have sent me to find out. +What have you to say for yourself?" Andrew and John glanced at each +other. The rulers! + +John the Baptizer called out boldly to the whole crowd, "I am a voice +crying in the wilderness, 'Clear the way for the Lord!'" + +The priest from Jerusalem interrupted again. "If you are not the Christ, +nor Elijah, nor Moses, what right have you to baptize people?" The +people stirred; they did not like this man. + +"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me +is mightier. I am not fit even to tie his sandal laces. He will baptize +you with the Holy Spirit and fire. You must repent!" + +A man broke away from the crowd and stepped uncertainly toward the +Prophet. Words came from his lips as though it hurt him to speak. "I +have forced money out of people. I am a tax-gatherer. What can I do?" +Everyone there had been cheated by tax collectors. + +"Turn your whole life back toward God. Never again force people to pay +more money than is just." + +Several other people had joined the tax collector. "What must I do?" +asked a soldier. + +"Never take money from people by force. Never blackmail. Be content with +your pay." He looked at the group before him and said: "Let every man of +you who owns two garments share with the person who has none at all. If +you have food, share it too!" + +A whisper ran over the crowd. John had turned to some religious +officials, Sadducees and Pharisees, who stood watching. "You nest of +snakes! Who told you to flee from God's day of judgment? It is time you +repented!" + +"How can he talk that way to Pharisees?" said Andrew. He could tell even +from where he stood that the Pharisees felt the charge was unjust. + +"Why should we repent?" asked one of them. "We are descended from +Abraham himself. We were born to be God's chosen people!" + +"God can make children of Abraham out of these rocks if he wants!" burst +out the Prophet. "Instead of saying over and over again, 'Abraham is our +ancestor,' you ought to live so that people will know that you have +repented! The wood chopper is ready to destroy every tree that is not +producing good fruit. Every bad tree he will cut down and throw into the +fire!" John turned his back on them. + +"Look!" whispered Andrew in excitement. "There is the stranger we met on +the road!" + +The Prophet had walked down into the water to begin baptizing those who +were waiting on the shore, but now he stopped and turned toward the +place where the Galilean was standing. He completely forgot the crowd. +In the silence Andrew could hear him protesting. + +"No! No! No!" The Prophet stepped back in awe. "I am not worthy to +baptize you. You should baptize me!" The two fishermen could not hear +the Galilean's reply, but they saw him walk down into the water, John +the Baptizer leading. The people stood as though fascinated. Recalling +the incident later on, Andrew and John realized that their tense +concentration on the two men at the river had driven every other thought +from their minds. + +John was baptizing the stranger. As he came up from the river, the +Galilean's face bore an expression of joy and praise which the fishermen +remembered as long as they lived. Some power had come upon him. + +"What happened, Andrew? What happened?" + +Andrew did not hear; he was staring at the Galilean. + +"Andrew!" John was insistent. "Something just happened. I don't +understand. What was it?" + +Andrew murmured. "He must be a prophet too." + +The people were talking excitedly. Everyone felt as John and Andrew did. +The Galilean had gone, and the Prophet was now baptizing the others who +waited. Shadows were creeping into the gorge as evening approached. +Groups started away toward the near-by towns. + +"Did you hear what the Galilean said to John the Baptizer?" asked John. +Without answering, Andrew started toward the knot of people near the +Prophet, and John followed. Andrew asked a man beside him, "Did you hear +what the Galilean said to the Prophet?" + +"Yes," the man answered. "He said, 'Every man must take his stand on +God's side.'" Before Andrew could say any more the Prophet spoke. He +knew what the people were thinking. + +"Upon the head of this man of Galilee I saw the Spirit of God settle +like a dove from the sky," he declared. "God has chosen him to do His +work!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +2. FISHERS OF MEN + + +The morning sun was breaking over the hills that closed in the Lake of +Galilee on the east. Fog was thick over the water, but the fishermen in +the two boats that lay a short distance from the shore knew the sun had +risen, for the mist was full of white light. Between the boats was a +great net, partly under water. The fishermen, two in each boat, were +pulling the opposite edges over the side into the bottom of their boats. +Their breath hung in the chilly air. Andrew had returned to Galilee +after his trip to Judea and was working with his brother, Simon. + +"I wouldn't mind hard work if we could catch fish," remarked Simon, +resting a moment. + +"We'll soon see what we've caught," replied Andrew. The net was almost +gathered in. + +"It won't be much," grunted Simon, bending to his work again. After a +few minutes the boats lay side by side, the nets heaped high in them. + +"I have fished in this lake all my life," remarked James, the brother of +John, "and so has my father, Zebedee, but I have never seen so few fish +for a night's work!" + +Andrew felt as disgusted as Simon and James, but all he said was, "Let's +go ashore." + +James and Andrew guided the boats toward the spot where Zebedee had +built a fire of thorn twigs. The men jumped out and crowded around the +crackling flames. Zebedee had chosen several fish for their breakfast. +He raked some hot coals from the fire and laid the fish among them. They +smelled good to the hungry men. This was the best time of the +fishermen's day. Hard work was done. The fire was warm. The thought of +food gave them a good feeling. + +"Father, why is fishing so poor this year?" asked John. + +"I don't know, son," replied Zebedee. "Some years there are enough fish +for all Galilee and Judea. But in years like this, the people of the +five cities on our lake go hungry." He was thinking of times past. "If +the wheat crop is poor in Galilee, there may be riots." + +"That would only make matters worse," commented Simon. + +"Yes, unless King Herod has improved lately." Zebedee smiled sourly. "I +think that foreigner actually enjoys killing. How he loves our money! If +riots come, we are sure to be taxed even more." He took two of the fish +off the coals and laid them on a smooth rock. When they were cool +enough, he picked them up. "Breakfast is ready," he said. The men rose +and bowed their heads, while the older man prayed. + + + "Praise ye the Lord. + I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart, + In the council of the upright, and in the congregation. + He hath given food unto them that fear him: + He will ever be mindful of his promise. + Holy and reverend is his name. Amen." + +While they ate, James asked, "Father, who is in the other boat this +morning?" Zebedee hired men to work for him. + +"Old Gideon the farmer, with our new man, a gentile from Sidon." + +"Why in the world did you hire a gentile, father?" asked John sharply. + +"Well, son, he is young and strong. He is willing to work for us." He +paused. "But I couldn't help wondering where he came from." + +"Did you ask him?" + +"No. He wouldn't answer questions about himself. But he knew fishing." +John shook his head. + +"I don't like it, father. Jews have no business working with gentiles. +And besides, if he is a runaway slave, we might get into trouble." + +"Now look, son. Half the people in Galilee are gentiles. Every day we +see them. What harm is there in working with them?" + +"Here comes the other boat," said Simon. The sun was driving away the +mist; Simon pointed to a fishing boat drawing closer to the shore. + +"Did you do any better than we did, Gideon?" called Zebedee. + +As the old farmer came toward them, the men could tell that his body was +rugged in spite of stooped shoulders. "No better; maybe worse. It's +getting as hard to make a living on the lake as by plowing the land." + +The newcomers sat down and hungrily ate the fish that Simon handed them. + +"Zebedee says there may be riots if the wheat is poor," said Simon. +"What do you think of the crop, Gideon?" + +Gideon squinted toward the hills as though looking at the fields that +lay beyond them. "My guess is that there will be enough." He frowned. +"Enough, that is, if the landlords don't grab it all." + +James glanced at Simon, concealing a smile. Old Gideon never got tired +of scolding the big landowners. + +"Before I was forced off my farm we had plenty to eat, even in dry +weather." He shook his finger. "And mind you, I had only five acres! +Now look what has happened!" He pounded his knee. "A man can hardly feed +his family with ten acres. Why? Taxes and more taxes!" He counted on his +fingers. "First, Herod takes one fourth of all our grain. That goes into +the bellies of the Romans. Then there is the tithe. That takes enough to +feed a hired man! Then we pay the Temple tax to feed the priests. They +get the first-born of all the sheep too. When a man's first son is born, +he must make a big gift to the synagogue. Farmers have to give part of +the wool at sheep-shearing; part of the wood at woodcutting; and the +best of the fruit at harvest." He looked around and spat on the ground. +"On top of that we pay for the schools and synagogues! Is it any wonder +we have hardly enough left to feed ourselves?" + +"But religious taxes are paid for the sake of God, Gideon!" protested +James. + +"Yes, yes ... I know." Gideon couldn't argue the point; for a moment he +was silent. Then he looked sharply at James and snapped: "Do the +landlords pay religious taxes? No!" His voice was bitter. "That +tax-gatherer who bought me out knew ways to get out of paying the Temple +tax!" + +"Was it when you sold your farm that you became a fisherman, Gideon?" +asked James. + +"Yes. I almost had to serve a term of bondage." + +The gentile jerked up his head and said, "Were you a slave?" + +"No, but my brother bound himself for twelve years," answered Gideon, +looking at the gentile curiously. + +"Do the bondslaves make much trouble here?" he asked. + +Zebedee looked at him very closely. "In Galilee the slaves do not cause +riots. The Jews do." + +James explained. "In Palestine there are more free men than slaves. +Hunger causes most riots. But in a way, our whole nation is a slave to +Rome." His eyes challenged the gentile and no one missed his meaning +when he spoke again. "A nation can't run away from its master the way a +slave can." + +The gentile started. He glanced swiftly around the group. The men were +looking at him suspiciously. + +"Are you a runaway slave?" demanded Zebedee point-blank. + +The man flushed and spoke shamefacedly. "Yes," he admitted. + +After a moment's silence, Andrew said: "The Romans treat us all the same +way. No one here will betray you." The man's face showed his relief. + +"Perhaps you will tell us where you are from," suggested Simon. + +"I am a Greek; a fisherman from Corinth. I was taken captive and made +the slave of a Roman soldier. We were sent to Sidon." He waved his hand +toward the west. "I watched my chance and ran away. Here I want to work +and remain unknown." + +John said: "Will you come with us to the synagogue? If you are going to +work with us, you should become one of us." + +"I will worship any god who will give me a happy life." + +"I can't promise that God will do that," answered John. "Our nation has +always suffered greatly." He looked at Andrew. "But we believe what John +the Baptizer tells us: God is soon coming to save us." + +The gentile shook his head. "I don't understand." + +"Perhaps he has not heard of the Prophet," Andrew said to Simon. He +turned to the slave and said, "God has sent a Prophet to warn us to turn +back to God." + +"What will your god do for you?" asked the other. + +Andrew spoke sternly to him. "God is not our servant! We are his +servants! We obey him." + +"John the Baptizer says God will soon set up his Kingdom," added John. + +"I must say the Zealots make better sense to me," interrupted Simon. +"After all, you have to make some effort yourself. You can't just sit +and wait." + +"Who are the Zealots?" asked the gentile. + +"They are warlike patriots who are always staging riots against the +Romans," explained Simon. + +"While I was at Sidon, the Romans were busy hunting down bands of these +people," observed the gentile. + +"Many brave men have been killed by Rome. We seem to be defeated in +every rebellion." Simon turned to his brother. "Do you remember Judah +the Galilean?" Andrew nodded. + +"Judah was a Zealot," continued Simon. "He gathered a group of brave +young Jews and raided one of Herod's forts. They took swords, spears, +and money to buy food. At the Feast of the Passover, they came out of +their hiding places in the northern hills." He pointed toward the +mountains where the snowy crest of Mount Hermon shone in the morning +light. "They hid swords under their robes and joined the crowds going to +Jerusalem. I was only a child but my parents took me to Jerusalem that +year. + +"The Zealots knew the Temple would be guarded by Roman soldiers, so they +surrounded it. The Roman commander saw men with swords in the crowd of +pilgrims filling the Temple and thought they were going to attack his +men, so he ordered his soldiers to attack first. + +"The Zealots were taken by surprise and the Romans gained the upper +hand. Then Judah saw his chance. He rallied his men, and they climbed on +the roof of the wooden buildings which surround the Temple courtyard. +From there they threw spears down on the Romans. It looked then as +though they had a chance to win. + +"To drive the Jews off these buildings, the Romans set them afire. They +were dry as tinder and burned fiercely. The Zealots had to get down. +Some killed themselves rather than surrender. Others leaped among the +Romans and died fighting. Those that escaped to the country hid in the +hills around Jerusalem. There Judah gathered together as many of his men +as were still alive. + +"The Roman general sent bands of his men into the hills to hunt down the +survivors. One morning there was a blare of trumpets and a group of +Roman soldiers came marching down the street. From the roof of the house +where I stayed with my parents we saw Judah of Galilee being prodded +along by guards in armor. He was hurt but he walked proudly. + +"I began to cry. Even my father had tears in his eyes. Although I was +only a young boy, I knew that Judah would be killed for fighting the +Romans. But I did not know how terrible it would be. + +"The Romans made all Jews who did not live in Jerusalem leave within two +days. It was a sad time. We had come in joy, remembering how at the +first Passover Feast God had protected us from the Egyptians. We left +sorrowing. We saw a dreadful sight when we went out of the city gate." + +The fishermen had finished their food and sat with their eyes fixed on +Simon. James and Andrew had heard bits of this story before, but +listened eagerly for details as Simon talked. John's eyes seemed to be +saying: "Go on! Go on!" Zebedee was older and knew the story well. +Already his face showed pain and sorrow. + +"Judah had been condemned to die as a criminal. All criminals were +crucified. He was thrown to the ground and his body was spread on a +wooden cross. His hands were nailed to the crossbeam. His feet were +nailed also. The cross was set upright beside the road from Jerusalem to +Galilee. All the Zealots who had been hiding in the hills of Judea were +crucified with him. + +"When my father and mother took me out through the city gate, I saw +hundreds of crosses on both sides of the road. On each cross hung a +brave Galilean. When I saw that Judah was dead, my boyhood dream +crumbled. I have never forgotten." + +The fire had burned out while Simon talked. The morning sun glared on +the gray ashes. Lost in thought, the men gazed at the dead fire. Finally +Simon said: "It seems that every time we fight for the Kingdom of God we +suffer all the more. How does John the Baptizer explain that, Andrew?" + +"He didn't say anything about it that I remember," Andrew admitted. + +People were hurrying along the road back of the beach. + +"Come along, men," said Zebedee briskly. "We must clean the nets." + +"I think I'll try my luck in the shallow water," said Andrew. He picked +up a circular net with weights around the edges. He waded to his knees +and threw the net. It fell flat on the water and sank, trapping a small +fish under it. + +The others began to wash the nets, patiently picking out the seaweed and +pebbles caught in them. + +"Say! What's going on?" John pointed to a knot of people following a man +who was walking along the beach. + +"Probably some trader," remarked Simon. + +"He looks more like a teacher to me," said John. + +"Why not go over and see?" suggested Simon. + +In a moment John came running back. "It is Jesus, the Galilean whom +Andrew and I saw with John the Baptizer! Andrew! Andrew!" he called. +"Come and see him, Simon. Come on!" + +"I think I had better finish cleaning this net, John." + +"But this man is a Prophet!" + +"You go ahead if you want to." John gave Simon a disgusted look. When he +turned toward the crowd of people, he noticed that they were moving +toward him. + +_I wish they would come over here_, thought John. As if he had read +John's mind, Jesus walked nearer the fisherman. Everyone was listening +to a scribe who was asking questions. Scribes knew the religious laws +and the sacred books thoroughly. + +"How can I get into this Kingdom you are telling us about, Rabbi?" + +"What is written in the Law? What do you read there?" asked Jesus. The +scribe answered: "You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, +your whole soul, your whole strength, and your whole mind. Also, love +your neighbor as yourself." + +"Correct," said Jesus. "Do that and you will live." Simon's hands were +busy, but he smiled to hear Jesus answer the educated man so easily. + +The scribe felt foolish because Jesus had made him answer his own +question. Hoping to escape embarrassment, he asked, "Just who is my +neighbor, Master?" + +"There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho," answered +Jesus. "He was attacked by some robbers who took everything he had and +left him badly hurt. After a while a priest came by, but when he caught +sight of the man lying in the ditch bleeding, he went on without even +looking a second time. A Levite came along a little later and he too +passed by on the other side of the road. Then a Samaritan came along." +Simon was listening intently. Like most of the people there, he looked +down on Samaritans, and wondered why Jesus had brought this one into the +story. + +"The two Jews had done nothing to help their fellow countryman, but the +Samaritan stopped," continued Jesus. "He put salve on his wounds and +tied them up. He put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn by the +road. He paid his bill so that he could stay as long as it would take to +get well. When the Samaritan left, he said to the manager: 'Take care of +him. If you have to do more for him, I will pay you back when I come +this way again.'" Jesus looked at the scribe. "Which of these three men +was a true neighbor to the man who was beaten?" + +"The man who was kind to him," admitted the scribe grudgingly. + +"Then go and be like that yourself!" said Jesus. + +Simon looked at Jesus amazed, the net in his hand completely forgotten. +_Not even John the Baptizer would say the Samaritan was better than the +others_, he thought to himself. _No wonder Andrew and John had talked so +much about this Rabbi whom they had first met in Judea!_ + +Attracted by the crowd, many more people had come down from the road. +They were pressing in on Jesus so much that he turned to Simon and asked +abruptly, "May I use your boat?" + +Simon was taken by surprise but he quickly recovered himself and said, +"Certainly, Rabbi." + +Jesus asked him to push out a little way. Then he turned around and +spoke to the people on the shore. "The Kingdom of God does not come like +a flash of lightning so that you can say, 'Here it is!' The Kingdom of +God is right now in your midst." + +"Does that mean that our enemies will be destroyed soon, Rabbi?" asked +Simon eagerly. + +"The Kingdom of God does not come by violence and bloodshed," answered +Jesus, "but by the power of God. It is not his will that you should kill +persons whom you hate. You should love your enemies! Do good to those +who hate you! Pray for those who abuse you. If a man slaps your cheek, +let him slap the other one too. If he steals your coat, give him your +shirt too. + +"If you love only people who love you, what does that amount to? Even +bad men do that! It is your enemies that you must love and help. You +must give without expecting to be paid back." + +"That is impossible!" exclaimed Simon in dismay. + +"God's Kingdom has power to change all kinds of men," said Jesus, +looking straight at Simon. "His power is like a piece of yeast in a bowl +of dough--the tiny bit of yeast quickly works its way through all the +dough until every bit is changed. The Kingdom of God is also like a tiny +mustard seed. It is so small that a farmer can hardly see it mixed with +his wheat. But this tiny seed is so powerful that when it is planted it +grows larger than most trees." + +Simon shook his head. He did not say anything, but he doubted if any +such power existed. + +"Will you push the boat out into deep water?" asked Jesus. "I want you +to lower the net for a catch of fish." + +"Rabbi, we fished all night and took nothing," protested Simon. "But if +you wish, I will try again." Much puzzled by this sudden request, the +two fishermen pulled toward deep water. The people on the shore watched +them put up the oars; the boat drifted slowly in the wind. The two men +lowered the net. It had hardly sunk below the surface of the water when +the fishermen knew that they had dropped it directly in the path of a +great school of fish. Startled into action, they pulled desperately at +the net, but it was too heavy. The cords began to break. In great +excitement Andrew stood up and shouted to James, "Come and help us!" + +With James and John drawing the opposite edge of the net into their +boat, the four men succeeded in saving the huge catch. Jesus sat quietly +watching from the back of the boat, which was now filled with fish to +the point of sinking. Simon looked at Jesus and a strange fear took hold +of him. There had been no fish all night--and now, at the bidding of +this Rabbi, they had caught hundreds! Impulsively he fell on his knees +at Jesus' feet and said: "Lord, I do need to be changed! I am a sinful +man!" + +"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that catches all kinds of fish, +Simon," replied Jesus. "You must follow me. From now on you shall fish +for men." From the other boat, James and John had been listening to +every word that Jesus had spoken. He now turned to Andrew and the two +others. "If you will follow me, you too shall become fishers of men." + +When the boat came to shore, the people looked in amazement at the great +haul of fish, but the catch meant nothing to the four fishermen. Without +a single word they left Zebedee and followed Jesus back to Capernaum. + +[Illustration] + + + + +3. A MAN OF AUTHORITY + + +It was not long before reports of the new Rabbi at Capernaum had +traveled to all the cities around the Lake of Galilee. At Bethsaida, a +little town three miles across the lake from Capernaum, farmers gossiped +about the news as they worked in the green fields on the hills above +their town. The name of Jesus was on the lips of everyone in the noisy +market place; but the fishermen on the beaches knew most about the +Teacher who said that the Kingdom of God was very near. + +One Friday afternoon, a fisherman from Bethsaida, named Philip, was +netting fish from his small boat at the northern tip of the Lake of +Galilee. The Jordan River emptied into the lake at this point, and there +were often large fish to be caught. Spawned and fattened in the many +tiny streams that flowed into the upper Jordan, they came down the river +to feed on the weeds that grew thickly in the swamps at the river mouth. + +Philip glanced up at the sun. It was well past noon, time to be leaving. +Philip drew his net into the boat, set the oars into their crude +notches, and rowed steadily toward Bethsaida, about a mile distant. He +would have just enough time, he reflected, to clean up, get back to the +boat, and row across the lake before the Sabbath Day commenced at +sunset. + +Philip landed and drew his boat a short distance up on the beach. + +"Say, Philip! Why don't you pull it up farther?" Philip looked around +and saw a friend cleaning a net. Without pausing he replied, "I am going +to use it again." + +"Are you going far?" But the question was not answered; Philip was +already hastening up the narrow street toward his home. An hour later, +he returned. Anxiously he glanced toward the sun, now nearing the +horizon. + +"Where are you going?" asked the fisherman. Philip kept his back turned +to the curious man. After he had launched the rowboat and was pulling +away, he called out, "Across the lake." He knew the man had asked only +to find out if he would be back before the Sabbath started. + +Nevertheless, Philip rowed hard for Capernaum; he was conscientious and +did not want to break the Sabbath if he could help it. The white walls +and small domed houses of Capernaum were only a quarter of a mile away +when Philip heard a sound that told him he had left Bethsaida too late. + +The minister of the synagogue at Capernaum had blown his trumpet. Philip +twisted around and saw that the mellow note had come just as the red sun +sank behind the hills west of the lake. There were two more long blasts. +From this moment, the Sabbath rest began. + +The minister laid the trumpet down on the flat roof of his house. No Jew +worked after this signal. The women had already brought a full day's +supply of water into their houses and were forbidden to carry any more. +Fishermen were not supposed to clean nets or row. The market place was +silent, for no buying or selling was permitted. The minister did not +even carry his trumpet into the house. He would wait until sunset on +Saturday when the Sabbath ended and then he would put it away. + +He lighted the great synagogue lamp. This was part of Sabbath worship +and did not count as work. This shining light, hanging where Philip +could plainly see it as he drew his boat up on the beach in front of +Capernaum, made him feel a little guilty. Hurriedly he stored the oars +under the seats and set out for the home of Simon, his friend in the +city. + +Simon's house was in a high part of Capernaum, set back against the +hills. It was not a long walk for Philip through the streets that led up +from the lake front. Leaving the street of hard-packed dirt, Philip went +under an arch into a square courtyard, open to the sky. The house was +built on four sides, and doors led from a narrow porch into the rooms. +Philip hesitated a moment and then knocked at one of the doors. + +"Philip!" Simon stood in the doorway, smiling at his friend. His broad +shoulders and short neck made him seem burly. "Come in, my friend!" +Simon called across the courtyard to his wife: "Bring some food! Philip +has come." + +Inside, oil lamps were lighted and Simon's children were playing on the +floor in a corner of the room. Philip was very fond of them. He ran his +fingers through the hair of the oldest, a black-haired lad of seven. The +child gave him a friendly smile. + +"What brings you to us on the Sabbath, Philip?" inquired Simon, half +teasing, half reproving. + +"I did not leave the river mouth until about three o'clock," explained +Philip, a bit ashamed. "I was very eager to come to Capernaum." + +Simon was immediately curious. "What made you come?" + +"Everyone in Bethsaida is talking about the new Rabbi who is teaching +here," answered Philip. "They say that he talks of a new kingdom." +Philip was a little surprised to see how intently Simon was listening to +his words, but he did not pause. "I thought you could tell me more about +him. I hear that he comes from Nazareth. When did you first find out +about him?" + +"A couple of months ago John and Andrew went up to Jerusalem and when +they came back they told us they had met this man," answered Simon. +"They saw him baptized by John the Baptizer. The Prophet told them that +Jesus was going to be a mighty servant of God. We didn't take it very +seriously though--you know how enthusiastic Andrew gets. + +"We never realized what kind of person Jesus was until we saw him +ourselves," continued Simon. "He isn't like an ordinary teacher. You +feel that he is so sure of himself and yet he is so humble." Simon was +deeply earnest. "Everything he says goes right to your heart, Philip. I +can hardly understand what it is--there is some power in him!" Simon's +wife entered. + +"Here is food for you," said Simon, as his wife set a bowl of boiled +fish on the table. Hungry from his trip across the lake, Philip +gratefully moved to the rough bench in front of the table and began to +eat. + +After a while he asked, "Then you know this Rabbi well?" + +"Yes," answered Simon. "He has been down on the lake shore every day +this week. I have been with him most of the time." + +"Doesn't that take a good deal of time away from fishing?" observed +Philip. + +"Yes, some," replied Simon. "We do some fishing early in the mornings. +But it is true that we don't do very much." + +Philip was thoroughly puzzled by now. Simon had always been a hard +worker. But Philip could not think of a way to ask why his friend had +changed. For a while Simon remained silent. Nervously his foot stirred +the palm fronds that covered the floor. "You see, Philip," he finally +said very hesitantly, "I have really stopped fishing. I am now a +follower of Jesus." + +Philip was dumfounded. "You mean you aren't working with Andrew and +James and John any more?" + +"They have left Zebedee too," answered Simon. + +"What in the world...." blurted Philip. He stopped short. "How are you +going to feed your wife and children?" he asked. + +Simon looked at Philip frankly. "I do not know, Philip," he said, his +voice firm. "But this one thing I am sure of: I cannot turn back from my +decision to go with Jesus wherever he goes. I believe in him and am +willing to do anything for him." + +Philip knew there was no use protesting further. Simon had told him what +he intended to do. What could he say? Finally he asked, "When can I hear +your Rabbi teach?" + +"He will be in the synagogue tomorrow," replied Simon. "I am sure you +will understand why I feel this way," he added very earnestly. + +On Sabbath morning the streets which Philip had found so silent the +evening before were filled with people. From every part of Capernaum +they climbed to the place where the synagogue stood. It was on the +highest hill in the city, because no building was more important to the +people than their place of worship. + +Simon and Philip came hurrying with the crowd. At the door of the +synagogue they stopped to catch their breath and looked at the lake +below them. The water lay still and smooth in the morning light, but no +one knew better than the fishermen how quickly a wind storm could sweep +down the ravines between the hills around the lake and whip up dangerous +waves. + +"Where is the Rabbi?" asked Philip. + +"He is probably inside," answered Simon, turning to enter the synagogue. + +From behind a row of pillars they looked for Jesus among the men who +filled the room. In the middle of the room was a low platform with a +desk on it. Seats were arranged on all sides. Over their heads was a +balcony where the women sat. Simon pointed. + +"There is Jesus down near the front," he whispered to Philip. "We'll sit +with him." Philip noticed the tone of reverence in Simon's voice. + +A row of dignified men sat in front of a heavy curtain at the end of the +room. One of them came over to Jesus. Simon and Philip were too far away +to hear what he whispered, but evidently he asked Jesus, as the visiting +teacher, to take part in the service, because Jesus followed him and sat +down with the elders. The synagogue filled quickly. Philip thought that +many people must have heard about Jesus and come to Capernaum. Jesus +walked to the desk on the platform. Philip was impressed by his strong +voice repeating a prayer that was often used in the synagogue: + + "Blessed be Thou, O Lord, King of the world, + Who formest the light and createst the darkness, + Who in mercy givest light to the earth and to those who dwell upon it, + And in Thy goodness, day by day and every day, renewest the works of + creation. + Blessed be the Lord our God for the glory of His handiworks, + And for the light-giving lights which He has made for His praise. + Selah." + +In the second prayer, Jesus asked God to forgive and help the people. + + "With great love hast Thou loved us, O Lord our God, + And with much overflowing pity hast Thou pitied us, + Our Father and our King. + For the sake of our fathers who trusted in Thee, + And Thou taughtest them the statutes of life, + Have mercy upon us, and teach us. + Enlighten our eyes in Thy law; + Cause our hearts to cleave to Thy commandments: + Unite our hearts to love and fear Thy Name, + And we shall not be put to shame, world without end. Amen." + +Then all the congregation repeated their Creed in unison. + + "'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one God.... + Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, + And with all thy soul, + And with all thy might.' + Remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them. + 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you ... out of the land of Egypt' + To be your God. I am the Lord your God." + +Philip leaned over and whispered to Simon, "Do you think he will dare +say anything about founding a new kingdom?" + +"I have never heard him here before," answered Simon, "but he will say +what he thinks." + +After Jesus had repeated two prayers of thanksgiving, the minister of +the synagogue brought a heavy scroll to the desk. A man from the +congregation read some verses from Leviticus; then several other men +read short passages. + +The people stirred expectantly when Jesus stood up. Again Philip was +impressed by the clear and convincing manner of his speech. "Listen to +the words of the Prophet Isaiah," Jesus said. + +"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has consecrated me to preach +the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release for captives +and recovery of sight for the blind. He has sent me to set free the +oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's blessing." Jesus +rolled up the scroll. Every person in the synagogue waited to hear what +he would say. + +"This very year," declared Jesus quietly but firmly, "is the year that +Isaiah is talking about. You do not have to wait any longer for God to +come to you. The words of Isaiah are true right now; God is here. The +prophets tell you about a great day, but that day is not far in the +future! God can be your King now! He can defeat every evil power. He +will rule you if only you will open your hearts to him." + +Philip turned to Simon. He was disappointed. "What can he mean by that?" +Simon did not answer. He was waiting attentively for Jesus to go on. + +"You think you are oppressed and poor," continued Jesus. "But I tell you +that you will never win freedom by fighting and by shedding blood. Only +the truth of God can make you free. Only his eternal treasures can make +you rich! It is useless to depend on earthly things: moths destroy +clothing; rust destroys iron; thieves steal money. Fire will burn down +barns. Do not spend your lives getting things that pass away. Rather, +store up treasures in the Kingdom of God. Only God's Kingdom is truly +real. Only in his Kingdom are you truly free. Only his treasures make +you really rich!" + +"But how shall we get this Kingdom? That is what I want to know!" +whispered Philip hoarsely to Simon. + +"He will tell you," answered Simon. + +"You spend all your time getting ready for a Kingdom that is far away," +cried Jesus. "You do not have to wait for God's Kingdom. God is here +now, working among you." His voice became stern. "The trouble is that +you do not really believe in God at all. You do not wish to give +yourselves to him. You always want to live for yourselves a little +longer. You are blind to the rule of God because you are stubborn and +unwilling to obey his will. + +"The prophets tell you what God wants you to do! Have you obeyed them? +No! Repent your sin! Give yourselves to God! On this very day you shall +find his Kingdom!" + +The people were looking at Jesus blankly. They had never heard anyone +speak like this before. But Philip was able to understand one thing: the +Kingdom of which Jesus had been speaking was very different from +anything he had expected. + +Behind them Simon and Philip heard a man say, "He doesn't speak as the +scribes do!" Scribes always read or recited from memory the comments +which the great Rabbis had written on the Law and the Prophets. + +Suddenly there was a fearful scream in the rear of the building. A man +had jumped from his bench near the back of the synagogue and was rushing +down the aisle. Insanely he yelled: "Ha! Jesus of Nazareth! What +business have you with me?" + +"Let me out of here!" exclaimed a frightened man on the front benches. +"He has a demon!" In his haste to get out of reach, the man tipped the +bench over and it struck the stone floor with a bang. + +"Have you come to destroy us?" shrieked the madman. "I know who you are! +You are the Holy One from God!" + +"Silence! Come out of him!" In an instant, Jesus had taken complete +control of the man; as though all his strength suddenly melted away, he +dropped to the floor and lay still. A single moan broke the tense +silence of the synagogue. He seemed to be dying. Jesus motioned to the +elders and they brought a cup of water. + +In a moment the man stood up. He was weak but in his right mind. Utter +amazement filled the people. + +The elders were looking at one another, shaking their heads. "There is +no doubt about it. He is free!" Others asked in wonder: "Who can this +Rabbi be? He even has power over demons!" + +People pressed toward the front of the room to stare at the man whom +Jesus had healed. After a while, they began to drift away, talking +excitedly. Philip did not push forward with the curious crowd but stood +staring at Jesus. Even after the people had all gone, he continued to +gaze wonderingly at Jesus. He could hardly believe his eyes: The man who +had been so violent now sat quietly listening to Jesus. + +Simon came over to where Philip was standing. "Do you now see how +powerful his word is, Philip?" he asked. "Do you see why I follow him?" + +"Never in all my life have I known such a man," said Philip, almost +speaking to himself. He could not understand what was happening within +him. He did not feel excited; his mind was clear and cool--but Philip +knew that some strange power was at work. Everything had somehow +changed. Jesus turned to him. + +"Philip," asked the Master simply, "will you follow me?" + +Jesus' words were like the turning of a key. Philip wanted to speak only +words of obedience: "Master! I will go with you anywhere!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +4. GOD IS NOW KING! + + +Before nightfall, all Capernaum was talking about the Teacher from +Nazareth who had power to overcome demons. What strange person had +arrived in their midst? He had even dared to break the Sabbath law, for +healing on the day of rest was strictly forbidden. Some believed he was +planning to start a rebellion to set the nation free from Roman rule; +but to the sick and lame of Capernaum, the news meant just one thing: +someone had come to help them. + +Curious eyes had seen Jesus leave the synagogue with Simon. No sooner +had the sun set, marking the end of the Sabbath, than hundreds of +crippled and diseased persons crowded to the street where Simon lived. +Jesus would not refuse them. In the cool twilight he taught and healed +all who asked. + +As it grew darker, the disciples began to marvel that the people kept +coming. They knew everyone was very superstitious and hardly anyone ever +went out at night for fear of evil spirits. But as the hours passed, +Simon noticed many people who were not sick or crippled. They came for +another kind of help; they knew Jesus could give more than healing for +the body. + +In the babble of voices Simon suddenly heard a man cry out sharply. The +pain in the man's voice cut into Simon's heart like a knife. Simon +scanned the crowd, but in the darkness could not see him. No one moved +to let him through. + +Jesus looked toward the man. "Do you cry out to me?" he asked, raising +his voice above the noisy crowd around him. "Come and I will help you." +Unwillingly, the people made way and the man crawled toward Jesus. +Something was wrong with his legs. A hush settled over the crowd when +Jesus spoke. "Your greatest need is not to be free from pain--it is to +be rid of sin. Repent and turn back to God. Believe my word and you +shall enter the Kingdom of God!" Jesus stooped and laid his hand on the +man lying before him. + +"O Father," he prayed, "heal this man of his suffering, in order that he +may know thy truth and enter thy Kingdom." Jesus straightened up and +held out his arms to all the people. "Come to me, all of you who labor +and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest!" + +The disciples felt the power of their Master as they heard him call on +the people to repent. They had never known anyone like him; they had +never heard a message like his. Again and again they heard Jesus say: +"Do you understand why you have been healed? This is a sign that the +power of God has come among you." + +It was after midnight when the last person left. Jesus was very tired. +He looked at the black sky. There was no moon. The stars shed a faint +light on the hills above Capernaum. Jesus turned to Simon. "It is time +to rest." He went into the house. + +"The people had no fear of evil night spirits," remarked James. + +"They know he has power over them," commented Simon. + +In the morning, long before dawn, Jesus rose in order to pray outside +the city. A few yards from Simon's home the street dwindled to a path, +and Jesus had to push through the stiff, dry grass which grew knee-high +all over the hillside. As he climbed, he walked around large rocks. When +he reached the crest of the hill, Jesus stood for a long while gazing +down at Capernaum, barely visible in the starlight. There was a little +breeze from the east. It smelled of both lake and desert. + +The memory of the sick and lame people filled Jesus with sorrow. Some of +these people really thought that everything would be all right if their +bodies could be healed! What a terrible mistake! Had they understood +what he had told them? + +Would they realize that they were thinking only of themselves? Perhaps +their lives were too cluttered with little hopes and ambitions to see +the will of God. How dearly they loved worthless things! Jesus found a +hollow where the bushes sheltered him from the wind and knelt to pray. + +Dawn was turning the gray sky to blue when Simon was aroused from sleep +by the noise of a crowd outside his house. He dressed hastily. + +"Where is the Healer?" shouted the people. Simon waved his hand for +silence. + +"He is not here." His words were instantly drowned by a hundred voices. +"Where is he?" everyone demanded at once. + +"I don't know where he is," answered Simon. + +"Will he be back? Where did he go?" + +Simon knew he would never succeed in sending them away. Andrew came out +of the house. + +"Do you think we could find him?" asked Simon. + +"We can try," answered Andrew, smiling wryly. Without explaining their +plan to the people, they set out toward the hills. Some of the people +tried to follow, but Simon gruffly sent them back. + +The two men followed a faint path toward the top of the hill. For about +a mile they walked, searching the slopes on both sides of them. "We may +not find him at all," remarked Simon. At that moment Andrew caught sight +of a patch of white ahead of them. + +"Is he up there?" + +Simon began to run. Jesus was kneeling in prayer. Andrew had seen a +corner of his woolen robe against the dark bushes. + +"Rabbi!" panted Simon. "Everyone is looking for you!" + +He had interrupted Jesus' prayer, but Jesus was not offended. "I am not +going back to Capernaum." + +"But, Rabbi," protested Simon, "hundreds of people need you. They are in +pain. What will they do without you?" + +"I must go to the other villages of Galilee and preach the news of the +Kingdom there too," replied Jesus. + +"But, Master, your word is the only help these people have ever had." He +realized that Jesus had fully made up his mind to go. "Think of the +blind and the crippled!" he cried desperately. "What will become of +them?" + +Jesus answered with firm conviction. "Simon, they have heard the news +that God has come to them. I have a greater work than healing the sick +bodies--my work is to proclaim to everyone the message which gives them +a whole new life! This is why God has sent me! I must go on to the +cities of Galilee!" + +Simon and Andrew knew they could not change their Rabbi's mind, so at +his command they returned to Capernaum and prepared for a trip through +Galilee. At noon the disciples left Capernaum, carrying only a small +amount of food, and met Jesus outside the city. Jesus knew it was hard +for Simon to leave his wife and children. + +By late afternoon they had reached Tarichaea, a town smaller than +Capernaum, about six miles south on the shore of the Lake of Galilee. +Here lived many rich men who owned the fertile farms on which all +Galilee depended for wheat. There was also a large fish business, +because in Tarichaea fish were salted and sold to men who came to buy +food for the Roman army. + +The market place was busy when Jesus arrived with the disciples, and a +group of people quickly gathered to hear him teach. A young man in fine +clothing joined the circle around Jesus. The disciples immediately +recognized that he was a member of the party of the Pharisees because he +wore large tassels on his robe. During a pause in the discussion he +asked a question which Simon thought must have been troubling him for +some time. + +"Good Teacher," he asked, "you have told these others how to enter the +Kingdom of God. Now what must I do to inherit eternal life?" + +Jesus looked at the young man keenly. "Why do you call me 'good'?" he +asked. "Only God is good." Then his tone softened. "You know the +commandments--do not commit adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not +speak lies--if you obey the law of God you possess eternal life." + +The disciples looked at the young man with the greatest respect. Here +was a really religious man! A Pharisee who kept all the Law--what more +could God require? And he was rich. Did that not prove he had pleased +God? + +"But, Teacher," replied the young man, "I have obeyed every one of these +laws perfectly since I was a child. But somehow ... it is not enough. I +am not satisfied." + +John was puzzled. _This man should be happy_, he thought. _I was just a +poor fisherman, but this man seems to have everything._ The other +disciples also wondered what Jesus could say to the young man. + +"You lack just one thing," said Jesus. "You must get rid of all your +possessions. Sell your property. Go and give your money to the poor. +Come and be my disciple." + +Shock and disappointment came over the young man's face. "I can't do a +thing like that!" he exclaimed. "Why should I give my money away?" + +"You must sell all that you have and give to the poor," insisted Jesus. +"If you want eternal life, you must put God first. If you go on clinging +to the things you own, no matter how little you may keep back, you will +never find the Kingdom of God." + +"But God gave me my money," protested the young Pharisee. "Is he not the +one who gives all good things? Why should you ask me to get rid of +things he himself has given me?" The disciples felt that his argument +was logical. "I have kept every detail of the religious rules," +continued the young man. "I even keep two fasts instead of one! I never +break the Sabbath. Don't you think I have earned eternal life?" + +Jesus answered simply; he did not argue. "Any man who wishes to enter +the Kingdom must seek the will of God above every other goal. Where a +man's treasure is, there is his heart also. You have not given yourself +to Him. You trust in your possessions and in your good deeds." + +_This is unreasonable!_ thought the young man. He turned and left. Yet +the longing to be sure he had pleased God was strong still. "That is no +solution!" he insisted, arguing within himself. "God cannot ask me to +give up things he has given me. People turn from sins--not from their +good deeds!" But he could not forget Jesus' demand: "Repent! You love +your own riches more than you love God. Repent!" + +Jesus looked sorrowfully after the young man. "How difficult it is for a +rich man to enter the Kingdom!" he exclaimed regretfully. "It is easier +for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to +give himself to God!" + +The disciples listened astonished. Finally Simon blurted out: "But, +Master, if he cannot be saved, who can? He is a good man!" + +Jesus answered with the deepest feeling: "Simon, with man it is +impossible. But with God--all things are possible!" + +"Well," said Simon, "if giving up things is the answer, we ought to have +eternal life. We have given up everything!" There was bitterness in his +voice, and everyone knew he was thinking of his children in Capernaum. + +Jesus felt great sympathy for Simon, and his answer was very gentle. +"Yes, Simon, you have given up much. But you need not fear--a man who +gives up his home and his property for my sake will never be sorry. He +will receive back a hundred times over the eternal gifts which God gives +those who love him. Many who now are rich will be the last in God's +Kingdom; but those who are poor for my sake will be the very first in +his Kingdom!" + +That night the disciples stayed in Tarichaea. They did not argue any +more about what Jesus had told the rich Pharisee, but they were more +troubled by these words than by anything else Jesus had said. His +teachings seemed against everything they had ever learned! + +The next day, as the band of men walked with Jesus toward Nazareth, +Simon brought up the question. "Teacher," he said earnestly, "I don't +understand why you talked to that young Pharisee as you did. He was +very sincere. The Pharisees do more to obey God than any others and this +young man looked to me as though he tried even harder than most. God had +even given him riches as a reward for his goodness! And yet you said he +had to get rid of all his wealth in order to enter the Kingdom of +Heaven!" Simon could hardly find words to express his strong feelings. +"I needed to repent, but why should he? He was already a good man!" + +James summed up the thoughts of them all: "Rabbi, if a man as good as +that can't enter the Kingdom, how can anyone?" + +Jesus said: "Simon, I want to tell you a story. Two men went up to the +Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee--like the young man we talked with +yesterday. The other was a tax collector, who had been dishonest. + +"The Pharisee stood by himself, a distance away from the ordinary folk +who went in and out of the Temple, and prayed this way: 'God, I thank +thee that I am not like other men--thieves, rogues, and immoral--like +that taxgatherer over there. You know I am a good man. I fast twice a +week and pay tithes of all my money.' + +"But the taxgatherer," continued Jesus, "went off in a corner where he +could hide from people. He wouldn't even lift up his eyes as he prayed. +Rather, he hung his head and beat his breast in the deepest shame and +said, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'" + +The disciples did not seem to understand, so Jesus said: "The +taxgatherer left the Temple accepted by God. But not the Pharisee! He +trusted in his own goodness rather than in God. If he had been humble, +like the taxgatherer, God could have forgiven him." + +"But I don't see what that has to do with the young Pharisee," protested +James. "He was not dishonest! Why should he be ashamed?" + +"This young ruler was like the Pharisee in the Temple," replied Jesus. +"He was so confident of his own goodness that he could not see how far +he was from what God wants him to be." + +"But, Master," urged Simon, "look at the things that the Pharisees do! +They educate our children in religion in the synagogue schools. They +never have anything to do with the Sadducees or priests who take money +from the Romans. They study the Scriptures more than anyone else; don't +these things count for anything?" + +"Men may do all these things and yet have no real faith in God," +answered Jesus. "The Kingdom of Heaven comes to men who love God above +everything else. There was something that meant more to that young man +yesterday than God--and that was his money. Other men depend on other +things; whatever they are, they must get rid of them. Even the most +upright Pharisee must forget his pride in goodness and trust God as +simply as a little child." + +John shook his head doubtfully. "The people will never understand that," +he said. "Even though the Pharisees are often very snobbish, they are +the best people in our nation." + +Jesus suddenly became grim. "The whole religion of the Pharisees sets +them against the Kingdom of Heaven!" + +The men looked at him in surprise. "But Master," urged James, "we need +them to help us set up the new Kingdom! They are more loyal to God than +anyone else. Besides, we can do nothing without their friendship." + +"I know them, James," answered Jesus. "Men who are sure of themselves +will never welcome what we have to tell them!" + +John shook his head but said no more. This was not his idea of the way +the Kingdom would come. The disciples felt sure Jesus could not mean all +he said. But two days later they realized they were wrong. Jesus had +meant every word. + +After a short trip through lower Galilee, the men arrived in Nazareth +where Jesus had lived until a few months before. His mother and brothers +were still there, but Jesus stayed outside the town until Sabbath +morning and then went with them to the synagogue. + +The rumors of Jesus' miracles had spread through all Galilee, and when +Jesus entered the synagogue many people looked at him curiously. He saw +many people he knew. There was the woman who had lived next to them for +twenty years and who was a special friend of his mother's; there were +several young men whom he knew well. He smiled across the congregation +at one young man who had helped him in the carpenter shop after his +father Joseph had died, when Jesus was forced to support the family. + +The minister of the synagogue, an old friend of Jesus', invited him to +lead the service. After the prayers, he sat down at the desk in the +center of the synagogue and opened the scroll to the Prophet Isaiah. + +Looking into the faces of many people who had known him from boyhood, +Jesus knew it would not be easy to tell them about the Kingdom. He read +the same passage he had read in Capernaum: "The Spirit of the Lord is +upon me, for he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor. He +has sent me to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for +the blind. He has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim the +year of the Lord's blessing." + +Jesus rolled up the scroll. Everyone waited for him to speak. "Today," +he declared, "these words of the Prophet Isaiah have come true right +here. God has sent his Holy Spirit upon me to tell you that he is now +among you. If you truly know that you need God, your ears will be open +to hear this word from him; but if you are proud, you will be deaf. Put +your entire trust in God and seek his will! I declare to you that God's +Kingdom is not far in the future; God has brought it to your door!" + +He paused and looked from person to person. "Who would have thought +Joseph's son would turn out so well?" whispered one of the elders to a +neighbor. + +"He does speak with ease," replied his friend, a grudging note in his +voice. + +"If we could see him do a miracle, we should know for sure whether he is +all he claims," said the elder. + +From the very first, Jesus had known that the people of Nazareth would +find it hard to believe in him. Looking at the elders, he said: "No +doubt you are ready to say to me, 'Do for us here in your own home town +the things you have been doing in Capernaum.' But prophets are never +accepted by the people of their own country. There were many Jewish +widows who needed Elijah's help when the great famine came over all +Israel, but God did not send him to any of them--they would not believe +in him. He sent him to a widow in Sidon, a gentile! + +"Elisha could have found many Jewish lepers who needed to be healed, but +not one of them was made clean. They would not believe in him! Rather, +he healed Naaman, a Syrian and a gentile!" + +A deathly silence settled over the synagogue. They were not as good as +gentiles! Gentiles, who were unclean outsiders! A carpenter's son +telling them that God would pass them by for gentiles! The men began to +murmur angrily. Jesus' voice rang out: "How can I do great deeds among +you when you do not really believe God at all?" + +Open anger swept through the synagogue. "How dare he talk like this to +us?" demanded one man, leaping to his feet. All over the room men began +to crowd toward the front where Jesus stood. + +"Let us have order here!" The minister could hardly make his voice +heard. A group of men rushed toward Jesus, who did not even step back. +"Over the cliff with him!" shouted someone. In a moment they were +shoving and hustling Jesus toward the door, yelling, "Over the cliff +with him!" + +Carrying Jesus with them, the crowd moved swiftly toward a place outside +the town where the hill dropped straight down. Then a peculiar thing +happened. The men seemed suddenly to realize what they were doing. This +was Mary's son! The son of Joseph, the carpenter who for many years had +made yokes for their oxen. + +Wrath seemed to melt away. The men let go of Jesus' robe. They seemed +almost afraid of him. None laid a hand on him as he walked through the +mob which only a moment before had wanted to kill him. + +An instant after Jesus was gone, anger again came over the men like the +backwash from an ocean wave. Some shook their fists in the direction +Jesus had gone, but not one had the courage to follow. + +The disciples did not attempt to follow Jesus. They were glad that no +one in the town knew them, and they wasted no time in leaving. They all +realized that men who were afraid of Jesus might take out their anger on +his followers. It was late that night before the disciples found one +another and started to hunt for their Master. + +Jesus had left the city and climbed to a high ridge where he had loved +to go as a boy. Now he looked down on the broad valley of Esdraelon, +stretching south to the foothills of Samaria, where so many of the great +battles of ancient Israel had been fought. Had he not always felt that +someday he would be rejected by his own home town? + +Nevertheless, Jesus was not scorned by everyone in Nazareth. A few +people remembered the place he loved and they came to him there. They +were not rich people, and there were no elders from the synagogue among +them. They were the sick and crippled; they were people for whom life +was hard, and they believed the word which Jesus had spoken to them. The +disciples found him teaching and healing these few. + +"These have heard my word," said Jesus to the followers. "To them the +Kingdom is given." The disciples listened to Jesus telling the poorest +folk of Nazareth the news of the Kingdom. When they left, Jesus spoke +very plainly to the disciples. + +"Why are you so discouraged?" he asked. "Have we not preached the gospel +of the Kingdom here?" + +"They turned us out!" burst out James. "They laughed at us! They tried +to kill you!" + +Simon was bitter. "We should never come near this miserable village +again. We might have been killed!" + +"If men are to enter the Kingdom of God, they must repent," answered +Jesus. "It cuts them to the heart to confess that they have forgotten +God and his righteousness. They hate us for teaching them the truth +about themselves." + +The disciples sat in gloomy silence. Simon gazed out over the plains +below. Here through many defeats in battle the Jews had paid the price +of their sin--but Israel had not yet learned. Still the nation spurned +the prophets whom God sent. Would the Kingdom never come? + +[Illustration] + + + + +5. WHO IS THIS CARPENTER? + + +After their harsh experience at Nazareth, the disciples were prepared +for other disappointments. Before they entered the next town on their +journey through Galilee the men talked soberly, a little fearfully, +about what might happen. But, one after another, the villages of Galilee +welcomed Jesus. The common people listened eagerly to the news that he +proclaimed, and many believed. The disciples began to forget that Jesus +had been driven out of Nazareth. + +Late one Friday afternoon just before the Sabbath began, Jesus led the +disciples into Chorazin, a town crowded in by the steep walls of a +valley north of Capernaum. A full hour before sunset the hills to the +west threw deep shadows over the village. It was cooler than Capernaum, +thought Simon. Soon he would be home with his wife and children! But he +was as glad as the others to rest in Chorazin over the Sabbath. They had +traveled all week, pausing only to tell the good news in the towns they +had passed through, and they were very tired. + +The men rose the next morning greatly refreshed, ready to worship at the +synagogue. They were sure Jesus would be asked to teach. Most of the +disciples expected the people to receive Jesus gladly, but Simon could +not forget the last time they had been in a synagogue--at Nazareth. It +was in the market places and on the streets, Simon remembered, not in +the synagogues, that Jesus had been most gladly welcomed. + +As soon as they entered the synagogue, Simon decided that the whole town +must have seen them arrive the night before; everyone was expecting +them. Invited by the minister of the synagogue, Jesus took his place +behind the desk on the low platform in the center of the room, and read +from the Prophets. Then he told the people very plainly that God was +among them in great power; that they must immediately give up everything +that kept them from understanding God's purpose and devote their lives +to him. Both the people and the elders listened closely, and Simon was +not surprised when many people gathered around Jesus as soon as the +service was over. The minister and the elders asked many serious +questions, and Simon saw that they were very sincere. The things Jesus +had said disturbed them deeply. No one noticed a very short woman +quietly walking up behind the men who surrounded Jesus. + +When at last there were no more questions, Jesus turned to go. The men +stepped back. For the first time, Jesus saw the woman. Shyly she moved +away. Instantly he realized why she had come. Her back was terribly +bent. + +"Do not be afraid," he said to her encouragingly; "come here!" She +hesitated. + +_Does he realize that this is the Sabbath?_ Simon thought in alarm. + +As though he were alone with the woman, Jesus laid his hand on her +twisted back and raised his eyes in prayer: "Father, I thank thee that +thou hearest me when I pray. Set this woman free, I beseech thee, from +the deformity which has bent her body these many years. This I ask in +order that she may know that thou hast sent me with thy message of +life." While Jesus was praying, Simon glanced at the elders of the +synagogue. + +They were utterly amazed at what Jesus was doing. _Doesn't this Nazarene +know this is the Sabbath?_ wondered the minister. + +Jesus had finished. He said, "You are freed from your infirmity." She +stood up straight. "May God be praised!" she exclaimed. There were tears +of joy in her eyes. + +"God's blessing on you. Rabbi!" The woman's friends had been watching +from the balcony and now they ran down to the main floor of the +synagogue and gathered around her. + +Amazed and outraged, the minister looked from the woman to Jesus and +back again. Angrily he turned to the people. "The Law says there are six +days in each week for work. That means there are six days for getting +healed. What more do you need? Why do you come on the Sabbath?" + +Simon glanced at Jesus and almost shivered. Jesus had seen the distress +and embarrassment of the woman. "You hypocrite!" The man cringed. He had +not imagined Jesus would dare speak to him like this. "Do you scold this +woman for coming to be healed on the Sabbath? Every single one of you +will lead your ox to water as soon as you get home. If that isn't work, +what is?" His scorn bit into the elders like a whiplash. "You say the +Law allows you to give your cattle water. Hasn't this woman the right to +be healed? For eighteen years her body has been twisted. She is a child +of Abraham! Isn't she more important than any animal?" Jesus looked +right through the men. They felt like fish wriggling on a spear. + +The friends of the woman stole triumphant glances at the elders. Simon +knew Jesus was getting into trouble, but it made no difference: his +Master was right! + +Without another word, Jesus strode out of the synagogue. The people left +in the room felt suddenly cold, and all but the elders hastened away to +their homes. + +Hardly wishing to look at one another, the elders sighed and sat down. +It was not just that they were angry. They were baffled by what Jesus +had said. Their respect for the Sabbath rule was sincere; they believed +it was the most important regulation in the entire Jewish Law. No one +who disobeyed it, they were certain, could possibly love God. "Never in +my life have I seen such a fanatic!" exclaimed the minister finally. + +"He is dangerous," agreed another. "What will happen to our religion if +the people begin to think that they don't need to keep the Sabbath?" + +"We must tell the people how serious a matter this is," said the +minister. "I am going down to Capernaum tomorrow. I will stop and talk +to our friend Symeon. He may know about this Jesus. Perhaps he can tell +us what we ought to do." + +At the inn where they were staying, the disciples were gloomy and +silent. They were worried about the dispute with the elders; but they +were troubled also about the thing Jesus had done that morning. Jesus +knew that he had perplexed them, and he was not surprised when the next +day, on the road down to Capernaum, Simon spoke up. + +"Master, we would like to ask a question," said Simon. The others +gathered closely around. "Moses told us at Mount Sinai, 'Remember the +sabbath day, to keep it holy.' He told us never to work on the Sabbath. +Yet, Rabbi, you healed the woman on the Sabbath. We _do_ believe she is +more important than any animal--but still. Rabbi, you did break the +Sabbath rule! Do you want the Sabbath forgotten? Do you intend to cast +out all the laws and rules?" Simon's tense voice told Jesus he was +deeply disturbed. The other disciples looked at Jesus gravely. + +"I have not come to destroy the Law," he answered. "Rather, I am showing +you what it really means to obey the Law." + +"But you did heal the hunchbacked woman on the Sabbath, didn't you?" +persisted Simon. + +"Unless you obey the Law better than these men who make the Sabbath so +important, you can never enter the Kingdom of Heaven," replied Jesus. + +"We don't think they are right. Master," explained Simon. "We think that +the woman was more important than the animals, which they feed and water +on the Sabbath. But...." Jesus knew Simon was not satisfied. + +"Even though the Pharisees are very careful about little things," said +Jesus, "that does not mean that they know what God asks of them. They +obey the Sabbath rule--but inwardly they have forgotten justice and +mercy. They all know that it is wrong to kill another Jew. But much more +is required than that: if you even hold a grudge against another person, +you have no right to pray to God. The Pharisees give much attention to +small rules and forget the important things." + +"This seems so new," said Simon. "I don't understand very well." + +"I have only told you what Moses and the Prophets taught," replied +Jesus. "The meaning of their words has been forgotten, even though the +Pharisees talk about them a great deal." + +"But don't you think we are likely to get into trouble if we speak out +like this in public?" urged Andrew. "We can teach the people, but I +don't think we need to be so harsh with the Pharisees and the elders of +the synagogues. We ought to be careful. The Pharisees are really good +people and we must not offend them. How can we preach the good news to +the people if we do? When we go to the synagogues, I think it is much +safer to keep quiet." + +Jesus watched the men listening to Andrew and knew why they agreed. He +knew the inward emptiness of fear--fear of a future they could not know. +Andrew was right; their peril was increasing every day. But Jesus shook +his head. "My followers," he said, "do not think that I was sent to +bring peace to this nation. I came to bring strife. It cannot be any +other way. Men enter the Kingdom of God only through conflict and pain." + +When the disciples arrived in Capernaum on the day after the Sabbath, +they heard a report that dismayed them: John the Baptizer had been +thrown into prison by King Herod. They found out about it through one of +his followers who had come to Capernaum to find Jesus and was waiting +for them at Simon's home. The man's name was Jacob. Andrew and John +remembered him as one of the Baptizer's most loyal disciples. + +"What made the king do it?" asked Andrew. + +"John told the king he was doing wrong in the sight of God," replied +Jacob. + +_John is no bolder than Jesus_, thought Andrew. + +Jacob added, "John himself told us just before he was taken prisoner +that we should come to you." + +Andrew turned to Jesus. "What will Herod do to him?" + +"There is no way to tell. We must be prepared to hear the worst." + +"Why did John send you to us?" Simon asked Jacob. + +"Some of us went to him and told him that more people were following +your Master than were following him," answered the man. "He just said to +us: 'Didn't I tell you that I am not the Christ? I am glad that Jesus +has many followers. He must grow even stronger, and I must decrease.' +When he was thrown into prison, I came to you." + +Andrew looked at Jesus and spoke the thought in the minds of them all: +"If we go on proclaiming the gospel, the same thing may happen to us." + +Jesus' answer was firm: "Nothing must stand in our way. We speak for +God." + +Never before had the men felt the strength of Jesus as they did now. +There was not a trace of fear in his actions. He knew that their danger +was increasing every day! And he acted with such authority! Everything +he said or did proved that he knew what he was about. It was his +certainty that convinced the people! + +An event occurred on the second day of their return to Capernaum which +showed the disciples that they might soon share the fate of John the +Baptizer. It did not take many hours for the report to spread through +all Capernaum that Jesus was back in the city. From every corner of the +town came those needing help--not only the sick and lame, but people of +all kinds who were restless and dissatisfied. So many people crowded +into the courtyard of Simon's home that Jesus decided to stand in the +doorway of his room where he could see them all. The porch roof shaded +him. He was about to raise his hand to quiet the people when Andrew +hurried to him. + +"Master," he whispered excitedly, "there are Pharisees and their scribes +outside." + +"Well, bring them in." + +Andrew was amazed. "But, Master, some of them are from Jerusalem!" + +Jesus knew what that meant. Over the crowd he caught Simon's eye. The +fisherman was worried. _From Jerusalem!_ Simon was thinking. _They have +come to see if what we are teaching is against the Law of Moses._ + +Jesus realized that news of his preaching must have traveled to +Jerusalem. He knew that officials of the Pharisees would come to hear +him personally. He expected no friendliness from them; but he was ready. + +He glanced behind him. "There is room for them there. Bring them in." + +Andrew looked anxiously at Jesus. "O Master, don't...." + +Jesus looked at him. "Courage, Andrew! Make certain that they see and +hear everything that happens." + +People stepped back respectfully as the scribes and Pharisees came in. +Jesus paid no special attention. He had turned to the people who stood +before him. + +"I have been sent by God with news," he began. "If you are poor, you can +be rich if you will humble your heart and trust God." + +He saw a man covered with sores. "Are you unclean?" he said, looking at +him. "God will accept you. You are clean in his sight if your heart is +turned toward him. + +"Are you full of fears and worries? Come unto me, all of you that are +burdened in spirit, and I will give you rest." + +There were many outside the house who could not get in because there was +no room. Among them were four men carrying a stretcher. On it lay a man +who was helpless from paralysis. His body had wasted away to skin and +bone. His four friends had heard about Jesus' power, but now they stood +in front of the house in dismay. + +"We can never get in," said one. + +"There's no use waiting until they leave," said another. + +"Let's take him back," said the first, discouraged. + +"No indeed!" The others were determined. "I am sure he will be healed +if we can just find some way to get through," said one of them. + +The fourth man was gazing at a staircase that led up to the roof of the +house next to Simon's home. + +"Look! Why can't we get in that way?" + +In a moment the men had climbed the stairs and stepped across the narrow +space that separated them from the roof of Simon's house. On the porch +under them, they could hear Jesus talking. It took about fifteen minutes +to lift the tile from the porch roof, tie ropes to the stretcher, and +lower the man toward Jesus. + +Everybody stared as the paralyzed man slowly came to rest at the feet of +Jesus. + +"My son!" Jesus' voice could be clearly heard in the hush of the +courtyard. "Your sins are forgiven." + +The statement took everyone by surprise. Andrew saw a scribe whisper to +a friend. + +"Did you hear what he said?" remarked the scribe whom Andrew was +watching. His friend nodded. + +A woman who knew the sick man said: "Is this man paralyzed because he +sinned? He was born this way, wasn't he?" + +"He has been a very good man," answered her husband. + +Jesus turned to the scribes and Pharisees. "Why are you wondering about +what I said? Tell me which is easier, to say to this man, 'Your sins are +forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk'?" + +None tried to speak. Then Jesus said, "'But that you may know that the +Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins'"--he turned to the +sick man--"Get up! Pick up your bed and carry it away!" + +Strength surged into the wasted frame of the paralytic. He rose and did +as Jesus told him. A whisper ran over the crowd. + +The Pharisees and scribes sat silent. Watching them carefully, Simon saw +that they were puzzled. An elderly man, who appeared to be a leader, +whispered to a friend, "He actually claims to forgive sin! God alone can +do that." + +The Pharisees and scribes rose to leave. They walked through the crowd +without looking at the people. When they were outside, the elderly +leader shook his head very gravely. "I had hoped this man would be a +friend of the Law, but I am afraid he is not. 'Your sins are forgiven!' +What a blasphemous thing for a man to dare to say!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +6. THE OLD AND THE NEW + + +"Rabbi, it is a serious mistake for us to mix with outcasts!" Simon was +disturbed. Jesus had summoned a tax collector named Levi to follow him. +On this night the tax collector had asked Jesus and his disciples to +come to his home for dinner. "I know that Levi is different now," +protested Simon, "but we ought not to get mixed up with his old cronies. +We should take him away from that class of people!" + +Jesus came straight to the point. "Don't you want to eat at Levi's home +at all?" + +"No!" Simon answered bluntly. "After all, look who he is! A taxgatherer! +A traitor to our nation! For my part, I want nothing to do with him." +Simon realized that his tone was not respectful. "I am thinking of our +work, Master. People will not listen to us if we eat with those men. The +best people will look down on us!" + +"Levi has sinned," answered Jesus. "That is why we called him to join +us. His friends have sinned. We are going to eat with them because they +need help. And do not forget, Simon, you will be judged by the same +measuring stick that you use on Levi's friends." + +"I am far from perfect. Rabbi," persisted Simon, "but I try to obey the +Law." His tone became bitter. "Anyway, I never worked for King Herod! I +cannot stand the idea of sitting down at the same table with tax +collectors. It might as well be a gang of robbers!" + +"Simon," said Jesus sternly, "before you start looking for the sliver in +Levi's eye you had better dig the tree trunk out of your own." Strongly +rebuked, Simon consented to eat with Levi and his friends, but he was +very unwilling. + +The next day two close friends of Symeon, the most respected citizen of +Capernaum, stopped to visit him. The report of what Jesus had done came +up. + +"What I cannot understand," remarked Symeon, a dignified man of about +sixty, "is how a man who wants to teach religion can actually associate +with such people." + +"For that matter," replied one of his friends, "look at the men who +follow him. They are very common people--fishermen, this tax collector, +and such like--not a Pharisee among them. Not one of them takes religion +seriously." + +"And yet I have heard this Nazarene myself," continued Symeon. "He says +many things that show he knows the Law very well. He knows he should not +eat with people like that Levi!" + +"Did you hear about the healing at the fisherman's house the other day?" +inquired the younger of the two visiting Pharisees. "Some men put a +paralytic in front of the Nazarene while he was teaching. The first +thing he said was, 'Your sins are forgiven.'" The others nodded. + +"The puzzling thing is that this young teacher seems very sincere," said +Symeon. "He really knows a great deal--and no one can deny that he has +great power. The people go out to hear him everywhere. I want to find +out his purpose. I have a suggestion that may help us see what he is +trying to do." The other men looked up. "You may think this is going a +little too far, but I should like to ask him to come to my house." + +"But he is not a keeper of the Law!" protested the young Pharisee. "We +should be as bad as he is, if we were to eat with him." + +Symeon nodded. "I realize that it will not be easy for you, but I think +we should do it. If there is something good in this Nazarene, we should +know it. If he is up to mischief.... Anyhow, I don't see how we can +understand him unless we talk to him." The others said nothing, and +Symeon took their silence for consent. "Of course," he added, "we will +not invite the others--the fishermen and that tax collector. That would +be too much! But I think it would be all right to have the Nazarene here +just once." + +When Jesus told the disciples that he was going to the home of Symeon, +Andrew was pleased. "I guess we have not offended the Pharisees too +badly after all," he exclaimed enthusiastically. + +Simon too was relieved. "I hope. Master," he said, "that you will +explain why we ate with Levi." + +Jesus said very little. It was natural for fishermen and workers to want +the approval of the most respected citizens of Capernaum. Yet Jesus knew +how little the Pharisees cared for people like his own disciples. + +There were many guests in Symeon's home, for this was the season of the +New Year and every Jew left the door of his home open for any visitor +who cared to enter. During the meal, both friends and strangers +continued to come into the room, but Symeon was listening intently to +Jesus as they conversed about religion. + +"The men who obeyed God in past times were not the rich and the +powerful," Jesus was saying. "Very often our nation has listened to +God's voice only after defeat in war. When men know they are weak, they +turn to God." + +"Is this your purpose in going about and preaching to the people of +Galilee?" asked Symeon. Everyone listened for the answer. + +"I am sent to tell our people that God is their rightful King. His power +is present among us," answered Jesus plainly. "But most of you will not +take my message seriously. You trust other gods, and your hearts are +hard." + +The Pharisees looked at one another. Some were puzzled, others offended. +"But surely you misunderstand us. We keep the Law very carefully," said +Symeon. + +"If you are really a teacher sent from God, how can you mix with +outcasts?" The young Pharisee's question was blunt. + +"I am not here to call the righteous to repent," answered Jesus, his +eyes accusing the young man. "I am here to call sinners!" Irony came +into his voice. "People who are healthy don't need a doctor. It is the +sick who need help. It is to them that I am sent." + +The room was tense, but before anyone could ask another question, +Symeon's attention was drawn away. He glanced around the room. It +sounded as though someone were weeping! He examined the shadowy corners +where the light of the candles did not reach. At that moment a woman +stepped swiftly toward Jesus and dropped to her knees. + +Jesus turned and looked at her. He had not known she was hiding in the +darkness behind him. Her tears fell on his feet. She loosed the cord +that tied her hair. With its long waves she gently wiped Jesus' feet. + +Symeon, usually dignified, was irritated. "What kind of nonsense is +this?" he asked as he rose from his couch. + +Jesus turned to him. "Do not rebuke her," he requested. _That is the +trouble with leaving the door open_, thought Symeon. _Women like this +are bound to get in_. Everyone there knew her. She had a bad reputation +in the city. Symeon felt humiliated to have such a person in his house. +_This Nazarene certainly knows all the worst people_, reflected the +young Pharisee cynically. + +Suddenly a lovely fragrance filled the room. The woman had broken open a +bottle of precious perfume and recklessly poured every drop on Jesus' +feet. + +_Such waste!_ thought Symeon angrily, realizing what she had done. _I +wonder if the Nazarene has any idea where she got the money to buy this +oil!_ But he said nothing because he was very polite. + +Jesus turned to his host. "Symeon," he said, "I have something to say to +you." + +"What is it, Teacher?" asked the Pharisee. + +"There was once a man who loaned money," said Jesus. "One of his debtors +owed him two hundred and fifty dollars; another owed him twenty-five +dollars." The guests were listening closely. "Neither of these men could +pay back the money, so the lender said to both of them: 'I forgive you +your debts. You don't need to pay me back at all.'" He paused and then +asked, "Now which of these two men would be more grateful?" + +"Why, naturally, the man who owed more money would be more grateful," +replied Symeon without hesitating. + +"Right!" said Jesus. "When I came into your house you didn't even offer +to wash my feet--and everyone does that for his guest! But this woman +has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! + +"You didn't welcome me with a kiss--and everyone greets his guest that +way!" He pointed to the woman. "But she has been kissing my feet. + +"You didn't anoint my head with oil--and everyone does that for his +guest! But this woman has poured precious perfume on my feet!" Jesus' +voice was quiet, but all the Pharisees could sense the force of his +words when he said: "She has committed many sins, but they are all +forgiven and now her heart is full of love." Then Jesus spoke directly +to Symeon and each word seemed to strike him like a blow. "But a man +whose sins are not forgiven has no love in his heart." Then he said very +gently to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." + +Symeon's face burned hot. Never had anyone spoken like this to him! He +was troubled by the suggestion that he was a sinner. All his life he had +done his best to obey the Law. Had he not always prided himself on his +good actions? + +Hurt and confused, Symeon heard a friend beside him whisper, "Did you +hear him say that this woman's sins are forgiven?" Abruptly Symeon +looked up at the man. He was right! It was an outrage for anyone to say +such a thing as this! + +"You have no reason to be sorrowful," Jesus was saying to the woman. +"Your faith has saved you." + +Symeon stood up, his shame forgotten. Why had he ever let this person +disturb him? Anyone who talked this way was a heretic and a blasphemer, +nothing better! Only God could forgive sin. They all knew the truth +about this Jesus now: such a man was dangerous to all true religion. As +a Pharisee who loved the Law, he would have to do all he could to keep +him from deceiving the people. + +Jesus said nothing to the disciples about the events of the evening in +Symeon's house. But two days later, while buying food, Andrew and John +heard a rumor which they discovered later came from Symeon. "Should we +tell the Master?" wondered John. + +"We must." Andrew was positive. They made a quick trip to Simon's home, +left their food, and hurried out to the shore of the lake. As usual, a +large group of listeners surrounded Jesus. "We shall have to wait until +we can talk to him alone," said Andrew. + +A man whom the disciples had never seen before was questioning Jesus. +"Rabbi, why do the Pharisees and the followers of John the Baptizer fast +while your disciples pay no attention to the fasting rule?" Andrew and +John exchanged startled glances; this was it! + +Jesus answered very clearly. "Tell me," he asked, "do the friends of +people who are getting married fast on the wedding day?" + +"Of course not. That is a time for rejoicing, not fasting." + +"Right," answered Jesus. "While the bridegroom is with his friends they +are not sorrowful. But a time comes when he leaves them. There is time +enough then to fast." + +"But, Rabbi," protested the man, "the Pharisees say it is a serious sin +not to fast." + +"Listen to what I say," said Jesus. "If you have an old coat with a hole +in it, do you patch it with a brand-new piece of cloth?" + +"No, of course not." + +"Why not?" asked Jesus. + +"As soon as the new piece is wet by the rain," answered a woman very +quickly, "it shrinks and tears the cloth of the old coat." + +Jesus said, "If you try to add something new to the old, the new +destroys the old, doesn't it?" + +"What do you mean by that?" asked the first man after a moment's +thought. + +"Listen again. When you make new wine, do you pour it right into a dry, +stiff wineskin that has been used before?" The people stored wine in +whole goatskins, tied up tightly at the legs and neck. + +"Of course not." + +"Why not?" + +"Because as soon as the wine begins to ferment it stretches the skin +tight. New wine is powerful enough to rip an old bag to pieces!" + +"Do you understand now what I am telling you?" asked Jesus. "Never try +to put new wine in old skins. The old cannot hold the new. The gospel of +the Kingdom of God asks you to do much more than just keep the fasts." + +"The Pharisees don't say that," said the man doubtfully. "I don't know +who is right. It is a serious thing not to keep the Law of Moses." + +"Do you know what you remind me of?" Jesus said. "I saw some children in +the market this morning who couldn't decide what they wanted to do. Some +wanted to play that they were at a wedding; others, that they were at a +funeral. When they piped wedding music, the ones who wanted a funeral +wouldn't dance. And when they piped funeral music, the others quit. It +was impossible to please them all. + +"You and your teachers are like children who are never satisfied. John +the Baptizer came and fasted often--and you said he had a demon. Now I +come eating and drinking like other men and you call me a glutton and a +drunkard. You accuse me of being friendly with tax collectors and other +sinners. But what we do will prove to be right!" + +When the crowd broke up, Andrew and John walked back to Capernaum with +Jesus. "Someone had been talking to the man who asked that question," +declared Andrew. + +"Yes, I know," answered Jesus. "We must expect the Pharisees to +criticize us. How careful they are to keep every little command of the +rabbis--but justice, mercy, and kindness they forget. They would strain +a gnat out of their soup and swallow a camel whole!" The disciples had +to smile at the way Jesus put it. "They cannot understand what we are +saying. We offend them--and when you offend men who take their religion +very seriously, you must be ready for real trouble!" + +The next Sabbath Day the disciples realized that the Pharisees were not +going to stand by while Jesus taught the people a new way of life. Jesus +had traveled to a small town near Capernaum where he had not been before +and so he was invited to speak in the synagogue. Several Pharisees were +present and very much interested in what Jesus said. They seemed +friendly, and after the service went walking with Jesus and a few other +people who clustered around Jesus. The group passed through a field of +grain outside the town. James and Levi were hungry, so they pulled the +tops off some wheatstalks. They rubbed the heads of wheat in their hands +and blew away the chaff. The Pharisees seemed offended by this, but at +first they said nothing. Other people saw what the disciples were doing, +and they plucked wheat too. The Pharisees became more and more disturbed +and finally could keep back their protests no longer. They came to +Jesus. + +"Rabbi, we noticed that some of the men here were pulling wheat," one of +them said tactfully. + +Jesus said: "They are hungry. It is all right for them to pick wheat, +isn't it?" + +"The scribes say it is all right to pick single grains. Rabbi," they +replied, "but these men are rubbing out whole stalks, and that is +against the Sabbath rule." They were sure that Jesus understood. + +"Have you not read in the Bible that David and his warriors took bread +off the sacred table in the Tabernacle when they were hungry?" asked +Jesus. "That was against the rule of Moses--but David did it!" + +The Pharisees were dumfounded. The first almost stammered as he asked, +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that if there was a higher law for David there may also be a +higher law for me and my disciples," answered Jesus plainly. + +"But ... but we do not understand," faltered the Pharisee. "You cannot +set aside a law. No one can. That is impossible. It is part of our +religion. Whoever pays no attention to the Law is an outcast and a +sinner." + +"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," replied Jesus. +"The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." + +The older Pharisee frowned and then flushed red. The muscles in his neck +tightened as he looked at Jesus. "You dare to say such things!" he burst +out. "You do not belong to us. You are an enemy of God!" + +All the way back to Capernaum the disciples talked about what had +happened in the wheat field. "They just keep watching us to see if we do +anything wrong!" protested James. + +"Personally, I don't think they even understand what we are doing," +ventured Andrew. "They never listen to what we say. They act as though +they knew everything about religion." + +"Yes, their kind of religion," remarked James indignantly. "They won't +even speak to a leper! Who is going to go out among the people of our +towns and let them know that God cares for them? Their religion is just +for themselves!" + +"Jesus is the only one who cares about the outcasts," said Simon +earnestly. "No one else does." + +Symeon hoped that Jesus would do something that would prove to everyone +that he did not believe in God. The thought that Jesus might win the +people over to himself struck panic into Symeon's heart. If that should +happen, something desperate might have to be done. Meanwhile, however, +he and a few others who knew how dangerous Jesus was had decided to +wait. + +On the next Sabbath Day, the whole matter came out into the open. As +usual, most of the Jews in Capernaum--common people and Pharisees, along +with Jesus and the disciples--came to the synagogue at the hour of +worship. The moment Simon and Andrew entered they saw that there would +be trouble: there was a man present with an arm made lame from +dropsy--and they knew Jesus would surely heal him if he asked. The +synagogue was crowded. The people bowed respectfully as Symeon and the +leading men of the town entered, but they smiled when they had passed: +Jesus was there, and they too had seen the man with the lame arm. + +"Do you think he would dare to heal him?" one of the Pharisees whispered +to Symeon. + +"I hardly believe he will," replied Symeon. "To break the Sabbath law +right in the synagogue would be a direct attack on religion." + +At that moment the lame man went to where Jesus sat. Instantly the room +was quiet. Everyone knew the charge against Jesus: that he broke the Law +of God deliberately. + +Jesus looked at the man and said, "Will you come with me?" He led the +man to the front of the synagogue where he could speak to the elders and +Pharisees. + +"I ask you," demanded Jesus, "is it right to help or to hurt on the +Sabbath Day? Should one save a life?" The men said nothing. + +"Is there a single one of you that would leave a sheep in a ditch all +day long if it fell in on Sabbath morning?" Everyone knew the rule: A +farmer was permitted to save a sheep on the Sabbath. + +"Well, isn't a man worth more than a sheep?" + +The question was clear to every listener: Which was more important, the +Sabbath rule or this man's need? Simon smiled, but the Pharisees felt +differently. Symeon could hardly contain himself. He wanted to rise up +and cry out to everyone that these were trick questions; that this bold +Nazarene was trying to tear down the sacred Law of God himself; that +religion itself would be destroyed if he succeeded. But he sat still and +said nothing. + +Jesus turned to the man. "Stretch out your arm," he said gently. + +The instant the man obeyed, his withered arm became as strong as the +other. A murmur of awe went over the congregation. Symeon rose and +strode out of the synagogue, followed by the religious officials of +Capernaum. Outside, Symeon turned to the others and declared firmly: "We +must save our holy religion at all costs. He has won over the people +with his trickery, but God is on our side! We must go to King Herod and +ask him to help us put this man out of the way!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +7. MISSIONARIES OF THE KINGDOM + + +It took less than a week for the report that Jesus had defied the +Pharisees to spread throughout all Galilee. Those who most welcomed the +news were the Zealots. For a long time, they had been plotting to rebel +against the Romans, but so far had found no plan that promised to be +successful. They believed that Jesus was the leader for whom they had +been waiting so long. He was brave. He stood up to the officials. He was +popular with the common people. One of their leaders decided to find out +what Jesus intended to do. His name was Simon. Well known in Galilee for +his courage, everyone called him "the Zealot." He made a special trip to +Capernaum that same week and came to Simon's home. Before the week was +past he became a follower of Jesus. But there were many things he found +it hard to understand. + +"Tell me," he asked Simon and James privately, "does the Rabbi intend to +set up the new kingdom now?" + +Simon was cautious. "The Master has said nothing about that." + +The Zealot glanced about to make sure that the door and shutters were +tightly closed. "Do you not know that he could easily persuade the +people to revolt against Herod?" + +James was alarmed. "But we're not ready for that yet." + +Simon gave him a warning glance. He still mistrusted this man. "We plan +to tell everyone in this country our message," he said guardedly. + +"If you are going to establish a free Jewish nation, you must do more +than talk," declared the Zealot. "You should organize!" + +The fishermen looked at each other, doubting how much they should say. +Finally James said vaguely, "We think it won't be much longer." + +"Why can't we do something definite about it?" said the Zealot. + +"Do you really think he could be king of the Jews?" asked James. + +"I'm certain of it!" replied the Zealot. "My people would follow him to +a man!" + +James looked inquiringly at Simon. "I think most of the people would be +favorable, don't you?" + +Simon shook his head doubtfully. "We ought to see what the Master +thinks. King Herod has many Roman soldiers under his command!" + +"Listen, Simon," argued James. "The Master has spent plenty of time +teaching already. Everyone in Galilee has heard about the kingdom." +Simon didn't reply. "He intends to fight eventually," continued James. +"Didn't he say he came to bring conflict and not peace? I think it is +about time to stop talking and get to work!" + +Simon stared at the ground. "Well, one thing is sure," he admitted. "The +Pharisees are all against us. They will keep us out of the synagogues." + +"That is exactly why I think Jesus should openly declare himself king," +affirmed the Zealot strongly. "It is time to go forward!" + +Jesus had told the disciples to wait for him in Capernaum and had gone +to the hills for prayer. He knew his work had reached a turning point. +For several days he remained alone, praying and seeking wisdom from God. +When he returned to Capernaum, he called the disciples together. + +"My followers," he said gravely, when they were gathered about him, +"many times I have told you that the Kingdom of God cannot come without +suffering. Men who hate truth hate anyone who speaks the truth." The men +knew Jesus had made a decision. "The Kingdom of God has been proclaimed +only in Galilee," he continued. "The time has now come to carry the news +to all Palestine!" + +_That means Judea!_ thought James and John at the same time. In +Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were strongest. + +"Rulers will show us no mercy," said Jesus. "God is our only Source of +strength. We must tell the gospel in every village and countryside. We +must not miss a single Jew. You are to be my missionaries to this +nation!" + +The men stirred and glanced at one another. The Zealot vigorously nodded +his approval. No hiding in the hills for them; they were going forward! +Fear mixed with eagerness sent chills through them. + +Jesus rose and stood facing Simon, who went to his knees before him. +Jesus laid his hand on Simon's head and, lifting up his eyes, prayed for +him. He asked the Heavenly Father to strengthen him and to give him the +wisdom and courage he would need for the important task he was about to +undertake. One by one, Jesus blessed each of the twelve men. He knew +them better than they knew themselves and he prayed simply and frankly +for each one. Awe filled them as they listened. The work was so great, +and they were so weak! They were to teach and heal as Jesus himself had +been doing! A new spirit gripped them. + +"Shall we too be able to drive out demons and raise the dead, Master?" +asked Simon. + +"The power of the Kingdom is yours," declared Jesus. "You have both the +right and the power to destroy evil wherever you find it--whether +demons, sickness, or spiritual blindness." + +Then he gave them instructions for the journey that lay before them. +"You are to travel two by two. Preach only to Jews, not to Samaritans or +gentiles, for the time is short. Your work is to seek everywhere the +lost sheep of the people of Israel. Return when this is done. + +"Take only a walking stick and one pair of sandals--neither food nor +money nor extra clothes." + +"How shall we live, Master? Where shall we stay?" asked Simon. + +"When you come to a strange town, find someone who will open his home to +you while you work there," answered Jesus. "Once you have decided with +whom you will stay, do not change. Hold fast to your first friend." + +"What if no one will take us in?" asked Andrew. + +"If you find no one who will help you, leave that town immediately," +answered Jesus. "God will judge any town that will not hear your +message. + +"This is your gospel: Tell all Jews that God has come among us. Tell +them that his power is right now at work. Tell them that he is the ruler +of all who trust him. Warn them to repent and turn to him now." The +disciples realized that they would have to face the people without +Jesus. + +"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves," warned Jesus. "You will +be persecuted. Never put your trust in persons in high positions, for +they will betray you. + +"If you are put in prison and brought into court, do not be anxious +about what you should say. The spirit of God your Father will help you, +and everyone who hears you will learn the good news that God's Kingdom +has come." + +"Master, how shall we ever have strength to do it?" burst out Andrew. + +"Do not be afraid!" Jesus was standing now, ready to bid them farewell. +"God has given you his own power. You carry news of eternal life; you +are doing the work of God's Kingdom!" + +A few days later, one of the Twelve visited Nazareth. He saw the mother +and brothers of Jesus and told them how Jesus was sending missionaries +of the Kingdom to every village in Palestine. Mary was at once fearful. + +"That will put him in great danger," she said nervously. + +"He has already made a big enough fool of himself," remarked one of her +sons rudely. He was a strong young fellow about twenty-five. "The +trouble with him is that people make too much of him." + +"Don't speak that way, Jude," protested Mary. She had spent many +sleepless nights wondering if the rumor could be true that Jesus had +become a fanatic and was not in his right mind. + +"Bah! The only trouble with him is that popularity has gone to his +head!" + +"What should I do, Jude?" asked Mary. "He is bound to get into some kind +of trouble if he goes on like this." + +"Oh, I don't know." Jude wished his mother would stop worrying. "Perhaps +we can make him come home." + +Mary snatched at the suggestion. "Let us go to him right away." She +prepared hastily for the trip, greatly relieved to be doing something +about her strange son Jesus. + +Upon arriving at Capernaum, Mary and Jude went directly to the home of +Simon where they knew Jesus stayed. They found the courtyard crowded. +Mary was dismayed. + +"Don't worry," said Jude. "He will come when I tell him you are here +waiting for him." He began to shove through the tightly packed people. +There were angry murmurs, but Jude paid no attention. As he got farther +into the courtyard he could hear a man shouting angrily. _That's not +Jesus' voice_, he thought. Finally he reached a place where he could see +his brother. + +Behind Jesus stood some of the disciples who had already returned from +their mission. All around him were sick and lame people, but he was not +healing them. He was standing silently before the man whose harsh voice +Jude had heard. The man was completely out of control of himself. Jude +couldn't see why he was so angry, but he thought this must have been +going on for some time. + +"Who is the angry one?" he asked a bystander. + +"Some scribe." + +The scribe had almost run out of breath, but Jesus still said nothing. +Irritated by Jesus' silence, he threw a final accusation at him. + +"You false prophet! You are a complete fake!" + +A man in the crowd suddenly cried out: "He is not false! He tells us the +truth as no man ever did." + +"He has brought healing to many," added another. "How could he do that +if he were not sent from God?" Others nodded. + +The angry scribe turned on the man. "Many magicians can heal and drive +out demons! I can show you a hundred right here in Galilee who can do +anything he can! Bah! This prophet of yours is a fake!" + +The man did not know what to answer. "I'll tell you why he can drive out +demons," snapped the enraged scribe. "I'll tell you! The prince of all +demons has got hold of him! That's why he can do it!" Scornfully he +drove home his point. "Why shouldn't he be stronger than the demons? He +is possessed by Satan himself." + +Simon flushed. The charge was crude and ridiculous. He opened his mouth +to deny it, but he realized he could not. How could he prove the scribe +wrong? Simon's anger turned to shame. + +Jesus' voice was calm and controlled, when at last he spoke. "Would +Satan cast out his own helpers?" he asked the man, coolly. There was a +touch of sarcasm in his voice. "A nation divided within itself will +fall! Has Satan risen up against himself and given me power to destroy +his own power over men?" + +Jude was amazed at the power of his brother's words. This did not sound +as though he were out of his mind! + +Jesus did not give the scribe a chance to reply. "No!" he declared, +speaking now to all the people. "I have no demon. No one can enter a +man's house and take his property without first binding the owner with +ropes. I have power to cast out demons because I have overcome the +prince of all evil!" + +The answer could not be denied. Looking sternly at the scribe, Jesus +said: "I tell you, men will be forgiven all their sins and blasphemies +except one: If you harden yourself against the Holy Spirit, you commit +eternal sin!" Jesus then raised his voice. "By the very finger of God I +cast out demons--and because I have overcome the evil one himself, God +is now ruling among you!" + +An excited woman cried out, "How fortunate your mother is to have such a +son!" + +"The person who is truly fortunate is the one who hears and believes the +Word of God," answered Jesus quickly. + +Jude looked at the woman startled. She had said his mother was +fortunate--but to Mary Jesus was a great worry! Remembering why he had +come, Jude began to push his way toward Jesus. When finally he could +get no farther, he touched the shoulder of a man ahead of him. "Would +you tell the Rabbi that his mother and brothers want to see him +outside?" + +When the man delivered the message to Jesus, the disciples stepped +forward and started to clear a path, but Jesus put out his hand and +stopped them. He looked around at the faces of the loyal men who had +left everything to follow him and at the sick and anxious people sitting +on the hard-packed dirt of the courtyard. + +"Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" The words were gentle, very +different from his tone a moment before. "I tell you, you are my mother +and my brothers! Anyone who does the will of God is my brother, my +sister, my mother! + +"A true missionary of the Kingdom must be willing to give up his own +family for my sake and take the people of God's Kingdom for his family. +Anyone who thinks more of his own mother, wife, or child, than he does +of the Kingdom cannot be my disciple." + +"Master, we have given up everything to follow you," said Simon. + +"You may have to give even your life, Simon," answered Jesus. "Yet great +is your reward in heaven." + +Jude pushed his way out of the courtyard. The first thing he said to his +mother was, "Jesus seems like another person." + +Despair darkened Mary's expression. "Do you mean that what the people +are saying about him is true?" she asked. + +"No, no. I didn't mean that," Jude said quickly. "He is different in +another way. He is ... he is not like us any more." He tried to describe +Jesus but could not. + +"Well, what happened?" Mary was relieved but puzzled. "What did he do?" +Jude then told her all that he had seen from the moment he had entered +the courtyard. She listened, wondering at the son who had left her home +only a few months before. When Jude finished she turned to leave. + +"Wait, mother!" said Jude. "Don't you want to see him?" + +"There is no reason for us to see him, my son," replied Mary quietly. +"He doesn't need us to care for him. This is God's work that he is +doing." That same day Mary returned to Nazareth, filled with wonder at +the things that had happened. + +Not only Mary but the disciples too were amazed at Jesus' power. Even +the Zealot, the most eager to start spreading the news of the Kingdom, +saw how much he needed to learn before attempting to do Jesus' work. At +the table that evening, Simon spoke the feeling of them all. + +"Master, how shall we ever be strong enough to be your missionaries?" + +"Whoever knows God, lives by his power, Simon," answered Jesus. "The +evil one does not rule such men." + +"But I believe in God, Master," said Simon. "Yet I cannot heal anyone." +He paused and then added in a tone of despair, "I could never have +answered that scribe!" + +"Simon, if you had real faith in God--even a tiny grain--you would be +able to do great things." + +"I have prayed many times and still I do not have the strength," said +Simon humbly. + +"Listen to me," said Jesus. "Suppose you were to go to a friend's house +late at night and say: 'Friend, will you lend me three loaves of bread? +A visitor has arrived unexpectedly and I am out of food.' Suppose he +were to answer: 'Don't bother me. I'm in bed and the door is locked. I +can't get up.' What would you do?" + +After a pause, John answered, "Why, you just keep on knocking until he +_does_ get up!" The disciples smiled. + +"True!" said Jesus. "He may not get up because of friendliness, but if +you keep on knocking, he'll give you the bread just to get rid of you! +But God is your friend! Will he not give you what you ask? But you must +not grow weary in asking. + +"In a certain town," he continued, "there was a very unfair judge. He +didn't care about anyone. There was a poor widow in that town who was +being mistreated. Again and again she went to the judge and asked him to +help her--but he never paid any attention. Finally he said to himself: +'I don't care about this woman, but she is becoming a nuisance. Perhaps +if I give her what she wants she will stop pestering me.'" Jesus said +very emphatically, "If this wicked man finally helped a widow because +she kept on asking for justice, won't God, who is good and just, answer +you if you pray sincerely?" + +Simon saw how little real faith he had in spite of all his praying. How +often he had thought to himself. _Now I'll pray and see what happens._ +He had been testing God, not trusting him! + +"O Master," he urged, "won't you teach us to pray as John the Baptizer +taught his disciples?" + +"When you pray, say: 'Our Father in heaven, holy be thy name. Thy +Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'" + +Most of the time, the disciples had to admit, they thought only of +persuading God to do what they wanted. + +"Ask your Heavenly Father, 'Give us today the food we will need to do +our work tomorrow,'" said Jesus. "Anyone who serves God trusts him for +all things he needs day by day. + +"Then you must ask God to forgive you your sins. But if you are not +willing to forgive others, do not think for one moment that God will +forgive you." + +"Master, how often shall someone sin against me and I go on forgiving +him?" asked Peter. "Seven times?" + +"Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven." Jesus paused and then +went on. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who decided to settle his +accounts with his servants. The king ordered one man, with his wife and +children, to be sold into slavery, and all his possessions sold for cash +so that the debt could be met. + +"The servant fell on his knees and begged, 'Master have patience with me +and I will pay you every penny.' Out of pity, the king released him and +forgave him the whole debt. + +"On his way home, the servant met a fellow servant who owed him a very +small sum of money. He grabbed the poor fellow by the throat and +demanded, 'You pay me what you owe me!' The man fell on his knees and +begged, 'Have patience with me and I will pay you.' But he refused. +Instead, he put him into prison until the debt should be paid. The other +servants saw how unfair this was and they told the king what had +happened. + +"The king called for the unjust servant and said: 'You wicked servant! +When you asked, I forgave you all that you owed me--should you not have +been merciful to your fellow servant, as I was merciful to you?' Very +angry, the king threw the unjust man into jail to remain there until his +whole debt was paid. + +"Neither can you be forgiven," concluded Jesus, "unless you forgive +others from your heart." + +After a moment John said: "Do you really think God pays attention to us. +Master? He seems so far away. Oh, I know he watches over the nation--but +I am not sure he cares what happens to me!" + +Jesus nodded toward Simon. "Simon loves his children," he said. "Simon, +if your little son should ask you for a piece of bread, would you give +him a rock to eat? Or if he asked for a broiled fish, would you give him +a poisonous snake instead? Or if he asked for an egg, would you give him +a scorpion with a deadly stinger?" + +"No, of course not!" exclaimed Simon. + +"Well, then, if you can do that much for your children, do you not think +that God will do far more for those who trust him?" + +Jesus lifted his arms to pray. It seemed to Simon that Jesus was praying +specially for him when he asked the Heavenly Father to send the Holy +Spirit upon them all. As they left the place of prayer, Simon and Andrew +dropped behind the others. + +"What I cannot understand," said Andrew, "is how he knows all these +things. Where did he learn it all?" + +"It is strange," agreed Simon. "You would almost think he came down from +heaven, wouldn't you?" + +[Illustration] + + + + +8. HE IS MORE THAN A TEACHER + + +Far away to the south, John the Baptizer was imprisoned in King Herod's +fortress at Machaerus. Through the bars of his tiny window he could see +the green waters of the Dead Sea far below and the rocky hills of Judea +beyond. He did not expect to lie in this dungeon long. At any moment the +Day of Judgment might come; God would send hosts of angels to punish +wrongdoers and to reward his faithful servants. + +John listened intently to the news that his followers brought about +Jesus. They told him all that Jesus did: his demand that all men should +repent; the new teaching about the Kingdom of God which was the talk of +men everywhere. John was amazed at the power Jesus had to heal many sick +people; he was glad when he heard that Jesus was not afraid of the +Pharisees. + +But as days passed, doubts began to creep into the Baptizer's mind. +Could God have chosen this man to deliver His people? John could not +understand why the deliverance did not come. Jesus was training only a +handful of disciples to preach. It would take more than that to bring +God's great day. At last the Prophet sent two messengers to Jesus. + +"Our Prophet, John the Baptizer, has sent us to ask a question," said +the leader. "Are you the One whom God has sent to judge the wicked and +justify the faithful?" + +This very question was stirring in the minds of the disciples. Why did +Jesus not tell them plainly who he was? + +"Are you the Messiah of God?" repeated the man. "Or should we look for +someone else?" + +"You know what I teach," answered Jesus. "You have heard about the +things that I do. Go back to John and tell him that the eyes of the +blind are opened; the lame walk; lepers are cleansed--the good news that +God is present among men is declared to everyone who will listen." + +"But, Rabbi," said the puzzled leader, "what shall we tell the Prophet? +Are you truly the Messiah?" + +"How do you expect to know the Messiah?" asked Jesus. "What will he do +that you will recognize him?" The men did not answer. "Isaiah the +Prophet said: 'Here is my servant, my Chosen One. He will not be loud +and noisy: He will not raise a great shout in public. He will not break +a bent sapling or even blow out the tiniest lamp flame!'" + +The followers of John murmured to themselves. "The Messiah--coming +silently?... You say he won't even break a twig?" The ideas seemed to +escape them, slipping away as soon as they were spoken. + +Andrew was distressed at Jesus' words. "Master, the Messiah is mighty! +He will come from the sky in great glory. How can you say that the +Messiah will come without people even knowing he is among us?" + +Jesus turned to the followers of John the Baptizer and said: "Go tell +John what you have heard. He truly knows the will of God if he +understands these things I have said." + +Impulsively Andrew reached out his hand to stop the men. But then he +drew back: _Jesus had told them to go_. He turned to Jesus the instant +they left and demanded, "How _does_ the Messiah come?" + +"Andrew," replied Jesus patiently, "don't you understand yet what I +mean when I tell you that the Kingdom of God is at hand?" + +Andrew could not hide his disappointment. Jesus knew how hard it was for +his disciple to grasp what he meant. Hopes that he had held for years +were not easy to give up quickly. + +"Then John the Baptizer was wrong?" Andrew's voice was subdued. "The +Messiah will not come with an army of angels to destroy the enemies of +his people?" + +Jesus answered gently. "Among all men, none is greater than John. He was +sent to prepare the way for me. Just the same, the very least person in +the Kingdom is greater than John." + +Andrew sighed. He could not believe Jesus was wrong. And yet it was hard +to be satisfied with a kingdom that did not set the people free from +oppression, even if it was a kingdom of truth and help for the poor. + +"You will soon be sent out to spread the news of the true Kingdom +through this land," said Jesus. "You must find out for yourselves how +great is the power God has sent among you." + +During the week that followed, Jesus led the twelve men through the +country on the other side of the Lake of Galilee. The power of his words +and actions amazed his disciples. Not until the day they returned to +Galilee, however, did the disciples begin to grasp for themselves the +true meaning of what was happening. + +While Jesus was absent from Capernaum with the Twelve, disease struck +down the daughter of a man named Jairus, an elder of the synagogue. +Jairus had strongly disapproved when the high priest ordered the elders +of his synagogue to forbid Jesus to preach there, but he had been unable +to do anything about it. + +The doctors in Capernaum could not help the girl. Jairus was terribly +worried. Then he thought of Jesus. Perhaps this great Teacher could heal +his daughter! His heart sank when Simon's wife told him that Jesus and +the others were in the country of Gadara, across the lake, and that she +did not know when they would be back. + +Every minute that Jairus did not spend at the bedside of the sick child, +he watched the lake for a sign of Jesus' return. Three nights he sat up +with his little girl. As he hastened anxiously to the shore of the lake +on the last morning, he said sadly to himself, "If the Rabbi does not +come today, I shall never see my child alive again." + +Near the lake he caught sight of a crowd of people on the shore and +broke into a run. + +Jesus had just stepped out of the boat. Jairus pushed into the crowd, +thinking only of his dying daughter. He knelt imploringly at Jesus' +feet. + +"O Rabbi! Help me! I am in great trouble!" + +The disciples looked at one another in mild surprise. Was not this one +of the elders of the synagogue? + +"These fellows are much humbler when they want something," remarked +Andrew to John. + +"I know what I'd do if I were in the Master's place," murmured John. + +Jesus instantly sensed the desperate worry that had driven every other +thought from Jairus' mind. "What is it you need?" The disciples felt +that the very tone of Jesus' voice was a rebuke to their vengeful +feelings. + +"My little daughter," said Jairus, brokenly. "At this very moment she is +dying. Please come and pray for her, that she may live, and not die!" + +"We must hurry," said Jesus and started swiftly toward Capernaum. The +people followed closely. The disciples hurried to keep up with Jesus, +but he paid no attention to them. The anxious father stayed close beside +Jesus. + +Suddenly Jesus stopped. "Hurry, Rabbi," begged Jairus earnestly. "She +may not live much longer." But Jesus seemed not to hear. He looked at +the disciples, who were wondering why he had stopped. + +"Who touched me?" Jesus turned around where he stood. + +Simon laughed shortly and said: "What do you mean, Master? In a crowd +like this, a dozen people could have touched you!" + +"Just the same, I felt someone." Jesus searched the crowd behind Simon. +Most of the people looked at him blankly. Jesus continued to scan the +crowd. Even Jairus held back his urgent protest to hasten. + +At that moment there was a disturbance in the crowd, and a trembling +woman came up to Jesus. "I touched you, Rabbi," she confessed tearfully. + +Jesus said to her kindly, "Why did you do it?" + +"Rabbi, I have been sick for twelve years. I have spent all my money on +doctors and I am worse than ever." + +"Why did you touch me?" asked Jesus. + +"I thought, _If I can touch only the edge of his robe, I shall be +healed_." Then very simply she added. "So I did, Rabbi--and now I am +well!" + +"It is your faith in God that has healed you," said Jesus to the +kneeling woman. "Do not tremble and be afraid. It is faith like yours +that God most desires." + +While Jesus was speaking, a man had hurried down the street toward them. +Jairus recognized one of his own servants. "Hurry, Master! Oh, hurry!" +he cried. But he knew it was too late. + +The servant came to him sadly. "She is dead. There is no use bothering +the Rabbi any more." + +Jesus turned to Jairus. "Courage, sir! Do not be sorrowful." + +"What a shame!" Simon remembered his own children and knew how the man +felt. "His little one is dead!" + +Jesus turned to the disciples and said, "You saw a woman healed through +faith." They looked at him, wondering what he meant. To Jairus, Jesus +said, "Come, take me to your home." All hope was gone for Jairus, but +obediently he led the way. + +Already the hired wailers filled Jairus' house. Their loud cries of +grief, the shrill sound of flutes playing funeral music, and the +hysterical weeping of the friends of the child's mother made such noise +that Jesus could hardly be heard. + +"Why all this wailing?" Jesus cried. The noise quieted a little. "The +child is not dead! She is only asleep!" + +The wailers burst into derisive laughter. "She sleeps soundly!" + +"Clear this crowd out of here," Jesus commanded. Jairus was glad to be +rid of them. Amid angry murmurs, he sent every single one of them out of +the house. + +Several of the disciples were waiting outside; they watched the hired +wailers leave. "What do you suppose is going on?" asked Andrew. They +waited a little longer, but at last the suspense was too much. + +"Come on," said the Zealot, "let's go in." They pressed through the +front door into an empty room. "Where have they gone?" The sound of soft +weeping came from the next room. Hesitating now, they went nearer so +that they could look through a doorway. The men never forgot what they +saw. + +The little girl was standing beside the bed looking up at Jesus. He held +her hand in his. Her mother had thrown her arms around Jairus and was +weeping. Simon, James, and John stood speechless, staring at the child +who a moment before had been lying dead. + +"She is alive!" gasped Andrew. The child turned toward them, but the +disciples shrank back as though fearful of what they saw. + +"I'm hungry," she said. + +Jesus gripped Jairus' shoulder gently. "Give the child something to eat +now." Neither of the parents replied; but they kneeled before Jesus. + +The awed disciples turned toward Jesus. Could this man who gave life to +the dead be the Master they knew so well? + +"For your sakes," Jesus said, "I am glad I was not here when this child +died." His words struck deep into the memories of the disciples. "I have +come to tell you what life really is. This child was dead and lives +again. But I warn you: there is a kind of death from which no one can +return. And there is true life: whoever has this life can never die." + +_Who is he--who is this One who raises the dead?_ The minds of the +disciples raced, trying to grasp the meaning of what had happened. + +"Fear not the death of the body; he who believes in God can never die. +Just as I have given life to this little child I give eternal life to +all who put their trust in God." + +_Who can he be--who can he be--to give eternal life?_ + +Jesus turned to the parents of the child. "Rise!" Then he warned them +and the disciples, saying: "No one must hear about this. Only you +understand its true meaning." Turning to the disciples, he said, "Let us +go now." Seething with excitement they could not control, the disciples +followed Jesus. + +[Illustration] + + + + +9. HOW WILL YOU KNOW THE MESSIAH? + + +One week later a messenger arrived at the court of King Herod, in +Tiberias, a city not far from Capernaum on the Lake of Galilee. He +carried reports from local officials throughout the provinces that Herod +ruled. As he read them, the king became more and more alarmed. Finally +he turned to a slave. "Tell my officers to come immediately!" + +When the high officials of the court arrived, Herod waved the papers and +said, "Every single governor reports that there are Jews going through +our cities and towns talking about some new kingdom!" He looked at them +sharply. "Do you know anything about this?" + +After a moment one of them answered, "There is a carpenter from Nazareth +preaching something like that." + +"Do you think he has anything to do with this business?" + +"I am not sure," answered the man. "I know a Pharisee in Capernaum who +says this fellow wants to do away with the Jewish religion." The man +speaking was one of the Herodians whom Symeon had stirred up against +Jesus. + +"What sort of man is he?" demanded Herod. + +"He has great influence with the people," he said. "This Pharisee admits +that his miracles are not tricks." + +"Miracles!" Herod became very sober. "Who is this man?" he demanded. +"Has John the Baptizer risen from the dead?" Against his better judgment +he had executed the Prophet a few weeks before. + +"That is not possible," answered an officer. + +"We shall have a revolution on our hands if this really is John." Herod +turned to the officer who had spoken last. "Who is he, if he isn't +John?" + +"People say different things. Some say he is Elijah; others say someone +else, but they all think he is a prophet." + +"That is exactly what they said about John the Baptizer," exclaimed +Herod. + +"John never sent out missionaries!" objected the Herodian. + +"That only makes it worse!" The king pointed to the reports in front of +him. "What if these Jews are working for him?" + +"They might be," admitted the man. + +If Herod could have heard the conversation of Simon and Andrew at that +moment, he would have been even more anxious. They were in high spirits +as they walked the last mile of their trip back to Capernaum. + +"How glad everyone has been to hear about the Kingdom!" remarked Simon. +"Do you not think that these people are ready to make the Master their +king?" + +"They are very discontented," agreed Andrew. "Herod has crushed them so +that they are ready to do about anything." + +For a distance they walked in silence. Finally Simon said: "I cannot +understand what it is about the Master. Even evil spirits seem to fear +him!" + +"Do you suppose this trip has made the others feel the way we do?" +wondered Andrew. + +When Simon and Andrew arrived in Capernaum, they found that James, John, +and the Zealot had returned ahead of them. They were telling Jesus about +their experiences. + +"The evil spirits themselves obeyed us in your name!" exclaimed John. + +"You have good reason to rejoice," answered Jesus. "Nevertheless, you +should rejoice because you have done the will of God--not because you +have conquered evil spirits." + +"Well, Master," remarked the Zealot practically, "not everyone was glad +to see us. I had trouble with the Pharisees. They just argue and argue." + +"We talked to them too," said Andrew. He was troubled. "Many times we +tried to tell them the news of the eternal Kingdom, but they would never +receive what we said." + +"Do you remember the story of the Sower, Andrew?" asked Jesus. + +"I never understood what you meant. Master," answered Andrew. + +"Listen carefully. The farmer who went out to sow was planting the seed +of eternal life. Some fell on the road at the edge of the field, and the +birds ate it up. This is like the person who hears my word but +immediately forgets because Satan robs him of it. + +"Some of the seed fell on stony soil. It grew fast, but when the hot sun +shone it withered away because it had weak roots. This is like the +person who is very enthusiastic at first, but as soon as he has to work +or suffer, he gives up. + +"Other seed fell among weeds, which kept it from growing strong. This is +like the person who hears the word but is so worried or busy trying to +get ahead of other people that he forgets all about God. + +"But then there is the seed that fell on good soil; it grew deep roots +and produced a fine harvest. This is like the person who hears and +really understands my words. He knows what eternal life is, and helps +other people to find it." + +"Do you know," the Zealot broke in, "I should not be surprised if some +of the Pharisees would join us when we show our strength!" + +"My Kingdom is not of this world," answered Jesus. "No one who is +seeking political power will join us. Only persons who want to do the +will of God belong in my Kingdom." + +"But, Master," responded the Zealot, "almost everyone listened eagerly +to us! It will not be difficult to start the Kingdom in Galilee!" + +"We probably could unite the Jews against Herod," replied Jesus, "but +that is not our business. God sent me into the world to proclaim the +news of an eternal Kingdom!" + +Simon turned to the Zealot. "You seem to think the people listened only +because they hope we will free them from the Romans. I do not doubt that +they would be glad to be rid of the Romans; but from what I saw, I think +they listened because we told them about the rule of God!" + +"Isn't that the same thing?" retorted the Zealot. + +Jesus saw that most of the disciples still did not understand clearly +what he was trying to do. But he had little opportunity to explain +further, because the people of Capernaum were every day crowding to the +home of Simon. When all of the Twelve had at last returned from their +mission, he said to them, "Let us cross the lake and find a quiet place +where we can rest and talk." + +They hoped to leave unseen, but many people followed them down to the +lake where Simon's boat was. + +"Don't you see what I mean?" exclaimed the Zealot. "What a wonderful +chance we have to lead them against Herod!" + +"Let us go over toward Bethsaida," replied Jesus. "I know a hill where +very few people pass by." James and John turned the boat toward the +hills nearly three miles across the lake. + +The disappointed people watched Jesus and the disciples push off. A few +men left the group and began to walk along the shore. Soon the others +realized that they were going to go on foot around the lake. Some +walked, but others ran. + +"I believe the whole crowd is going to follow us," remarked Andrew, +looking back. + +"They are like sheep without a shepherd," remarked Jesus. + +By the time the disciples had rowed across the lake, the people were +beginning to arrive. "I think I know a place where we can get away from +them," said Philip. He had lived in this part of the country. + +"We cannot send them away, Philip," answered Jesus. When the boat landed +he led the crowd to a grassy spot on the hillside overlooking the lake +below. + +All afternoon Jesus taught them. When at last the sun touched the hills +of Galilee across the lake, the disciples interrupted. + +"Master," they said, "don't you think we had better send them away +before it gets dark?" + +"It is late," added Philip, "and there is no place to buy food here. +They will need to go to the villages." + +"That isn't necessary, is it?" said Jesus. "You give them something to +eat." + +The disciples looked at him blankly. "We didn't bring any provisions +with us. Master," said James. "And besides, even if we had, it would +never be enough to feed this crowd!" + +Jesus turned to Philip. "What shall we do, Philip?" + +"Master, even if there were a town near here, it would take far more +money than we have to buy enough food to give each person a tiny bit!" + +"How many loaves have we all together?" asked Jesus. + +The disciples found, as they expected, that the people had brought no +food. "This seems foolish to me," remarked James. Finally Andrew found a +boy with some loaves and fish. The boy let Andrew take the lunch to +Jesus. + +"Tell the people to sit down in groups," said Jesus. Before them all he +held one of the loaves in his hands and thanked God for it; then he +broke it in pieces. "Distribute this among the people," he instructed +the disciples. + +"This boy's loaves and fish will satisfy your hunger now," said Jesus to +the eager crowd. "If you eat only this kind of food, you will eventually +die. I have another kind to give you: if you will eat the Bread of +eternal life, you will never die! + +"Come and eat this Bread--you will never hunger again. You must hear and +believe my word, for the Father in heaven has sent me to you." + +While the people ate, they whispered among themselves in amazement. +Where had this food come from? They could hardly believe what the people +near Jesus said: that he had broken the loaves and fish again and again, +until everyone had enough. + +The Zealot turned to James. "They will do anything for a person who +gives them food," he said. + +Jesus knew the people were thinking how good it was to receive the food. +"God sent manna to your ancestors while they were in the desert," he +cried out, "but they died. The true Bread from heaven gives you eternal +life. Eat this Bread and you shall never hunger again!" + +"Give us this Bread!" called out a man in the crowd. "We do not want to +be hungry any more." + +"Do not follow me because I give you loaves and fish--that kind of food +perishes," replied Jesus. "Rather, believe my word, in order that you +may have eternal life!" + +But the people could think only of the free food Jesus had given them. +They paid no attention to his words. "We will do anything for you!" they +cried. Then another shout grew loud. + +"You shall be our king! You shall be our king!" + +"They are going to compel him to be king!" exclaimed the Zealot. + +Jesus turned his back and called his disciples about him. + +"What is he going to do?" The Zealot was alarmed. "Surely he won't miss +this opportunity?" + +"Let us go," said Jesus to the Twelve, starting toward the lake shore. + +The Zealot caught Jesus' arm. "But, Master...." He let go as Simon +gripped his shoulder. + +"He will be king all right," Simon told him. "But he is not the kind of +king these people want. I am sure of that." + +The crowd were dumfounded to see Jesus leave them so quickly. A few +attempted to follow, but they soon realized that twilight was swiftly +fading into the darkness of night and they turned back. + +"You row across to Capernaum by yourselves," said Jesus to the +disciples. "I will follow later." The wondering men got into the boat +and rowed away. Jesus stood watching them as they disappeared in the +deep twilight. Then he turned and walked alone into the shadowy hills. + +"Sometimes I wonder if he knows what he is doing!" burst out the Zealot, +bitterly disappointed. "What an opportunity! He just turned his back on +them!" + +"You know he has no desire for political power," said John. + +"How can we ever establish the government of God if we never do anything +practical?" asked the Zealot. "What will his teachings ever amount to +unless we put them in the place of the old laws?" + +Simon could not forget the words of Jesus. "He did not say, 'I am your +King.' He said, 'I am the Bread of Life.'" + +"What do you mean?" asked the Zealot. + +"Are you sure he intends to start a rebellion?" asked Simon. + +"I don't know what else all this talk of a Kingdom could mean!" + +"If he were an ordinary political leader--or even a Rabbi--there would +be no other way," said Simon, reflectively. "But there is something +about him that makes me think he is not going to do what we expect at +all!" + +A gust of cold wind struck them, and the men looked up. Even the western +sky was black. The boat was in the middle of the lake. Out of the dark +night the wind blew in ever stronger gusts. + +"We're in for a squall," said James, worried. The boat rolled. It was +heavily loaded, and water splashed in. + +"Steer into the waves," called Simon. James and John tried to pull the +boat around, but the wind had caught them. The boat swung broadside and +lurched dangerously in the trough of the waves. Water poured in. Simon +stepped swiftly to the center and sat down beside James. Together they +pulled the heavy oar; after a tense moment the boat swung slowly around. + +"We've got to bail this water out," said Simon. More came over the side +with each roll. + +"If we don't get this water out, we'll never get to shore," shouted +Simon. + +"What can we do?" cried the Zealot. Waves continued to leap over the +side into the boat. Desperately the men tried to bail out the water. +"We'll never make it!" they cried, seized by panic. + +Andrew clutched John's shoulder. "Look! What's that?" He pointed out +into the blackness. + +"It's a ghost!" screamed one of the Twelve. The men forgot the waves. +Terror gripped them. "O Father in heaven," cried Simon, "save us!" + +"Do not be afraid! It is I!" + +Gradually it came to the men that it was the voice of Jesus they were +hearing. "Oh, save us. Master!" Fear began to melt away. Jesus was in +their midst. + +"Why are you terrified?" he asked. "Have you no faith, even after being +with me all this time?" + +The white crest on the waves disappeared. The boat lay deep in the +water, but danger was past. Almost afraid to look, the disciples turned +to Jesus. Who could he be--that he had power to calm the storm? + +"Did I not give life to the little child in Capernaum?" said Jesus. "Did +I not give bread to the hungry crowds? Do you not yet understand?" + +[Illustration] + + + + +10. "YOU ARE THE CHRIST" + + +The household of Symeon the Pharisee was stirring with excitement. +During the day the servants had put the house in perfect order, and now +the cooks were preparing a banquet for the evening. Symeon himself was +trying to make up his mind whether he should wear his highly ornamented +robe. Finally he decided against it and chose another with fine cloth +but very few trimmings. A sensible Pharisee did not try to dress too +elegantly when an important official was to be his guest. + +The banquet table was beautiful. The servants had lighted candles to +celebrate the victory of the great Jewish general, Judas Maccabaeus, who +had driven foreign tyrants out of Palestine and purified the Temple two +hundred years before. There was roast lamb, deliciously cooked, and all +the best food which Symeon could afford to set before his guest of +honor. Nothing could be too good for a scribe sent by the highest +authority of the Jewish religion, the high priest himself! + +Not until late in the evening did Symeon's visitor arrive from his long +journey. At dinner the men ate in dignified silence, but Symeon was +burning with curiosity. The messenger who had brought news of the +arrival of the scribe had told Symeon only that the high priest desired +more information about certain things that were happening in Galilee. +Symeon was sure that the matter concerned Jesus of Nazareth. + +Only when he had finished the dinner did the scribe speak to Symeon. +"You are a generous host, my friend." + +Symeon smiled and bowed his head gratefully. The scribe settled himself +comfortably. "I come on very delicate business. It must remain a +secret." The servants came in to clear the table, and he stopped +speaking. Then Symeon sent them out and closed the door. "The high +priest tells me that you know this Jesus of Nazareth. Have you kept a +close watch on him during the last few months?" + +"Yes," replied Symeon, complimented by this confidential question. "I +know all that he has done." + +"As you remember, several months ago we ordered the elders of all the +congregations to keep this Nazarene out of our synagogues," continued +the scribe. "But of course that did not keep him from preaching to the +people in public places." He looked keenly at Symeon. "Not a word of +this must come to the common people!" + +"Naturally," agreed Symeon. + +"Very well, then," said the scribe. "Do you think that we can convince +his followers that their Rabbi is not to be trusted?" + +"That will be hard," answered Symeon. "He is more popular than ever." +Then he told the scribe in detail how Jesus had fed the crowd of five +thousand people. + +"It sounds as though he might even have it in his power to persuade them +to revolt," observed the scribe when Symeon had finished. + +"They actually did try to make him their king!" exclaimed Symeon. + +"Does Herod know about that?" asked the man. + +"We have told some of the people at his court about it," replied Symeon. +"If you want to know what I think--Herod is afraid to do anything! He +thinks the Nazarene is John the Baptizer risen from the dead!" + +"But this Jesus is as dangerous to Herod as he is to us!" exclaimed the +scribe. + +"That may be true, but just the same Herod knows that the people like +Jesus," said Symeon. "Still, I am sure the king would put a quick end to +this small-town prophet if it could be done without stirring up the +people." + +"Look, my friend," declared the scribe. "You know as well as I do that +these common folk will not follow anyone who goes too far for them. From +what you have told me, we ought not to have much trouble showing these +simple Galileans that he is not a loyal Jew at all." + +Symeon laughed bitterly. "Every day he breaks the tradition a hundred +times!" A frown came over his face. "The trouble is--the people like +it!" + +"That may be partly true," admitted the scribe. "But I believe these +country people are still real Jews at heart. They may be crude and +uneducated, but they will never follow anyone who is trying to destroy +the Law and break down our religion. The Nazarene can break a regulation +here and there, and they like it--yes! But let him say anything against +Moses, or Abraham, or the great Rabbis--they will desert him by the +hundreds!" + +"If that happened, Herod would throw the whole band of them in prison +without delay," replied Symeon enthusiastically. "I believe you have +struck on the way to stop this false Rabbi!" + +The scribe lowered his voice. "When do you think we could find him with +some of his followers?" + +"He is always at the lake in the morning," replied Symeon. + +About ten o'clock the next day, the men stepped into the sunlit street +in front of Symeon's home. Over their shoulders each wore a short cape, +beautifully decorated with four blue tassels, one at each corner. Many +Jews wore this cape, but only the Pharisees added extra long blue +tassels. + +They descended the cobblestone street from the high part of Capernaum +where Symeon lived and went toward the lake below. People bowed and +smiled, but the two men paid no attention. They were used to having +people make way for them. They strode into the crowded market place, +already hot under the rays of the morning sun. The hoofs of many animals +had raised a cloud of dust. Everywhere farmers and fishermen were +shouting, trying to catch the ear of persons who came to buy. Only the +donkeys, laboring under huge baskets of food, refused to budge for the +officials. + +After a short walk through the narrow streets of Capernaum, Symeon +caught sight of the lake, blue and cool, dancing in the sunlight. He +pointed ahead of them. "The Nazarene is usually on the shore a little +way beyond those fishing boats." They were approaching a group of +fishermen who had drawn up their boats and spread nets on the beach. + +"We must show these people that he is not merely meddling with parts of +the Law," remarked the scribe. "The fact is that he is not a true Jew at +all!" + +A group of people had gathered on the shore, just to the right of the +road. "There they are!" exclaimed Symeon. + +The two men stopped briefly at the edge of the circle of people and then +walked boldly up to Jesus. Seeing their robes, everyone made way. "It is +widely reported, Rabbi," said the scribe, "that your disciples do not +keep all the sacred customs of our religion." + +Jesus answered them the same way he spoke to the common people that sat +around him. "Where do your customs come from?" he asked directly. + +Just the opening they wanted! The scribe did not miss his chance. + +"Moses himself gave us these commands," he declared. "Yet I heard that +your disciples do not wash their hands before meals as Moses commanded +us." + +Without a moment's hesitation Jesus retorted: "Have you forgotten that +Moses also commanded you to honor your father and your mother? Yet you +have made up a rule that allows a rich man to say to his aged parents, +'I can't support you--I have given all my money to God.' The fact is +that he has not given it to God at all; he has only paid a fee to the +priests!" Jesus was indignant. "You talk about Moses, but you yourselves +break his commands!" + +The scribe had to defend himself. "This rule was made by one of our +great rabbis," he said. + +"You have put human rules in the place of the commands of God," declared +Jesus. "Isaiah was talking about you when he said, 'These people give me +respect with their mouths, but their hearts are far away from me!'" + +"Do you dare attack the great Rabbis?" demanded the scribe angrily. +"Every true Jew at least respects their words. Yet you say that a man +need not purify his hands before he eats!" + +"It is not what goes into a man's mouth that hurts him," replied Jesus, +quietly. "It is the things that come out of a man--his words and +deeds--that harm him." + +"Are you saying that we should disobey this law?" retorted the scribe. +"Moses himself gave us this command!" + +"You cannot find eternal life just by keeping rules," replied Jesus. The +watching people wondered at his calmness. "If you are really in search +of the Kingdom of God, repent!" + +Dramatically the scribe turned to the people. "Do you see?" he demanded. +"This man is not one of us! He wants to change the laws that Moses has +given us! He is dangerous--do not believe him!" He stalked through the +awe-struck crowd and left, followed by Symeon. + +For a long time, Jesus sat silently before the people. By the time he +finally spoke, they were all wondering what he could say. + +"The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open to anyone who will put his +trust in God," said Jesus quietly. "The scribes and Pharisees claim that +they keep the Law of Moses. They say they speak with God's authority. Do +what they tell you if you want to--but do not act the way they do! They +have made so many rules for you that no one can obey them all! Do they +help you enter the Kingdom? No! They make life easy for themselves and +impossible for all others! They do all they can to attract attention. +Every day their tassels get longer! They sit in the most important +places at feasts! They love the front seats at the synagogue! How they +enjoy having people step out of their way and say, 'Good morning, +teacher'! Men who belong to God's Kingdom do not want to be called +Rabbi; they are all brothers and have only one Father, God in heaven." +He stood up. "Let us leave this place," he said. + +Simon fell in step with Jesus as they turned toward Capernaum. The sun +was still as bright; the waves on the lake danced as merrily as before, +but the disciples took no joy in the beauty of the day. + +"Master, those men are trying to set the people against us," said Simon, +deeply concerned. + +"They can do nothing against God," replied Jesus. + +"But they are deceiving many people," warned Simon. + +"Anyone who will believe them is blind to my gospel," said Jesus sadly. +"Let them follow these blind leaders, if they insist--they will come to +the same bad end!" + +It soon became plain that Simon was right: the scribe's attack on Jesus +was having a serious effect. The next day each of the twelve disciples +went to a different place in Capernaum to preach the news of the Kingdom +of God. At the end of the afternoon, Andrew stopped to visit a fisherman +whom he had known since childhood. "The men ought to be coming in from +the lake soon," observed the wife of Andrew's friend. The dogs outside +began to bark. "There they are now!" + +"Andrew!" An older man entered. "I am glad to see you. What is this I +hear about you these days?" He sat down for a moment before washing. +"Have you been getting along all right since you left your fishing? What +is your Master doing? I hear some very bad rumors!" + +Andrew was taken back. "Why, I don't know what you mean." + +"Well, perhaps I should not have mentioned it," the old fisherman said. +"But I thought you could tell me the truth, if anyone could." + +"What have you heard?" asked Andrew, puzzled. + +"Everyone is talking about your Rabbi," answered the man. "Is it true, +what they are saying?" + +"I know nothing about it," said Andrew. + +"I thought you would have heard," said the man, hesitating. "One of the +fishermen who listens to Jesus told us today that he intends to destroy +the Jewish religion!" + +"That is nonsense!" cried Andrew. "Where did he ever...." Suddenly it +came to him: This was what the scribe was telling people! "Look here," +said Andrew with great earnestness. "Do you really think that Jesus is +trying to keep people from believing in God and serving him?" + +"Oh, I didn't say that!" laughed the old fisherman. "I was only telling +you what I heard." A questioning tone came into his voice. "But he +_does_ say that you do not have to obey Moses, doesn't he?" + +Andrew did not know what to answer. It was true that Jesus had said +there were more important things than purifying the hands before eating! + +"There is something else I heard," continued the older man. "How could a +really great Rabbi come from Nazareth? That town does not amount to +anything." + +"What difference does it make where he comes from?" protested Andrew. + +The old man shrugged and stood up. "It is a serious matter for your +Jesus to say all the great Rabbis are wrong. I always wondered if you +knew what you were doing when you gave up fishing." He looked keenly at +Andrew. "Today I took time off to go to listen to him myself. He talks +as if he knew more about God's will than Moses did! He goes too far for +me. After all, I am a Jew!" Abruptly he changed the subject. "Will you +stay for supper, Andrew?" + +"No ... no. I think I had better be going," murmured Andrew. Hurriedly +he left. He was much upset by the words of this trusted friend. Purple +shadows filled the narrow streets. Most of the people were already +indoors. Andrew felt terribly alone. In his haste he tripped over a +broken cart wheel and he was startled by its loud clatter on the paving. +He began to run. He was relieved to get to Simon's home. + +Jesus had not yet returned, but Andrew found the other disciples in the +midst of a serious conversation. "Everything the Master does proves that +God's power is in him," John was saying. "We need him! Everybody in +this city needs him!" + +Andrew burst out: "Have you heard what people are saying? That scribe is +telling everyone that we are trying to wipe out the whole Jewish +religion!" + +"That is what we are talking about," said Simon. Andrew sat down as +Simon turned to John. "Of course, it is true that the Master really does +put his own teaching above the command of Moses." + +"I know he does," answered John passionately, "and he is right! What +should we do without him? We have already given up everything to follow +him!" He jumped to his feet and began to pace back and forth. + +"Many people are leaving us," said James, greatly worried. "We shall +soon have nobody." + +"Can he really be right and all the Rabbis and Pharisees and scribes +wrong?" exclaimed Andrew. "If he were the Messiah, I should feel +different, but...." He stopped. The other men were staring at him. The +Messiah! + +At that moment Jesus entered the room. He saw James's anxiety. John +stopped walking. Andrew was flushed with excitement. His last remark had +stamped an expression of amazement and doubt on the faces of all the +men. + +"My followers," said Jesus, grasping their thoughts immediately, "do not +be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me." He sat in the +midst of them. "God has sent me into the world with the light of his +gospel. I have not come to condemn the world, but to save people from +darkness. If they do not believe my word, that is because they love +darkness better than the light." John went back to his place and slumped +down. "Those who are truly seeking God know that our gospel is true and +come to us," continued Jesus. "But those who turn away from us do it for +just one reason: their lives are evil. It is true that they obey many +laws and seem very religious, but their hearts are proud. They do not +really depend on God. They do not live close to him. They cannot endure +the truth which shows them that they are in darkness." + +After a long silence, Andrew rose and walked out into the cool night. He +looked up at the clear stars and wondered how long it would be before +they would look down on a happy nation, ruled by God's Messiah. The +turmoil in his heart had quieted while Jesus spoke. The new moon, thin +as a curved sword, gleamed high above. A faint wind rattled the palms on +the street in front of the house. Simon came out. + +"What if everyone leaves us, Simon?" asked Andrew abruptly. + +Simon's answer was firm. "He is the only one who has a message of +eternal life. If we leave him, to whom can we go?" + +Jesus had seen how terribly disturbed the disciples were by the +criticisms against him. Therefore, very early the next morning before +the people began to come to market, he took them to the lake. They had +no idea where he was leading them as they stepped into Simon's boat. + +What a relief it was to be away from the crowds of Capernaum! They were +glad for the silence of the lake, smooth as a mirror in the calm of the +dawn, after the noise and bustle of street and market. Through the mist +the men could see a few fishermen working hard to gather in their nets +with the night's catch of fish. Simon and Andrew recognized them, but +the men did not look up and the disciples passed unseen. In the days +when they too had gathered nets in the morning the four fishermen had +always been glad to feel the warming rays of the sun breaking through +the blanket of fog. The mist began now to tear into ragged pieces, +clinging here and there to the lake. The disciples caught sight of the +stately crest of Mount Hermon to the north, white with summer snow, +standing guard over all Galilee. A breeze sprang up and blew the +remaining mist to tatters. Little wisps of fog chased each other over +the surface of the water as though ashamed to be caught by the sun. + +Jesus turned his gaze from the noble mountain ahead of them and spoke to +the disciples. "I must warn you against the tricks of the Pharisees and +scribes. Their false arguments sometimes sound reasonable, but the evil +purpose of these men grows like a nasty mold. It will creep into your +very hearts and destroy the Bread of Life." + +James leaned over to Philip. "That reminds me--did you bring enough food +for this trip?" + +"The provisions ought to be stored under the stern seat," answered +Philip. + +James reached under the seat. "Nothing here," he said. + +"What! No food?" The other disciples had heard what he said. They were +hungry. They forgot that Jesus was speaking. "Look under the front seat, +Andrew," said Simon. The men searched everywhere; there was but one loaf +in the boat. James turned to Philip in a temper. "What in the world are +we going to eat?" + +Jesus had watched them without saying a word. Now he spoke. "My +followers, what have you to worry about?" + +"This stupid Philip forgot to bring the food!" said James, irritated. + +"Have you ever gone hungry when you were with me?" asked Jesus +patiently. "You have seen me feed crowds--and yet you do not trust me! +Many times you have heard me say that I am the Bread of Life--and now +you are worried about your stomachs!" Tempers cooled as quickly as they +had risen. "Do you not understand the meaning of the things I do?" asked +Jesus. + +"You are right. Master," said James, shamefaced. "We should not worry +about food." + +"Is that all I mean to you?" asked Jesus. "You do not understand why I +fed the people, do you?" + + * * * * * + +Simon and John brought the boat to land at a deserted spot near the +fishing village of Bethsaida, and Jesus led the men north along the +Jordan toward the Lebanon Mountains. For three days they traveled, +finally reaching the narrow valleys of the foothills of the Lebanons. +The land was hilly but very fertile. Many people lived here: a few Jews +but many gentiles. The disciples had never traveled this far north +before. As the mountains grew higher, they turned westward toward the +Mediterranean Sea. Jesus chose this road because he believed he could +find privacy in which to teach the disciples. + +However, things were not as Jesus hoped. About ten miles from Sidon, a +gentile city on the seacoast, they passed through a small village. The +disciples thought they had not been recognized, but a short distance +beyond the town John said, "There is someone following us!" + +The others glanced around. A woman was coming after them. "Let us hurry +on," said Simon. "Perhaps she will drop back." All of them quickened +their pace. After a moment Simon glanced around again. "She is running +after us!" + +The woman cried out: "O thou Son of David! Have pity on me!" + +Jesus paid no attention. "Have mercy on me, Son of David!" cried the +woman desperately. "My daughter has an evil spirit!" + +Still Jesus walked on. "Send her away, Master," said Simon. "She is just +going to keep on wailing behind us." + +Jesus stopped. "God has sent me only to the lost sheep of the flock of +Israel." + +"And she is a gentile," said James with satisfaction. When the woman +overtook them, he was sure Jesus would send her away. + +Kneeling, the woman said, "Do help me, Lord!" + +The disciples were taken back. How did she dare call him "Lord"! Who did +she think he was? + +When Jesus spoke to the woman his voice was kindly, but the words seemed +harsh: "Woman, it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it +to the dogs under the table." + +_That will show her she has no right to bother us_, thought James. + +But James was mistaken. "No, Master," the woman answered smiling, "but +the dogs can wait patiently for the crumbs to fall from the children's +table, can't they?" + +Jesus' face lighted up. "O woman, you have great faith! You have found +the Kingdom of God. Go back to your daughter; your prayer is granted." + +The disciples were aghast. James burst out, "Master, what can this +mean?" + +"How can a gentile be included in our Kingdom?" demanded Simon. + +"Do you not yet understand why I have come?" answered Jesus. "My Father +sent me to declare that all who are far away from him may come back if +they will repent. The Kingdom of God belongs to anyone who will come." + +"But that cannot mean all the gentiles," protested Simon. + +"You have forgotten what the Prophet Hosea once said," replied Jesus. +"To certain people it was said at one time, 'You do not belong to +God'--but now these very people are the children of God!" There was +finality in Jesus' voice, and the disciples could say nothing more as +the woman went home to her daughter. + +Jesus knew from their sullen silence that the disciples resented his +kindness to the gentile woman. He saw Simon, Andrew, and James drop +behind the group. + +"How can he do a thing like that?" fumed Simon. "He came to help +outcasts--but not gentiles!" + +"She had the impudence to call him 'Lord'!" remarked Andrew. + +Nevertheless, not one of them dared complain against Jesus even though +they went on talking among themselves after they left the country around +Sidon. Jesus made it so hard for them to follow him! Yet they were bound +to him, and nothing could drive them away. + +Jesus did not enter Sidon, but turned back toward the mountain passes +that led toward Caesarea Philippi, a city near the foot of Mount Hermon. +The disciples had preached the good news of the Kingdom in the villages +of upper Galilee, and every day they saw people that they recognized. +But something seemed to be wrong. When they had preached before, the +people had welcomed them with joy. But now people hardly even greeted +them! What had happened? Had they forgotten the Rabbi from Nazareth who +had healed their sick? Where were the people who had said that Jesus had +changed their lives and given them new hope? + +"Have the rumors about us spread here too?" asked James in despair. + +"Do you wonder the people think he goes to extremes?" asked James +bitterly. "If they knew he told a gentile woman she could share in our +Kingdom, everyone would turn away from us!" + +"Sometimes it almost seems as though the scribes were right!" confessed +Andrew. + +Simon caught him up instantly. "Do you think that Jesus is trying to +destroy the faith of our nation?" he asked sharply. Andrew did not +answer. + +"Why did we follow him in the first place, brother?" urged Simon. Still +Andrew said nothing--but he knew what Simon meant. + +"Should we go back to our fishing, Andrew?" + +"Oh, no!" answered Andrew, thinking of the hopeless years before Jesus +came. "That could never be." + +"God has sent him to open a new day for us!" declared Simon firmly. + +Jesus had been walking with Philip, but now he dropped back beside the +other disciples. The road lay between high rock walls. Their footsteps +rang with a hollow sound. The shadows were deep; no other travelers were +in sight. James said quietly, "We were just talking about what people +are saying, Master." + +"What do they say about me?" asked Jesus. Simon knew that he sensed the +discouragement and doubt of his followers. + +"The Pharisees say that you are trying to break down the Law of Moses," +replied John hesitantly. There was a long silence. + +"Some people think you are John the Baptizer risen from the dead," added +Andrew. + +The Zealot said: "I hear some saying that you are Elijah come down from +heaven to prepare the way of the Messiah. That is what I thought at +first." A tiny stream of water, flowing over a rock, could be heard in +the silence that followed the Zealot's remark. + +"What else do people say about me?" persisted Jesus. + +"Many people think that you are a prophet. Master," answered Simon. + +Jesus looked quietly at the men around him. When he spoke his words came +deliberately. His voice was strong and deep. "But, Simon, who do you +believe I am?" + +To Simon, Jesus' question was like a powerful beam of light shining into +the darkest corners of his mind, driving away the last black shadows of +doubt. With a sigh he raised his head and caught sight of the brilliant +blue sky high above the dark valley that shut them in. The answer to +his Master's question was as clear as that sunny sky--why had he not +known it before? Simon's lips moved; then came his answer: "You are the +Christ, the Son of the living God." + +[Illustration] + + + + +11. A SECRET IS TOLD + + +"You are the Christ--the Son of the living God!" Against the high rock +walls of the narrow ravine, the words echoed in the disciples' ears. For +many months not one of them had dared to say that he believed this was +true--but now Simon had confessed it plainly. + +"Simon," declared Jesus, "unless God had taught you this, you could +never have known it. From this time on your name will be Peter, the +Rock. On the solid rock of faith like yours, I will build my Church--and +nothing shall ever destroy it! + +"Whoever puts his faith in God is a member of my Kingdom. To you"--he +looked around at all the disciples now--"I have entrusted the keys to +the door of my Kingdom. If you teach men to believe in me, they shall +enter!" + +"We will tell every Jew that you are the Messiah!" burst out the Zealot +enthusiastically. + +"No!" declared Jesus firmly. "This must remain a complete secret." + +The disciples were dumfounded. "But, Master," protested Andrew, "a +Messiah whom nobody knows can never lead the people!" + +"Now is the time for action!" exclaimed the Zealot. + +"I have work to do which you do not understand," answered Jesus. "I have +come to save the people--but in order to do it, I must first endure much +suffering." + +"We are ready to fight for you," answered Judas. + +"It will cost more than that," replied Jesus. "I will be rejected by the +high priest, the Pharisees, the scribes--and every authority in our +nation." + +"We can overcome them if we have to," said the Zealot impatiently. + +The answer came like an exploding bomb. "They are going to kill me," +declared Jesus plainly. + +The men looked at him speechless. "They may try to kill you," blurted +Andrew, "but they can never do it!" + +"I must die," repeated Jesus. "There is no other way for me to finish +the work that God sent me to do." + +A great force rose within Simon Peter; words flooded his lips. "No! This +cannot be! God would never let it happen! He has sent you to lead us! +You cannot die!" + +Jesus' stern voice cut him short, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not on +the side of God when you talk like that. You make it harder for me to do +what I was sent to do! If I were to do what you want, I could never do +my Father's work!" + +"Master, how can you say such a thing!" protested Andrew, defending his +brother. + +"You do not know God's purpose," answered Jesus, turning quickly. "You +have your own idea about what I should do--but you do not know the will +of God!" Then Jesus spoke with great force to all the disciples. "I am +not going to lead you to the victory you expect. If you are determined +to follow me, you will suffer. No one who seeks worldly gain is fit to +be my disciple. But if you are willing to lose your life for my +sake--then you will find eternal life!" + +Peter was humiliated. To think that the Master could accuse him of +serving the evil one! + +"Peter," said Jesus, now gentle, "the people of Israel have many +needs--but I am sent to bring them eternal life in his Kingdom." Peter +sat with his eyes cast down. Jesus spoke to all the men. + +"There was once a time when I was tempted to preach some other message," +continued Jesus. "Soon after I was baptized by John in the Jordan River, +I went alone into the wilderness to pray and to seek the will of the +Heavenly Father. For forty days I fasted. The Tempter came to me in a +vision and said to me, 'If you are really the Son of God, turn this +stone into bread!' I could have great power over men if I were willing +to satisfy the desires of these hungry people!" The disciples remembered +how Jesus had refused to listen to the five thousand people who tried to +make him their king. + +"But I could not do that," continued Jesus. "I remembered what the +Scriptures say: 'Man does not live only on bread--but on every word of +truth which comes from God.'" Peter was looking at Jesus attentively. + +"Then in my vision Satan took me to the highest spire on the roof of the +Temple in Jerusalem," continued Jesus. "'Leap down!' he said, 'you will +not be hurt: Aren't you the Messiah? The angels will protect you! When +these people see you do such a marvelous miracle they will all fall down +and worship you!'" Jesus paused. "Do you see why this was wrong? The +Father does not give me special protection. He did not send me into the +world to astonish people with miracles so that they will accept me--he +has sent me to tell them his message of life!" The disciples again +remembered another thing Jesus had refused to do: he would not perform a +miracle for the Pharisees! "No man submits to the rule of God just +because you amaze him with miracles!" + +Jesus spoke now to Peter. "Finally Satan took me to the top of a great +mountain where we could see every nation in the world. In my vision I +saw all the people who were oppressed by unjust kings. I saw all the +wealth and power of the earth. Then Satan whispered in my ear, 'I will +give you power to do anything you wish--to help people all you want--if +you will give up this plan to proclaim the rule of God and will worship +me!'" Worship Satan! The idea sent a chill through the disciples. + +"I did not come to set up a new empire on earth," declared Jesus, +turning to the Zealot. "That is not what God sent me to do! We must not +do our own will, but the will of the Father in heaven! I am here to +proclaim an eternal Kingdom!" There was a long silence. "So I answered +Satan, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you +serve.'" + +Peter now understood why Jesus had rebuked him. "But if you die?" he +asked. "How can you give men eternal life if you die?" + +"The Kingdom of God will come in great power when the Son of Man has +risen from the dead," declared Jesus. + +The disciples were not sure what the Master meant by his last remark. +They had more than enough to think about. After a few minutes they +climbed out of the deep valley. Before them lay rolling woodland cut +into sections by deep ravines which carried swift streams to the Jordan. +It was very different from the rocky hills the disciples had traveled +since leaving the territory around Sidon. + +"The Jordan River lies over there," said Simon, pointing east. The men +paused and looked while they caught their breath. Heavy trees hanging +over the edge of the deep river gorge concealed the stream itself. + +"Do we have to go through there?" inquired John. He remembered stories +that travelers told about this wild country: lions and wolves lurked in +the heavy growth of trees that covered the cliffs and gullies. + +"If we go to Caesarea Philippi, we will," answered the Zealot. He was +familiar with this part of the country, having traveled through it +before as far east as Damascus. John looked inquiringly at Jesus. + +"We will travel back to Capernaum in a few days," said Jesus. "But first +we will go over toward Caesarea Philippi." He led them down the slope. + +"I do not blame him for not wanting to go back to Galilee right away," +remarked Andrew as they walked. + +"The people certainly do not follow him as they once did," agreed Simon. + +"Things are not as bad as he thinks," said Andrew. "There are many +people who would go anywhere with us. These scribes have turned some +people against us, but we can win them back!" + +Simon shook his head. "Perhaps. But the Master has usually known what to +expect. He has not been wrong other times." + +"Oh, I am sure it is just discouragement!" insisted Andrew. "He will get +over it." + +Peter, however, was not satisfied. All the way down through the deep +ravines that descended to the Jordan he said nothing. The sun was behind +the hills by the time the disciples entered the dense growth of trees. +The road was narrow, and they had to pick their way with care because of +roots and overhanging branches. John looked fearfully from left to right +as they went farther and farther into the forest. + +"I don't think it is very safe in here at night," he whispered to James. +Several of the men were keeping a sharp watch, peering into the trees +and turning to look behind. They wondered if Jesus knew that the tangled +undergrowth might conceal vicious animals. + +"He must want to cross the river before nightfall," answered James. + +Peter and Andrew took no notice of the blackness of the jungle. At last +Peter said: "The Master does not get easily discouraged. He means more +than we think when he says he is going to die. He will tell us plainly +if we ask him." + +"Oh, let's not talk to him now!" replied Andrew quickly. "I think we +understand." + +Peter looked at him narrowly. "We ought to ask him, Andrew," he +insisted. "We must be sure!" + +"There is time enough later on." Andrew was evasive. + +"I believe you are afraid of what he might say!" Andrew would not meet +his brother's eyes. "Come with me!" Almost by force, Peter pulled his +brother along until they had overtaken Jesus. + +"Master," said Peter, "tell us plainly what you meant by saying that you +must die." + +"If I go straight on with the task God has given me to do, I shall be +killed. You know what the Prophet says about God's servant: 'He was +despised, and rejected of men.'" + +"But, Master," interrupted Andrew, "what good can dying do? If you are +killed, how can we ever save the Jews?" + +"Not even the Son knows the will of the Father in some matters," replied +Jesus. "God's servants cannot always understand him. He asks us only to +obey and trust him." + +"You take away every hope!" cried Andrew. "What is going to become of +us?" + +Peter put his arm across his brother's shoulder to restrain him. + +"Anyone who wants to save his own life will surely lose it," said Jesus +gently. "But if you are willing to lose your life for my sake, you will +find true life." + +Andrew's mind was whirling. He could not grasp the meaning of Jesus' +words. Only Peter's strong grip on his shoulder kept him from answering +with senseless protests. + +They dropped behind the others and Andrew burst out: "We are wrong! All +this time we have been wrong!" He looked desperately at Peter and +whispered, "Let us go back to our fishing boats, brother!" They stood +facing each other in a little clearing. + +Andrew's panic shook Peter deeply. "Then you do believe that the scribes +and Pharisees are right, Andrew?" But his brother would not answer. + +"Do you think that the Master's power comes from Satan?" Peter asked +again. + +Andrew sat down heavily on a rock at the side of the road and buried his +face in his hands. Peter could hear him breathing hard as he murmured, +"Oh, I cannot escape from him--but I cannot understand him!" + +The other disciples had disappeared into the woods on the opposite edge +of the open glade. Their footsteps quickly died away. The silence of the +murky forest settled around the two fishermen. Tears came through +Andrew's fingers, but he made no sound. He did not observe that they +were alone. + +"Come, brother," Peter urged anxiously, "we must hurry. The others are +getting ahead of us. This forest is dangerous after dark." + +Peter was greatly relieved when he and Andrew finally caught up with the +others. A half hour later the men emerged from the forest and climbed +the slope that enclosed the basin of the Jordan on the eastern side of +the river. Their sandals were wet from fording the river, but they +hardly noticed it, so relieved were they to be once again in open +country. + +It was almost totally dark now. Only dimly could they make out the bulk +of Mount Hermon rising directly ahead of them, hiding the evening star. +Jesus led the tired men to an inn. + +"He must have intended to lead us here," exclaimed John, catching sight +of the faint glimmer of a lamp in the courtyard of the building. He, +Peter, and James stayed in a single tiny room. + +"This has been a hard day," remarked James wearily, stretching out on +the bed. + +"I do not believe we shall leave Galilee again until we go to +Jerusalem," observed Peter. + +"I wish we knew what would happen there," remarked John. "Do you think +he will really be killed?" + +"You know what Andrew says," replied Peter, avoiding a direct answer. + +"I cannot believe that the Master is just discouraged," stated James +flatly. "That is not like him." + +Peter nodded his agreement. He thought of how Andrew was inwardly torn. +"I cannot escape from him--but I cannot understand him!" he had said. +James blew out the oil lamp. The men settled themselves for the night. +Peter spoke. "If we follow him to Jerusalem, we must be ready to suffer +with him. We must not doubt." + +"Tell me, Simon Peter, how can the Messiah of God die?" asked James. + +The fishermen heard Peter sigh. "How it can be ... I do not know. I know +only that we must decide whether we shall go on. Now is the time to +decide...." His voice trailed off. Far into the night the fishermen +stared open-eyed into the darkness. When at last they fell into a +troubled sleep, they were no nearer the answer. + +At dawn there was a knock at the door of their room. The men stirred, +and Peter rose. Scarcely visible in the faint light stood Jesus. Peter +stepped back, and Jesus entered. + +"Will you come to pray with me in the mountain?" Jesus asked. + +The men dressed and followed Jesus outside. The road on which the inn +was built lay at the foot of Mount Hermon. Its snowy crest rose +majestically above them, shining brilliantly in the morning sun. A few +days before, the fishermen had seen this peak above the mist that lay +over the Lake of Galilee. + +The beauty of the mountain would have lifted the spirits of men whose +hearts were less heavy, but Peter, James, and John had awakened with the +same anxiety that had troubled their rest. They did not talk, but +climbed steadily toward the summit of the mountain. + +At last Jesus stopped. Below them lay the valleys of Galilee. Far to the +south a blanket of fog covered the lake. As Peter looked, he could not +keep back his homesickness; on the shore of that misty lake lived his +wife and children. The flood of sunlight had gradually crept down the +slope toward them, and now the four men felt its warmth. "Let us kneel +here and pray," said Jesus. + +While Jesus and the three fishermen were away in the mountain, a strange +scene occurred at the inn where the other nine disciples had just +awakened. Early travelers were moving along the road in front of the +inn. Among them came a man leading a donkey on which a boy was riding. +He stopped at the inn. + +"Has Jesus of Nazareth passed this way?" he asked the innkeeper, who was +standing there. + +"Haven't heard anything about him," answered the man curtly. Suddenly he +shouted, "Watch out!" The boy was falling off the donkey. His father +leaped to catch him, but the donkey shied away and the boy fell heavily +to the ground and lay still. + +"Ah, my son!" cried the father. He lifted the child gently and carried +him toward the inn. + +"Here, you!" shouted the owner roughly. "Get that boy out of here. He +has a devil!" + +The father hesitated and then started toward a long bench. "Let me lay +him here," he begged. + +"Well, all right," grumbled the innkeeper. "But don't take him inside." + +People had heard the noise and were looking out of the windows. Philip +and the Zealot came through the doorway. + +"What is the matter with your son?" they asked sympathetically. + +"He has falling sickness," answered the man. "He often hurts himself +this way." He was wiping blood from a cut on the boy's pale forehead. +The lad opened his eyes and tried to rise. + +"Stay there, my son," urged the father. He turned to Philip and the +Zealot. "Can you tell me where I can find Jesus of Nazareth? I have +heard wonderful reports of his power to heal." + +The two disciples glanced at each other. At that moment Judas and Levi +came out of the inn. + +"This man is looking for the Master," said Philip. + +"Are you his followers?" cried the man. "I have traveled for five days +to find you! If only you will heal my son!" + +Travelers had stopped and clustered around the lad on the bench. Almost +all the guests at the inn had come outside. The four disciples looked at +one another; none offered to heal the boy. + +"Some of you visited my own village and healed many who had evil +spirits," said the father hopefully. He could not understand why the men +hesitated. They still made no move toward the boy. Andrew came out of +the inn. + +"Can you heal my son?" the man asked Andrew. Andrew glanced at the +others. He knew why they hung back. He looked at the boy. The father's +voice was urgent. The people watched intently as Andrew stepped up to +the boy, lying limp but conscious. + +"Be gone from him!" commanded Andrew, as though speaking to an evil +spirit in the boy. A shiver ran through his body, but then he lay still +again. + +Scornful smiles curled the lips of the people who watched. A great +healer, this man! He tells the devil to leave and the boy is worse off +than before! + +Andrew flamed scarlet--but he was not thinking of the bystanders. In his +heart he knew he was powerless to help the boy. The father bent over his +son and then suddenly stood up. "You cannot help him! You have no +power!" + +Andrew was stunned. For a moment he stood stock-still. Then he turned +and walked away. + +"A fine proof of the power of the Nazarene!" remarked a man +sarcastically. The people recognized him as a priest who had stopped a +few minutes before to watch. The father of the boy looked around at the +people, desperately seeking someone else to help him. + +"Where is your Master?" cried the father desperately. + +"Yes, where is your Master?" echoed the priest in derision. "You had +better go and find him!" + +"He left a couple hours ago with three others," said the innkeeper, in a +very matter-of-fact way. "He went up there." He waved toward the great +mountain. The people looked where he pointed. + +"There he is!" cried a man in the crowd. Distant figures were moving +down the mountainside. + +"Now we shall see if this Nazarene can do better than his followers," +remarked the priest bitingly. + +As Jesus approached, he took in the whole scene at a glance: the sick +boy, the despairing father, the sneering official, and the beaten +disciples. + +"O sir, my son has a terrible sickness!" said the father. "He even falls +into the fire and hurts himself." He gave a pitiable little gesture +toward his son, stretched on the bench. "Your disciples could not help +him at all!" + +Jesus turned to his disciples. They looked at him dully. Andrew stood a +distance away; his face clearly showed his humiliation. + +Jesus' voice had in it more of weariness and sorrow than sharpness. "How +utterly faithless you are! You turn your backs on God himself! How long +must I teach you? How much longer must I endure your cold hearts?" He +turned to the man. + +"How long has your son been like this?" + +"From the time he was a little child," replied the father. "If you can +do anything at all, help us! Do have pity on us!" + +"Why do you say, 'If you can'? Do you not believe that I can heal this +boy? Anything can be done for one who has real faith!" The disciples +knew that Jesus might as well have been speaking to them. + +"O Master," the man cried passionately, "I really do believe! Help me to +be rid of my doubt and fear!" + +Andrew realized that the man was like himself: torn between faith and +doubt. "Master, help me to believe too," murmured Andrew. + +Jesus turned to the boy and spoke to him. He gave a loud cry and then +relaxed. + +"He is dead!" the father exclaimed. + +Jesus stooped and took the pale hand of the youth. Immediately he sat +up; then to the astonishment of everyone he stood. + +Jesus did not wait for the father's thanks. He did not even glance at +the crowd, but turned to his disciples. + +"You had no power because you had no faith," he said directly. "If you +truly believe in God, evil cannot stand against you. Without faith, you +are helpless. But even the tiniest bit of real trust is mighty enough to +change the whole world!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +12. THE GREATEST AMONG US + + +The next morning the disciples could not help noticing that Peter acted +differently. He had been as downcast and silent yesterday as the +rest--but now he was talking eagerly with James and John as they walked +ahead of the other men. + +"If John the Baptizer really was Elijah," exclaimed Peter, "then the +Kingdom ought to be very near!" + +"Will John be raised from the dead?" asked James. + +"Jesus said that the Messiah would rise," remarked Peter. + +James said, "I don't see what he could mean by that." + +"Do you remember the voice from the cloud?" interrupted John. "Those +were the same words that he heard when he was baptized: 'You are my +beloved Son!' Only this time we heard the voice too." + +"It said, 'Listen to him!'" Peter's voice showed the awe he felt. "I +don't know what this vision means, but I am sure he is the Messiah +himself!" + +James and John did not reply. They needed their breath because they were +climbing a steep hill. + +When they reached the crest, all the Twelve stopped to rest. The road +had gradually turned east, and now the green lowlands of the upper +Jordan Valley lay behind them. But the men did not look back; they had +eyes only for the gleaming city that lay in the shallow valley ahead of +them, Caesarea Philippi. Beyond the domes and colonnades of the city +rose more mountains, ridge after ridge, climbing finally to the snowy +crest of the range, over nine thousand feet above. The level valley +before them, however, was green and fertile. Groves of trees and neatly +planted fields reached to the very edge of the foothills on all sides of +the city. Caesarea Philippi seemed like a diamond set among green +jewels. + +The columns of several pagan temples reminded the travelers that this +lovely city was the home of Philip, the son of Herod the Great. He had +spent much money to make it beautiful. But the disciples found little +pleasure in the sight. + +"Heathen people building temples to worship idols!" murmured James. As +the men descended the hill they walked along the foot of a high cliff, +rising to their left. + +"We will not enter this city," said Jesus. The men knew that a road +branched to the south toward Lake Huleh, which was not far from the Lake +of Galilee. John happened to look up at the cliff. "Where does the water +come from that runs down here?" he asked curiously. Shrubs of all kinds +clung to crannies in the damp rock wall. + +"Perhaps there is an underground stream," replied James, hopefully. They +were all thirsty. A moment later he saw a deep pool almost hidden at the +very foot of the cliff. "There it is!" he exclaimed. Several of the men +started toward the spring. + +"Wait!" called Peter sharply. He pointed up at the face of the cliff. +James looked up and saw that a deep hole had been carved in the rock. It +was framed by two stone columns and a stone arch. Under the arch stood +a statue of Pan, the pagan god of nature. + +"Stop!" cried Peter. "That water is unholy!" The other disciples caught +sight of the idol and shrank back. + +"This place is defiled!" exclaimed James in disgust. "We cannot drink +this water!" The presence of the idol was an offense to the men and they +deeply resented it. + +"Just wait until we get control of this land again!" burst out the +Zealot. "We will break these filthy images to pieces!" + +"Just to think that the land of God's promise is filled with heathen +idols!" Peter was seething. He turned to Jesus. "How much longer must we +endure this?" + +James interrupted. "It will not be long, will it, Master?" + +"Can we start for Jerusalem soon?" urged the Zealot. "Surely the time +has come for God to deliver his people!" Jesus said nothing, but led +them over the crest of a ridge till Caesarea Philippi disappeared behind +them. The road descended into a flat swamp land which reached as far +south as Lake Huleh, which they could now see. The air was heavy with +moist heat, and the people they passed looked unhealthy. + +The disciples scarcely noticed their discomfort, however, so eager was +their conversation. Again they tried to make Jesus promise that he would +use his power soon to conquer the Romans, but Jesus refused to join in +their discussion of how they would rule the land when the Romans were +beaten. Not one of them remembered his solemn warnings about the +suffering which they faced. Not one mentioned that Jesus had said he +would be killed in Jerusalem. + +Judas listened and said little. Finally he could stand their +conversation no longer. "How many of you have ever lived in Jerusalem?" +he asked, breaking in. + +"I stayed there a few weeks once," said James, puzzled by his question. + +"I used to go every year when I was a boy," said Levi. + +"Do you know any people who live in Jerusalem?" asked Judas. + +"John and I know some people we sold fish to," answered Andrew. + +Judas could hardly keep the scorn out of his voice. "You don't know the +first thing about Jerusalem! You have no idea what you are getting into! +You don't know anyone there except a few low-class people!" + +The Zealot interrupted. "You seem to forget that I have a large number +of friends in Jerusalem," he said hotly. "The city is full of Zealots! +They all know me." + +"Yes, and the police keep track of every one of them," retorted Judas. +"Just as soon as the Romans see us with Zealots they will think that we +are trying to start trouble. The best thing for us to do is to keep away +from your friends!" + +"I suppose you think we will win the confidence of the Jews by mixing +with Pharisees!" snapped the Zealot. + +"We will have to be careful, of course," said Judas. "But I know the +right people. If we are clever, we will work from the inside." + +"Well, I think the Master knows what he is doing," cut in Andrew. + +Judas glanced ahead to where Jesus was walking alone and lowered his +voice. "You know I am loyal to him, but he has been in Jerusalem only a +few times in his life. He doesn't know any of the important people." + +"I can put him in touch with hundreds of men who will fight beside us," +said the Zealot, frowning at Judas. As Andrew listened to the two men +argue, he had to admit to himself that Jesus might need help when they +came to Jerusalem. He did not say any more. + +The twelve men and their Master came to a ford where a sluggish stream +flowed across the road toward the Jordan. Single file, the disciples +waded through the shallowest place. Andrew was the last to cross, and he +found himself with Peter, James, and John. The four fishermen let the +others walk ahead. Keeping his voice low, James said to the others: +"What is going to happen to the rest of us when we get to Jerusalem? +Those two men have been there and they know everyone! We might even be +pushed out completely!" The more they discussed it, the more worried +they became. + +James and John wanted to be alone to talk about the schemes of Judas +and the Zealot, so when the Twelve stopped for lunch, they went to a +near-by farm to buy food. After lunch they again fell in step with +Andrew and Peter. + +"You were absolutely right in what you said this morning," said Andrew +emphatically. "Simon Peter and I have decided that we must settle right +now before we get to Jerusalem who should have first place among us." + +"We should talk to the Master about it," said James. + +"No," answered John. "This is our affair. We must settle it among +ourselves. Simon Peter was the first one Jesus asked to give up his +fishing and follow him; he should be the leader." + +"I think so too," agreed Andrew heartily. Peter kept his thoughts to +himself. After all, why should Judas be the chief person? He was not +even a Galilean! + +"I am going to talk to the others," declared James, hastening ahead. +Judas and the Zealot were walking ahead with Jesus. + +"Listen!" said James to the disciples. "Do you realize that those two +men are going to try to push us out when we get to Jerusalem? We shall +not have any place in the new Kingdom at all, unless we protect our +rights!" + +"We think the best way is to decide now who should be first," said John, +continuing. The others nodded vigorous agreement. "I think Simon Peter +is the one who should be our leader! After all, the Master chose him +first." + +Silence settled over the men. James could not understand what was the +matter. Finally Philip said hesitantly, "We thought Levi might know how +to deal with the Romans." + +"Oh, I don't think so!" exclaimed John. "He knows only the Romans in +Galilee." + +"Besides, the best people in Jerusalem might hold it against him that he +was a taxgatherer," added James, without thinking how his words sounded. + +Levi flared up. "Well, I am not so sure they will like a fish peddler +any better," he remarked bitingly. + +"That is beside the point," snapped James. "Simon Peter was the +first--and you have to admit it!" + +At that moment the Zealot and Judas joined the group. "What are you +talking about?" demanded the Zealot. When no one replied, Judas laughed +and remarked: "It's not hard to guess! Well, we shall see who is +greatest when we get to Jerusalem!" + +It was a long and hot trip from Caesarea Philippi to Capernaum, and the +men did not stop arguing until they came to the very door of Peter's +house. Their home-coming was spoiled. Everyone was in bad humor. Peter +remembered how he had longed to see his wife and children when he had +looked down on the Lake of Galilee from Mount Hermon. Now this bitter +dispute had completely taken away the pleasure of it. Peter's wife could +not understand why all the men, even her husband, ate supper in silence. +After they had finished eating, James rose and stood in the open +doorway, blocking it. He glared angrily at Judas and the Zealot. + +He could hardly restrain his bitter resentment against these men, and he +was determined to make the Master put them in their place. + +But it was Jesus who spoke first--before James could begin his angry +accusations. "What were you wrangling about on the road?" + +James felt his anger turn against the Master, who was sitting near the +door. He had not been wrangling! It was a matter of simple fairness! + +"Why were you wrangling on the road today?" Not one of the disciples +ventured to answer--the question was put to them a second time. + +"An evil spirit of envy and dispute has come among us," said Jesus. The +men sensed how deeply hurt he was. + +"If any of you wish to be first in the Kingdom of God, you must learn to +serve rather than to rule." While he was speaking, Peter's little +daughter peeked around the edge of the doorway. She drew back at the +sight of the men, but she was so curious that soon she put her head +around the corner again. Jesus saw the disciples smile and he turned. +"Come here, little girl," he said gently and held out his hands, +smiling. She came to him, and he lifted her to his lap. She leaned +trustingly against his shoulder and looked shyly at the men. + +With his arms around her, Jesus said, "If you are willing to serve even +this little child, then you have discovered what it means to be my +disciples. But if you do anything to keep even the most despised person +from believing in me, you would be better off in the bottom of the sea +with a great stone tied around your neck!" + +When James finally spoke, his tone was controlled. "But, Master, who is +to rule in the new Kingdom when we get to Jerusalem?" + +The disciples leaned forward. _Now we shall get this business settled!_ +thought the Zealot. + +"Among the gentiles, a man is great if he rules over many people," +answered Jesus. "But in the Kingdom of Heaven it is the other way +around: you are great if you serve, not rule." + +"But when we get to Jerusalem, Master, who is going to run the new +government?" insisted James boldly. + +"Do you think of nothing but ruling others? You do not understand my +Kingdom at all." Then, slowly and emphatically, Jesus said: "James, if +you want to be great in my Kingdom, you must be a servant! If you want +to be the chief disciple, you must make yourself the slave of all the +others! I myself did not come to rule over many nations--I came to serve +the people--yes, even to give my life to buy them from slavery!" + +"Master, we know that the new Kingdom will be different," interrupted +Peter. "But we shall rule the gentiles, shan't we?" He did not wait for +an answer. "You ought to decide which one of us will have the main +authority." + +The Zealot looked at Peter suspiciously. _So that's how he thinks he +will get his way!_ he thought. "Now look," he said to Jesus in his most +practical tone. "I know many people in Jerusalem who can help us...." + +James's anger boiled over. "Master, he is interested only in special +privileges!" + +"That is a lie!" snapped the Zealot, looking fiercely at James. "I want +only...." Peter's little girl was crying. Harsh voices and frowning +faces had frightened her. She clutched Jesus' robe with both tiny hands +and buried her head in his robe. + +"Here, let me take her," said Peter, starting to rise. But the little +girl clung all the closer to Jesus. + +"Except you become as little children," said Jesus, "you cannot enter +the Kingdom of Heaven." He stood up, holding the child in his arms; he +did not intend to listen to the angry debate any longer. "I have +appointed you to proclaim the news of the Kingdom of God," he declared. +"You are the salt which must season the whole earth. Everything depends +on you. But what if the salt loses its taste?" The men again felt in his +voice the deep grief they had caused him. "It is fit only to be thrown +out and trampled on! Let there be peace between you!" + +Jesus gently put Peter's daughter in her father's arms and left the +room. He walked down to the shore of the lake. The trip from Caesarea +Philippi had been tiring, and he longed to be alone. Under the tiny +white stars he was far from the jealousies and selfishness of his +followers. Sometimes they were truly noble and brave. They were loyal +too, and yet ... they seemed never to understand! In the quiet night +Jesus gave thanks to his Father in heaven for the men who had given up +everything to follow him; he prayed that they might soon understand the +true meaning of the Kingdom of God. + +Suddenly there were running footsteps behind him. Jesus stopped +abruptly. Had Herod already discovered that he was back in Galilee? Had +spies followed him here so that they could arrest him secretly? Two +figures emerged from the darkness. + +"Master!" It was John. James was with him. Relief flooded through Jesus. + +"We wanted to tell you about something we did." There was a note of +pride in John's voice. "Do you remember when James and I went to buy +food today? We found a man casting out evil spirits in your name. We put +a stop to it right away!" + +"We will never allow anyone to interfere with us," added James. "He +might even persuade some people to follow him. We want nothing like +that!" + +Jesus did not answer, but continued to look out over the dark lake. Why +had these men followed him all the way out here to tell him this? Were +they trying to convince him they were loyal in spite of the day's +dispute? Or were they trying to persuade him to do what they wanted? +Jesus turned to them. "What made you do a thing like that?" he demanded. +"Don't you know that we are trying to give the power of God to everyone +who will believe--we are not trying to keep it to ourselves!" + +"But he was not one of us," explained James, amazed. + +"That makes no difference," answered Jesus. "Are we jealous of his +power? Do we think always of our own reputation?" + +"But doesn't it make any difference who has power in our Kingdom?" asked +James, dumfounded. + +"We don't even know the man!" exclaimed John. + +"Do not forbid him," replied Jesus. "No one who does a mighty work in my +name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not +against us is for us. If a person so much as gives you a cup of water in +my name, God remembers him for it!" His voice was now calm, with the +note of sorrow which the men had heard twice before on this day. + +"Do you still not understand what is going to happen in Jerusalem?" he +said. "I have told you already that I shall be killed! I am not going to +Jerusalem to seek the praise of men, but to give up my life for the sake +of all men. I shall be betrayed into the power of the high priests. They +will hand me over to the Romans to be killed!" + +"Master!" cried James desperately. "Do not say such a thing!" Fear +chilled him, and the very night seemed to threaten. James had been +fighting this thought ever since Jesus had first mentioned his death. +"That can never, never happen!" + +"In spite of all I have said, you still understand little of my work," +said Jesus and left the two men. They did not try to follow, but stood +listening to the sound of his footsteps dying away. Then they turned +back. There could be no mistaking his meaning this time: the Master knew +he would die in Jerusalem. + +[Illustration] + + + + +13. THE MESSIAH MUST DIE + + +The next day, Jesus left Capernaum with the Twelve, traveling swiftly on +the main highway toward Tiberias, Jericho, and Jerusalem. Early in the +afternoon, a wind rose from the south. The sky grew dark; clouds scudded +overhead as the disciples plodded along the dusty road. The Lake of +Galilee lay to their left. When the sun shone it was refreshing, blue +and cool. Now the water was gray, whipped into angry waves by the wind. +Only a few months before, the men had nearly drowned in a gale like +this. + +To their right were bleak hills, bare of trees. An anxious shepherd was +driving his sheep to shelter. The black, windy sky reminded the +disciples of all the fears that filled them: fear of their own future +and distrust of one another. + +"Where can we stay for the night. Master?" asked Andrew, raising his +voice above a gust that snatched the words from his lips. + +Jesus glanced at the sky. "Perhaps we can find an inn at Tiberias." + +The wind was hot and laden with dust. Its choking heat kept their skin +dry even though the men perspired freely. They covered their faces with +their robes to avoid breathing dust. + +The air was thick; they could not see the sun, though it was fully four +hours before sunset. They could not even see the crest of the ridge +rising above them to the right. + +"If the wind changes to the southwest, this is sure to turn to rain," +remarked James, almost shouting. John nodded. A moment later they heard +Andrew call to them. + +"Look there!" he shouted. "Up the hill." He was pointing to a +tumble-down shed a few yards from the road to their right. + +Greatly relieved, the whole group left the road and in a moment were +inside the shelter. "We are lucky to find this," said James, throwing +the cover off his face. "It is getting cooler, and the wind is +changing." + +The disciples had hardly caught their breath when they heard a familiar +sound. "Sheep!" exclaimed Philip. An instant later a tightly packed +flock of frightened sheep crowded into the shed. It overflowed in a +moment, but the bleating animals kept on pushing in. Suddenly their +shepherd stood in the midst of the men. + +"Oh!" He was completely surprised at finding people in his shed. + +"We were looking for shelter from the wind and rain," explained Peter. + +"Oh ... why yes!" replied the man. He was embarrassed in the presence of +all these strangers. "This is a very poor old shed," he said, smiling +apologetically. Shyly he turned away from the disciples and began to +count his sheep. + +The men watched. He was very slow and started over again three times. +They smiled at each other as though to say, "A simple fellow, isn't he?" + +The flimsy little shelter rocked under the gusts of the gale, now at its +height. The shepherd was too busy counting to notice. Suddenly he jerked +up straight. "There is one missing!" Before the disciples could stop +him, he plunged into the windy darkness. + +"Come back!" shouted James. + +"One is missing!" A heavy gust almost drowned the shepherd's reply. + +"You'll get hurt!" The man was gone. "How can he ever find his way?" +protested James to the others. "There are gullies and high rocks! He +will be killed in the dark!" + +"He has practically all the sheep in," declared John. "He could wait a +little while till this lets up." + +"He would leave his flock here and search all night for a sheep," +remarked Jesus. + +"He ought not to risk his life like that," answered James. + +"A good shepherd is ready to face death to find just one sheep," said +Jesus. + +Death! The twelve men had been able to think of nothing but fear and +death the whole day through. Why did the Master talk about it so much? + +At that instant the shepherd came back. Under his arm was a lamb, +frightened but not harmed. "There," sighed the man, putting it gently +down. "Now all are safe." + +"You are hurt!" exclaimed Peter. He knelt and gently touched the man's +ankle. The shepherd flinched, but said, "Oh, it is nothing!" + +"Let me bandage it," insisted Peter. The man sat down; he was in pain. +"How did this happen?" asked Peter, tearing a strip of cloth from the +long loose shirt he wore. + +"I heard the little one crying and ran toward him," answered the man. "I +must have stumbled on a sharp rock." + +Jesus was watching the man. "You are a faithful shepherd," he said. + +The shepherd looked up quickly and smiled. This man understood! But the +disciples were quiet. They knew Jesus was thinking about his own work in +Jerusalem. + +The wind had veered around and now blew from the southwest. Spattering +drops turned into a steady, cold, driving rainstorm. + +"Perhaps it will settle the dust," said Andrew hopefully. He was +thinking how dejected the sheep looked that had not found room in the +shed when he felt cold water on his back. "This place leaks!" he +exclaimed. Soon all the men were moving uncomfortably about, trying to +find places to stand where they could keep dry. But it was hopeless. The +rain poured through the cracks in the old roof. + +"We might as well be walking outside as standing here," declared the +Zealot in disgust. The suggestion seemed sensible. + +"Thank you for the shelter," said Jesus to the shepherd. + +The rain had not let up at all, but the men plunged into the night. "Be +careful of that ankle," said Peter, the last to go. The shepherd smiled +in farewell. + +Two hours later the company of miserable disciples arrived in Tiberias. +For an hour and a half they had been soaked to the skin. The wind had +become quite cold, and they were chilled through. Only after they +entered the city of Tiberias did they find an inn where there was room +for them. + +"This city is crowded with people going to Jerusalem for the feast," +observed James, as the disciples stripped off their wet clothing. + +"I wonder how Herod likes to have his home city full of loyal Jews," +replied John. + +"I just hope he does not find out we are here." + +The disciples were alarmed when Jesus insisted on teaching the next day +in the market place, where people gathered to gossip and buy food. + +"What if the tyrant discovers that we are here?" inquired Andrew +fearfully. "He could throw us into prison before we could escape!" + +"This is an important city for us," replied Jesus. "We must tell the +news of the Kingdom to all these pilgrims who are traveling to +Jerusalem." Nervously the disciples kept watch for the Roman police +while Jesus talked to the people. + +It was well that they did. "Here come some Pharisees," warned John. The +men were stepping around carts piled with food, taking care to avoid the +heavily burdened donkeys that crowded the street. The people dropped +back to let them pass. The two Pharisees smiled as they came up to +Jesus. + +"They seem friendly!" said John, astonished. + +"Don't let them deceive you," warned the Zealot. + +Jesus received the men graciously. The first said: "Rabbi, we have come +to warn you. You had better get out of Tiberias as soon as possible. We +have private information from Herod's court that he intends to kill +you!" + +The disciples were alarmed. The Zealot was frowning and looking at the +Pharisees very suspiciously. "Why do you tell us this?" he asked +bluntly. They ignored his question, waiting to see what Jesus would say. + +Jesus' answer was stern: "Go tell that sly fox that he does not have the +power to stop my work!" The people were startled. How did he dare speak +like this about the king? "Now I am preaching the good news of the +Kingdom of Heaven and helping people," continued Jesus. "When I finish +this work I will leave--but I will go to Jerusalem only when the time +comes for me to be delivered up to death!" + +"Unless you leave Tiberias at once, you will certainly die here," said +the second Pharisee. + +"No." There was bitter humor in Jesus' tone. "It would hardly be right +for a prophet to be killed anywhere but in Jerusalem. It is always our +holy city that kills the messengers whom God sends!" + +The Pharisees turned and walked away. "Well!" exclaimed John. "For men +who want to save us from Herod they certainly act oddly." + +"They care nothing about our lives," said the Zealot sourly. "They are +just trying to scare us out of Galilee. Herod knows he cannot put us +into prison--there would be a riot!" + +The people were indeed very loyal to Jesus. Many who had listened to him +in their home villages greeted him with great joy when they found him +teaching in Tiberias and refused to go on without him. + +"We want you to lead us to Jerusalem," declared one man from Capernaum +who had often listened to Jesus at the lakeside. + +"I must stay here several days to teach others who travel through," +answered Jesus. + +"Then we shall wait." More and more people joined this man in asking +Jesus to lead them to Jerusalem. + +The disciples were greatly worried by this. "Herod is sure to hear of +this!" exclaimed Andrew, anxiously watching the people crowd around +Jesus. + +"He must know we are here by now," said John. Any moment the men +expected the officers of King Herod to come to arrest them. They were +greatly relieved when Jesus led a small group of especially loyal +followers into the hills west of Tiberias. + +"At least we are safe out here," observed John as they climbed the brown +hill above Herod's capital city. When Jesus stopped, they could see the +whole Lake of Galilee spread below them. High above the city rose the +towers of Herod's palace. Peter looked northward to where Capernaum lay. +Beyond the city he could see Mount Hermon, majestic and cool. A few days +before, he had stood on its slopes and gazed at Capernaum, where his +wife and children lived. Then he had expected to see them soon. But now +he knew he might never see them again. + +A ridge concealed the group with Jesus from the road which led west from +Tiberias to the Mediterranean Sea. "Tonight we shall rest in the hills," +said Jesus to them; there were about seventy beside the disciples. +"Tomorrow I will send you to prepare my way to Jerusalem." + +The thought of leaving Herod's territory cheered the disciples, but they +had not heard all that their Master had to say. "For a few more days I +am going to remain here to summon these people to repent and confess +that God is King," continued Jesus. "You are to stay with me. I am +sending these others into the cities that I will visit." He turned to +the Seventy: "Declare the good news of the rule of God. Tell them that +the Kingdom is here. Return to me on the third day. Then we shall set +out for Jerusalem!" + +The people began to talk excitedly with one another. "You must go two by +two," continued Jesus, raising his voice. "You have a great work to do, +and now is the time to do it! Pray, therefore, that you will find many +who will believe your message of the Kingdom of God and help you. Do not +let anyone stop you, but press on to tell the gospel in every city where +Jews live. You will be in danger; I send you out like sheep among +wolves. Just the same, have courage, for you carry good news. Preach +this message: 'The rule of God is here; give yourselves to him'!" + +After the Seventy had gone, great crowds continued to throng Jesus as he +preached in the market place of Tiberias. The anxiety that the +disciples first felt when Jesus decided to await the return of the +Seventy gradually gave way to optimism when they saw the great +popularity of Jesus. + +"The king knows he cannot arrest us," said the Zealot. "Look at this +crowd!" + +"It will not be long before we are in Jerusalem!" said John. Jerusalem! +The disciples began to talk eagerly about the new kingdom. + +"Nothing must stop us!" declared James and John. When the Seventy +returned, they were enthusiastic. + +"Everyone listened to us!" declared the first two men to return. "People +brought their sick to us. They believed our teaching! Even the demons +obeyed us!" + +"Here is a man who wants to become a follower," said his companion. + +A third person stepped up to Jesus and said very sincerely, "I will go +with you anywhere." + +Jesus looked at him keenly and said: "My way is not easy. The foxes in +the woods have holes to sleep in. Even the wild birds have nests--but I +have no home and no place to give you." + +"I will follow you anywhere," said the man again. + +Through the day others returned. Every hour the disciples heard good +reports of the success of the Seventy. At sunset all the followers whom +Jesus had sent out gathered in the hills. The bright rays of the sinking +sun lighted Jesus' face as he raised his hand to quiet the excited men. + +"Satan is utterly defeated!" he declared. "The power of God is yours! +Nothing can stand in the way of God's rule!" The people could not +restrain their excitement. They burst into a babble of conversation. One +man cried out, "Master, we even have power over demons!" + +Jesus answered quickly. "You should rejoice because you know what it is +to be a part of God's Kingdom--not because you can do miracles!" He +raised his arms to pray. Like the silent shadow that had stolen over +them as the sun sank from sight, a reverent hush settled over the crowd. + +"Father in heaven, I thank thee that thou hast concealed thyself from +men who think they are wise. I praise thee that thou hast revealed all +these things to the humble and the simple. I praise thee that it is thy +purpose to rule over all who are willing to give their hearts to thee." + +While the group were returning to their lodging in Tiberias, James and +John made a discovery that shocked and angered them. One of the Seventy +had been turned roughly away from a town on the border of Samaria. +Indignantly the two fishermen came with the man to Jesus. + +"This man was driven out of a village in Samaria," they said angrily. +"Let us call down fire from the sky and burn up these people!" + +"No!" commanded Jesus. "We have not come to destroy men's lives but to +save them." + +"Why should these worthless Samaritans be allowed to stand in the way of +the Kingdom of God?" demanded James hotly. "We should destroy them. They +are enemies of God!" + +"Our own towns in Galilee have rejected us as harshly as any town in +Samaria," answered Jesus. He pointed northward toward the villages on +the Lake of Galilee. His voice sent a chill through the fishermen: "O +Bethsaida, you are doomed--you are doomed! If my miracles had been done +in Tyre or Sidon, they would have repented long ago. But you have turned +your back on me! And you, Capernaum! Will you become great? No! You +shall be utterly destroyed for your sin!" + +These towns--the ones James and John knew and loved the best--Jesus +condemned because they had not accepted his gospel! Did he believe +Galilee had rejected him? Of what mighty destruction was he speaking? + +By morning the fishermen had forgotten Jesus' somber warning. The little +waves on the lake sparkled in the brightness of the sun. As Jesus' +followers walked briskly with him along the road toward Jerusalem, they +could talk of nothing but their arrival in the holy city. + +"We shall be welcomed in Jerusalem," said Peter. "See how well liked the +Master is by all the pilgrims!" + +"That is true," agreed a man from Capernaum. "But just the same, Pilate +is a dangerous man. Did you hear what he did at the last festival?" + +"No," answered James. "What was that?" + +"Some Zealots from Galilee started a riot in the Temple. I did not see +what happened myself, but they say that the Roman soldiers put a stop to +the trouble and within a few hours Pilate crucified twelve of the +Zealots." He looked at the others. "There were many Galileans in +Jerusalem--but that did not stop Pilate!" + +"But we are not going to start a riot," James hastened to say. "As Judas +says, we will work from the inside until the right time." Peter glanced +curiously at the other men. No doubt of the future seemed to cross their +minds. Peter restrained a desire to interrupt. Finally James turned to +him and asked, "Do you think Jesus would let himself be trapped by the +officials?" + +Very forcefully Peter answered: "I do not think he will be trapped. I do +not know what will happen. But do not forget what he said; again and +again he has told us that he will be killed in Jerusalem!" + +"Oh, I am sure he doesn't mean it the way it sounds," said James +hastily. "He was discouraged when he said that." + +"Just the same, he definitely said his work in Jerusalem would cost his +life!" + +"There will be no new kingdom for any of us if that happens!" replied +James. + +[Illustration] + + + + +14. A DAY OF VICTORY + + +Within two hours Jesus and his friends had reached the southern end of +the Lake of Galilee. They knew that the heavy rain had made the lake +rise almost to the point of flooding the water front at Tiberias. But +they never expected the sight that lay before them. + +Usually the Jordan wound sluggishly between low banks. Now a huge +overflow was pouring out of the lake, filling the wide river bed with +muddy water. The disciples looked with dismay at the uprooted bushes and +broken limbs swirling past them. They could hardly believe that this +destructive flood had been the narrow Jordan they had forded so many +times before. + +"Do you think that we can find a place to wade through?" James and John +were walking down the bank. + +James shook his head. "It is not deep, but it is terribly swift. Look +how wide it is!" A quarter mile of water lay between them and the other +side. + +"I guess we shall have to travel down the road on this side." They +turned back to the others. + +"I am not going through Samaria!" exclaimed James. + +"Perhaps we can find a shallow place to cross before we get that far," +replied John. + +None of the other people were willing to risk their lives by attempting +to ford the rushing river. "Come!" called Jesus to the ones who stood +wondering what to do. He started down the road toward Samaria; some of +the people looked doubtful, but no one objected. The road followed the +high hills that shut in the Jordan Valley on the west, but it was well +above the flood level of the river. Fully four miles to the east +stretched the broad lowlands of the Jordan, small hills, an occasional +steep bluff, and at the center, the flooded river. + +As the group traveled south, the flat valley narrowed and the hills came +closer on both east and west. Some of the farms near the river were +under water. "We may be able to cross near here," observed Andrew. They +had walked about five miles. "Do you remember if there is a bridge on +the road across to Gadara?" + +James pointed to a white strip below them. "The road is just ahead." + +Jesus walked past the crossroad without turning. "Surely he is not going +through Samaria!" exclaimed James. + +"Has he forgotten how these people treated our messengers?" asked John. + +"Perhaps he does not want all the travelers on the other road to know he +is going to the Passover," guessed one man. "He is a complete stranger +to the people in this part of Samaria. We could go all the way through +the province before anyone would discover we are on our way to +Jerusalem." + +"Perhaps we shall find lodging more easily along this road," observed +another. + +"I doubt if anyone will even sell us food," said James pessimistically. +"Samaritans are mean." + +"We shall soon find out," remarked Andrew. "This road leads right to +Scythopolis." + +This town was just over the border from Galilee. It was the largest of +the ten cities which together were called "Decapolis"; it was part of +ancient Samaria, and Jews usually avoided it. North of the city the +Jordan Valley grew suddenly wide; here the range of high hills along +which they were walking turned almost due west. + +"Perhaps there will be some here who know the Master is a great +prophet," said one of the men hopefully as the city came into view. + +"Probably never even heard of him," replied another. At that moment a +small group of men came out of a ramshackly house standing just outside +the city gate. Some hobbled; one crawled on his knees. + +"Lepers!" exclaimed John. "Don't get near them!" The ten sick men came +straight toward Jesus. Everyone sighed with relief when they stopped +several paces from the band of Galileans. + +"Unclean! We are unclean!" they called. The law compelled them to warn +everyone of their disease with this cry. "Master, have mercy upon us." + +They were indeed a pitiable sight. With inward pain, Jesus looked at +their wasted bodies, mere skin and bone. Repulsive scars from the +disease marked their faces. + +"These men seem to know the Master," murmured Andrew in surprise. + +"They might be Galileans," replied James. "Perhaps they live here +because they were driven out of their homes." The people were afraid +that the lepers might come near them, but the twelve disciples knew that +Jesus intended to help them. + +"Make ready and go immediately to Jerusalem," commanded Jesus. "Go to +the priest there and get a certificate showing that you are clean +according to the Law of Moses." The ten men turned without a word and +made for the leper house. In a moment they were out again, taking the +road around the outside of the city. On the way to Jerusalem they would +beg food. + +"Let us go into the city," said Jesus. He had hardly come into the +shadow of the high wall when one of the lepers came running back. He +threw himself down in front of Jesus and cried out: "Blessed art thou. +Master! God is good! I am clean!" It was true. The men could see no sign +of the terrible disease. + +"Where are the other nine?" asked Jesus. "Were they not healed also?" + +"This man is not from Galilee!" exclaimed Andrew under his breath. + +"Is this Samaritan the only one to come back and thank me?" Jesus asked +the people. He turned to the man. "Get up and go back to your own home. +Your faith has made you well." + +The gate into Scythopolis was like a dark tunnel because the wall was so +thick. Roman guards stationed on the inside examined the travelers as +they passed through. If they were surprised to find a large group of +Galileans in a town on the border of Samaria, they said nothing. + +"This town seems different from the one that refused us," admitted +James. Every one of the people who accompanied Jesus found a place to +stay. They discovered that many of the townsmen knew about Jesus. Some +even gathered curiously in the courtyard of the inn where Jesus rested. +By the time they left Scythopolis the next morning everyone knew they +were there. + +"The Master could make many disciples here," observed Andrew +enthusiastically. + +All the followers of Jesus were in high spirits. Even though Jesus kept +a fast pace, they did not fall behind. At noon they passed through a +large town, but Jesus paused only long enough for them to draw water to +drink. Farther south they entered the narrowest part of the Jordan +Valley. The road followed the brink of low limestone cliffs which +overhung the Jordan. The swift water was cutting into the banks; +whirlpools and rapids swirled below them. Occasionally they had to walk +around places where the river had undermined a section of the bank and +caused a cave-in. + +Even though the river constantly washed away portions of their farms, +the people raised heavy crops. The farmers lived in crowded villages +along the road. Between the wheat from the rich soil and the sheep that +grazed on the hills above, the people were quite prosperous. + +For two days Jesus pressed forward without a rest. As the group +approached the borders of Judea, the valley gradually widened until the +mountains across the river were blue in the haze that hung heavy in the +air. The damp heat had nearly exhausted the travelers, but some inward +force seemed to drive Jesus faster every hour. In the afternoon of the +second day they crossed the first of the streams that flowed from the +highlands behind Jericho. Ahead of the disciples, clear to the foot of +the distant hills, lay green fields of wheat, fig orchards, and +vineyards. Beside the road were rows of stately palms. + +"There is Jericho!" Everyone looked ahead. The city stood on a low, flat +hill. Its walls rose high above the trees. The Galileans could see very +clearly the beautiful theater built thirty years before by Herod the +Great, father of Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee. Beside it stood the +massive fortress which he had built to defend Jericho. Dominating both +city and plain stood the square stone tower of Cyprus; from this high +lookout Herod's soldiers could easily see any enemy who might dare +attack Jericho. + +Jewish pilgrims crowded the road. "They must have waded the Jordan at +the ford where we first heard John the Baptizer," commented Andrew to +John. + +"The way we came is shorter," answered John, thinking of the many loads +of salted fish he and Andrew had brought to Jerusalem on the road east +of the river. The disciples saw the Galilean pilgrims on the road +staring at Jesus and murmuring to one another. At length one man came up +to John. + +"Wasn't your Rabbi in Tiberias a few days ago?" he asked. John nodded. +The man and his friends joined the group with Jesus. Others followed. + +"This is not good," observed Andrew. + +"It certainly would be better not to cause any disturbance in Jericho," +agreed Peter. + +"We shall be in serious trouble if Pilate's local commander sends him +word that we caused a riot here," added Judas. "I hope these people keep +their heads." + +Outside the gate of Jericho sat the usual line of beggars, ragged, +filthy, and diseased. Some were silent, but others called out, asking +alms. Hardly anyone paid any attention. Suddenly there was a loud cry +from the side of the road. + +"Jesus! Jesus! Thou Son of David! Messiah! Have mercy on me!" + +"Shut up!" snapped someone. Others looked harshly at the beggar who had +shouted, but he could not see their hard faces. He was blind. + +"Jesus! Messiah! Have pity on me!" His voice was louder than before. + +"In the name of heaven, make that wretch be quiet!" burst out Judas. "We +shall have the whole Roman army on us if anyone hears him talking as +though Jesus were going to lead a revolution!" + +Jesus stopped. "Who is calling to me?" + +"Oh, just some beggar," answered James. + +"Bring him to me." The man who had scolded the beggar said to him: +"Don't worry. The Master himself is calling you." The blind man leaped +to his feet, threw off his tattered coat, and pushed his way through the +crowd toward Jesus. + +"What do you want me to do for you?" asked Jesus. + +The beggar dropped to his knees. "O Master, that I might be able to see +again!" + +A hush had fallen over the crowd. Jesus said: "Open your eyes. Your +faith has made you well again." The man looked around him. He saw the +people, the city wall above him, the palm trees at the side of the road. +Jesus turned and led the crowd through the gate into Jericho. People +clustered around the beggar as he walked after Jesus. He talked loudly +and happily, hardly able to express his joy. + +Judas came up to Jesus. "Can't we send that man away? Think what will +happen if the Romans hear him babbling like this!" + +"Let him tell what has happened to him," answered Jesus. "We have come +to Judea to proclaim the gospel. That man has found the Kingdom of +Heaven. Let him declare it to everyone!" + +"We are losing our chance to win over the high priests in Jerusalem!" +burst out Judas. "Before tomorrow night word will reach them that the +people are trying to make Jesus king! They will all be against us!" + +"Well, there is nothing to do about it now," said the Zealot. The man in +front of Judas stopped in his tracks and Judas ran into him. "What is +the matter now?" he demanded impatiently. + +The Zealot pointed to a tree over their heads. "Look!" A man was +standing on a heavy lower limb of one of the sycamore trees that grew at +the side of the street. The whole crowd gaped. Jesus spoke with someone +in the crowd for a moment and then called to the man in the tree: +"Zacchaeus, come down here! I want to visit your home." + +Judas turned to a man beside him. "Who is that fellow?" + +"He is the chief tax collector in Jericho. He is very rich." + +"A tax collector!" exploded Judas. He turned to the Zealot. "Did you +hear that? He wants to stay with a tax collector! Why does he insist on +mixing with such people? Everyone will say he is a lover of traitors and +sinners!" If Judas had not known it was useless, he would have protested +to Jesus then and there. + +Zacchaeus climbed out of the tree and stood in front of Jesus. "May I +come to your home?" asked Jesus again. + +"Oh, yes, Master!" exclaimed Zacchaeus, and he turned to lead the way. + +The rumor spread fast. The Galilean Prophet was staying with Zacchaeus! +The deliverer of Israel--staying with a tax collector? Impossible! +Perhaps he was not Messiah at all! + +The publican knew that people considered him a traitor. He knew how much +it meant that Jesus had chosen him for a friend. The next morning, just +before Jesus left his home, Zacchaeus declared in the presence of all +the disciples: "I am not the man I was yesterday. I intend to be a +different person. If I have cheated anyone in collecting taxes, I will +give half of all that I possess to the poor; and I will give every man +whom I cheated four times what I took from him." + +Jesus smiled. "Zacchaeus, this day God has forgiven your sin and +accepted you in his Kingdom. Because you believe, you are a true son of +Abraham." + +After they had left, Judas could contain himself no longer. "Master, +think of our task in Jerusalem!" he exclaimed. "What will the best +people think of us? They will never believe we come to do God's will if +we act as though we approved of lawbreakers!" + +"Judas," answered Jesus, "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save +those who are lost. Zacchaeus was waiting for someone to summon him to +repent and submit himself to God. My Father has sent me into the world +to tell just such people--outcasts, beggars, sinners, even +gentiles--that he is ready to receive anyone who will repent." + +Many people were waiting at the city gate for Jesus to lead them to +Jerusalem. Going before them, he walked from the fertile lowlands around +Jericho into the bleak hills of Judea. Above the city the travelers +paused for a last look. Beyond the green plain lay the river, hidden in +a tangle of trees, bushes, and high grass. Wise travelers crossed the +river only at the regular fords because this jungle concealed wolves, +jackals, bears, and lions even this far south. The Dead Sea lay +perfectly still. Mud flats marked the place where the Jordan emptied +into it. + +Andrew was glad that they traveled in a large group, for this steep road +was a favorite of robbers. In Galilee they often heard reports of +travelers being ambushed, beaten, and robbed in these lonely mountains. +In small knots the disciples argued about the outcome of the things that +had happened in Jericho. By the time they had covered the fifteen rough +miles to the outskirts of Jerusalem, the men were more deeply excited +than they themselves realized. All their hope and faith in the Master +was to be put to the test! Drawing near the holy city, the road crossed +the southern shoulder of the Hill of Olives and here the men first +caught sight of the capital city of Palestine. There were many beautiful +buildings; Pilate had just built a graceful new aqueduct through the +mountains to Jerusalem. The little town of Bethphage lay outside the +city wall. But the disciples had eyes only for Mount Zion and the +Temple. They never saw Jerusalem without a thrill. The Temple was the +symbol of their religious faith, the place where God had established his +glory. Mount Zion held the eye of every traveler who ascended to the +gates of the holy city. + +Jesus called two of the disciples. "We will wait here at the Hill of +Olives," he said. "You go into Bethphage. Just after you enter the town +you will see a colt which has never been ridden tied to a post beside +the door of a house. Bring it to me. If anyone asks you what right you +have to do it, tell him, 'The Lord needs it, and he will send it back +immediately.'" + +On the way to Bethphage one of the men said, "Did you know the Master +had planned to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey?" + +"No," answered his companion. Both men were surprised to find that Jesus +had prepared for his visit. When they got back to the Hill of Olives, +several men took off their cloaks and placed them on the back of the +colt. Jesus seated himself on the animal, and the entire group moved +toward the gate of Jerusalem. + +Pilgrims who crowded the roads stopped to watch, then recognized Jesus +and joined the crowd. Excitement became intense. When the gate of the +holy city came into view, several men ran ahead to clear the way. +Snatches of song and psalms of praise could be heard on every side. The +tremendous enthusiasm of the people did not break out, however, until +the procession entered the city. + +For a moment all was quiet as they walked under the cool shadowed gate. +Then the colt carried Jesus out of the gate into the city. It seemed to +the amazed disciples that a thousand people filled the cobblestone +street. + +"Hosanna! Save us now!" cried the crowd. "Blessed is the one who comes +in the name of the Lord God. Blessed is the messenger whom God has sent +to deliver his people! Hosanna! Hosanna!" + +"Pilate will hear about this within an hour!" shouted Judas in the ear +of the Zealot. + +"Nonsense! There is nothing to fear. Look at this crowd! Pilate would +never dare arrest us!" + +Judas rushed up to Jesus and pulled at his robe. "Master, make them +stop! Make them stop!" + +Jesus' answer cut through the tumult. "If these people did not proclaim +the Kingdom, the very stones in the street would have to cry out!" + +Men were taking off their cloaks and throwing them in the street in +front of Jesus. Palm branches which people had brought from Jericho were +scattered before Jesus as though he were a king advancing to his throne +on a royal carpet. + +"Blessed is the kingdom of our great King David!" shouted the people. +"Blessed is his Son who comes to deliver us!" As Jesus rode by, everyone +fell into step behind him, singing and shouting praises. Jesus led the +crowd up the hill of Zion straight to the Temple. He got off the colt +and entered. Hundreds pushed in after him, still shouting hosannas. + +What Jesus saw shocked him. It was early evening, and most of the people +who came to sacrifice had left. But the courtyard of the house of God +was neither empty nor quiet. A large number of young bulls and sheep +were tethered there and made a great disturbance. Jesus had seen these +animals here when he had visited Jerusalem before; indignation rose up +inside him. Priests were carrying water to the bullocks. Others were +putting away small tables where they counted money as they sold the +animals. The whole scene reminded Jesus more of a barnyard or a market +place than the Temple of God. + +With rising anger, Jesus walked slowly around the entire courtyard. He +examined everything in it very closely. The people saw his frown, and +their enthusiasm melted away. The shouting stopped. + +"What is he going to do?" murmured Andrew. Jesus turned his back on the +whole disgusting scene and walked out of the Temple. + +"Why has he gone?" everyone asked. Only the disciples followed Jesus. +The people scattered to the places where they lodged, wondering what +would happen on the morrow. + +"Why was he angry?" asked Andrew. + +"I don't know," answered Peter. + +"There are many things I should like to know," observed Judas. + +There was deep feeling in Peter's voice when he spoke again. "There is +one thing certain: very soon we shall know when he intends to bring in +the new Kingdom. The people are for us. Perhaps tomorrow will tell!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +15. DISPUTE IN THE TEMPLE + + +Dusk on the Hill of Olives was quiet and restful after the excitement of +the day. The gentle wind in the olive trees, which grew thickly in the +Garden of Gethsemane, was so different from the noise and smell of the +Temple courtyard! + +While the disciples slept, Jesus went deeper into the Garden, where he +could pray alone. When he knelt on the rocky ground, the moon, almost +full, was just rising in the east. But when Jesus finally returned to +the Twelve and wrapped his coat around him to sleep, the moon was high +above, cold and white. + +The sound of travelers on the road through the olive orchard awakened +Peter the next morning. The morning sunlight threw long shadows on the +ground. Between the trees Peter could see pilgrims passing along the +road. Jerusalem would be crowded this Passover season! For a moment +Peter could not remember why he felt so excited when he awoke. Then the +events of the day before flooded into his memory. He stood up stiffly. +He had been cold all night; the hard ground was a poor bed for men who +would soon be ruling the gentiles! Jesus stood up and stretched. + +"Come, my followers!" he called. "There is work to do in the Temple!" + +The men arose and walked down the slope to a small spring that trickled +from under a rock. When they had washed, Jesus led them to the road that +crossed the Kidron Valley toward the Golden Gate of the Temple. All the +men were hungry. + +Along the road they found no food for sale. Everyone who lived outside +the city walls bought food in the market of Jerusalem. Just above the +Kidron, a leafy tree stood beside the road. + +"It is too early for figs," remarked Andrew. Jesus did not hear: he was +gazing at the tree. He turned to the twelve men. + +"This tree is a good picture of the religion of the priests. It has many +leaves and looks strong. But there is not one bit of fruit on it." He +pointed to the Temple above them. The sun shone brilliantly on Mount +Zion. It was a sight to inspire every pilgrim who climbed the Jericho +road. "The Temple is beautiful. There are many priests. Our Law is +righteous. Moses and the Prophets were great teachers. But our religion +is all fine appearance! It is producing nothing! Our priests and rulers +obey the Romans. The Temple is filled with people who spend their time +selling bullocks and exchanging money!" + +The disciples realized that Jesus had been deeply offended by the things +he had seen in the Temple the evening before. Jesus continued in a +quieter tone: "There was once a man who had a fig tree like this one +planted in his vineyard. He came to see if it was producing fruit, but +there was none to be found. There were no figs the next year either. +When he found none the third year, he said to his gardener: 'That tree +has not given us any fruit in three years. Cut it down. It is just +taking up valuable ground.' + +"But the gardener said: 'Let me give it one more chance. Let me dig +round it and put manure on it. If it does not bear fruit next year, we +will cut it down.'" With great force Jesus said: "Our nation has had +more than enough time to show results! God will judge us for failing +him! Let this fig tree teach you that God will condemn all religion +that does not produce real fruit, no matter how fine it may look!" + +Jesus' voice struck dread into the disciples. He sounded like Jeremiah +pronouncing doom on the city of Jerusalem. And he had said there was +work for him at the Temple! What did he intend to do? As the disciples +followed Jesus through the Valley of Kidron, they were uneasy. + +Jesus strode through the Golden Gate into the Temple without looking to +the right or to the left. He walked through Solomon's Porch into the +courtyard. Gentiles were allowed to come this far, but only Jews could +go farther. Several gates led through a second wall into another court. +Over each gate hung a great sign: + + NO FOREIGNER IS ALLOWED + INSIDE THE WALL + SURROUNDING THE SANCTUARY. + WHOEVER IS CAUGHT WILL BE PUT TO DEATH! + HE ALONE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE! + +One whole side of the outer yard was filled with stamping bulls and +sheep. The bawling of the cattle, the stirring of the nervous sheep, and +the fluttering of pigeons in cages piled high on the ground made great +confusion. Even this early in the morning dust filled the air over the +courtyard. + +High above the Temple area rose four stone towers. Andrew shaded his +eyes and looked up. Steel armor glinted in the sunlight. From this +lookout, called the Tower of Antonia, Pilate's Roman soldiers kept keen +watch over everything that happened in the Temple. + +But it was not the tethered animals or the bustling crowds that caught +Jesus' attention. Not even the Roman fort interested him after the first +glance. What grated most disagreeably upon him was the bickering of the +priests. Even above the noise the disciples could hear the priests +arguing with pilgrims who needed an animal to sacrifice. + +Jesus and the Twelve stopped to watch one priest. As they listened, +Peter saw his Master's anger rising. A Galilean had brought a young bull +all the way from his home. To the disciples he looked like a farmer who +did not have much to live on. Such men usually sacrificed a sheep or a +pigeon. But this man must have wanted to give a better sacrifice. He was +watching the priest examine the legs of his bullock. Finally the priest +straightened up. + +"No! This beast will not do." + +"But I brought this bull all the way from Galilee," protested the +farmer. + +"I can't help that," answered the priest. "He is not good enough." + +"Not good enough!" cried the man in dismay. "That is the best bull I +ever raised!" + +"All right, then; look!" The priest pointed to a small cut on the rear +leg of the bullock. + +"But that happened on the trip," explained the farmer. "There is nothing +really wrong with him." + +"Do you want to offer a sacrifice to God which is not perfect?" The man +did not answer. "I'll tell you what I will do," the disciples heard the +priest say. "I will trade you a perfect sheep for this bull." + +The farmer's face reddened angrily. For an instant he seemed about to +strike the priest; then he jerked at the tether and led his bullock out +of the Temple court without replying. + +Jesus turned to the disciples, his voice indignant. "That man brought +the best he had--and was turned away!" + +Jesus walked toward the Beautiful Gate, between the outer courtyard and +the inner court where the Temple building stood. At the foot of the +steps which led through the gate he stopped. On each side of the gate +were money-changers. Everyone who wished to give money had to go to the +tables where these men sat and buy Jewish coins with their Roman and +Greek money. Because there was a profit on this exchange, the Temple +treasury had grown rich. Pilate had forced the high priest to use some +of this money to pay for the great aqueduct that brought water to +Jerusalem. + +The men were weighing coins on their scales. Clinking money and noisy +arguing made the scene all the more like a public market. Jesus stood +before the row of tables, looking at the money-changers. Suddenly he +spoke in a voice that was firm and clear. The arguing stopped; men +forgot the money and looked up. Silence settled over that part of the +Temple courtyard; Jesus had taken command. "It is written in the +Scriptures, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the +nations!' But you have made it a den of robbers!" + +Jesus stepped swiftly toward the first table and with a sweep of his arm +threw the table over into the dust. The scales crashed to the ground; +money rolled everywhere. In an instant Jesus was striding down the whole +row. The money-changers were terrified. Jesus did not leave a single +table standing. Scales and coins, records on parchment, and chairs lay +in confusion on the ground. The onlookers could hardly believe what they +saw; who could this be, who dared clear this courtyard as though it were +his own? + +Judas moved quickly toward Jesus. "Stop! Stop!" he cried out. + +But Jesus paid no attention. He turned to those who were selling animals +and pigeons and cried out: "Take these things away! You shall not make +my Father's house a house of trade!" He picked up a piece of rope and, +knotting a whip of cords, began to drive the bullocks out of the Temple. + +People stood as though paralyzed. Heavy swirls of dust hung in the +morning air. The empty cages from which the pigeons had escaped lay +scattered. Judas stood stock-still behind Jesus, not daring to protest +again. The Roman guards peered alertly from the Tower of Antonia, but +now all had become quiet below them. + +"Come! Let us leave this place!" Jesus walked across the broad royal +porch and down toward the market place of Jerusalem. + +The disciples finally started after him. "All Jerusalem saw him do it!" +exclaimed Andrew. + +Judas could hold back no longer. "Why did he have to do a thing like +this!" he cried passionately. "This will turn everyone against us!" The +other eleven men knew that the Romans had seen it all; within a few +minutes it would be reported to Pilate. "The priests will be against +us!" burst out Judas again. "What can we do when every important person +will say that we are wrong?" Not even the Zealot could find an answer. + +The disciples heard rushing footsteps behind them. Fear clutched them as +they caught sight of a crowd pouring down the street from the Temple. +They gathered around Jesus. "Hosanna! The Son of David has come to rule +his eternal kingdom! Save us now!" Through the narrow streets on every +side, people came running. + +"These people are not against us!" cried the Zealot. Peter caught sight +of the man whose bullock had been rejected by the priest. Of course, +this man would be on Jesus' side! + +Jesus waved his hand, and the crowd gradually became quiet. "The Kingdom +of God is present among you!" he said to them. "God rules every man who +trusts him. Nothing is impossible for a man who has faith!" For a moment +an outburst of hosannas drowned his voice. "God does not desire more +offerings and sacrifices! He wants you to trust him as your Father! He +wants you to love his will above everything else and to obey him +faithfully. Any man who hears and believes my word shall have eternal +life in God's Kingdom!" + +Already the crippled, blind, and diseased were pressing forward to the +place where Jesus stood. Looking at them with pity, Jesus repeated words +now familiar to the disciples: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for +he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me +to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for the blind. He +has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim this is the year +of the Lord's blessing!" It seemed a long time since Peter had heard +Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth. + +"You are the One the Prophets tell about!" cried a beggar in the crowd. +"You are the Son of David!" + +All day Jesus remained in Jerusalem, teaching and healing. Roman +soldiers came to investigate, but they did not disturb him. + +"Look at all these people," the Zealot said enthusiastically. "He must +be getting ready to declare himself king! He did just the right thing +this morning!" + +Judas turned on him. "The people cannot make anyone king," he said +bluntly. "The Romans and the priests are all that count!" The other +disciples wavered between hope and discouragement. Later in the day +Pharisees and priests joined the crowd. "See?" said Judas. "Already they +are spying on us." The hearts of the Twelve sank. Judas must be right. +They urged Jesus to leave Jerusalem immediately, but not until evening +did Jesus lead them back to the Hill of Olives. + +"At least he is not going to risk being arrested by staying in the city +at night," sighed Peter in relief. "The Roman soldiers will never find +us here unless someone tells them where we are." + +None of the disciples slept soundly that night. Again Jesus spent most +of the night in prayer. The men rose early, glad to be rid of the +discomfort of the cold ground, but dreading to enter Jerusalem again. + +Jesus did not seek the crowds in the market place; he walked straight to +the Temple. The money-changers had not come back; no animals stamped +their hoofs in the courtyard. James glanced up at the Tower of Antonia. +Did the guard know that Jesus was the man who had caused the riot +yesterday? + +Jesus paid no attention to guards or priests. He sat down near the gate +where the Jews entered the inner court to put gifts into the Temple +offering box. Within an hour the rumor spread through Jerusalem that he +was in the Temple. People began to come in great numbers. Scribes, +Pharisees, and Roman soldiers were there too. After Jesus had been +teaching awhile one of the scribes interrupted. He lived on the Temple +grounds. + +"What I want to know," he demanded, "is what right you have to call the +Temple of God your Father's house? How do you dare act as you do?" + +"I will ask you a question," replied Jesus. "If you answer it, I will +tell you what right I have to act as I do. Where did John the Baptizer +get his right to preach? From God in heaven, or was he given it by some +man, perhaps a priest?" + +_From God, of course_, thought all the people instantly. + +The scribe knew what the people believed. He reflected, _If I say, "From +heaven," then he will ask us why we did not believe John's word. But if +I say, "From men"--no, that will never do! These people all think John +came from God!_ After a long pause, the scribe said, "I do not know." + +"All right, then," said Jesus. "That is why you cannot understand where +I get the right to act as I do! Listen to a story I shall tell you. A +man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a wine press, and +built a guard tower to protect it. Then he leased his vineyard to some +farmers and went away. At harvest-time he sent a servant to collect the +rent, but the farmers beat the man and sent him away with nothing. The +owner sent another servant, but the farmers clubbed him on the head and +insulted him. The farmers abused every man the owner sent; they even +killed some of them. Finally the owner thought, 'I am sure they will +respect my son.' So he sent his only son to collect the rent. + +"When the wicked farmers saw the young man coming, they said to each +other: 'This young fellow will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, we +will possess it!' So they beat the young man to death and threw his body +over the fence of the vineyard. + +"What will the owner of the vineyard do?" demanded Jesus. "He will +utterly destroy these evil farmers and will give the vineyard to other +people whom the farmers hated!" + +The scribe backed away and went into the inner court. "Look at him!" +whispered Judas to Peter. "Do you know what he is going to do? He is +going to report to the others!" Judas began to move away. + +"Where are you going?" asked Peter. + +"I don't want to be seen around here." Peter followed him to the outer +gate of the Temple. He was disturbed by what had happened the day +before, but he put on a bold manner with Judas. + +"I don't think there is any reason to be afraid," remarked Peter. + +Judas looked at Peter as though he had no sense at all. "Anyone can see +that we haven't a chance. The priests are plotting against us right this +minute. Look at that guard," he pointed at the tower; "he sees +everything we do!" Peter did not reply. "Anyhow, did you hear that story +Jesus told? You heard him say that they killed the son too, didn't you?" + +Peter jerked up his head. "Do you mean...." + +Judas nodded. "All the way from Galilee he has told us that he would be +killed here." + +Peter looked over at Jesus. "He acts very deliberately. He seems to know +what he is doing." + +Judas laughed bitterly. "He knows what he is doing, all right!" He +caught sight of some Pharisees coming down the steps of the Beautiful +Gate. "There are some more!" He turned his face away from them. + +Peter started toward Jesus, but Judas hung back. "Don't you want to hear +what they say?" asked Peter. "Come on." + +"I'm keeping out of sight from now on. And you had better look out for +yourself too!" Peter did not wait to argue. + +"Rabbi," the Pharisee was saying, "we know you are a sincere and +fearless man. You have a reputation for never playing politics. You +always tell men to do what God wants." The people were surprised. This +Pharisee did not speak in a superior tone like the others. "Tell me, +Rabbi," asked the Pharisee, "is it right to pay taxes to the Romans or +not?" + +Peter knew instantly that it was a trap. If Jesus answered that the Jews +should pay the Roman tax, he would be called a traitor to his people. If +he said the tax was wrong, he would be reported to Pilate and arrested. +A clever trick! + +"Why do you try to trap me?" demanded Jesus. "Bring me a Roman coin." He +held it up and asked the Pharisee, "Whose picture is stamped on this?" + +"Caesar's," he answered. + +"All right, then," said Jesus. "Give to the Romans what belongs to +them--but be sure that you give to God what belongs to him!" + +Jesus had escaped the trap, but Peter was puzzled. What could he mean by +saying, "Give to the Romans what belongs to them"? They were not going +to live under the Romans much longer! + +The people were angry with this attempt to trick Jesus. They murmured +threats when another scribe spoke up, "Rabbi, what is the most important +command in the Law?" + +Jesus replied without hesitating. "The Lord your God is one God and you +must love him with your whole heart, your whole soul; your whole mind, +and your whole strength. And the second is this: You must love your +neighbor as yourself. No commands are greater than these." + +"I think you are right, Rabbi," answered the scribe thoughtfully. "It is +much more important to love God and one's neighbor sincerely than to +make many sacrifices in the Temple." + +The disciples were suspicious; what new trick was this? But Jesus +answered the scribe warmly. "You are not far from the Kingdom of God!" + +Andrew came through the crowd toward Peter. "Have you seen Judas?" + +"We were talking just a minute ago." Both the men searched among the +people. "He must have gone!" The fishermen were puzzled. "He did not +want the officials to see him with us," remarked Peter. + +Later in the afternoon the people began to leave the Temple court. The +disciples became anxious. With hardly anyone around, the Romans could +easily arrest Jesus! In a few more minutes there would be almost no one +in the Temple. But still Jesus talked to a few persons who needed him. +When they left the men sighed with relief. "Where is Judas?" asked +Jesus. Not one of the disciples knew. + + * * * * * + +Judas had not left the Temple, as Peter supposed. At that very moment he +was only a few yards away from them. After talking to Peter, he had +walked through the inner court to the council chamber of the high +priest. His knock interrupted a secret meeting. + +A priest opened the door. "What do you want here?" + +"I want to talk with the high priest." Inside he saw the rulers of the +Temple. + +"Let him in," ordered Caiaphas, the high priest. "You are with the +Galilean!" he said accusingly the instant he saw Judas. + +"I was, but I am no longer," replied Judas. "Now I know that he is +really very dangerous!" The men looked at him suspiciously. Judas +plunged ahead, trying to please the hard-faced men. "This Jesus does not +really love the Law. He disobeys the great Rabbis! He cannot help us +against the Romans. The Kingdom he talks about is a dream! All he does +is arouse the people, and I am afraid he will bring Pilate's vengeance +upon us all!" + +The priests were surprised. The high priest demanded, "Well, what do you +want?" + +"I will help you take him for thirty silver coins." The dreadful offer +was made. He was pale, and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. + +"Will you help us arrest him secretly--so that the people will not find +out?" Every eye was on Judas. + +"I will." + +"Very well, then. It is a bargain." + +[Illustration] + + + + +16. THE END OF HOPE + + +Late that night Judas crept into the olive orchard. Silently he lay down +among the disciples; but he did not close his eyes. He listened alertly +to catch any sound that would tell him that the others were awake. There +was only uneasy breathing and restless turning. He lifted his head and +looked carefully among the sleepers. Where was Jesus? + +Stealthily Judas arose. He knew the ground well; many times he had +strolled in this peaceful grove during visits to Jerusalem. He walked +through the olive orchard to the road that led to Bethany. Across the +Valley of Kidron the walls of Jerusalem gleamed white in the moonlight. +Still he saw no sign of Jesus. + +Judas did not cross the deserted road, but walked carefully toward the +section of the orchard that lay farthest from the sleeping disciples. A +low wall loomed ahead; here the great press was built which crushed the +oil from the olives. Silently Judas climbed over the wall and stood +still for a moment, listening intently. But Judas heard nothing. He +started across the enclosure around the olive press, but stopped +suddenly. + +Only a few steps away from Judas knelt Jesus, his face bowed almost to +the ground. The moonlight striking down through the trees shone around +him. Judas was shivering in the frosty night; for an instant he wondered +how Jesus could endure the cold. Judas breathed softly; he had not been +heard! Then, so gently that Judas was not even startled, a voice +sounded. Jesus was praying. + +"Heavenly Father, I have proclaimed thy gospel to the disciples whom +thou hast given me. They have believed thy word. They know that my +message comes from thee; they believe that thou didst send me. + +"Bless them. Heavenly Father. I am going to leave them; they must stay +in the world. Keep them by thy power, holy Father. I have given them thy +Word, and the world hates them because they belong to thee. I do not ask +thee to take them out of the world; protect them from the evil one. +Consecrate them by thy truth; thy Word is truth. As thou hast sent me +into the world, so I have sent them into the world." + +Judas stood like a statue; the Master was praying for him! Jesus had not +finished. + +"I do not pray only for my disciples. Heavenly Father. I pray for all +who believe in me: make them all one together! Help them to be one as we +are one--I in them and thou in me. O Father in heaven, just and +merciful, the world has not known thee, but I have; and my followers +know that I have come from thee. Give them the love which has bound thee +to me and me to them." + +The prayer ended. How terribly calm Jesus was! He was so sure that God +was right there! With an effort Judas controlled a mad desire to flee +and instead walked quietly away. But when he was out of earshot he broke +into a run. Not knowing where he was going, he ran until his breath came +in gasps. He found himself among houses. It was Bethany, empty and bare +in the night, but here where people lived he felt secure from the +terror of the Garden where Jesus was talking with God. + +Dreading to go back to the Hill of Olives, Judas slumped down on a bench +beside the town well. He remembered the day he had first heard Jesus +preach in Jerusalem. What mysterious power had compelled him to follow +this strange Rabbi? Since then he himself had often preached the gospel +of the Kingdom which he had learned from Jesus. + +Judas pressed his fists against his temples. Never, never could he +escape this man from Nazareth! God was in him! Every memory of his life +with Jesus rose up and condemned Judas for his bargain with the priests. +He could never keep it! He would go back to Jesus and confess his great +sin! He stood up shivering. It was the cold of the night, he told +himself. He took a few faltering steps toward Gethsemane and stopped. +What could he be thinking of? Was he serious about giving up his plan to +put Jesus in the power of the high priest? + +Judas dropped again to the bench. He had promised to help the high +priest for good reasons. Jesus _was_ a very dangerous man! If he should +confess his bargain to Jesus now, he might be helping to overthrow the +sacred religion of his nation! No! He must go through with it! Jesus +must be stopped! + +The moon was pale in the dawn when Judas finally forced himself to go +back to the olive orchard. He could not put Jesus' prayer out of his +mind. How could he ever face him? Yet Judas found courage and strength +in the thought that God knew that he was doing this difficult thing for +the sake of true religion. Comforted by this, he crept to the place +where the men slept and lay down on the hard ground. Just the same, his +heart was cold within him as he watched the dawn change the sky. + +A half hour later the sun was still hidden behind the hills of Judea; +gray light filled the olive grove. The disciples slept, but Judas was +wide-awake. Suddenly he heard a footfall. Among the trees he saw a +figure moving toward them. For an instant panic gripped him. Was someone +else guiding the priests to the place where Jesus stayed? Judas shook +Peter by the shoulder. + +"Simon Peter! Peter!" The fisherman did not move. Judas shook him +harder. + +"Eh? What is it?" Peter was heavy with sleep. + +"There is someone coming." Instantly Peter was awake. Judas pointed to +the man, now very near them. Peter stood up, and Judas followed him. +They recognized a young man whom they had seen often in the Temple. + +"I am glad to find you awake," he said to Peter. "I have come to warn +you of danger." Judas' heart leaped. Had this fellow seen him going into +the priests' council chamber? + +"I am a student in the Temple," explained the young man. "I have heard +your Rabbi every day." Peter looked closely at the face of the youth. He +seemed sincere. "Yesterday the priests had a meeting. They are going to +stop your Rabbi!" Fear was like a heavy hand on Judas. This fellow was +going to betray him to Peter! + +"What do you mean?" asked Peter. The other disciples were aroused by +Peter's voice. Several sat up and stared at the three men. + +"I do not know just what they plan to do," continued the student. "But I +know that they want to accuse him before Pilate." Relief flooded through +Judas. The man did not know! + +Jesus still slept soundly, but the others gathered around. "This young +man says that the priests are plotting to arrest us," Peter said to +them. The dawn light, dimmed by the morning mist, threw an ashy gray +color over the faces of the Twelve. Peter could see that they were +afraid and very suspicious of the visitor. He turned sharply to him. +"Why have you come out here?" + +The young man did not hesitate. "Your Rabbi knows the truth about us. We +all know he is right; that is why the others hate him so!" He looked +down at Jesus. "But I believe his word! God has sent him to call us back +to Him!" + +Judas turned away. The courage of this young man made the disciples +ashamed. After a moment James said, "We thank you for coming here." The +young man smiled and answered: "I must go back to the Temple. Let no +harm come to your Rabbi!" + +Without comment the twelve men watched him leave. The warm sunlight +awakened Jesus when the mist began to drift away. He was surprised to +find all the men up. A few were talking quietly; others sat alone. +Judas' back was turned. Peter came over to Jesus. "A student from the +Temple came here while you slept, Master. He told us that the priests +are plotting against us." All but Judas were looking at Jesus. He stood +up. His cloak was soiled from constant use. Small twigs and dirt clung +to the coarse cloth. But tangled hair and rumpled clothes could not hide +the Master's great dignity. His voice was untroubled when he answered. +"Today is the Feast of the Passover. Today the lamb is killed so that +the people may be saved. The Father in heaven has sent the Son of Man to +be delivered up. In a little while you will see me no more; then after a +short time you will see me again." + +"We do not understand what you are saying. Master," said Peter. + +"You will soon be full of sorrow--but the people who hate me will be +glad that they have overcome me," answered Jesus. "But your sorrow will +turn to joy. Right now you are full of fear--and you will be even more +afraid! But do not lose heart: I will return and give you the kind of +joy that no one can take away from you." + +The disciples could make nothing of Jesus' words. What could he mean by +saying, "I will return"? Jesus prepared to go into Jerusalem. With +growing dread, the disciples realized what he intended to do. Would he +pay no attention to the warnings of the young man? + +As they came into the Temple, Jesus found a large crowd that had +gathered early to meet him. The disciples felt like prisoners giving up +all hope of freedom. + +At first not a priest or Pharisee was anywhere to be seen. So eagerly +did the disciples keep watch that they hardly heard what Jesus was +saying. "Do not let anyone deceive you," he warned the people. "In the +last days many false prophets will come in the name of God--but do not +follow them! If you are my true followers, men will hate you and try to +kill you. But even when you are dragged before kings and priests and put +on trial, tell everyone the gospel of God! Do not worry or try to +prepare ahead of time--I will give you answers that your enemies cannot +escape." + +"Look!" whispered Andrew. "There they come!" Judas saw a priest he had +talked to the day before walking toward Jesus. But the Master paid no +attention. + +"In those days," he continued, "your own friends will betray you. They +will put you to death. Everyone will hate you for my sake--but do not be +afraid! If you are willing to give your life for me, you shall have +eternal life." Like darts his words struck into Judas. + +"The time will come when Jerusalem will be surrounded by enemy armies," +declared Jesus. "Then she will soon be destroyed. Let everyone flee to +the hills for his life, for in those days God will punish this wicked +city for her sin. Every single building will be leveled to the ground!" + +"Our beautiful Temple!" cried a man in the crowd. "Look at these great +stones! Will all this be destroyed?" + +"I tell you solemnly," declared Jesus, "the day is coming when not one +stone in this Temple will be left standing!" + +The priest broke in. "How do you dare say that? This is the house of +God. It took the finest workmen in Israel forty-six years to build it. +God will not let his Temple be destroyed!" + +"You do not know how to save your Temple!" retorted Jesus. "You think it +is holy because you make many sacrifices in it! But I tell you that your +enemies will tear down your Temple and kill your children, all because +you do not know that God has come to you!" + +"What do you mean?" exclaimed the priest. "Look at the monuments we have +built in memory of the prophets!" + +"You decorate the tombs of the prophets and say to yourselves, 'If we +had lived then, we would have treated them better!' But you kill the +prophets that God sends you, just as your ancestors did! + +"Your religion is like a filthy cup: bright and shiny on the outside, +but dirty inside! Your Temple is beautiful, but your religion is +rotten!" The priests shrank back from the sheer force of Jesus' anger. + +"You are like whitewashed tombs: clean on the outside, but inside they +stink with rotten bones! You put on a show of goodness--but your hearts +are filled with hypocrisy and wickedness!" + +The disciples were horrified. Jesus was attacking the very priests +themselves! Did he realize what would happen? + +"God will punish you for killing the prophets, just as he condemned your +wicked fathers for their sins! You snakes! You nest of vipers! There is +no way for you to escape eternal fire!" + +The priests flushed crimson. The people watched them stalk into the +inner court. Judas saw the hatred on their faces and knew that they +would never be satisfied until they had killed Jesus. He was glad now +that he had gone over to their side. + +"We had better leave this place!" whispered Andrew to Peter. He looked +toward the gate where the priests had gone. But Jesus was talking to the +people again. + +"He will never leave!" answered Peter. + +Panic seized the Zealot. "Come on! We must get out of here!" He kept +looking at the guards in the tower. + +"What are you thinking of?" demanded Peter, turning on him. "We can't +leave the Master alone!" + +"I'm not going to be caught like a rat in a trap!" The Zealot looked at +the high walls around them. + +"I will not leave this place until the Master does," declared James +firmly. + +"You will never get out," warned the Zealot. + +"Just the same, I'm staying," repeated James stubbornly. + +All day the crowd listened eagerly to every word that Jesus spoke. Even +in their despair the disciples knew that Jesus would consider the day +well spent. "How I wish he would leave!" burst out John, late that +afternoon. "Where will we eat the Passover meal tonight?" During a pause +he asked Jesus the question. + +"You and Peter go into the city," answered Jesus. "You will meet a man +carrying a water jar. Follow him to his house. Tell the owner that the +Rabbi says, 'Where is the room in which I am to eat the Passover with my +disciples?' This man will show you a large room upstairs, with table and +couches arranged for us. Prepare the Passover meal there." + +The two disciples were amazed: Jesus had planned the meal ahead of time! +Glad to get out of the Temple, they did as they were told. At twilight, +Jesus and the others arrived. All except Jesus were completely worn out. +They had given up all hope. Who could tell what might happen before +this night was over? Like men in a daze, the disciples washed their +hands in basins which Peter and John had filled with water. Then they +lay down on the couches around the table. + +But Jesus did not immediately lie down with the others. Curiously the +men watched him take off his robe and tie a towel around his waist. He +began to pour water into a basin. Then Jesus carried the basin to where +Andrew lay and knelt at his couch. The fisherman hardly knew what to +say. Slaves and servants washed the feet of guests! Silently Jesus +washed the feet of all the Twelve, coming last to Simon Peter. + +"Master! You shall not do this for me!" He drew away from Jesus, who was +kneeling at the foot of his couch. + +"Peter, you do not understand why I am doing this--but very soon you +will!" + +"I will never let you wash my feet!" protested Peter. + +"Unless I wash your feet," answered Jesus gravely, "you cannot share in +my suffering and my glory." + +Peter realized how much this act meant to Jesus. "O Master, wash my head +and my hands too!" + +"No," replied Jesus, drying Peter's feet with the towel, "since I have +done this, you are clean all over. No more is needed." Reverence filled +the disciples as they listened to his words; but not until he had put on +his robe and taken his place at the table did they understand. + +"Do you know why I have done this?" he asked. "You call me your Rabbi +and your Master--and that is right: I am your Master. If I am willing to +wash your feet, should you not serve one another? No servant is greater +than his Master. You must learn this: if any man wishes to be great in +the Kingdom of Heaven, he must be the slave of all men for my sake." + +The disciples began to eat. The supper was simple. A piece of roast lamb +in a shallow bowl was the chief dish. There was a plate of unleavened +bread, a vegetable, and a bowl of sauce made of dates, raisins, and +vinegar. There was nothing else except a single large cup of wine mixed +with water. Each man took a piece of meat in his hand and ate it. Some +first dipped it into the vinegar sauce. The men were glad for the food, +but it did not drive away their discouragement. Everyone knew it could +not be long until they were arrested. Amid these dark thoughts, Jesus +spoke. "The hand of him who betrays me is with me on this table!" + +The disciples could hardly believe their ears. + +"One of us--betray you?" asked Peter. They looked at each other. + +"One of you at this table will betray me, but woe to him who does this +deed!" declared Jesus. + +"Is it I?" asked James. He seemed to doubt even himself. + +John leaned back to Jesus. "Tell us who it is, Master." + +"It is not I, is it, Rabbi?" urged Judas. + +Jesus turned to him. "Are you sure it is not you?" He looked accusingly +at Judas. Then Jesus said sternly, "Whatever you are planning to do--do +it quickly!" Judas left the room immediately. + +"He must be going out to pay for the food," remarked Andrew. + +"Master, I don't care what the others may do; I will stay with you!" +declared Peter. + +Jesus looked at him sadly: "Peter, you are going to face a terrible +test, but I have asked God to help you. You must help the others." + +"Master," repeated Peter, eager to convince himself that he was not +afraid, "I swear that I will do anything for you. I am ready even to die +for you!" + +Jesus shook his head. "You have promised more than you can do. Before +the cock crows at dawn you will deny three times that you ever knew me!" + +When the men had finished eating the meat, Jesus picked up a piece of +the unleavened bread and held it in his hands. "I have looked forward to +eating this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins." He +raised his eyes. "Heavenly Father, I thank thee that thou hast shown +mercy and love to thy children. I thank thee that thou hast hidden these +things from the wise and revealed them to babes." + +Then Jesus broke the bread and gave the pieces to the disciples, saying: +"Take this bread. It is my body; I am the Bread of Life. If you believe +in me, you already have eternal life. Just as I have broken this bread, +my body will be broken when I suffer for you. Every time you break +bread, therefore, remember what I have done for you." + +The men were not sure that they understood all that Jesus meant, but +they knew they were somehow sharing the life of their Master as they +took the bread and ate it. Then Jesus took the large cup of wine and +water in his hand. "This cup of wine stands for a promise of salvation: +take it and drink the wine, every one of you. This wine is my lifeblood, +which I give that you may have eternal life. Whenever you drink it, +remember my promise to you." Jesus handed the cup to John, who was +reclining next to him. John sipped from it and passed it on. Reverently +each man drank from the cup. Jesus put it on the table and arose from +his couch. The group stood and chanted together a psalm of thanksgiving: + + "I love the Lord, because he heareth + My voice and my supplications. + Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, + Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. + The cords of death entangled me, + And the pains of hell laid hold on me: + I found trouble and sorrow. + Then called I upon the name of the Lord: + O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. + Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; + Yea, our God is merciful. + The Lord saveth the simple; + I was discouraged, and he saved me. + Return unto thy rest, O my soul; + For the Lord hath blessed thee greatly." + +"Come! Follow me!" Abruptly Jesus walked from the room, down the stairs, +and into the dark street. The moon had just risen; it hung low over the +Hill of Olives, blood-red in a black sky, giving almost no light. Jesus +walked swiftly toward the city gate. The disciples glanced up and down +each street they crossed, alert for any sign of soldiers. + +It did not take them long to reach the foot of the Hill of Olives. Jesus +did not go to their usual resting place. Instead, he led the eleven men +toward his place of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were +panting for breath when Jesus entered a narrow gate through the stone +wall that Judas had climbed over the night before. + +The Garden was dark. Among the dense trees the moon could not be seen at +all. During the week, the men had slept under clear skies; but now there +was a damp chill that threatened a storm on the morrow. When Jesus +stopped, his followers sank wearily on the ground. + +"Wait here for me while I pray," said Jesus. A note of distress had +crept into his voice. He turned to Peter, James, and John. "Come with +me." They groped their way through the woods, their hands before them. +Jesus stopped. "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Wait here and +pray for me." The men had never known Jesus to be like this before; he +was almost appealing to them for help. A short distance away Jesus knelt +on the ground. The hard day, the meal, and the walk up the hill had made +the fishermen drowsy, but they heard Jesus praying very earnestly. "O +Father, thou canst do all things! If it be possible, spare me this +suffering. Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." They heard his +voice no more. + +Peter did not know how long he had slept when he was awakened by Jesus' +shaking his shoulder. "Simon Peter! Are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay +awake and pray with me even one hour?" James and John roused themselves. +"Stay awake, all of you. Pray that you will not fail me now when I need +you most! I know you want to be my true friends--but you have not the +strength!" + +Hard as the three men tried, they could not stay awake. Twice more Jesus +came and aroused them. The last time Peter awoke the moon was high, but +was almost hidden behind a cloud. He could make out the faint outline of +the figure of Jesus standing beside him. A chilly wind had sprung up and +rattled the leaves. The night wind carried a warning Peter could not +understand. James and John slept heavily. + +"Still resting?" said Jesus. The two men stirred and looked at Jesus, +greatly ashamed. "Come! Get up! The hour has come when the Son of Man is +to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men!" Through the black woods +rang the sound of a sword clanging against a steel shin guard. Peter +leaped to his feet. "James! John!" + +Through the gnarled trees the men saw a sight that struck terror into +their hearts: led by Roman soldiers, a mob carrying torches was +advancing toward them. The yellow flames whipped in the wind and cast +hideous twisting shadows as they came nearer the Garden. + +"They must know we are here!" whispered James. "Come on! Let's get out +of here!" The two fishermen fled into the darkness. + +Torchlight glinted on spears and helmets. There was no sign of the other +eight disciples. Peter stood rooted to the spot from which he had risen. +Jesus watched calmly. Some in the noisy crowd carried clubs. The light +from the flares struck through the trees and fell full on Jesus' face. + +"There he is!" The cry echoed in the Garden. A wall of smoking torches +and gleaming swords and shields closed around Peter and Jesus. There was +no escape now. + +A Roman soldier stepped forward. "Hold up that torch!" he commanded his +aide. In the wavering light he peered into the faces of Peter and Jesus. +Another figure stepped from the group. + +"Judas!" Peter was stunned. + +"Hail, Master!" said Judas. Then very deliberately, as though forcing +himself, he kissed Jesus. + +"Do you betray me with a kiss, Judas?" asked Jesus, sadly. The traitor +could not bear the voice of the man he had once called his Master; he +turned and rushed out of the circle of Jews and soldiers. Peter never +saw him again. + +The captain gave a sharp command, and several soldiers stepped toward +Jesus. The group of men broke into angry shouts. Jesus' stern voice rang +through the clamor. "Why do you come to arrest me with swords and clubs +as though I were a robber? Day after day I was in the Temple +teaching--you never tried to arrest me there!" + +For an instant the torches ceased waving. Then the mob surged all the +more angrily upon Peter and Jesus. Peter snatched his short sword from +his belt and struck a wild blow. A man cried out sharply. The captain +shouted a command: soldiers pushed through the rabble and seized Jesus. +A burly soldier knocked Peter backward; he fell heavily and lay still. + +When Peter came to his senses, he was breathing hard. He had no idea how +long he had been stretched on the ground half stunned. He lifted himself +on one elbow. Torches were moving down the road. The sound of the mob +was faint in his ears. + +For the first time Peter realized that he was alone. The Master was +gone! What would he do without him? Loneliness swept over the fisherman. +He leaped to his feet and dashed headlong through the trees where the +soldiers had led Jesus. He tripped over a root and plunged to his knees; +branches lashed his face when he arose, but in his panic he did not feel +them. He burst out onto the road. In the distance the tiny lights were +going out, one by one, as the procession entered the gate of Jerusalem. +With a cry of helpless despair, Peter ran down the hill toward the +city. + +[Illustration] + + + + +17. THE DARKEST HOUR OF ALL + + +As Peter ran he realized that he did not know where the Roman soldiers +were taking Jesus. What if he should lose sight of them? He was gasping +for breath by the time he reached the city gate. + +The Temple was closed. Would they lead the Master to Pilate? In the +darkness, Peter could barely make out the massive bulk of the fortress +of Antonia, the Roman prison. No sound broke the silence within its +walls. Peter ran a few steps and stood panting at the first street +crossing. Desperately he glanced one way and the other. If only there +were someone to tell him which way they had gone with Jesus! Would they +go to the house of the high priest himself? Peter turned and ran toward +the south side of Jerusalem, his sandals clattering on the stone paving. + +At every turn in the winding street Peter peered into the darkness, +hoping to see the wavering light of torches ahead of him. He did not +notice a dark figure standing against the wall of a house that closed in +the narrow street until he ran into him. Startled but glad to see +someone, Peter asked, "Sir, have you seen soldiers and men with clubs +passing this way?" The question was out before he realized his danger. +What if this stranger were an enemy? He could not even see his face. + +The man's answer was cautious. "Some men went by here a few minutes +ago." The voice seemed familiar to Peter. "Did they have a prisoner?" he +asked. + +"The torches were too dim for me to see." Peter forgot to thank the +stranger in his haste to overtake Jesus. He rounded the next corner, +running, then stopped short. Flickering straight ahead of him were +torches. Soon he was close enough behind the men who carried them to see +more clearly. The yellow flames threw weird patterns on the houses: +shadows of men twisted and dodged on the walls as the torchbearers swung +the lights to and fro. Peter followed cautiously, coming no closer than +necessary. His heart leaped when he heard a step behind him. He jerked +around and saw a young priest. Fear clutched at him. He was trapped! +Before he could move, the man spoke. "There they are." Peter recognized +the voice. It was the person he had run into a moment before! The priest +looked at him curiously and exclaimed, "You were with the Galilean, +weren't you?" + +A denial sprang to Peter's lips. Then he recognized the priest: it was +the student who had come to the Hill of Olives that very morning! "What +are they going to do?" Peter could keep back his anxiety no longer. + +The young priest shook his head gravely. "I fear the worst. Look! They +have stopped!" He pointed. The torches shone on a heavy wooden gate. It +swung open, and the group started to enter. + +"Let's follow them in," urged the priest. + +"Oh, no!" protested Peter. "They will recognize me. They wouldn't let me +in anyway." But the priest was already hastening ahead. Peter followed. +His friend entered with the last of the group, and the gates swung shut. + +A servant woman stood outside to question everyone who wanted to go into +the house of the high priest. Torches fastened to the walls on each +side of the gate threw a pool of yellow light on the street. Peter could +hear many people inside; torchlight flickered on the high walls of the +palace of the high priest, rising behind the gate. Driven by curiosity, +Peter came closer and closer. The woman looked at him but said nothing. +Peter hid his face; he was glad the torches were smoky and low. + +Suddenly the gate opened, and Peter saw his friend. "Let this man in," +he ordered the servant woman. There was nothing for Peter to do but go +in. As soon as he stepped into the light the woman said loudly: "Wait a +minute! Aren't you one of this Galilean's followers?" + +Peter froze with fear. "No!" he snapped, and plunged through the gate to +get away from her. Sweat stood out on his forehead. A narrow escape! + +Peter was relieved that the large courtyard of the high priest's palace +was so crowded. He shrank into a shadowed corner and anxiously searched +for Jesus. In this great house met the Sanhedrin, the great council of +all the rulers of the Jews. Peter saw the rough soldier who had knocked +him down standing outside the door. Jesus must be inside! There was +nothing to do but wait. + +Peter began to feel cold. Near the center of the yard several men had +built a charcoal fire. Peter was tempted to warm his hands, but +immediately gave up the idea: these very men had seen him in the Garden! +He walked back and forth in the shadows, but it did not help much: his +feet were getting numb. He wished he had never come into the courtyard. +If he tried to get out, the woman would see him. + +Fifteen minutes passed. What was happening in the priest's dark palace? +Peter shivered and pulled his coat tight around him. How good that fire +would feel! At last he could stand it no longer. Taking care to keep the +firelight from shining on his face, he went nearer. + +"How long will it take to condemn him?" Peter heard one of the men ask +impatiently. + +"It won't be long," answered another. He was in the uniform of the high +priest's servants. + +"Too bad his disciples got away!" growled the first. "I would like to +get hold of that one that struck Malchus with his sword!" A man came out +of the palace and joined the others around the fire. + +"He's a stubborn fellow!" exclaimed the man. "He won't answer any +questions!" + +"What about the witnesses?" inquired a man who had not spoken before. + +The other laughed. "They tell different stories! They can't agree on +what the Galilean said!" + +"Don't worry," said the high priest's servant confidently. "No matter +what happens, they won't let him get away now." The last spark of hope +in Peter died. The priests were determined to kill Jesus. The end had +come. Peter did not notice that the man in front of him had moved so +that the firelight shone directly on his face. + +"Say! Weren't you with that Galilean?" Like a thunderbolt the question +struck Peter. He stiffened with terror and cursed himself for having +dared to come near the fire. "Of course not!" he answered gruffly, and +backed away. The man who had seen him strike Malchus with his sword had +not heard the question. Peter sighed. His luck could not last much +longer. + +A group of people were going through the gate. Perhaps he could slip out +without being noticed. The priest who had got him in here had +disappeared. A cry went up at the door of the palace. Guards were coming +out of the priests' council room! + +Suddenly Jesus stood in the doorway. Peter's throat went dry. What had +they done to his Master? His face was swollen from many blows. It +glistened wet in the firelight--they had spit on him! Jesus stumbled as +he came down the short stone staircase. A rough fellow kicked him. "Get +along there!" He laughed coarsely. Pity flooded through Peter, then rage +at the man who had hurt Jesus. + +"What is the verdict?" A man was speaking to Peter. + +"The verdict?" Peter mumbled the words stupidly. Another man answered +the question. + +"He is doomed to die." + +Peter looked from one to the other. "Die?" + +"Yes. They are going to ask Pilate to sentence him to death." + +The others looked at Peter curiously. Someone grabbed him roughly by the +shoulder. + +"Say, you! Didn't I see you in the olive orchard?" A guard! He waved to +the others. "Come over here! Here is one of the Galileans. Listen to his +accent!" + +Like icy water, fear swept Peter's daze away. Faces full of scorn +surrounded him. Panic-stricken, Peter wrenched loose. + +"In the name of God, I never even heard of this Jesus!" he swore. "What +are you talking about?" Then a shrill sound caught Peter's ear. The +words stopped in his throat. Outside the wall a rooster was crowing. +Peter's lips were open, but no sound came from them. He was staring at +the man who had accused him, but he didn't see him. The flush of anger +and panic drained from his face. Jesus had heard. + +With terrible dread, Peter watched his Master turn. Their eyes met. Time +stood still. Peter forgot everyone else: there were just the two of +them. Master and cursing disciple. The sadness in Jesus' eyes burned +through Peter. "Do you betray me too, Peter?" the Master seemed to say. + +"Come on! Get going!" A guard slapped Jesus heavily. Driven by the rough +men, Jesus went out of the gate. + +Like a sleepwalker, Peter followed. The guards did not try to stop him. +The servant woman at the gate did not notice him. For an instant he +stood in the street watching the men take Jesus away. The gate closed +behind him. Then the terrible dream broke; scalding tears flooded +Peter's eyes. They came from his very heart. He walked a little way down +the dark street and stopped, leaning against a stone wall. Desperately +he pressed his face into his hands. How could he stand this bitter +remorse? If only he had been faithful to his Master! + +Peter was certain that the end had come; he dreaded seeing his Master +condemned to death by the Roman governor, Pilate. All night he walked +the deserted streets of Jerusalem. But when morning came he could not +stay away from the fortress of Antonia, where he knew that Jesus would +soon be brought before Pilate. + +In the cold dawn it was a forbidding sight. Herod the Great, who had +ruled before Pilate's time, had covered the massive rock on which the +fortress stood with stones too steep and smooth for attackers to climb. +The walls rose sixty feet above this and towers were built at each +corner. The guards on the highest towers were one hundred and eighty +feet above the pavement inside the fortress. From it they could see +everything in the Temple below as well as the countryside north, east, +and west of Jerusalem. + +A short stairway led from the Temple porch into the fort. A crowd of men +were gathered in the Temple' courtyard, among them not one who had ever +heard Jesus teach. Peter had lost all fear of being seen. As he waited, +his mind was entirely taken up with thoughts of what might be happening +to his Master behind the closed doors of Pilate's judgment hall. + +Peter was surprised to see Pilate come out of the fort down the steps +into the Temple. Where was Jesus? Why did Pilate come here? Then Peter +remembered: the priests would not enter the Roman building, for fear of +making themselves impure for the Passover. + +After a delay Pilate came slowly out of the high priest's council +chamber. He stopped and looked at the men crowded before him. A few +cried out, "Where is the Galilean?" + +Pilate waved his hand for silence. "I have examined this Jesus. He has +not committed any crime." + +A priest in the crowd cried out loudly: "He is stirring up the people! +He has made trouble both in Galilee and in Judea." + +"I have examined him, and so has Herod," declared Pilate. "We agree that +he does not deserve to die. I am going to order my soldiers to whip him +and let him go." The crowd was still. Then a priest cried out: "No! Away +with him! He is destroying our holy religion!" The rabble in the court +burst out with angry shouts: "To the cross with him!" + +Pilate turned around and went into the fortress. The priests were +worried lest Jesus be set free. They began to argue with the men in the +courtyard. "Do not let him escape now!" they urged. "Make Pilate crucify +him!" A shout arose when a group of Roman soldiers came out of the fort +into the Temple; Jesus was with them. + +A cry broke from Peter's lips when he saw his Master before the crowd. +Thorn branches had been twisted into a wreath and pressed on his head. +He wore a purple robe. Peter could see he was in pain. "Behold! Here is +the man!" cried Pilate. + +"Crucify him! Crucify him!" + +Pilate hesitated. "If you let him go, you are an enemy of the Roman +emperor!" shouted a priest. Peter could tell that Pilate was afraid. He +walked to the stone seat where he announced his decisions. Embedded in +the pavement before him was the Roman seal and some Latin words. The +Roman guards led Jesus to another seat. He was very weak from his +beating. While the people were shouting, Pilate turned toward the +priests gathered in a knot near his judgment seat and said bitterly: +"You have wanted a Jewish king--well, here he is! Behold the king of the +Jews!" + +The high priest looked coldly at Pilate and said, "We have only one +king: Caesar." Pilate looked down at the ground. There was one more +possibility. This innocent Galilean might yet go free. Pilate remembered +that custom allowed him to set free one prisoner at Passover time--a +prisoner whom the people chose. Amid the commotion in the courtyard, +Pilate stared at the Latin words on the pavement before him. If only the +people would ask that Jesus be released! + +"I shall let one prisoner go free," cried the governor. "Shall it be +Bar-Abbas or the king of the Jews?" + +A priest called out, "Give us Bar-Abbas!" Then the crowd took up the +cry, "We want Bar-Abbas!" + +Bar-Abbas! A murderer? Peter could hardly believe it! The cries grew +louder. "Give us Bar-Abbas!" + +"What shall I do with Jesus, called 'the Christ'?" Pilate asked, +cornered. The people saw that he feared them, and their hateful screams +made Peter shiver. + +"Crucify him! Crucify him!" The crowd surged toward Jesus, and the Roman +guards drew their swords to protect their prisoner. Pilate saw that only +blood would satisfy the people. Amid the tumult he sat silent, his eyes +once again on the Latin words before him. At last he stood up. He was +beaten. The crowd was almost out of control. Several times he raised his +hand and started to speak, but each time he could scarcely hear his own +voice. The leader of the palace guard glanced anxiously at Pilate and +waved to a group of soldiers waiting inside the fort. They made a tight +circle around Jesus. + +Pilate dropped his hand limply and turned to the priest. "Do with him +whatever you want." The bloodthirsty mob surged toward the guards, but +could not break through the line of soldiers, which stood like a steel +wall until the door of the fort had slammed shut behind Jesus. + +Peter made no attempt to follow. He took little notice of the men around +him, who gave him curious stares. Peter walked to the place where Jesus +had stood. He looked down and read the words which were written on the +pavement in front of the judgment seat: + +JUSTICE AND MERCY. + +Pilate too had betrayed the Christ! + +[Illustration] + + + + +18. THE ROCK OF FAITH + + +The Passover Feast was ended, and the pilgrims from Galilee were leaving +Jerusalem. The friends of Jesus, and especially the eleven disciples, +were dazed by the death of their Master. In the blackest discouragement, +wondering what they should do, they gathered at the house where Jesus +had eaten his last meal. They repeated over and over again the story of +the things that had happened. Some talked about returning to Galilee. +Two followers who lived in Emmaus, a town several miles west of +Jerusalem, decided to go back to their homes. + +The two men took the road that led over the hill of Calvary where Jesus +had died. The cross still stood. Moving in the breeze was the sign which +Pilate had ordered tacked to the very top: THE KING OF THE JEWS. At the +hour of Jesus' death this hill had trembled as a storm thundered through +the sky. But now Calvary was quiet. In the bright morning the two men +could hardly believe that here they had heard the death cry of their +Master: "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" + +When the men came near the cross, they stood silent for many minutes. +Finally Cleopas, the older of the two remarked, "They haven't taken the +sign down yet." + +"Do you think others will be crucified on his cross, Cleopas?" asked the +other. + +"Perhaps." After a long silence, Cleopas added: "Do you remember the +centurion who was in charge of the soldiers? Just after Jesus died, I +heard him say, 'This man truly was a son of God!'" + +"Do you think any of the others believed?" mused the other man. + +"Most of them scoffed!" answered Cleopas bitterly. "One priest said over +and over, 'You saved others--now save yourself!' and laughed." Tears of +anger sprang into Cleopas' eyes. + +"That is where his mother stood when he told John to take care of her," +remarked his companion. At that moment the wind tore loose the parchment +nailed at the top of the cross. It drifted to the ground a few yards +away. The younger man looked at Cleopas: "Shall I get it?" + +After a moment Cleopas replied: "No. Let it lie there. Why keep things +that make us remember these days?" He turned his back on the cross and +started down the hill toward Emmaus. His companion said nothing; he knew +the bitterness that made Cleopas speak this way. + +The road down to Emmaus was rough but heavily traveled. From all Judea, +camel caravans carried olive oil and wool to Joppa, the main seaport of +southern Palestine. Up from the sea rode Roman soldiers to guard +Jerusalem, Jericho, and the forts across the Jordan. + +Toward sunset the two travelers came in sight of the Valley of Aijalon, +sloping down to the sea. Here King Saul had fought many bloody battles +with the ancient Philistines. The low-hanging sun made a great golden +blaze on the Mediterranean Sea, twenty miles away. + +"We are not far from Emmaus now," remarked Cleopas. A warning cry +sounded behind them: "Caravan!" The two men moved to the side of the +road, and found, when they turned, that another traveler had joined +them. He had been very close behind, but the two men had been so deep +in conversation that they had not noticed him. After the camels had +passed, kicking up the dust with their wide, padded feet, the stranger +walked on with them. + +"What is all this you are talking about?" he asked in a friendly way. + +Cleopas glanced at his companion. Was it dangerous to answer frankly? +Certainly they were safe here! "You must not have stayed in Jerusalem +very long if you have not heard about what happened," he replied. + +"What is that?" asked the man. + +"It is about Jesus of Nazareth," answered Cleopas. "He was a Galilean. +The common people all thought he was a Prophet. God truly had given him +a message for us! He warned us to repent and give our lives to God if we +wish to have eternal life." Cleopas paused and his companion took up the +story. + +"You see, the high priests hated Jesus because he called them hypocrites +to their faces. He was right: they are cruel to the poor! They make many +sacrifices, but just the same they do not really love God. Three days +ago the priests took him prisoner and handed him over to Pilate to be +crucified. We hoped that he would begin a great new day for our +people--but now he is dead." The men had reached the foot of the hill. +Green grass grew where a tiny brook trickled beside the road. + +"We did have a surprise though," added Cleopas. "Some women in our group +went out to the tomb where we laid him but they could not find his body! +They saw a vision of angels who told them he was alive. Some of us went +and looked for ourselves. His body was gone--but no one saw Jesus." + +The stranger looked keenly at the two travelers. "You have read the +Prophets, haven't you?" he asked. "They say that the Messiah must suffer +before he can be victorious." + +Cleopas looked at the man curiously. "What do you mean?" he asked. + +"All the things happened just as the Prophets said," repeated the +stranger. "The books of Moses say: 'The Lord thy God will raise up a +Prophet among you, from among your very brethren, like me. You must +listen to his word!' Is not your Rabbi that One? And Isaiah too. He +said: 'Behold, my Servant, whom I have chosen! I will put my Spirit upon +him and he shall declare judgment to gentiles. He shall not strive or +cry out; no one shall hear his voice in the streets!' Your master is +this Servant of God! Did he not die on a cross? Isaiah said that he +would be treated like a criminal!" + +"But if he was the Messiah, why did the priests hate him?" cried +Cleopas. + +"They always kill the messengers of God. Isaiah said, 'They hear, but do +not understand; they see, but their minds are blind--their hearts are +cold.' These priests will not let God give them eternal life!" + +All the rest of the way to Emmaus the two friends talked earnestly with +this stranger who understood the Scriptures so well. They had never +realized that the Prophets taught that the Messiah would die. They had +always thought he would triumph over everybody! They remembered now that +Jesus had said some of these very things. + +At last they came to the village. It was dusk. Cleopas stopped in front +of a small house. "Come in with us and spend the night, for the day is +almost over," he said. With a smile, the stranger accepted. + +It had been a long journey, and the three men were very hungry. After +washing, Cleopas brought bread and fish to the table. They lay down on +the hard couches. The guest picked up a small loaf and raised his eyes +to bless it. He broke the bread and handed it to the men. They took it +from him--and suddenly they knew who he was. There was only one who had +ever given them bread like that! It must be the Master himself! They +dropped to their knees. Joy, reverence, and fear filled them. When they +looked up, Jesus was gone. "No wonder our hearts burned within us while +he talked to us on the road!" exclaimed Cleopas. + +"We must tell the others!" answered his companion. "Let us hurry back to +Jerusalem." + +By the time the moon rose, Cleopas and his companion were halfway to +Jerusalem. It made the shadowed ravines between the mountains seem +blacker than ever, but they were grateful for the faint light on the +road. They knew that robbers could very easily hide among the rocks that +lay along the highway. Yet fear was almost forgotten in their great +eagerness to get to Jerusalem and tell the news: the Master was alive! + +The two travelers pressed forward at a pace swifter than they would have +thought possible on this steep road. For lack of breath, they talked +very little. Twenty miles was a full day's journey--but it was just +midnight when the two men hastened past the guards at the Joppa Gate of +Jerusalem and half ran to the house where they had left their friends +that morning. + +The building was completely dark. Not a trace of light showed through +the closed shutters. Cleopas knocked sharply on the wooden door. In the +silence they heard only their own heavy breathing and realized that they +were very tired. Cleopas knocked again. There was a muffled footstep +inside; then the bolt scraped and the door opened a crack. + +"Open up!" whispered Cleopas impatiently. It seemed to take a long time +for the man at the door to recognize them and open the door. Cleopas and +his friend rushed up the stairs and burst into the upper room. + +Everyone was there. In the instant before he spoke, Cleopas realized +that something had changed since he had left in the morning. The men +were not dejected; they were talking excitedly. But Cleopas did not stop +to find out why. + +"We have seen him! He is alive!" The disciples leaped to their feet. +James stared as though he had not understood. "We saw him on the road to +Emmaus!" + +"You too!" exclaimed Peter. + +"He ate with us in my home," declared Cleopas. He turned to Peter in +amazement. "Did you say you have seen him?" + +"I saw him this morning. After the women told us they had seen a vision +at the tomb, John and I went to look for ourselves. They were right! The +Master's body was gone. I came back here and then set out alone for +Galilee. I had traveled about an hour when the Master appeared to me, +standing in the road. He commanded me to return here." + +"When we first saw him, we did not know who he was," said Cleopas. Then +he told everything that had happened. At first many wondered if the +story could be true, but as they listened, their joy and amazement grew. +When Cleopas finished, they stirred and sighed. Here was one at least +who certainly believed Jesus was alive! + +The air was heavy in the crowded room. An iron pan filled with burning +charcoal stood near the wall. Several broiled fish, left over from +supper, lay on the coals. Cleopas and his friend looked at them +hungrily. Peter handed pieces to them. James rose from the rough wooden +bench on which he sat and opened the shutters. Andrew poured oil from a +large jar into the nearly empty lamps. The men breathed deeply of the +cool air that swept through the window. The lamplight sprang up. Hope +and wonder flickered through the disciples' minds, still dulled by the +sorrow of the Master's violent death. + +"If I could just see him myself!" murmured John. + +Suddenly Jesus was there. He did not come in--he just appeared standing +in the midst of them. John drew in his breath sharply. Was this a ghost? +Did the others see? The men shrank from the place where Jesus stood. + +"Do not be afraid. It is I! Look at my hands and my feet. Do you not see +the wounds of the cross?" The men stared. In the palms of his hands +James could see the marks of nails. His voice was real too! The men did +not trust their eyes. Several reached out timidly and touched the scars. +They moved like men in a dream. + +"Have you any food?" asked Jesus. Peter took another piece of fish from +the charcoal stove and handed it to Jesus. When the disciples saw their +Master eat, their doubts vanished. They began to talk, trying to realize +that the impossible had really happened; their Leader was really living! + +"Master," burst out James enthusiastically, "are you going to drive out +the Romans now and give the Kingdom back to us?" The others suddenly +became quiet, listening for his answer. + +"It is not for you to know when the Father in heaven will do that, +James," replied Jesus. "In his own time he will destroy all evil. He has +already come among you: all you must do is accept the power he gives you +to obey his commands." + +"Master, what do you want us to do?" asked Peter. Hearing his brother's +strong voice, Andrew could hardly believe that only that morning Peter +had tried to leave Jerusalem because everything reminded him that he had +denied his Lord. + +Jesus looked around at the circle of his disciples and raised his hands +over them. "Just as the Father sent me into the world," he said, "I am +sending you. May the Holy Spirit fill you with power. Go into every part +of the world and tell all men that the Christ has suffered and risen +from the dead to give them eternal life. Those who repent and believe +this gospel shall be forgiven their sins. But if anyone does not believe +your words, the anger of God hangs over him!" + +As mysteriously as he had come, Jesus left the men. They remained +silent. Each man saw in the face of the others a joy none could express. +At last Peter spoke: "We must let everyone know that Jesus has risen +from the dead!" + +Day by day the disciples learned that Jesus was doing greater things +among them than he had ever done before. Faith which had been uncertain +was now sure. Every afternoon the disciples went to the Temple to pray +and tell the story of Jesus' power. Some people were surprised, for they +thought the work of Jesus would stop when he was crucified. But many +believed the word of the disciples and became followers with them. + +It was not long before the success of Peter and the others came to the +attention of the high priest. One day, immediately after the hour of +prayer, he called his councilors together. "Did you see that fisherman +who used to follow the Galilean we killed?" he demanded. "He was +standing boldly in the Temple declaring that his Rabbi is alive!" Purple +veins stood out on the face and throat of the angry man. "Have you ever +heard such an insolent lie? They have invented the whole story from +beginning to end!" + +"The other men were with him," added a councilor. "They succeeded in +getting the people very much stirred up." + +"It must be stopped! If we can silence them with threats--all right. If +not...." He lapsed into silence. Then his anger boiled to the surface +again. "What man in his right mind could believe such a fairy tale? That +upstart from Galilee--risen from the dead!" + +A young priest sighed and spoke. "What can we do? Those men seem to +believe very sincerely that it happened." + +The high priest was instantly suspicious. "You sound as though you +agreed with them," he observed bitingly. "I'll tell you what we must do! +Keep a sharp watch on them. The minute they make trouble--arrest them! +We can do whatever we want then." + +Just before the hour of prayer the following afternoon, Peter and John +entered the Temple with the worshipers who were streaming from the city. +To the two disciples it seemed a long time since Jesus had been there, +but nothing was changed. The row of slender columns which enclosed the +inner court was majestic in the afternoon sunlight. Words of Moses, +carved in the stone of the Beautiful Gate, invited every Jew to enter +for prayer. There were no money-changers there. Since Jesus had driven +them out, neither they nor the sellers of animals had tried to come +back. + +Two men carrying a cripple on a litter passed Peter and John. The +disciples had seen him before, begging money from all who walked by. His +helpers placed him near the Beautiful Gate as Peter and John climbed up +the steps toward him. The beggar looked at them, smiled, and held out +his hand. "Will you give a little money to a lame man?" he asked. + +Peter and John stopped in front of the man. He was a miserable +sight--dirty, ragged, and thin from hunger. His bony legs were paralyzed +and useless. + +"Look at us!" commanded Peter. The beggar looked at them expectantly. +"We do not have any money," said Peter, "but we will give you what we do +have! By the power of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!" +Peter stooped and pulled the man to his feet. + +People had turned at the sound of Peter's voice. The beggar was standing +alone! The man looked at his feet; then, utterly amazed, took a cautious +step. The trumpet sounded from the roof of the Temple, calling the +people to prayer, but none paid any attention; they rushed toward the +beggar to see what had happened. Swiftly Peter led the man toward the +outer part of the Temple courtyard. The people crowded after Peter. + +At the trumpet signal the high priest left the council chamber and +entered the rear gate of the inner court. How strange! The Temple was +deserted! Two other priests came into the court. "What has happened?" +they asked, baffled. "Where are the people?" + +Through the columns, the high priest saw people running. "Look!" he +exclaimed. He turned and waved to several burly guards in the uniform of +the high priest's palace. "We need you here!" They followed the priests +toward the sound of the crowd. + +People were pushing forward to catch a glimpse of the beggar clinging to +the two disciples. Peter raised his hands and cried out so all could +hear: "Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why are you +staring at us as though we had healed this man by our own strength? We +did not do it at all!" Astonished at his words, the people became very +quiet. Peter saw the high priest, but his voice did not waver. + +"My friends, this man was not healed by any power of ours. He was healed +in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, God's Chosen Servant. The God of +Israel sent him to tell you the gospel of life, but you refused to +listen to him. You handed him over to Pilate to be killed! Even when the +governor wanted to release him, you demanded that this holy and just One +from God should be crucified!" The high priest turned and spoke to the +guards, but Peter did not hesitate a moment. + +"We declare to you that God raised Jesus from the dead--we have seen him +ourselves! His power healed this man! I know that you killed the Lord of +Life without realizing what you were doing. But the Prophets knew this +would happen to the Christ; they said he would suffer! God has chosen +this way of saving you!" There was a disturbance at the edge of the +crowd. Guards were thrusting the people roughly aside in their haste to +get to him. "Repent now!" cried Peter boldly. "Ask God to forgive you +for the terrible thing you have done, in order that your sin may be +blotted out. God sent Jesus to be your Saviour!" + +The guards burst through the crowd and seized Peter. Quickly his wrists +were tied with rope. A cry of protest rose. Two men stepped in front of +the guards as they shoved Peter toward the gate of the Roman fort next +to the Temple, but they were quickly beaten off by curses and the +threat of the clubs. + +"What must we do?" cried a man in the crowd, cut to the heart by Peter's +words. + +In spite of the guards Peter bravely called out: "Repent and give your +whole life to God! Believe in the name of Jesus Christ, the Saviour!" + +"Silence!" The chief guard struck Peter with his club. When they came to +the priests, the guards stopped. The high priest and the fisherman from +Galilee stood face to face. Peter's clothes were torn, and his hands +were bound behind him. The anger of the high priest had turned to +scornful triumph. For a moment he stood sneering at Peter; then he +stepped toward him and slapped him heavily across the face. "You liar! +You will find out that you can't blaspheme the Law of God!" + +Peter's face showed red marks. His eyes shone with a strange joy, and he +smiled. His voice was fearless, its sound filled the whole Temple. "I +shall never stop telling what I have seen with my own eyes! I shall obey +God, and not man!" Pain shot through his shoulder as a guard struck him +a heavy blow and shoved him roughly toward the fortress gate. Without +looking back, Peter walked courageously into the Roman prison. + + + + +SCRIPTURE REFERENCES + + +PAGES CHAPTER 1 +11 Matt. 3:1-6 +12 Luke 3:10-16 +12 Matt. 3:7-10 +13 Matt. 3:13 + + CHAPTER 2 +21, 22 Luke 10:25 +22 Luke 17:20, 21 +22 Matt. 5:38-48 +23 Matt. 13:31-33 +23 Luke 5:4-11 + + CHAPTER 3 +32 Mark 1:23-27 + + CHAPTER 4 +35 Matt. 11:28 +37-39 Mark 10:17-31 +40 Luke 18:9-14 +41-43 Luke 4:16-30 + + CHAPTER 5 +46, 47 Luke 13:10-17 +49 Matt. 10:34 +49 Mark 6:17 +50 John 3:30 +51, 52 Mark 2:1-12 + + CHAPTER 6 +55 Matt. 7:1-5 +57, 58 Luke 7:36 +57 Mark 2:17 +57 Luke 5:32 +60 Mark 2:18-22 +60 Matt. 11:16-19 +60 Matt. 23:23, 24 +61 Mark 2:23-28 +62, 63 Mark 3:1-6 + + CHAPTER 7 +65-67 Matt. 10:1-23 +67 Mark 3:21 +68 Mark 3:22-27 +69 Matt. 12:24-32 +69 Luke 11:27, 28 +70 Mark 3:31-35 +71 Luke 11:5-10 +71, 72 Luke 18:1-8 +72 Matt. 6:9-15 +72 Matt. 18:21, 22 + + CHAPTER 8 +74, 75 Matt. 11:2-15 +77-79 Mark 5:21-43 + + CHAPTER 9 +81 Mark 6:14-16 +82, 83 Mark 4:13-20 +84, 85 Mark 6:34 +84, 85 John 6:1-15 +86, 87 Mark 6:45-52 + + CHAPTER 10 +92 Mark 7:1-23 +92, 93 Mark 12:38-40 +93 Matt. 15:14 +95 John 14:1 +95 John 3:17-19 +96, 97 Mark 8:14-21 +98 Matt. 15:21-28 +100, 101 Mark 8:27-30 +100, 101 John 6:66-68 + + CHAPTER 11 +102 Matt. 16:17-20 +103 Mark 8:31-38 +104, 105 Luke 4:1-13 +107 Matt. 16:25 +109-112 Mark 9:14-29 + + CHAPTER 12 +113, 114 Mark 9:2-10 +115-119 Mark 9:33-37 +120, 121 Mark 9:38-41 +121 Mark 9:31, 32 + + CHAPTER 13 +126 Luke 13:31-33 +127 Luke 10:1-12 +128 Luke 9:57, 58 +128 Luke 10:17-21 +129 Luke 9:51-56 +129 Luke 10:13-15 + + CHAPTER 14 +133, 134 Luke 17:11-19 +136 Mark 10:46-52 +137 Luke 19:1-10 +139, 140 Mark 11:1-11 + + CHAPTER 15 +142 Luke 13:6-9 +145 Mark 11:15-17 +145 John 2:13-16 +147, 148 Mark 11:27-33 +148 Mark 12:1-9 +149 Mark 12:13-17 +149 Mark 12:28-34 +150, 151 Luke 22:3-6 + + CHAPTER 16 +156, 157 Mark 13:1, 2, 9-23 +157, 158 Matt. 23:25-36 +158 Mark 14:12-16 +159 John 13:1-17 +160 Mark 14:17-21 +160 Matt. 26:31-35 +160 Matt. 11:25 +160, 161 Matt. 26:26-29 +162 Mark 14:32-42 +163 Mark 14:43-50 + + CHAPTER 17 +167-169 Mark 14:53-72 +169 Luke 22:61 +170 Luke 23:13-16 +171 Luke 23:18-25 +171 John 18:38 to 19:16 + + CHAPTER 18 +173-176 Luke 24:13-35 +178 Luke 24:36-43 +178 Acts 1:6 +179 Matt. 28:18-20 +179 Luke 24:46-48 +180-182 Acts 3:1 to 4:4 + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Men Called Him Master, by Elwyn Allen Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEN CALLED HIM MASTER *** + +***** This file should be named 19190.txt or 19190.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/9/19190/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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