,,men ,,called ,,him ,,master ,by ,,elwyn ,,allen ,,smith ,,the ,,westminster ,,press - ,,philadelphia ,,copyright1 ,,mcmxlviii1 ,,by ,w4 ,l4 ,,jenkins ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,transcriber's ,note ,there is no evidence that the ,u4,s4 copyright on this publication was renewed4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,all rights reserved--no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher1 except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review in magazine or newspaper4 ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america ,,contents ,have ,you ,ever ,wondered8 #f #a ,a ,voice in the ,wilderness #g #b ,fishers of ,men #ad #c ,a ,man of ,authority #be #d ,god ,is ,now ,king6 #cd #e ,who ,is ,this ,carpenter8 #de #f ,the ,old and the ,new #ed #g ,missionaries of the ,kingdom #fd #h ,he ,is ,more than a ,teacher #gd #i ,how ,will ,you ,know the ,messiah8 #hj #aj ,you ,are the ,christ #hh #aa ,a ,secret ,is ,told #ajb #ab ,the ,greatest ,among ,us #aac #ac ,the ,messiah ,must ,die #abb #ad ,a ,day of ,victory #aca #ae ,dispute in the ,temple #ada #af ,the ,end of ,hope #aeb #ag ,the ,darkest ,hour of ,all #afe #ah ,the ,rock of ,faith #agc ,,have ,,you ,,ever ,,wondered8 ,what kind of men were ,jesus' disciples8 ,what was it like to be with ,jesus in ,palestine8 ,why did some of the disciples find it so hard to understand ,jesus8 ,who were the people who killed ,jesus8 ,why did they do it8 ,this book has been written to help you to answer these questions4 ,it takes you right into ,jesus' world so that you can hear his conversations with the disciples and watch the things they did4 ,the stories of ,jesus and the disciples in this book are told in different words from those you will find in your ,bible1 and background has been built in from other records of the time4 ,for example1 the ,bible gives only the fact that one of the disciples was a ,zealot2 in this book the disciple is shown speaking and acting as we know ,zealots spoke and acted4 ,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 disciple4 ,the parable of the ,good ,samaritan has also been placed in the early period as an example of the informal way in which ,jesus taught4 ,that you may know what is from the ,bible and what is added to make a complete story1 ,scripture references for each event are given in the back of the book4 ,these references will help you to read and understand the ,gospels4 ,as you read what it meant to be a disciple of ,jesus while he was on earth1 you will see more clearly what it means to be one of his disciples today4 ,illustration #a4 ,a ,,voice ,,in ,,the ,,wilderness ,andrew6 ,the baskets are slipping6 ,two men on foot were driving heavily loaded donkeys ahead of them4 ,across the back of ,andrew's tiny beast hung two huge baskets4 ,one slanted crazily forward4 ,it ought to hold until we get to the top1 answered ,andrew4 ,he looked critically at the load and then at the path ahead4 ,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 spring4 ,andrew shouted a command and the donkeys climbed slowly upward4 ,at the top the men stopped to catch their breath4 ,john1 exclaimed ,andrew in disgust1 ,i have tightened this thing on every hill between ,galilee and ,judea6 ,he worked impatiently at the knotted ropes that bound the baskets on the donkey's back4 ,john was not listening4 ,he was gazing at the scene before them4 ,torrents of muddy water poured through the gully during the season of rains4 ,now the clay in the bottom was dry and cracked4 ,under the hoofs of the animals it was as hard as stone4 ,john pushed his damp hair back from his forehead4 ,his home province1 with its green hillsides surrounding the cool ,lake of ,galilee1 was very different from this burnt1 rocky land of ,judea1 which lay southwest of where they stood4 ,the gully carried a sluggish stream of heated air up from the valley2 he could feel the damp warmth on his skin4 ,even on the hilltop there was no cooling breeze4 ,andrew wiped his face with a dusty sleeve and left a dirty streak above his brows4 ,there6 he exclaimed4 ,these baskets ought to stay on now4 ,the rope was drawn tightly around the belly of the donkey4 ,we should be at ,bethany soon1 remarked ,john4 ,andrew struck the donkey with his whip and said gruffly1 ,come on6 as though the animal had shaken its load loose on purpose4 ,the little caravan started again1 ,andrew in the lead4 ,the road was built on the slope of the hills which closed in the plain of the ,jordan4 ,stretching far to the west the men could see fields of ripe grain4 ,the heat of early summer had come quickly this year and now threatened to destroy the crop4 ,farmers were hard at work cutting the wheat and threshing out the grain on platforms of earth pressed smooth as stone4 ,are you sure that ,john the ,baptizer is still at ,bethany8 called ,andrew over his shoulder4 ,john did not answer4 ,after a moment1 ,andrew added1 ,perhaps he has gone to some other place to preach4 ,still there was no reply4 ,irritated1 ,andrew turned4 ,john had dropped behind and was walking with a stranger4 ,where had this traveler come from8 ,he must have been moving fast to overtake them so swiftly4 ,his robe was hitched high at the waist for easier walking4 ,andrew slowed and waited for the men4 ,could you tell us1 friend1 where ,john the ,prophet is baptizing8 ,john was saying4 ,the traveler smiled4 ,i hear he is at ,bethany on the ,jordan1 near ,jericho4 ,do you want to hear him8 ,we are his disciples1 responded ,john proudly2 then he bit his lip4 ,andrew was frowning at him4 ,it was dangerous to say a thing like that6 ,john looked at the stranger narrowly4 ,he was from ,galilee2 his broad accent showed that4 ,john glanced at ,andrew4 ,surely a ,galilean was safe6 ,the ,prophet says that ,israel will soon be free1 ventured ,john4 ,it was a test question4 ,the stranger smiled as though he agreed1 and ,andrew asked enthusiastically3 ,do you believe him8 ,he says that ,god will overthrow the ,romans soon6 ,how does ,john the ,baptizer think all this will happen8 asked the ,galilean traveler4 ,andrew did not reply for a long while4 ,finally he said3 ,the ,prophet tells us that we cannot set ourselves free without ,god's help4 ,he says that if we had been willing to change our ways1 ,god would have rescued us long ago4 ,therefore we must get rid of sin and pride and take our stand on ,god's side4 ,when we do that1 great things will happen6 ,he looked directly at his fellow traveler4 ,do you believe this8 ,the stranger's answer was clear4 ,john speaks the truth4 ,suddenly they heard the thunder of galloping hoofs4 ,a band of horsemen was bearing down on them4 ,helmets and spears glinted in the brilliant sunlight4 ,andrew and ,john shouted at the donkeys1 but one of them moved slowly4 ,desperately ,john whipped the animal4 ,the donkey leaped4 ,a rope snapped and one of the heavy baskets dropped to the ground4 ,the three men heard a soldier curse them4 ,they could hardly see each other for the thick dust4 ,the basket lay trampled in the dirt2 salted fish were scattered all over the road4 ,andrew kicked the ruined basket into the ditch4 ,may ,god soon burn ,rome and all her soldiers6 ,this land belongs to us6 ,he ran a few steps as if to overtake the riders and shook his fist4 ,god will strike you6 he shouted4 ,the stranger was helping ,john put what was left of the fish in the other three baskets4 ,andrew turned to them4 ,i have seen whole armies of ,romans march through fields of ripe wheat6 ,i have seen our towns burned by these destroyers6 ,they have killed thousands of our people6 ,we have seen even our own friends killed by these murderers6 ,the man answered quietly3 ,i know what they have done4 ,but hating them will not help4 ,andrew was taken by surprise4 ,we have been oppressed before1 continued the stranger4 ,god has sent ,john to us now1 just as he has always sent prophets to tell us what we should do4 ,what should we do8 ,just as you said yourself1 we must repent of our sin1 replied the traveler4 ,god can do very little until he finds men who are willing to obey him4 ,andrew had nothing to say4 ,there is a well not far ahead1 remarked ,john4 ,we must water the animals4 ,under a dusty palm over the next hill they found the well4 ,the stranger drew water for the donkeys and they drank noisily4 ,then he drew water for the men4 ,they had no sooner finished than ,andrew urged3 ,let's hurry4 ,we are not far from the place where ,john is baptizing4 ,the road led down the slope and across the plain toward the river1 which had cut a deep gorge4 ,at the edge the men paused to look4 ,a hundred feet below flowed the ,jordan4 ,it seemed sluggish now2 but in the rainy season it was swift and treacherous4 ,the water was yellow and gray and only a few shrubs clung to the banks4 ,a short distance away the river turned and disappeared behind the opposite cliff4 ,the crossing is below that bend1 explained ,john to the stranger4 ,the ,prophet should be there4 ,he gave his donkey a cut with the whip1 and the stolid animal moved faster4 ,a few minutes later he cried out3 ,there6 ,see down there8 ,people were gathered at the edge of the river4 ,it did not take the men long to reach the gully through which the road descended to the river4 ,the fishermen tied their donkeys with the other animals that stood tethered to bushes and small trees4 ,in their haste they forgot their companion4 ,do you see the ,prophet8 inquired ,andrew1 looking eagerly about4 ,john jerked at his sleeve4 ,there6 ,by that rock on the bank6 ,they climbed up the slope where they could see4 ,john could not tell why he felt the way he did4 ,it might have been the appearance of ,john the ,baptizer4 ,he wore a rough camel-hair tunic and a leather belt4 ,none of the people who were there for the first time had ever seen such a man before4 ,he was very thin4 ,his skin was tanned brown and his hair and beard were long4 ,like the poorest people in ,palestine1 he lived on grasshoppers and wild honey4 ,just then ,john the ,baptizer spoke4 ,he looked old1 but his voice showed that he was young and strong4 ,it is time you begin to show some sign that you are ,god's chosen people1 he cried out4 ,but you are just like your ancestors--you pay no attention to ,god4 ,you don't listen to the prophets4 ,god is not going to wait much longer4 ,the time has come to repent6 ,the ,kingdom of ,heaven is near6 ,the crowd stirred4 ,what was this8 ,could it be true that the end of the world was coming soon8 ,isaiah the ,prophet said1 ',everyone shall see the saving power of ,god1' continued the ,baptizer4 ,god is getting ready to clean off his threshing platform4 ,he will gather his wheat into his storehouse1 but he will burn the straw in fire that never dies down6 ,let every one of you get ready for the coming of the ,lord6 ,near the front edge of the crowd a priest stood up4 ,how do you dare talk this way8 he demanded4 ,who are you--the ,messiah8 ,no1 ,i am not the ,messiah1 replied the ,prophet4 ,then who are you8 ,the ,prophet ,elijah8 ,i am not ,elijah4 ,are you ,moses come back to us8 ,no4 ,then who are you8 ,the rulers in ,jerusalem have sent me to find out4 ,what have you to say for yourself8 ,andrew and ,john glanced at each other4 ,the rulers6 ,john the ,baptizer called out boldly to the whole crowd1 ,i am a voice crying in the wilderness1 ',clear the way for the ,lord6' ,the priest from ,jerusalem interrupted again4 ,if you are not the ,christ1 nor ,elijah1 nor ,moses1 what right have you to baptize people8 ,the people stirred2 they did not like this man4 ,i baptize you with water for repentance1 but he who is coming after me is mightier4 ,i am not fit even to tie his sandal laces4 ,he will baptize you with the ,holy ,spirit and fire4 ,you must repent6 ,a man broke away from the crowd and stepped uncertainly toward the ,prophet4 ,words came from his lips as though it hurt him to speak4 ,i have forced money out of people4 ,i am a tax-gatherer4 ,what can ,i do8 ,everyone there had been cheated by tax collectors4 ,turn your whole life back toward ,god4 ,never again force people to pay more money than is just4 ,several other people had joined the tax collector4 ,what must ,i do8 asked a soldier4 ,never take money from people by force4 ,never blackmail4 ,be content with your pay4 ,he looked at the group before him and said3 ,let every man of you who owns two garments share with the person who has none at all4 ,if you have food1 share it too6 ,a whisper ran over the crowd4 ,john had turned to some religious officials1 ,sadducees and ,pharisees1 who stood watching4 ,you nest of snakes6 ,who told you to flee from ,god's day of judgment8 ,it is time you repented6 ,how can he talk that way to ,pharisees8 said ,andrew4 ,he could tell even from where he stood that the ,pharisees felt the charge was unjust4 ,why should we repent8 asked one of them4 ,we are descended from ,abraham himself4 ,we were born to be ,god's chosen people6 ,god can make children of ,abraham out of these rocks if he wants6 burst out the ,prophet4 ,instead of saying over and over again1 ',abraham is our ancestor1' you ought to live so that people will know that you have repented6 ,the wood chopper is ready to destroy every tree that is not producing good fruit4 ,every bad tree he will cut down and throw into the fire6 ,john turned his back on them4 ,look6 whispered ,andrew in excitement4 ,there is the stranger we met on the road6 ,the ,prophet had walked down into the water to begin baptizing those who were waiting on the shore1 but now he stopped and turned toward the place where the ,galilean was standing4 ,he completely forgot the crowd4 ,in the silence ,andrew could hear him protesting4 ,no6 ,no6 ,no6 ,the ,prophet stepped back in awe4 ,i am not worthy to baptize you4 ,you should baptize me6 ,the two fishermen could not hear the ,galilean's reply1 but they saw him walk down into the water1 ,john the ,baptizer leading4 ,the people stood as though fascinated4 ,recalling the incident later on1 ,andrew and ,john realized that their tense concentration on the two men at the river had driven every other thought from their minds4 ,john was baptizing the stranger4 ,as he came up from the river1 the ,galilean's face bore an expression of joy and praise which the fishermen remembered as long as they lived4 ,some power had come upon him4 ,what happened1 ,andrew8 ,what happened8 ,andrew did not hear2 he was staring at the ,galilean4 ,andrew6 ,john was insistent4 ,something just happened4 ,i don't understand4 ,what was it8 ,andrew murmured4 ,he must be a prophet too4 ,the people were talking excitedly4 ,everyone felt as ,john and ,andrew did4 ,the ,galilean had gone1 and the ,prophet was now baptizing the others who waited4 ,shadows were creeping into the gorge as evening approached4 ,groups started away toward the near-by towns4 ,did you hear what the ,galilean said to ,john the ,baptizer8 asked ,john4 ,without answering1 ,andrew started toward the knot of people near the ,prophet1 and ,john followed4 ,andrew asked a man beside him1 ,did you hear what the ,galilean said to the ,prophet8 ,yes1 the man answered4 ,he said1 ',every man must take his stand on ,god's side4' ,before ,andrew could say any more the ,prophet spoke4 ,he knew what the people were thinking4 ,upon the head of this man of ,galilee ,i saw the ,spirit of ,god settle like a dove from the sky1 he declared4 ,god has chosen him to do ,his work6 ,illustration #b4 ,,fishers ,,of ,,men ,the morning sun was breaking over the hills that closed in the ,lake of ,galilee on the east4 ,fog was thick over the water1 but the fishermen in the two boats that lay a short distance from the shore knew the sun had risen1 for the mist was full of white light4 ,between the boats was a great net1 partly under water4 ,the fishermen1 two in each boat1 were pulling the opposite edges over the side into the bottom of their boats4 ,their breath hung in the chilly air4 ,andrew had returned to ,galilee after his trip to ,judea and was working with his brother1 ,simon4 ,i wouldn't mind hard work if we could catch fish1 remarked ,simon1 resting a moment4 ,we'll soon see what we've caught1 replied ,andrew4 ,the net was almost gathered in4 ,it won't be much1 grunted ,simon1 bending to his work again4 ,after a few minutes the boats lay side by side1 the nets heaped high in them4 ,i have fished in this lake all my life1 remarked ,james1 the brother of ,john1 and so has my father1 ,zebedee1 but ,i have never seen so few fish for a night's work6 ,andrew felt as disgusted as ,simon and ,james1 but all he said was1 ,let's go ashore4 ,james and ,andrew guided the boats toward the spot where ,zebedee had built a fire of thorn twigs4 ,the men jumped out and crowded around the crackling flames4 ,zebedee had chosen several fish for their breakfast4 ,he raked some hot coals from the fire and laid the fish among them4 ,they smelled good to the hungry men4 ,this was the best time of the fishermen's day4 ,hard work was done4 ,the fire was warm4 ,the thought of food gave them a good feeling4 ,father1 why is fishing so poor this year8 asked ,john4 ,i don't know1 son1 replied ,zebedee4 ,some years there are enough fish for all ,galilee and ,judea4 ,but in years like this1 the people of the five cities on our lake go hungry4 ,he was thinking of times past4 ,if the wheat crop is poor in ,galilee1 there may be riots4 ,that would only make matters worse1 commented ,simon4 ,yes1 unless ,king ,herod has improved lately4 ,zebedee smiled sourly4 ,i think that foreigner actually enjoys killing4 ,how he loves our money6 ,if riots come1 we are sure to be taxed even more4 ,he took two of the fish off the coals and laid them on a smooth rock4 ,when they were cool enough1 he picked them up4 ,breakfast is ready1 he said4 ,the men rose and bowed their heads1 while the older man prayed4 ,praise ye the ,lord4 ,i will give thanks unto the ,lord with my whole heart1 ,in the council of the upright1 and in the congregation4 ,he hath given food unto them that fear him3 ,he will ever be mindful of his promise4 ,holy and reverend is his name4 ,amen4 ,while they ate1 ,james asked1 ,father1 who is in the other boat this morning8 ,zebedee hired men to work for him4 ,old ,gideon the farmer1 with our new man1 a gentile from ,sidon4 ,why in the world did you hire a gentile1 father8 asked ,john sharply4 ,well1 son1 he is young and strong4 ,he is willing to work for us4 ,he paused4 ,but ,i couldn't help wondering where he came from4 ,did you ask him8 ,no4 ,he wouldn't answer questions about himself4 ,but he knew fishing4 ,john shook his head4 ,i don't like it1 father4 ,jews have no business working with gentiles4 ,and besides1 if he is a runaway slave1 we might get into trouble4 ,now look1 son4 ,half the people in ,galilee are gentiles4 ,every day we see them4 ,what harm is there in working with them8 ,here comes the other boat1 said ,simon4 ,the sun was driving away the mist2 ,simon pointed to a fishing boat drawing closer to the shore4 ,did you do any better than we did1 ,gideon8 called ,zebedee4 ,as the old farmer came toward them1 the men could tell that his body was rugged in spite of stooped shoulders4 ,no better2 maybe worse4 ,it's getting as hard to make a living on the lake as by plowing the land4 ,the newcomers sat down and hungrily ate the fish that ,simon handed them4 ,zebedee says there may be riots if the wheat is poor1 said ,simon4 ,what do you think of the crop1 ,gideon8 ,gideon squinted toward the hills as though looking at the fields that lay beyond them4 ,my guess is that there will be enough4 ,he frowned4 ,enough1 that is1 if the landlords don't grab it all4 ,james glanced at ,simon1 concealing a smile4 ,old ,gideon never got tired of scolding the big landowners4 ,before ,i was forced off my farm we had plenty to eat1 even in dry weather4 ,he shook his finger4 ,and mind you1 ,i had only five acres6 ,now look what has happened6 ,he pounded his knee4 ,a man can hardly feed his family with ten acres4 ,why8 ,taxes and more taxes6 ,he counted on his fingers4 ,first1 ,herod takes one fourth of all our grain4 ,that goes into the bellies of the ,romans4 ,then there is the tithe4 ,that takes enough to feed a hired man6 ,then we pay the ,temple tax to feed the priests4 ,they get the first-born of all the sheep too4 ,when a man's first son is born1 he must make a big gift to the synagogue4 ,farmers have to give part of the wool at sheep-shearing2 part of the wood at woodcutting2 and the best of the fruit at harvest4 ,he looked around and spat on the ground4 ,on top of that we pay for the schools and synagogues6 ,is it any wonder we have hardly enough left to feed ourselves8 ,but religious taxes are paid for the sake of ,god1 ,gideon6 protested ,james4 ,yes1 yes 444 ,i know4 ,gideon couldn't argue the point2 for a moment he was silent4 ,then he looked sharply at ,james and snapped3 ,do the landlords pay religious taxes8 ,no6 ,his voice was bitter4 ,that tax-gatherer who bought me out knew ways to get out of paying the ,temple tax6 ,was it when you sold your farm that you became a fisherman1 ,gideon8 asked ,james4 ,yes4 ,i almost had to serve a term of bondage4 ,the gentile jerked up his head and said1 ,were you a slave8 ,no1 but my brother bound himself for twelve years1 answered ,gideon1 looking at the gentile curiously4 ,do the bondslaves make much trouble here8 he asked4 ,zebedee looked at him very closely4 ,in ,galilee the slaves do not cause riots4 ,the ,jews do4 ,james explained4 ,in ,palestine there are more free men than slaves4 ,hunger causes most riots4 ,but in a way1 our whole nation is a slave to ,rome4 ,his eyes challenged the gentile and no one missed his meaning when he spoke again4 ,a nation can't run away from its master the way a slave can4 ,the gentile started4 ,he glanced swiftly around the group4 ,the men were looking at him suspiciously4 ,are you a runaway slave8 demanded ,zebedee point-blank4 ,the man flushed and spoke shamefacedly4 ,yes1 he admitted4 ,after a moment's silence1 ,andrew said3 ,the ,romans treat us all the same way4 ,no one here will betray you4 ,the man's face showed his relief4 ,perhaps you will tell us where you are from1 suggested ,simon4 ,i am a ,greek2 a fisherman from ,corinth4 ,i was taken captive and made the slave of a ,roman soldier4 ,we were sent to ,sidon4 ,he waved his hand toward the west4 ,i watched my chance and ran away4 ,here ,i want to work and remain unknown4 ,john said3 ,will you come with us to the synagogue8 ,if you are going to work with us1 you should become one of us4 ,i will worship any god who will give me a happy life4 ,i can't promise that ,god will do that1 answered ,john4 ,our nation has always suffered greatly4 ,he looked at ,andrew4 ,but we believe what ,john the ,baptizer tells us3 ,god is soon coming to save us4 ,the gentile shook his head4 ,i don't understand4 ,perhaps he has not heard of the ,prophet1 ,andrew said to ,simon4 ,he turned to the slave and said1 ,god has sent a ,prophet to warn us to turn back to ,god4 ,what will your god do for you8 asked the other4 ,andrew spoke sternly to him4 ,god is not our servant6 ,we are his servants6 ,we obey him4 ,john the ,baptizer says ,god will soon set up his ,kingdom1 added ,john4 ,i must say the ,zealots make better sense to me1 interrupted ,simon4 ,after all1 you have to make some effort yourself4 ,you can't just sit and wait4 ,who are the ,zealots8 asked the gentile4 ,they are warlike patriots who are always staging riots against the ,romans1 explained ,simon4 ,while ,i was at ,sidon1 the ,romans were busy hunting down bands of these people1 observed the gentile4 ,many brave men have been killed by ,rome4 ,we seem to be defeated in every rebellion4 ,simon turned to his brother4 ,do you remember ,judah the ,galilean8 ,andrew nodded4 ,judah was a ,zealot1 continued ,simon4 ,he gathered a group of brave young ,jews and raided one of ,herod's forts4 ,they took swords1 spears1 and money to buy food4 ,at the ,feast of the ,passover1 they came out of their hiding places in the northern hills4 ,he pointed toward the mountains where the snowy crest of ,mount ,hermon shone in the morning light4 ,they hid swords under their robes and joined the crowds going to ,jerusalem4 ,i was only a child but my parents took me to ,jerusalem that year4 ,the ,zealots knew the ,temple would be guarded by ,roman soldiers1 so they surrounded it4 ,the ,roman commander saw men with swords in the crowd of pilgrims filling the ,temple and thought they were going to attack his men1 so he ordered his soldiers to attack first4 ,the ,zealots were taken by surprise and the ,romans gained the upper hand4 ,then ,judah saw his chance4 ,he rallied his men1 and they climbed on the roof of the wooden buildings which surround the ,temple courtyard4 ,from there they threw spears down on the ,romans4 ,it looked then as though they had a chance to win4 ,to drive the ,jews off these buildings1 the ,romans set them afire4 ,they were dry as tinder and burned fiercely4 ,the ,zealots had to get down4 ,some killed themselves rather than surrender4 ,others leaped among the ,romans and died fighting4 ,those that escaped to the country hid in the hills around ,jerusalem4 ,there ,judah gathered together as many of his men as were still alive4 ,the ,roman general sent bands of his men into the hills to hunt down the survivors4 ,one morning there was a blare of trumpets and a group of ,roman soldiers came marching down the street4 ,from the roof of the house where ,i stayed with my parents we saw ,judah of ,galilee being prodded along by guards in armor4 ,he was hurt but he walked proudly4 ,i began to cry4 ,even my father had tears in his eyes4 ,although ,i was only a young boy1 ,i knew that ,judah would be killed for fighting the ,romans4 ,but ,i did not know how terrible it would be4 ,the ,romans made all ,jews who did not live in ,jerusalem leave within two days4 ,it was a sad time4 ,we had come in joy1 remembering how at the first ,passover ,feast ,god had protected us from the ,egyptians4 ,we left sorrowing4 ,we saw a dreadful sight when we went out of the city gate4 ,the fishermen had finished their food and sat with their eyes fixed on ,simon4 ,james and ,andrew had heard bits of this story before1 but listened eagerly for details as ,simon talked4 ,john's eyes seemed to be saying3 ,go on6 ,go on6 ,zebedee was older and knew the story well4 ,already his face showed pain and sorrow4 ,judah had been condemned to die as a criminal4 ,all criminals were crucified4 ,he was thrown to the ground and his body was spread on a wooden cross4 ,his hands were nailed to the crossbeam4 ,his feet were nailed also4 ,the cross was set upright beside the road from ,jerusalem to ,galilee4 ,all the ,zealots who had been hiding in the hills of ,judea were crucified with him4 ,when my father and mother took me out through the city gate1 ,i saw hundreds of crosses on both sides of the road4 ,on each cross hung a brave ,galilean4 ,when ,i saw that ,judah was dead1 my boyhood dream crumbled4 ,i have never forgotten4 ,the fire had burned out while ,simon talked4 ,the morning sun glared on the gray ashes4 ,lost in thought1 the men gazed at the dead fire4 ,finally ,simon said3 ,it seems that every time we fight for the ,kingdom of ,god we suffer all the more4 ,how does ,john the ,baptizer explain that1 ,andrew8 ,he didn't say anything about it that ,i remember1 ,andrew admitted4 ,people were hurrying along the road back of the beach4 ,come along1 men1 said ,zebedee briskly4 ,we must clean the nets4 ,i think ,i'll try my luck in the shallow water1 said ,andrew4 ,he picked up a circular net with weights around the edges4 ,he waded to his knees and threw the net4 ,it fell flat on the water and sank1 trapping a small fish under it4 ,the others began to wash the nets1 patiently picking out the seaweed and pebbles caught in them4 ,say6 ,what's going on8 ,john pointed to a knot of people following a man who was walking along the beach4 ,probably some trader1 remarked ,simon4 ,he looks more like a teacher to me1 said ,john4 ,why not go over and see8 suggested ,simon4 ,in a moment ,john came running back4 ,it is ,jesus1 the ,galilean whom ,andrew and ,i saw with ,john the ,baptizer6 ,andrew6 ,andrew6 he called4 ,come and see him1 ,simon4 ,come on6 ,i think ,i had better finish cleaning this net1 ,john4 ,but this man is a ,prophet6 ,you go ahead if you want to4 ,john gave ,simon a disgusted look4 ,when he turned toward the crowd of people1 he noticed that they were moving toward him4 ,i wish they would come over here1 thought ,john4 ,as if he had read ,john's mind1 ,jesus walked nearer the fisherman4 ,everyone was listening to a scribe who was asking questions4 ,scribes knew the religious laws and the sacred books thoroughly4 ,how can ,i get into this ,kingdom you are telling us about1 ,rabbi8 ,what is written in the ,law8 ,what do you read there8 asked ,jesus4 ,the scribe answered3 ,you must love the ,lord your ,god with your whole heart1 your whole soul1 your whole strength1 and your whole mind4 ,also1 love your neighbor as yourself4 ,correct1 said ,jesus4 ,do that and you will live4 ,simon's hands were busy1 but he smiled to hear ,jesus answer the educated man so easily4 ,the scribe felt foolish because ,jesus had made him answer his own question4 ,hoping to escape embarrassment1 he asked1 ,just who is my neighbor1 ,master8 ,there was once a man traveling from ,jerusalem to ,jericho1 answered ,jesus4 ,he was attacked by some robbers who took everything he had and left him badly hurt4 ,after a while a priest came by1 but when he caught sight of the man lying in the ditch bleeding1 he went on without even looking a second time4 ,a ,levite came along a little later and he too passed by on the other side of the road4 ,then a ,samaritan came along4 ,simon was listening intently4 ,like most of the people there1 he looked down on ,samaritans1 and wondered why ,jesus had brought this one into the story4 ,the two ,jews had done nothing to help their fellow countryman1 but the ,samaritan stopped1 continued ,jesus4 ,he put salve on his wounds and tied them up4 ,he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn by the road4 ,he paid his bill so that he could stay as long as it would take to get well4 ,when the ,samaritan left1 he said to the manager3 ',take care of him4 ,if you have to do more for him1 ,i will pay you back when ,i come this way again4' ,jesus looked at the scribe4 ,which of these three men was a true neighbor to the man who was beaten8 ,the man who was kind to him1 admitted the scribe grudgingly4 ,then go and be like that yourself6 said ,jesus4 ,simon looked at ,jesus amazed1 the net in his hand completely forgotten4 ,not even ,john the ,baptizer would say the ,samaritan was better than the others1 he thought to himself4 ,no wonder ,andrew and ,john had talked so much about this ,rabbi whom they had first met in ,judea6 ,attracted by the crowd1 many more people had come down from the road4 ,they were pressing in on ,jesus so much that he turned to ,simon and asked abruptly1 ,may ,i use your boat8 ,simon was taken by surprise but he quickly recovered himself and said1 ,certainly1 ,rabbi4 ,jesus asked him to push out a little way4 ,then he turned around and spoke to the people on the shore4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god does not come like a flash of lightning so that you can say1 ',here it is6' ,the ,kingdom of ,god is right now in your midst4 ,does that mean that our enemies will be destroyed soon1 ,rabbi8 asked ,simon eagerly4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god does not come by violence and bloodshed1 answered ,jesus1 but by the power of ,god4 ,it is not his will that you should kill persons whom you hate4 ,you should love your enemies6 ,do good to those who hate you6 ,pray for those who abuse you4 ,if a man slaps your cheek1 let him slap the other one too4 ,if he steals your coat1 give him your shirt too4 ,if you love only people who love you1 what does that amount to8 ,even bad men do that6 ,it is your enemies that you must love and help4 ,you must give without expecting to be paid back4 ,that is impossible6 exclaimed ,simon in dismay4 ,god's ,kingdom has power to change all kinds of men1 said ,jesus1 looking straight at ,simon4 ,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 changed4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god is also like a tiny mustard seed4 ,it is so small that a farmer can hardly see it mixed with his wheat4 ,but this tiny seed is so powerful that when it is planted it grows larger than most trees4 ,simon shook his head4 ,he did not say anything1 but he doubted if any such power existed4 ,will you push the boat out into deep water8 asked ,jesus4 ,i want you to lower the net for a catch of fish4 ,rabbi1 we fished all night and took nothing1 protested ,simon4 ,but if you wish1 ,i will try again4 ,much puzzled by this sudden request1 the two fishermen pulled toward deep water4 ,the people on the shore watched them put up the oars2 the boat drifted slowly in the wind4 ,the two men lowered the net4 ,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 fish4 ,startled into action1 they pulled desperately at the net1 but it was too heavy4 ,the cords began to break4 ,in great excitement ,andrew stood up and shouted to ,james1 ,come and help us6 ,with ,james and ,john drawing the opposite edge of the net into their boat1 the four men succeeded in saving the huge catch4 ,jesus sat quietly watching from the back of the boat1 which was now filled with fish to the point of sinking4 ,simon looked at ,jesus and a strange fear took hold of him4 ,there had been no fish all night--and now1 at the bidding of this ,rabbi1 they had caught hundreds6 ,impulsively he fell on his knees at ,jesus' feet and said3 ,lord1 ,i do need to be changed6 ,i am a sinful man6 ,the ,kingdom of ,heaven is like a net that catches all kinds of fish1 ,simon1 replied ,jesus4 ,you must follow me4 ,from now on you shall fish for men4 ,from the other boat1 ,james and ,john had been listening to every word that ,jesus had spoken4 ,he now turned to ,andrew and the two others4 ,if you will follow me1 you too shall become fishers of men4 ,when the boat came to shore1 the people looked in amazement at the great haul of fish1 but the catch meant nothing to the four fishermen4 ,without a single word they left ,zebedee and followed ,jesus back to ,capernaum4 ,illustration #c4 ,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 ,galilee4 ,at ,bethsaida1 a little town three miles across the lake from ,capernaum1 farmers gossiped about the news as they worked in the green fields on the hills above their town4 ,the name of ,jesus was on the lips of everyone in the noisy market place2 but the fishermen on the beaches knew most about the ,teacher who said that the ,kingdom of ,god was very near4 ,one ,friday afternoon1 a fisherman from ,bethsaida1 named ,philip1 was netting fish from his small boat at the northern tip of the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,the ,jordan ,river emptied into the lake at this point1 and there were often large fish to be caught4 ,spawned and fattened in the many tiny streams that flowed into the upper ,jordan1 they came down the river to feed on the weeds that grew thickly in the swamps at the river mouth4 ,philip glanced up at the sun4 ,it was well past noon1 time to be leaving4 ,philip drew his net into the boat1 set the oars into their crude notches1 and rowed steadily toward ,bethsaida1 about a mile distant4 ,he would have just enough time1 he reflected1 to clean up1 get back to the boat1 and row across the lake before the ,sabbath ,day commenced at sunset4 ,philip landed and drew his boat a short distance up on the beach4 ,say1 ,philip6 ,why don't you pull it up farther8 ,philip looked around and saw a friend cleaning a net4 ,without pausing he replied1 ,i am going to use it again4 ,are you going far8 ,but the question was not answered2 ,philip was already hastening up the narrow street toward his home4 ,an hour later1 he returned4 ,anxiously he glanced toward the sun1 now nearing the horizon4 ,where are you going8 asked the fisherman4 ,philip kept his back turned to the curious man4 ,after he had launched the rowboat and was pulling away1 he called out1 ,across the lake4 ,he knew the man had asked only to find out if he would be back before the ,sabbath started4 ,nevertheless1 ,philip rowed hard for ,capernaum2 he was conscientious and did not want to break the ,sabbath if he could help it4 ,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 late4 ,the minister of the synagogue at ,capernaum had blown his trumpet4 ,philip twisted around and saw that the mellow note had come just as the red sun sank behind the hills west of the lake4 ,there were two more long blasts4 ,from this moment1 the ,sabbath rest began4 ,the minister laid the trumpet down on the flat roof of his house4 ,no ,jew worked after this signal4 ,the women had already brought a full day's supply of water into their houses and were forbidden to carry any more4 ,fishermen were not supposed to clean nets or row4 ,the market place was silent1 for no buying or selling was permitted4 ,the minister did not even carry his trumpet into the house4 ,he would wait until sunset on ,saturday when the ,sabbath ended and then he would put it away4 ,he lighted the great synagogue lamp4 ,this was part of ,sabbath worship and did not count as work4 ,this shining light1 hanging where ,philip could plainly see it as he drew his boat up on the beach in front of ,capernaum1 made him feel a little guilty4 ,hurriedly he stored the oars under the seats and set out for the home of ,simon1 his friend in the city4 ,simon's house was in a high part of ,capernaum1 set back against the hills4 ,it was not a long walk for ,philip through the streets that led up from the lake front4 ,leaving the street of hard-packed dirt1 ,philip went under an arch into a square courtyard1 open to the sky4 ,the house was built on four sides1 and doors led from a narrow porch into the rooms4 ,philip hesitated a moment and then knocked at one of the doors4 ,philip6 ,simon stood in the doorway1 smiling at his friend4 ,his broad shoulders and short neck made him seem burly4 ,come in1 my friend6 ,simon called across the courtyard to his wife3 ,bring some food6 ,philip has come4 ,inside1 oil lamps were lighted and ,simon's children were playing on the floor in a corner of the room4 ,philip was very fond of them4 ,he ran his fingers through the hair of the oldest1 a black-haired lad of seven4 ,the child gave him a friendly smile4 ,what brings you to us on the ,sabbath1 ,philip8 inquired ,simon1 half teasing1 half reproving4 ,i did not leave the river mouth until about three o'clock1 explained ,philip1 a bit ashamed4 ,i was very eager to come to ,capernaum4 ,simon was immediately curious4 ,what made you come8 ,everyone in ,bethsaida is talking about the new ,rabbi who is teaching here1 answered ,philip4 ,they say that he talks of a new kingdom4 ,philip was a little surprised to see how intently ,simon was listening to his words1 but he did not pause4 ,i thought you could tell me more about him4 ,i hear that he comes from ,nazareth4 ,when did you first find out about him8 ,a couple of months ago ,john and ,andrew went up to ,jerusalem and when they came back they told us they had met this man1 answered ,simon4 ,they saw him baptized by ,john the ,baptizer4 ,the ,prophet told them that ,jesus was going to be a mighty servant of ,god4 ,we didn't take it very seriously though--you know how enthusiastic ,andrew gets4 ,we never realized what kind of person ,jesus was until we saw him ourselves1 continued ,simon4 ,he isn't like an ordinary teacher4 ,you feel that he is so sure of himself and yet he is so humble4 ,simon was deeply earnest4 ,everything he says goes right to your heart1 ,philip4 ,i can hardly understand what it is--there is some power in him6 ,simon's wife entered4 ,here is food for you1 said ,simon1 as his wife set a bowl of boiled fish on the table4 ,hungry from his trip across the lake1 ,philip gratefully moved to the rough bench in front of the table and began to eat4 ,after a while he asked1 ,then you know this ,rabbi well8 ,yes1 answered ,simon4 ,he has been down on the lake shore every day this week4 ,i have been with him most of the time4 ,doesn't that take a good deal of time away from fishing8 observed ,philip4 ,yes1 some1 replied ,simon4 ,we do some fishing early in the mornings4 ,but it is true that we don't do very much4 ,philip was thoroughly puzzled by now4 ,simon had always been a hard worker4 ,but ,philip could not think of a way to ask why his friend had changed4 ,for a while ,simon remained silent4 ,nervously his foot stirred the palm fronds that covered the floor4 ,you see1 ,philip1 he finally said very hesitantly1 ,i have really stopped fishing4 ,i am now a follower of ,jesus4 ,philip was dumfounded4 ,you mean you aren't working with ,andrew and ,james and ,john any more8 ,they have left ,zebedee too1 answered ,simon4 ,what in the world4444 blurted ,philip4 ,he stopped short4 ,how are you going to feed your wife and children8 he asked4 ,simon looked at ,philip frankly4 ,i do not know1 ,philip1 he said1 his voice firm4 ,but this one thing ,i am sure of3 ,i cannot turn back from my decision to go with ,jesus wherever he goes4 ,i believe in him and am willing to do anything for him4 ,philip knew there was no use protesting further4 ,simon had told him what he intended to do4 ,what could he say8 ,finally he asked1 ,when can ,i hear your ,rabbi teach8 ,he will be in the synagogue tomorrow1 replied ,simon4 ,i am sure you will understand why ,i feel this way1 he added very earnestly4 ,on ,sabbath morning the streets which ,philip had found so silent the evening before were filled with people4 ,from every part of ,capernaum they climbed to the place where the synagogue stood4 ,it was on the highest hill in the city1 because no building was more important to the people than their place of worship4 ,simon and ,philip came hurrying with the crowd4 ,at the door of the synagogue they stopped to catch their breath and looked at the lake below them4 ,the water lay still and smooth in the morning light1 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 waves4 ,where is the ,rabbi8 asked ,philip4 ,he is probably inside1 answered ,simon1 turning to enter the synagogue4 ,from behind a row of pillars they looked for ,jesus among the men who filled the room4 ,in the middle of the room was a low platform with a desk on it4 ,seats were arranged on all sides4 ,over their heads was a balcony where the women sat4 ,simon pointed4 ,there is ,jesus down near the front1 he whispered to ,philip4 ,we'll sit with him4 ,philip noticed the tone of reverence in ,simon's voice4 ,a row of dignified men sat in front of a heavy curtain at the end of the room4 ,one of them came over to ,jesus4 ,simon and ,philip were too far away to hear what he whispered1 but evidently he asked ,jesus1 as the visiting teacher1 to take part in the service1 because ,jesus followed him and sat down with the elders4 ,the synagogue filled quickly4 ,philip thought that many people must have heard about ,jesus and come to ,capernaum4 ,jesus walked to the desk on the platform4 ,philip was impressed by his strong voice repeating a prayer that was often used in the synagogue3 ,blessed be ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 ,king of the world1 ,who formest the light and createst the darkness1 ,who in mercy givest light to the earth and to those who dwell upon it1 ,and in ,thy goodness1 day by day and every day1 renewest the works of creation4 ,blessed be the ,lord our ,god for the glory of ,his handiworks1 ,and for the light-giving lights which ,he has made for ,his praise4 ,selah4 ,in the second prayer1 ,jesus asked ,god to forgive and help the people4 ,with great love hast ,thou loved us1 ,o ,lord our ,god1 ,and with much overflowing pity hast ,thou pitied us1 ,our ,father and our ,king4 ,for the sake of our fathers who trusted in ,thee1 ,and ,thou taughtest them the statutes of life1 ,have mercy upon us1 and teach us4 ,enlighten our eyes in ,thy law2 ,cause our hearts to cleave to ,thy commandments3 ,unite our hearts to love and fear ,thy ,name1 ,and we shall not be put to shame1 world without end4 ,amen4 ,then all the congregation repeated their ,creed in unison4 ',hear1 ,o ,israel3 ,the ,lord our ,god is one ,god4444 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 ,and with all thy soul1 ,and with all thy might4' ,remember all the commandments of the ,lord and do them4 ',i am the ,lord your ,god1 who brought you 444 out of the land of ,egypt' ,to be your ,god4 ,i am the ,lord your ,god4 ,philip leaned over and whispered to ,simon1 ,do you think he will dare say anything about founding a new kingdom8 ,i have never heard him here before1 answered ,simon1 but he will say what he thinks4 ,after ,jesus had repeated two prayers of thanksgiving1 the minister of the synagogue brought a heavy scroll to the desk4 ,a man from the congregation read some verses from ,leviticus2 then several other men read short passages4 ,the people stirred expectantly when ,jesus stood up4 ,again ,philip was impressed by the clear and convincing manner of his speech4 ,listen to the words of the ,prophet ,isaiah1 ,jesus said4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 for he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor4 ,he has sent me to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for the blind4 ,he has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the ,lord's blessing4 ,jesus rolled up the scroll4 ,every person in the synagogue waited to hear what he would say4 ,this very year1 declared ,jesus quietly but firmly1 is the year that ,isaiah is talking about4 ,you do not have to wait any longer for ,god to come to you4 ,the words of ,isaiah are true right now2 ,god is here4 ,the prophets tell you about a great day1 but that day is not far in the future6 ,god can be your ,king now6 ,he can defeat every evil power4 ,he will rule you if only you will open your hearts to him4 ,philip turned to ,simon4 ,he was disappointed4 ,what can he mean by that8 ,simon did not answer4 ,he was waiting attentively for ,jesus to go on4 ,you think you are oppressed and poor1 continued ,jesus4 ,but ,i tell you that you will never win freedom by fighting and by shedding blood4 ,only the truth of ,god can make you free4 ,only his eternal treasures can make you rich6 ,it is useless to depend on earthly things3 moths destroy clothing2 rust destroys iron2 thieves steal money4 ,fire will burn down barns4 ,do not spend your lives getting things that pass away4 ,rather1 store up treasures in the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,only ,god's ,kingdom is truly real4 ,only in his ,kingdom are you truly free4 ,only his treasures make you really rich6 ,but how shall we get this ,kingdom8 ,that is what ,i want to know6 whispered ,philip hoarsely to ,simon4 ,he will tell you1 answered ,simon4 ,you spend all your time getting ready for a ,kingdom that is far away1 cried ,jesus4 ,you do not have to wait for ,god's ,kingdom4 ,god is here now1 working among you4 ,his voice became stern4 ,the trouble is that you do not really believe in ,god at all4 ,you do not wish to give yourselves to him4 ,you always want to live for yourselves a little longer4 ,you are blind to the rule of ,god because you are stubborn and unwilling to obey his will4 ,the prophets tell you what ,god wants you to do6 ,have you obeyed them8 ,no6 ,repent your sin6 ,give yourselves to ,god6 ,on this very day you shall find his ,kingdom6 ,the people were looking at ,jesus blankly4 ,they had never heard anyone speak like this before4 ,but ,philip was able to understand one thing3 the ,kingdom of which ,jesus had been speaking was very different from anything he had expected4 ,behind them ,simon and ,philip heard a man say1 ,he doesn't speak as the scribes do6 ,scribes always read or recited from memory the comments which the great ,rabbis had written on the ,law and the ,prophets4 ,suddenly there was a fearful scream in the rear of the building4 ,a man had jumped from his bench near the back of the synagogue and was rushing down the aisle4 ,insanely he yelled3 ,ha6 ,jesus of ,nazareth6 ,what business have you with me8 ,let me out of here6 exclaimed a frightened man on the front benches4 ,he has a demon6 ,in his haste to get out of reach1 the man tipped the bench over and it struck the stone floor with a bang4 ,have you come to destroy us8 shrieked the madman4 ,i know who you are6 ,you are the ,holy ,one from ,god6 ,silence6 ,come out of him6 ,in an instant1 ,jesus had taken complete control of the man2 as though all his strength suddenly melted away1 he dropped to the floor and lay still4 ,a single moan broke the tense silence of the synagogue4 ,he seemed to be dying4 ,jesus motioned to the elders and they brought a cup of water4 ,in a moment the man stood up4 ,he was weak but in his right mind4 ,utter amazement filled the people4 ,the elders were looking at one another1 shaking their heads4 ,there is no doubt about it4 ,he is free6 ,others asked in wonder3 ,who can this ,rabbi be8 ,he even has power over demons6 ,people pressed toward the front of the room to stare at the man whom ,jesus had healed4 ,after a while1 they began to drift away1 talking excitedly4 ,philip did not push forward with the curious crowd but stood staring at ,jesus4 ,even after the people had all gone1 he continued to gaze wonderingly at ,jesus4 ,he could hardly believe his eyes3 ,the man who had been so violent now sat quietly listening to ,jesus4 ,simon came over to where ,philip was standing4 ,do you now see how powerful his word is1 ,philip8 he asked4 ,do you see why ,i follow him8 ,never in all my life have ,i known such a man1 said ,philip1 almost speaking to himself4 ,he could not understand what was happening within him4 ,he did not feel excited2 his mind was clear and cool--but ,philip knew that some strange power was at work4 ,everything had somehow changed4 ,jesus turned to him4 ,philip1 asked the ,master simply1 will you follow me8 ,jesus' words were like the turning of a key4 ,philip wanted to speak only words of obedience3 ,master6 ,i will go with you anywhere6 ,illustration #d4 ,,god ,,is ,,now ,,king6 ,before nightfall1 all ,capernaum was talking about the ,teacher from ,nazareth who had power to overcome demons4 ,what strange person had arrived in their midst8 ,he had even dared to break the ,sabbath law1 for healing on the day of rest was strictly forbidden4 ,some believed he was planning to start a rebellion to set the nation free from ,roman rule2 but to the sick and lame of ,capernaum1 the news meant just one thing3 someone had come to help them4 ,curious eyes had seen ,jesus leave the synagogue with ,simon4 ,no sooner had the sun set1 marking the end of the ,sabbath1 than hundreds of crippled and diseased persons crowded to the street where ,simon lived4 ,jesus would not refuse them4 ,in the cool twilight he taught and healed all who asked4 ,as it grew darker1 the disciples began to marvel that the people kept coming4 ,they knew everyone was very superstitious and hardly anyone ever went out at night for fear of evil spirits4 ,but as the hours passed1 ,simon noticed many people who were not sick or crippled4 ,they came for another kind of help2 they knew ,jesus could give more than healing for the body4 ,in the babble of voices ,simon suddenly heard a man cry out sharply4 ,the pain in the man's voice cut into ,simon's heart like a knife4 ,simon scanned the crowd1 but in the darkness could not see him4 ,no one moved to let him through4 ,jesus looked toward the man4 ,do you cry out to me8 he asked1 raising his voice above the noisy crowd around him4 ,come and ,i will help you4 ,unwillingly1 the people made way and the man crawled toward ,jesus4 ,something was wrong with his legs4 ,a hush settled over the crowd when ,jesus spoke4 ,your greatest need is not to be free from pain--it is to be rid of sin4 ,repent and turn back to ,god4 ,believe my word and you shall enter the ,kingdom of ,god6 ,jesus stooped and laid his hand on the man lying before him4 ,o ,father1 he prayed1 heal this man of his suffering1 in order that he may know thy truth and enter thy ,kingdom4 ,jesus straightened up and held out his arms to all the people4 ,come to me1 all of you who labor and are heavy-laden1 and ,i will give you rest6 ,the disciples felt the power of their ,master as they heard him call on the people to repent4 ,they had never known anyone like him2 they had never heard a message like his4 ,again and again they heard ,jesus say3 ,do you understand why you have been healed8 ,this is a sign that the power of ,god has come among you4 ,it was after midnight when the last person left4 ,jesus was very tired4 ,he looked at the black sky4 ,there was no moon4 ,the stars shed a faint light on the hills above ,capernaum4 ,jesus turned to ,simon4 ,it is time to rest4 ,he went into the house4 ,the people had no fear of evil night spirits1 remarked ,james4 ,they know he has power over them1 commented ,simon4 ,in the morning1 long before dawn1 ,jesus rose in order to pray outside the city4 ,a few yards from ,simon's home the street dwindled to a path1 and ,jesus had to push through the stiff1 dry grass which grew knee-high all over the hillside4 ,as he climbed1 he walked around large rocks4 ,when he reached the crest of the hill1 ,jesus stood for a long while gazing down at ,capernaum1 barely visible in the starlight4 ,there was a little breeze from the east4 ,it smelled of both lake and desert4 ,the memory of the sick and lame people filled ,jesus with sorrow4 ,some of these people really thought that everything would be all right if their bodies could be healed6 ,what a terrible mistake6 ,had they understood what he had told them8 ,would they realize that they were thinking only of themselves8 ,perhaps their lives were too cluttered with little hopes and ambitions to see the will of ,god4 ,how dearly they loved worthless things6 ,jesus found a hollow where the bushes sheltered him from the wind and knelt to pray4 ,dawn was turning the gray sky to blue when ,simon was aroused from sleep by the noise of a crowd outside his house4 ,he dressed hastily4 ,where is the ,healer8 shouted the people4 ,simon waved his hand for silence4 ,he is not here4 ,his words were instantly drowned by a hundred voices4 ,where is he8 everyone demanded at once4 ,i don't know where he is1 answered ,simon4 ,will he be back8 ,where did he go8 ,simon knew he would never succeed in sending them away4 ,andrew came out of the house4 ,do you think we could find him8 asked ,simon4 ,we can try1 answered ,andrew1 smiling wryly4 ,without explaining their plan to the people1 they set out toward the hills4 ,some of the people tried to follow1 but ,simon gruffly sent them back4 ,the two men followed a faint path toward the top of the hill4 ,for about a mile they walked1 searching the slopes on both sides of them4 ,we may not find him at all1 remarked ,simon4 ,at that moment ,andrew caught sight of a patch of white ahead of them4 ,is he up there8 ,simon began to run4 ,jesus was kneeling in prayer4 ,andrew had seen a corner of his woolen robe against the dark bushes4 ,rabbi6 panted ,simon4 ,everyone is looking for you6 ,he had interrupted ,jesus' prayer1 but ,jesus was not offended4 ,i am not going back to ,capernaum4 ,but1 ,rabbi1 protested ,simon1 hundreds of people need you4 ,they are in pain4 ,what will they do without you8 ,i must go to the other villages of ,galilee and preach the news of the ,kingdom there too1 replied ,jesus4 ,but1 ,master1 your word is the only help these people have ever had4 ,he realized that ,jesus had fully made up his mind to go4 ,think of the blind and the crippled6 he cried desperately4 ,what will become of them8 ,jesus answered with firm conviction4 ,simon1 they have heard the news that ,god has come to them4 ,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 life6 ,this is why ,god has sent me6 ,i must go on to the cities of ,galilee6 ,simon and ,andrew knew they could not change their ,rabbi's mind1 so at his command they returned to ,capernaum and prepared for a trip through ,galilee4 ,at noon the disciples left ,capernaum1 carrying only a small amount of food1 and met ,jesus outside the city4 ,jesus knew it was hard for ,simon to leave his wife and children4 ,by late afternoon they had reached ,tarichaea1 a town smaller than ,capernaum1 about six miles south on the shore of the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,here lived many rich men who owned the fertile farms on which all ,galilee depended for wheat4 ,there was also a large fish business1 because in ,tarichaea fish were salted and sold to men who came to buy food for the ,roman army4 ,the market place was busy when ,jesus arrived with the disciples1 and a group of people quickly gathered to hear him teach4 ,a young man in fine clothing joined the circle around ,jesus4 ,the disciples immediately recognized that he was a member of the party of the ,pharisees because he wore large tassels on his robe4 ,during a pause in the discussion he asked a question which ,simon thought must have been troubling him for some time4 ,good ,teacher1 he asked1 you have told these others how to enter the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,now what must ,i do to inherit eternal life8 ,jesus looked at the young man keenly4 ,why do you call me 'good'8 he asked4 ,only ,god is good4 ,then his tone softened4 ,you know the commandments--do not commit adultery2 do not kill2 do not steal2 do not speak lies--if you obey the law of ,god you possess eternal life4 ,the disciples looked at the young man with the greatest respect4 ,here was a really religious man6 ,a ,pharisee who kept all the ,law--what more could ,god require8 ,and he was rich4 ,did that not prove he had pleased ,god8 ,but1 ,teacher1 replied the young man1 ,i have obeyed every one of these laws perfectly since ,i was a child4 ,but somehow 444 it is not enough4 ,i am not satisfied4 ,john was puzzled4 ,this man should be happy1 he thought4 ,i was just a poor fisherman1 but this man seems to have everything4 ,the other disciples also wondered what ,jesus could say to the young man4 ,you lack just one thing1 said ,jesus4 ,you must get rid of all your possessions4 ,sell your property4 ,go and give your money to the poor4 ,come and be my disciple4 ,shock and disappointment came over the young man's face4 ,i can't do a thing like that6 he exclaimed4 ,why should ,i give my money away8 ,you must sell all that you have and give to the poor1 insisted ,jesus4 ,if you want eternal life1 you must put ,god first4 ,if you go on clinging to the things you own1 no matter how little you may keep back1 you will never find the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,but ,god gave me my money1 protested the young ,pharisee4 ,is he not the one who gives all good things8 ,why should you ask me to get rid of things he himself has given me8 ,the disciples felt that his argument was logical4 ,i have kept every detail of the religious rules1 continued the young man4 ,i even keep two fasts instead of one6 ,i never break the ,sabbath4 ,don't you think ,i have earned eternal life8 ,jesus answered simply2 he did not argue4 ,any man who wishes to enter the ,kingdom must seek the will of ,god above every other goal4 ,where a man's treasure is1 there is his heart also4 ,you have not given yourself to ,him4 ,you trust in your possessions and in your good deeds4 ,this is unreasonable6 thought the young man4 ,he turned and left4 ,yet the longing to be sure he had pleased ,god was strong still4 ,that is no solution6 he insisted1 arguing within himself4 ,god cannot ask me to give up things he has given me4 ,people turn from sins--not from their good deeds6 ,but he could not forget ,jesus' demand3 ,repent6 ,you love your own riches more than you love ,god4 ,repent6 ,jesus looked sorrowfully after the young man4 ,how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the ,kingdom6 he exclaimed regretfully4 ,it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to give himself to ,god6 ,the disciples listened astonished4 ,finally ,simon blurted out3 ,but1 ,master1 if he cannot be saved1 who can8 ,he is a good man6 ,jesus answered with the deepest feeling3 ,simon1 with man it is impossible4 ,but with ,god--all things are possible6 ,well1 said ,simon1 if giving up things is the answer1 we ought to have eternal life4 ,we have given up everything6 ,there was bitterness in his voice1 and everyone knew he was thinking of his children in ,capernaum4 ,jesus felt great sympathy for ,simon1 and his answer was very gentle4 ,yes1 ,simon1 you have given up much4 ,but you need not fear--a man who gives up his home and his property for my sake will never be sorry4 ,he will receive back a hundred times over the eternal gifts which ,god gives those who love him4 ,many who now are rich will be the last in ,god's ,kingdom2 but those who are poor for my sake will be the very first in his ,kingdom6 ,that night the disciples stayed in ,tarichaea4 ,they did not argue any more about what ,jesus had told the rich ,pharisee1 but they were more troubled by these words than by anything else ,jesus had said4 ,his teachings seemed against everything they had ever learned6 ,the next day1 as the band of men walked with ,jesus toward ,nazareth1 ,simon brought up the question4 ,teacher1 he said earnestly1 ,i don't understand why you talked to that young ,pharisee as you did4 ,he was very sincere4 ,the ,pharisees do more to obey ,god than any others and this young man looked to me as though he tried even harder than most4 ,god had even given him riches as a reward for his goodness6 ,and yet you said he had to get rid of all his wealth in order to enter the ,kingdom of ,heaven6 ,simon could hardly find words to express his strong feelings4 ,i needed to repent1 but why should he8 ,he was already a good man6 ,james summed up the thoughts of them all3 ,rabbi1 if a man as good as that can't enter the ,kingdom1 how can anyone8 ,jesus said3 ,simon1 ,i want to tell you a story4 ,two men went up to the ,temple to pray4 ,one was a ,pharisee--like the young man we talked with yesterday4 ,the other was a tax collector1 who had been dishonest4 ,the ,pharisee stood by himself1 a distance away from the ordinary folk who went in and out of the ,temple1 and prayed this way3 ',god1 ,i thank thee that ,i am not like other men--thieves1 rogues1 and immoral--like that taxgatherer over there4 ,you know ,i am a good man4 ,i fast twice a week and pay tithes of all my money4' ,but the taxgatherer1 continued ,jesus1 went off in a corner where he could hide from people4 ,he wouldn't even lift up his eyes as he prayed4 ,rather1 he hung his head and beat his breast in the deepest shame and said1 ',god1 be merciful to me1 a sinner6' ,the disciples did not seem to understand1 so ,jesus said3 ,the taxgatherer left the ,temple accepted by ,god4 ,but not the ,pharisee6 ,he trusted in his own goodness rather than in ,god4 ,if he had been humble1 like the taxgatherer1 ,god could have forgiven him4 ,but ,i don't see what that has to do with the young ,pharisee1 protested ,james4 ,he was not dishonest6 ,why should he be ashamed8 ,this young ruler was like the ,pharisee in the ,temple1 replied ,jesus4 ,he was so confident of his own goodness that he could not see how far he was from what ,god wants him to be4 ,but1 ,master1 urged ,simon1 look at the things that the ,pharisees do6 ,they educate our children in religion in the synagogue schools4 ,they never have anything to do with the ,sadducees or priests who take money from the ,romans4 ,they study the ,scriptures more than anyone else2 don't these things count for anything8 ,men may do all these things and yet have no real faith in ,god1 answered ,jesus4 ,the ,kingdom of ,heaven comes to men who love ,god above everything else4 ,there was something that meant more to that young man yesterday than ,god--and that was his money4 ,other men depend on other things2 whatever they are1 they must get rid of them4 ,even the most upright ,pharisee must forget his pride in goodness and trust ,god as simply as a little child4 ,john shook his head doubtfully4 ,the people will never understand that1 he said4 ,even though the ,pharisees are often very snobbish1 they are the best people in our nation4 ,jesus suddenly became grim4 ,the whole religion of the ,pharisees sets them against the ,kingdom of ,heaven6 ,the men looked at him in surprise4 ,but ,master1 urged ,james1 we need them to help us set up the new ,kingdom6 ,they are more loyal to ,god than anyone else4 ,besides1 we can do nothing without their friendship4 ,i know them1 ,james1 answered ,jesus4 ,men who are sure of themselves will never welcome what we have to tell them6 ,john shook his head but said no more4 ,this was not his idea of the way the ,kingdom would come4 ,the disciples felt sure ,jesus could not mean all he said4 ,but two days later they realized they were wrong4 ,jesus had meant every word4 ,after a short trip through lower ,galilee1 the men arrived in ,nazareth where ,jesus had lived until a few months before4 ,his mother and brothers were still there1 but ,jesus stayed outside the town until ,sabbath morning and then went with them to the synagogue4 ,the rumors of ,jesus' miracles had spread through all ,galilee1 and when ,jesus entered the synagogue many people looked at him curiously4 ,he saw many people he knew4 ,there was the woman who had lived next to them for twenty years and who was a special friend of his mother's2 there were several young men whom he knew well4 ,he smiled across the congregation at one young man who had helped him in the carpenter shop after his father ,joseph had died1 when ,jesus was forced to support the family4 ,the minister of the synagogue1 an old friend of ,jesus'1 invited him to lead the service4 ,after the prayers1 he sat down at the desk in the center of the synagogue and opened the scroll to the ,prophet ,isaiah4 ,looking into the faces of many people who had known him from boyhood1 ,jesus knew it would not be easy to tell them about the ,kingdom4 ,he read the same passage he had read in ,capernaum3 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 for he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor4 ,he has sent me to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for the blind4 ,he has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the ,lord's blessing4 ,jesus rolled up the scroll4 ,everyone waited for him to speak4 ,today1 he declared1 these words of the ,prophet ,isaiah have come true right here4 ,god has sent his ,holy ,spirit upon me to tell you that he is now among you4 ,if you truly know that you need ,god1 your ears will be open to hear this word from him2 but if you are proud1 you will be deaf4 ,put your entire trust in ,god and seek his will6 ,i declare to you that ,god's ,kingdom is not far in the future2 ,god has brought it to your door6 ,he paused and looked from person to person4 ,who would have thought ,joseph's son would turn out so well8 whispered one of the elders to a neighbor4 ,he does speak with ease1 replied his friend1 a grudging note in his voice4 ,if we could see him do a miracle1 we should know for sure whether he is all he claims1 said the elder4 ,from the very first1 ,jesus had known that the people of ,nazareth would find it hard to believe in him4 ,looking at the elders1 he said3 ,no doubt you are ready to say to me1 ',do for us here in your own home town the things you have been doing in ,capernaum4' ,but prophets are never accepted by the people of their own country4 ,there were many ,jewish widows who needed ,elijah's help when the great famine came over all ,israel1 but ,god did not send him to any of them--they would not believe in him4 ,he sent him to a widow in ,sidon1 a gentile6 ,elisha could have found many ,jewish lepers who needed to be healed1 but not one of them was made clean4 ,they would not believe in him6 ,rather1 he healed ,naaman1 a ,syrian and a gentile6 ,a deathly silence settled over the synagogue4 ,they were not as good as gentiles6 ,gentiles1 who were unclean outsiders6 ,a carpenter's son telling them that ,god would pass them by for gentiles6 ,the men began to murmur angrily4 ,jesus' voice rang out3 ,how can ,i do great deeds among you when you do not really believe ,god at all8 ,open anger swept through the synagogue4 ,how dare he talk like this to us8 demanded one man1 leaping to his feet4 ,all over the room men began to crowd toward the front where ,jesus stood4 ,let us have order here6 ,the minister could hardly make his voice heard4 ,a group of men rushed toward ,jesus1 who did not even step back4 ,over the cliff with him6 shouted someone4 ,in a moment they were shoving and hustling ,jesus toward the door1 yelling1 ,over the cliff with him6 ,carrying ,jesus with them1 the crowd moved swiftly toward a place outside the town where the hill dropped straight down4 ,then a peculiar thing happened4 ,the men seemed suddenly to realize what they were doing4 ,this was ,mary's son6 ,the son of ,joseph1 the carpenter who for many years had made yokes for their oxen4 ,wrath seemed to melt away4 ,the men let go of ,jesus' robe4 ,they seemed almost afraid of him4 ,none laid a hand on him as he walked through the mob which only a moment before had wanted to kill him4 ,an instant after ,jesus was gone1 anger again came over the men like the backwash from an ocean wave4 ,some shook their fists in the direction ,jesus had gone1 but not one had the courage to follow4 ,the disciples did not attempt to follow ,jesus4 ,they were glad that no one in the town knew them1 and they wasted no time in leaving4 ,they all realized that men who were afraid of ,jesus might take out their anger on his followers4 ,it was late that night before the disciples found one another and started to hunt for their ,master4 ,jesus had left the city and climbed to a high ridge where he had loved to go as a boy4 ,now he looked down on the broad valley of ,esdraelon1 stretching south to the foothills of ,samaria1 where so many of the great battles of ancient ,israel had been fought4 ,had he not always felt that someday he would be rejected by his own home town8 ,nevertheless1 ,jesus was not scorned by everyone in ,nazareth4 ,a few people remembered the place he loved and they came to him there4 ,they were not rich people1 and there were no elders from the synagogue among them4 ,they were the sick and crippled2 they were people for whom life was hard1 and they believed the word which ,jesus had spoken to them4 ,the disciples found him teaching and healing these few4 ,these have heard my word1 said ,jesus to the followers4 ,to them the ,kingdom is given4 ,the disciples listened to ,jesus telling the poorest folk of ,nazareth the news of the ,kingdom4 ,when they left1 ,jesus spoke very plainly to the disciples4 ,why are you so discouraged8 he asked4 ,have we not preached the gospel of the ,kingdom here8 ,they turned us out6 burst out ,james4 ,they laughed at us6 ,they tried to kill you6 ,simon was bitter4 ,we should never come near this miserable village again4 ,we might have been killed6 ,if men are to enter the ,kingdom of ,god1 they must repent1 answered ,jesus4 ,it cuts them to the heart to confess that they have forgotten ,god and his righteousness4 ,they hate us for teaching them the truth about themselves4 ,the disciples sat in gloomy silence4 ,simon gazed out over the plains below4 ,here through many defeats in battle the ,jews had paid the price of their sin--but ,israel had not yet learned4 ,still the nation spurned the prophets whom ,god sent4 ,would the ,kingdom never come8 ,illustration #e4 ,,who ,,is ,,this ,,carpenter8 ,after their harsh experience at ,nazareth1 the disciples were prepared for other disappointments4 ,before they entered the next town on their journey through ,galilee the men talked soberly1 a little fearfully1 about what might happen4 ,but1 one after another1 the villages of ,galilee welcomed ,jesus4 ,the common people listened eagerly to the news that he proclaimed1 and many believed4 ,the disciples began to forget that ,jesus had been driven out of ,nazareth4 ,late one ,friday afternoon just before the ,sabbath began1 ,jesus led the disciples into ,chorazin1 a town crowded in by the steep walls of a valley north of ,capernaum4 ,a full hour before sunset the hills to the west threw deep shadows over the village4 ,it was cooler than ,capernaum1 thought ,simon4 ,soon he would be home with his wife and children6 ,but he was as glad as the others to rest in ,chorazin over the ,sabbath4 ,they had traveled all week1 pausing only to tell the good news in the towns they had passed through1 and they were very tired4 ,the men rose the next morning greatly refreshed1 ready to worship at the synagogue4 ,they were sure ,jesus would be asked to teach4 ,most of the disciples expected the people to receive ,jesus gladly1 but ,simon could not forget the last time they had been in a synagogue--at ,nazareth4 ,it was in the market places and on the streets1 ,simon remembered1 not in the synagogues1 that ,jesus had been most gladly welcomed4 ,as soon as they entered the synagogue1 ,simon decided that the whole town must have seen them arrive the night before2 everyone was expecting them4 ,invited by the minister of the synagogue1 ,jesus took his place behind the desk on the low platform in the center of the room1 and read from the ,prophets4 ,then he told the people very plainly that ,god was among them in great power2 that they must immediately give up everything that kept them from understanding ,god's purpose and devote their lives to him4 ,both the people and the elders listened closely1 and ,simon was not surprised when many people gathered around ,jesus as soon as the service was over4 ,the minister and the elders asked many serious questions1 and ,simon saw that they were very sincere4 ,the things ,jesus had said disturbed them deeply4 ,no one noticed a very short woman quietly walking up behind the men who surrounded ,jesus4 ,when at last there were no more questions1 ,jesus turned to go4 ,the men stepped back4 ,for the first time1 ,jesus saw the woman4 ,shyly she moved away4 ,instantly he realized why she had come4 ,her back was terribly bent4 ,do not be afraid1 he said to her encouragingly2 come here6 ,she hesitated4 ,does he realize that this is the ,sabbath8 ,simon thought in alarm4 ,as though he were alone with the woman1 ,jesus laid his hand on her twisted back and raised his eyes in prayer3 ,father1 ,i thank thee that thou hearest me when ,i pray4 ,set this woman free1 ,i beseech thee1 from the deformity which has bent her body these many years4 ,this ,i ask in order that she may know that thou hast sent me with thy message of life4 ,while ,jesus was praying1 ,simon glanced at the elders of the synagogue4 ,they were utterly amazed at what ,jesus was doing4 ,doesn't this ,nazarene know this is the ,sabbath8 wondered the minister4 ,jesus had finished4 ,he said1 ,you are freed from your infirmity4 ,she stood up straight4 ,may ,god be praised6 she exclaimed4 ,there were tears of joy in her eyes4 ,god's blessing on you4 ,rabbi6 ,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 her4 ,amazed and outraged1 the minister looked from the woman to ,jesus and back again4 ,angrily he turned to the people4 ,the ,law says there are six days in each week for work4 ,that means there are six days for getting healed4 ,what more do you need8 ,why do you come on the ,sabbath8 ,simon glanced at ,jesus and almost shivered4 ,jesus had seen the distress and embarrassment of the woman4 ,you hypocrite6 ,the man cringed4 ,he had not imagined ,jesus would dare speak to him like this4 ,do you scold this woman for coming to be healed on the ,sabbath8 ,every single one of you will lead your ox to water as soon as you get home4 ,if that isn't work1 what is8 ,his scorn bit into the elders like a whiplash4 ,you say the ,law allows you to give your cattle water4 ,hasn't this woman the right to be healed8 ,for eighteen years her body has been twisted4 ,she is a child of ,abraham6 ,isn't she more important than any animal8 ,jesus looked right through the men4 ,they felt like fish wriggling on a spear4 ,the friends of the woman stole triumphant glances at the elders4 ,simon knew ,jesus was getting into trouble1 but it made no difference3 his ,master was right6 ,without another word1 ,jesus strode out of the synagogue4 ,the people left in the room felt suddenly cold1 and all but the elders hastened away to their homes4 ,hardly wishing to look at one another1 the elders sighed and sat down4 ,it was not just that they were angry4 ,they were baffled by what ,jesus had said4 ,their respect for the ,sabbath rule was sincere2 they believed it was the most important regulation in the entire ,jewish ,law4 ,no one who disobeyed it1 they were certain1 could possibly love ,god4 ,never in my life have ,i seen such a fanatic6 exclaimed the minister finally4 ,he is dangerous1 agreed another4 ,what will happen to our religion if the people begin to think that they don't need to keep the ,sabbath8 ,we must tell the people how serious a matter this is1 said the minister4 ,i am going down to ,capernaum tomorrow4 ,i will stop and talk to our friend ,symeon4 ,he may know about this ,jesus4 ,perhaps he can tell us what we ought to do4 ,at the inn where they were staying1 the disciples were gloomy and silent4 ,they were worried about the dispute with the elders2 but they were troubled also about the thing ,jesus had done that morning4 ,jesus knew that he had perplexed them1 and he was not surprised when the next day1 on the road down to ,capernaum1 ,simon spoke up4 ,master1 we would like to ask a question1 said ,simon4 ,the others gathered closely around4 ,moses told us at ,mount ,sinai1 ',remember the sabbath day1 to keep it holy4' ,he told us never to work on the ,sabbath4 ,yet1 ,rabbi1 you healed the woman on the ,sabbath4 ,we do believe she is more important than any animal--but still4 ,rabbi1 you did break the ,sabbath rule6 ,do you want the ,sabbath forgotten8 ,do you intend to cast out all the laws and rules8 ,simon's tense voice told ,jesus he was deeply disturbed4 ,the other disciples looked at ,jesus gravely4 ,i have not come to destroy the ,law1 he answered4 ,rather1 ,i am showing you what it really means to obey the ,law4 ,but you did heal the hunchbacked woman on the ,sabbath1 didn't you8 persisted ,simon4 ,unless you obey the ,law better than these men who make the ,sabbath so important1 you can never enter the ,kingdom of ,heaven1 replied ,jesus4 ,we don't think they are right4 ,master1 explained ,simon4 ,we think that the woman was more important than the animals1 which they feed and water on the ,sabbath4 ,but4444 ,jesus knew ,simon was not satisfied4 ,even though the ,pharisees are very careful about little things1 said ,jesus1 that does not mean that they know what ,god asks of them4 ,they obey the ,sabbath rule--but inwardly they have forgotten justice and mercy4 ,they all know that it is wrong to kill another ,jew4 ,but much more is required than that3 if you even hold a grudge against another person1 you have no right to pray to ,god4 ,the ,pharisees give much attention to small rules and forget the important things4 ,this seems so new1 said ,simon4 ,i don't understand very well4 ,i have only told you what ,moses and the ,prophets taught1 replied ,jesus4 ,the meaning of their words has been forgotten1 even though the ,pharisees talk about them a great deal4 ,but don't you think we are likely to get into trouble if we speak out like this in public8 urged ,andrew4 ,we can teach the people1 but ,i don't think we need to be so harsh with the ,pharisees and the elders of the synagogues4 ,we ought to be careful4 ,the ,pharisees are really good people and we must not offend them4 ,how can we preach the good news to the people if we do8 ,when we go to the synagogues1 ,i think it is much safer to keep quiet4 ,jesus watched the men listening to ,andrew and knew why they agreed4 ,he knew the inward emptiness of fear--fear of a future they could not know4 ,andrew was right2 their peril was increasing every day4 ,but ,jesus shook his head4 ,my followers1 he said1 do not think that ,i was sent to bring peace to this nation4 ,i came to bring strife4 ,it cannot be any other way4 ,men enter the ,kingdom of ,god only through conflict and pain4 ,when the disciples arrived in ,capernaum on the day after the ,sabbath1 they heard a report that dismayed them3 ,john the ,baptizer had been thrown into prison by ,king ,herod4 ,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 home4 ,the man's name was ,jacob4 ,andrew and ,john remembered him as one of the ,baptizer's most loyal disciples4 ,what made the king do it8 asked ,andrew4 ,john told the king he was doing wrong in the sight of ,god1 replied ,jacob4 ,john is no bolder than ,jesus1 thought ,andrew4 ,jacob added1 ,john himself told us just before he was taken prisoner that we should come to you4 ,andrew turned to ,jesus4 ,what will ,herod do to him8 ,there is no way to tell4 ,we must be prepared to hear the worst4 ,why did ,john send you to us8 ,simon asked ,jacob4 ,some of us went to him and told him that more people were following your ,master than were following him1 answered the man4 ,he just said to us3 ',didn't ,i tell you that ,i am not the ,christ8 ,i am glad that ,jesus has many followers4 ,he must grow even stronger1 and ,i must decrease4' ,when he was thrown into prison1 ,i came to you4 ,andrew looked at ,jesus and spoke the thought in the minds of them all3 ,if we go on proclaiming the gospel1 the same thing may happen to us4 ,jesus' answer was firm3 ,nothing must stand in our way4 ,we speak for ,god4 ,never before had the men felt the strength of ,jesus as they did now4 ,there was not a trace of fear in his actions4 ,he knew that their danger was increasing every day6 ,and he acted with such authority6 ,everything he said or did proved that he knew what he was about4 ,it was his certainty that convinced the people6 ,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 ,baptizer4 ,it did not take many hours for the report to spread through all ,capernaum that ,jesus was back in the city4 ,from every corner of the town came those needing help--not only the sick and lame1 but people of all kinds who were restless and dissatisfied4 ,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 all4 ,the porch roof shaded him4 ,he was about to raise his hand to quiet the people when ,andrew hurried to him4 ,master1 he whispered excitedly1 there are ,pharisees and their scribes outside4 ,well1 bring them in4 ,andrew was amazed4 ,but1 ,master1 some of them are from ,jerusalem6 ,jesus knew what that meant4 ,over the crowd he caught ,simon's eye4 ,the fisherman was worried4 ,from ,jerusalem6 ,simon was thinking4 ,they have come to see if what we are teaching is against the ,law of ,moses4 ,jesus realized that news of his preaching must have traveled to ,jerusalem4 ,he knew that officials of the ,pharisees would come to hear him personally4 ,he expected no friendliness from them2 but he was ready4 ,he glanced behind him4 ,there is room for them there4 ,bring them in4 ,andrew looked anxiously at ,jesus4 ,o ,master1 don't4444 ,jesus looked at him4 ,courage1 ,andrew6 ,make certain that they see and hear everything that happens4 ,people stepped back respectfully as the scribes and ,pharisees came in4 ,jesus paid no special attention4 ,he had turned to the people who stood before him4 ,i have been sent by ,god with news1 he began4 ,if you are poor1 you can be rich if you will humble your heart and trust ,god4 ,he saw a man covered with sores4 ,are you unclean8 he said1 looking at him4 ,god will accept you4 ,you are clean in his sight if your heart is turned toward him4 ,are you full of fears and worries8 ,come unto me1 all of you that are burdened in spirit1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,there were many outside the house who could not get in because there was no room4 ,among them were four men carrying a stretcher4 ,on it lay a man who was helpless from paralysis4 ,his body had wasted away to skin and bone4 ,his four friends had heard about ,jesus' power1 but now they stood in front of the house in dismay4 ,we can never get in1 said one4 ,there's no use waiting until they leave1 said another4 ,let's take him back1 said the first1 discouraged4 ,no indeed6 ,the others were determined4 ,i am sure he will be healed if we can just find some way to get through1 said one of them4 ,the fourth man was gazing at a staircase that led up to the roof of the house next to ,simon's home4 ,look6 ,why can't we get in that way8 ,in a moment the men had climbed the stairs and stepped across the narrow space that separated them from the roof of ,simon's house4 ,on the porch under them1 they could hear ,jesus talking4 ,it took about fifteen minutes to lift the tile from the porch roof1 tie ropes to the stretcher1 and lower the man toward ,jesus4 ,everybody stared as the paralyzed man slowly came to rest at the feet of ,jesus4 ,my son6 ,jesus' voice could be clearly heard in the hush of the courtyard4 ,your sins are forgiven4 ,the statement took everyone by surprise4 ,andrew saw a scribe whisper to a friend4 ,did you hear what he said8 remarked the scribe whom ,andrew was watching4 ,his friend nodded4 ,a woman who knew the sick man said3 ,is this man paralyzed because he sinned8 ,he was born this way1 wasn't he8 ,he has been a very good man1 answered her husband4 ,jesus turned to the scribes and ,pharisees4 ,why are you wondering about what ,i said8 ,tell me which is easier1 to say to this man1 ',your sins are forgiven1' or to say1 ',rise1 take up your pallet and walk'8 ,none tried to speak4 ,then ,jesus said1 ',but that you may know that the ,son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins'--he turned to the sick man--,get up6 ,pick up your bed and carry it away6 ,strength surged into the wasted frame of the paralytic4 ,he rose and did as ,jesus told him4 ,a whisper ran over the crowd4 ,the ,pharisees and scribes sat silent4 ,watching them carefully1 ,simon saw that they were puzzled4 ,an elderly man1 who appeared to be a leader1 whispered to a friend1 ,he actually claims to forgive sin6 ,god alone can do that4 ,the ,pharisees and scribes rose to leave4 ,they walked through the crowd without looking at the people4 ,when they were outside1 the elderly leader shook his head very gravely4 ,i had hoped this man would be a friend of the ,law1 but ,i am afraid he is not4 ',your sins are forgiven6' ,what a blasphemous thing for a man to dare to say6 ,illustration #f4 ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,the ,,new ,rabbi1 it is a serious mistake for us to mix with outcasts6 ,simon was disturbed4 ,jesus had summoned a tax collector named ,levi to follow him4 ,on this night the tax collector had asked ,jesus and his disciples to come to his home for dinner4 ,i know that ,levi is different now1 protested ,simon1 but we ought not to get mixed up with his old cronies4 ,we should take him away from that class of people6 ,jesus came straight to the point4 ,don't you want to eat at ,levi's home at all8 ,no6 ,simon answered bluntly4 ,after all1 look who he is6 ,a taxgatherer6 ,a traitor to our nation6 ,for my part1 ,i want nothing to do with him4 ,simon realized that his tone was not respectful4 ,i am thinking of our work1 ,master4 ,people will not listen to us if we eat with those men4 ,the best people will look down on us6 ,levi has sinned1 answered ,jesus4 ,that is why we called him to join us4 ,his friends have sinned4 ,we are going to eat with them because they need help4 ,and do not forget1 ,simon1 you will be judged by the same measuring stick that you use on ,levi's friends4 ,i am far from perfect4 ,rabbi1 persisted ,simon1 but ,i try to obey the ,law4 ,his tone became bitter4 ,anyway1 ,i never worked for ,king ,herod6 ,i cannot stand the idea of sitting down at the same table with tax collectors4 ,it might as well be a gang of robbers6 ,simon1 said ,jesus sternly1 before you start looking for the sliver in ,levi's eye you had better dig the tree trunk out of your own4 ,strongly rebuked1 ,simon consented to eat with ,levi and his friends1 but he was very unwilling4 ,the next day two close friends of ,symeon1 the most respected citizen of ,capernaum1 stopped to visit him4 ,the report of what ,jesus had done came up4 ,what ,i cannot understand1 remarked ,symeon1 a dignified man of about sixty1 is how a man who wants to teach religion can actually associate with such people4 ,for that matter1 replied one of his friends1 look at the men who follow him4 ,they are very common people--fishermen1 this tax collector1 and such like--not a ,pharisee among them4 ,not one of them takes religion seriously4 ,and yet ,i have heard this ,nazarene myself1 continued ,symeon4 ,he says many things that show he knows the ,law very well4 ,he knows he should not eat with people like that ,levi6 ,did you hear about the healing at the fisherman's house the other day8 inquired the younger of the two visiting ,pharisees4 ,some men put a paralytic in front of the ,nazarene while he was teaching4 ,the first thing he said was1 ',your sins are forgiven4' ,the others nodded4 ,the puzzling thing is that this young teacher seems very sincere1 said ,symeon4 ,he really knows a great deal--and no one can deny that he has great power4 ,the people go out to hear him everywhere4 ,i want to find out his purpose4 ,i have a suggestion that may help us see what he is trying to do4 ,the other men looked up4 ,you may think this is going a little too far1 but ,i should like to ask him to come to my house4 ,but he is not a keeper of the ,law6 protested the young ,pharisee4 ,we should be as bad as he is1 if we were to eat with him4 ,symeon nodded4 ,i realize that it will not be easy for you1 but ,i think we should do it4 ,if there is something good in this ,nazarene1 we should know it4 ,if he is up to mischief4444 ,anyhow1 ,i don't see how we can understand him unless we talk to him4 ,the others said nothing1 and ,symeon took their silence for consent4 ,of course1 he added1 we will not invite the others--the fishermen and that tax collector4 ,that would be too much6 ,but ,i think it would be all right to have the ,nazarene here just once4 ,when ,jesus told the disciples that he was going to the home of ,symeon1 ,andrew was pleased4 ,i guess we have not offended the ,pharisees too badly after all1 he exclaimed enthusiastically4 ,simon too was relieved4 ,i hope4 ,master1 he said1 that you will explain why we ate with ,levi4 ,jesus said very little4 ,it was natural for fishermen and workers to want the approval of the most respected citizens of ,capernaum4 ,yet ,jesus knew how little the ,pharisees cared for people like his own disciples4 ,there were many guests in ,symeon's home1 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 enter4 ,during the meal1 both friends and strangers continued to come into the room1 but ,symeon was listening intently to ,jesus as they conversed about religion4 ,the men who obeyed ,god in past times were not the rich and the powerful1 ,jesus was saying4 ,very often our nation has listened to ,god's voice only after defeat in war4 ,when men know they are weak1 they turn to ,god4 ,is this your purpose in going about and preaching to the people of ,galilee8 asked ,symeon4 ,everyone listened for the answer4 ,i am sent to tell our people that ,god is their rightful ,king4 ,his power is present among us1 answered ,jesus plainly4 ,but most of you will not take my message seriously4 ,you trust other gods1 and your hearts are hard4 ,the ,pharisees looked at one another4 ,some were puzzled1 others offended4 ,but surely you misunderstand us4 ,we keep the ,law very carefully1 said ,symeon4 ,if you are really a teacher sent from ,god1 how can you mix with outcasts8 ,the young ,pharisee's question was blunt4 ,i am not here to call the righteous to repent1 answered ,jesus1 his eyes accusing the young man4 ,i am here to call sinners6 ,irony came into his voice4 ,people who are healthy don't need a doctor4 ,it is the sick who need help4 ,it is to them that ,i am sent4 ,the room was tense1 but before anyone could ask another question1 ,symeon's attention was drawn away4 ,he glanced around the room4 ,it sounded as though someone were weeping6 ,he examined the shadowy corners where the light of the candles did not reach4 ,at that moment a woman stepped swiftly toward ,jesus and dropped to her knees4 ,jesus turned and looked at her4 ,he had not known she was hiding in the darkness behind him4 ,her tears fell on his feet4 ,she loosed the cord that tied her hair4 ,with its long waves she gently wiped ,jesus' feet4 ,symeon1 usually dignified1 was irritated4 ,what kind of nonsense is this8 he asked as he rose from his couch4 ,jesus turned to him4 ,do not rebuke her1 he requested4 ,that is the trouble with leaving the door open1 thought ,symeon4 ,women like this are bound to get in4 ,everyone there knew her4 ,she had a bad reputation in the city4 ,symeon felt humiliated to have such a person in his house4 ,this ,nazarene certainly knows all the worst people1 reflected the young ,pharisee cynically4 ,suddenly a lovely fragrance filled the room4 ,the woman had broken open a bottle of precious perfume and recklessly poured every drop on ,jesus' feet4 ,such waste6 thought ,symeon angrily1 realizing what she had done4 ,i wonder if the ,nazarene has any idea where she got the money to buy this oil6 ,but he said nothing because he was very polite4 ,jesus turned to his host4 ,symeon1 he said1 ,i have something to say to you4 ,what is it1 ,teacher8 asked the ,pharisee4 ,there was once a man who loaned money1 said ,jesus4 ,one of his debtors owed him two hundred and fifty dollars2 another owed him twenty-five dollars4 ,the guests were listening closely4 ,neither of these men could pay back the money1 so the lender said to both of them3 ',i forgive you your debts4 ,you don't need to pay me back at all4' ,he paused and then asked1 ,now which of these two men would be more grateful8 ,why1 naturally1 the man who owed more money would be more grateful1 replied ,symeon without hesitating4 ,right6 said ,jesus4 ,when ,i came into your house you didn't even offer to wash my feet--and everyone does that for his guest6 ,but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair6 ,you didn't welcome me with a kiss--and everyone greets his guest that way6 ,he pointed to the woman4 ,but she has been kissing my feet4 ,you didn't anoint my head with oil--and everyone does that for his guest6 ,but this woman has poured precious perfume on my feet6 ,jesus' voice was quiet1 but all the ,pharisees could sense the force of his words when he said3 ,she has committed many sins1 but they are all forgiven and now her heart is full of love4 ,then ,jesus spoke directly to ,symeon and each word seemed to strike him like a blow4 ,but a man whose sins are not forgiven has no love in his heart4 ,then he said very gently to the woman1 ,your sins are forgiven4 ,symeon's face burned hot4 ,never had anyone spoken like this to him6 ,he was troubled by the suggestion that he was a sinner4 ,all his life he had done his best to obey the ,law4 ,had he not always prided himself on his good actions8 ,hurt and confused1 ,symeon heard a friend beside him whisper1 ,did you hear him say that this woman's sins are forgiven8 ,abruptly ,symeon looked up at the man4 ,he was right6 ,it was an outrage for anyone to say such a thing as this6 ,you have no reason to be sorrowful1 ,jesus was saying to the woman4 ,your faith has saved you4 ,symeon stood up1 his shame forgotten4 ,why had he ever let this person disturb him8 ,anyone who talked this way was a heretic and a blasphemer1 nothing better6 ,only ,god could forgive sin4 ,they all knew the truth about this ,jesus now3 such a man was dangerous to all true religion4 ,as a ,pharisee who loved the ,law1 he would have to do all he could to keep him from deceiving the people4 ,jesus said nothing to the disciples about the events of the evening in ,symeon's house4 ,but two days later1 while buying food1 ,andrew and ,john heard a rumor which they discovered later came from ,symeon4 ,should we tell the ,master8 wondered ,john4 ,we must4 ,andrew was positive4 ,they made a quick trip to ,simon's home1 left their food1 and hurried out to the shore of the lake4 ,as usual1 a large group of listeners surrounded ,jesus4 ,we shall have to wait until we can talk to him alone1 said ,andrew4 ,a man whom the disciples had never seen before was questioning ,jesus4 ,rabbi1 why do the ,pharisees and the followers of ,john the ,baptizer fast while your disciples pay no attention to the fasting rule8 ,andrew and ,john exchanged startled glances2 this was it6 ,jesus answered very clearly4 ,tell me1 he asked1 do the friends of people who are getting married fast on the wedding day8 ,of course not4 ,that is a time for rejoicing1 not fasting4 ,right1 answered ,jesus4 ,while the bridegroom is with his friends they are not sorrowful4 ,but a time comes when he leaves them4 ,there is time enough then to fast4 ,but1 ,rabbi1 protested the man1 the ,pharisees say it is a serious sin not to fast4 ,listen to what ,i say1 said ,jesus4 ,if you have an old coat with a hole in it1 do you patch it with a brand-new piece of cloth8 ,no1 of course not4 ,why not8 asked ,jesus4 ,as soon as the new piece is wet by the rain1 answered a woman very quickly1 it shrinks and tears the cloth of the old coat4 ,jesus said1 ,if you try to add something new to the old1 the new destroys the old1 doesn't it8 ,what do you mean by that8 asked the first man after a moment's thought4 ,listen again4 ,when you make new wine1 do you pour it right into a dry1 stiff wineskin that has been used before8 ,the people stored wine in whole goatskins1 tied up tightly at the legs and neck4 ,of course not4 ,why not8 ,because as soon as the wine begins to ferment it stretches the skin tight4 ,new wine is powerful enough to rip an old bag to pieces6 ,do you understand now what ,i am telling you8 asked ,jesus4 ,never try to put new wine in old skins4 ,the old cannot hold the new4 ,the gospel of the ,kingdom of ,god asks you to do much more than just keep the fasts4 ,the ,pharisees don't say that1 said the man doubtfully4 ,i don't know who is right4 ,it is a serious thing not to keep the ,law of ,moses4 ,do you know what you remind me of8 ,jesus said4 ,i saw some children in the market this morning who couldn't decide what they wanted to do4 ,some wanted to play that they were at a wedding2 others1 that they were at a funeral4 ,when they piped wedding music1 the ones who wanted a funeral wouldn't dance4 ,and when they piped funeral music1 the others quit4 ,it was impossible to please them all4 ,you and your teachers are like children who are never satisfied4 ,john the ,baptizer came and fasted often--and you said he had a demon4 ,now ,i come eating and drinking like other men and you call me a glutton and a drunkard4 ,you accuse me of being friendly with tax collectors and other sinners4 ,but what we do will prove to be right6 ,when the crowd broke up1 ,andrew and ,john walked back to ,capernaum with ,jesus4 ,someone had been talking to the man who asked that question1 declared ,andrew4 ,yes1 ,i know1 answered ,jesus4 ,we must expect the ,pharisees to criticize us4 ,how careful they are to keep every little command of the rabbis--but justice1 mercy1 and kindness they forget4 ,they would strain a gnat out of their soup and swallow a camel whole6 ,the disciples had to smile at the way ,jesus put it4 ,they cannot understand what we are saying4 ,we offend them--and when you offend men who take their religion very seriously1 you must be ready for real trouble6 ,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 life4 ,jesus had traveled to a small town near ,capernaum where he had not been before and so he was invited to speak in the synagogue4 ,several ,pharisees were present and very much interested in what ,jesus said4 ,they seemed friendly1 and after the service went walking with ,jesus and a few other people who clustered around ,jesus4 ,the group passed through a field of grain outside the town4 ,james and ,levi were hungry1 so they pulled the tops off some wheatstalks4 ,they rubbed the heads of wheat in their hands and blew away the chaff4 ,the ,pharisees seemed offended by this1 but at first they said nothing4 ,other people saw what the disciples were doing1 and they plucked wheat too4 ,the ,pharisees became more and more disturbed and finally could keep back their protests no longer4 ,they came to ,jesus4 ,rabbi1 we noticed that some of the men here were pulling wheat1 one of them said tactfully4 ,jesus said3 ,they are hungry4 ,it is all right for them to pick wheat1 isn't it8 ,the scribes say it is all right to pick single grains4 ,rabbi1 they replied1 but these men are rubbing out whole stalks1 and that is against the ,sabbath rule4 ,they were sure that ,jesus understood4 ,have you not read in the ,bible that ,david and his warriors took bread off the sacred table in the ,tabernacle when they were hungry8 asked ,jesus4 ,that was against the rule of ,moses--but ,david did it6 ,the ,pharisees were dumfounded4 ,the first almost stammered as he asked1 ,what do you mean8 ,i mean that if there was a higher law for ,david there may also be a higher law for me and my disciples1 answered ,jesus plainly4 ,but 444 but we do not understand1 faltered the ,pharisee4 ,you cannot set aside a law4 ,no one can4 ,that is impossible4 ,it is part of our religion4 ,whoever pays no attention to the ,law is an outcast and a sinner4 ,the ,sabbath was made for man1 not man for the ,sabbath1 replied ,jesus4 ,the ,son of ,man is lord of the ,sabbath4 ,the older ,pharisee frowned and then flushed red4 ,the muscles in his neck tightened as he looked at ,jesus4 ,you dare to say such things6 he burst out4 ,you do not belong to us4 ,you are an enemy of ,god6 ,all the way back to ,capernaum the disciples talked about what had happened in the wheat field4 ,they just keep watching us to see if we do anything wrong6 protested ,james4 ,personally1 ,i don't think they even understand what we are doing1 ventured ,andrew4 ,they never listen to what we say4 ,they act as though they knew everything about religion4 ,yes1 their kind of religion1 remarked ,james indignantly4 ,they won't even speak to a leper6 ,who is going to go out among the people of our towns and let them know that ,god cares for them8 ,their religion is just for themselves6 ,jesus is the only one who cares about the outcasts1 said ,simon earnestly4 ,no one else does4 ,symeon hoped that ,jesus would do something that would prove to everyone that he did not believe in ,god4 ,the thought that ,jesus might win the people over to himself struck panic into ,symeon's heart4 ,if that should happen1 something desperate might have to be done4 ,meanwhile1 however1 he and a few others who knew how dangerous ,jesus was had decided to wait4 ,on the next ,sabbath ,day1 the whole matter came out into the open4 ,as usual1 most of the ,jews in ,capernaum--common people and ,pharisees1 along with ,jesus and the disciples--came to the synagogue at the hour of worship4 ,the moment ,simon and ,andrew entered they saw that there would be trouble3 there was a man present with an arm made lame from dropsy--and they knew ,jesus would surely heal him if he asked4 ,the synagogue was crowded4 ,the people bowed respectfully as ,symeon and the leading men of the town entered1 but they smiled when they had passed3 ,jesus was there1 and they too had seen the man with the lame arm4 ,do you think he would dare to heal him8 one of the ,pharisees whispered to ,symeon4 ,i hardly believe he will1 replied ,symeon4 ,to break the ,sabbath law right in the synagogue would be a direct attack on religion4 ,at that moment the lame man went to where ,jesus sat4 ,instantly the room was quiet4 ,everyone knew the charge against ,jesus3 that he broke the ,law of ,god deliberately4 ,jesus looked at the man and said1 ,will you come with me8 ,he led the man to the front of the synagogue where he could speak to the elders and ,pharisees4 ,i ask you1 demanded ,jesus1 is it right to help or to hurt on the ,sabbath ,day8 ,should one save a life8 ,the men said nothing4 ,is there a single one of you that would leave a sheep in a ditch all day long if it fell in on ,sabbath morning8 ,everyone knew the rule3 ,a farmer was permitted to save a sheep on the ,sabbath4 ,well1 isn't a man worth more than a sheep8 ,the question was clear to every listener3 ,which was more important1 the ,sabbath rule or this man's need8 ,simon smiled1 but the ,pharisees felt differently4 ,symeon could hardly contain himself4 ,he wanted to rise up and cry out to everyone that these were trick questions2 that this bold ,nazarene was trying to tear down the sacred ,law of ,god himself2 that religion itself would be destroyed if he succeeded4 ,but he sat still and said nothing4 ,jesus turned to the man4 ,stretch out your arm1 he said gently4 ,the instant the man obeyed1 his withered arm became as strong as the other4 ,a murmur of awe went over the congregation4 ,symeon rose and strode out of the synagogue1 followed by the religious officials of ,capernaum4 ,outside1 ,symeon turned to the others and declared firmly3 ,we must save our holy religion at all costs4 ,he has won over the people with his trickery1 but ,god is on our side6 ,we must go to ,king ,herod and ask him to help us put this man out of the way6 ,illustration #g4 ,,missionaries ,,of ,,the ,,kingdom ,it took less than a week for the report that ,jesus had defied the ,pharisees to spread throughout all ,galilee4 ,those who most welcomed the news were the ,zealots4 ,for a long time1 they had been plotting to rebel against the ,romans1 but so far had found no plan that promised to be successful4 ,they believed that ,jesus was the leader for whom they had been waiting so long4 ,he was brave4 ,he stood up to the officials4 ,he was popular with the common people4 ,one of their leaders decided to find out what ,jesus intended to do4 ,his name was ,simon4 ,well known in ,galilee for his courage1 everyone called him the ,zealot4 ,he made a special trip to ,capernaum that same week and came to ,simon's home4 ,before the week was past he became a follower of ,jesus4 ,but there were many things he found it hard to understand4 ,tell me1 he asked ,simon and ,james privately1 does the ,rabbi intend to set up the new kingdom now8 ,simon was cautious4 ,the ,master has said nothing about that4 ,the ,zealot glanced about to make sure that the door and shutters were tightly closed4 ,do you not know that he could easily persuade the people to revolt against ,herod8 ,james was alarmed4 ,but we're not ready for that yet4 ,simon gave him a warning glance4 ,he still mistrusted this man4 ,we plan to tell everyone in this country our message1 he said guardedly4 ,if you are going to establish a free ,jewish nation1 you must do more than talk1 declared the ,zealot4 ,you should organize6 ,the fishermen looked at each other1 doubting how much they should say4 ,finally ,james said vaguely1 ,we think it won't be much longer4 ,why can't we do something definite about it8 said the ,zealot4 ,do you really think he could be king of the ,jews8 asked ,james4 ,i'm certain of it6 replied the ,zealot4 ,my people would follow him to a man6 ,james looked inquiringly at ,simon4 ,i think most of the people would be favorable1 don't you8 ,simon shook his head doubtfully4 ,we ought to see what the ,master thinks4 ,king ,herod has many ,roman soldiers under his command6 ,listen1 ,simon1 argued ,james4 ,the ,master has spent plenty of time teaching already4 ,everyone in ,galilee has heard about the kingdom4 ,simon didn't reply4 ,he intends to fight eventually1 continued ,james4 ,didn't he say he came to bring conflict and not peace8 ,i think it is about time to stop talking and get to work6 ,simon stared at the ground4 ,well1 one thing is sure1 he admitted4 ,the ,pharisees are all against us4 ,they will keep us out of the synagogues4 ,that is exactly why ,i think ,jesus should openly declare himself king1 affirmed the ,zealot strongly4 ,it is time to go forward6 ,jesus had told the disciples to wait for him in ,capernaum and had gone to the hills for prayer4 ,he knew his work had reached a turning point4 ,for several days he remained alone1 praying and seeking wisdom from ,god4 ,when he returned to ,capernaum1 he called the disciples together4 ,my followers1 he said gravely1 when they were gathered about him1 many times ,i have told you that the ,kingdom of ,god cannot come without suffering4 ,men who hate truth hate anyone who speaks the truth4 ,the men knew ,jesus had made a decision4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god has been proclaimed only in ,galilee1 he continued4 ,the time has now come to carry the news to all ,palestine6 ,that means ,judea6 thought ,james and ,john at the same time4 ,in ,jerusalem the priests and ,pharisees were strongest4 ,rulers will show us no mercy1 said ,jesus4 ,god is our only ,source of strength4 ,we must tell the gospel in every village and countryside4 ,we must not miss a single ,jew4 ,you are to be my missionaries to this nation6 ,the men stirred and glanced at one another4 ,the ,zealot vigorously nodded his approval4 ,no hiding in the hills for them2 they were going forward6 ,fear mixed with eagerness sent chills through them4 ,jesus rose and stood facing ,simon1 who went to his knees before him4 ,jesus laid his hand on ,simon's head and1 lifting up his eyes1 prayed for him4 ,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 undertake4 ,one by one1 ,jesus blessed each of the twelve men4 ,he knew them better than they knew themselves and he prayed simply and frankly for each one4 ,awe filled them as they listened4 ,the work was so great1 and they were so weak6 ,they were to teach and heal as ,jesus himself had been doing6 ,a new spirit gripped them4 ,shall we too be able to drive out demons and raise the dead1 ,master8 asked ,simon4 ,the power of the ,kingdom is yours1 declared ,jesus4 ,you have both the right and the power to destroy evil wherever you find it--whether demons1 sickness1 or spiritual blindness4 ,then he gave them instructions for the journey that lay before them4 ,you are to travel two by two4 ,preach only to ,jews1 not to ,samaritans or gentiles1 for the time is short4 ,your work is to seek everywhere the lost sheep of the people of ,israel4 ,return when this is done4 ,take only a walking stick and one pair of sandals--neither food nor money nor extra clothes4 ,how shall we live1 ,master8 ,where shall we stay8 asked ,simon4 ,when you come to a strange town1 find someone who will open his home to you while you work there1 answered ,jesus4 ,once you have decided with whom you will stay1 do not change4 ,hold fast to your first friend4 ,what if no one will take us in8 asked ,andrew4 ,if you find no one who will help you1 leave that town immediately1 answered ,jesus4 ,god will judge any town that will not hear your message4 ,this is your gospel3 ,tell all ,jews that ,god has come among us4 ,tell them that his power is right now at work4 ,tell them that he is the ruler of all who trust him4 ,warn them to repent and turn to him now4 ,the disciples realized that they would have to face the people without ,jesus4 ,i am sending you out like sheep among wolves1 warned ,jesus4 ,you will be persecuted4 ,never put your trust in persons in high positions1 for they will betray you4 ,if you are put in prison and brought into court1 do not be anxious about what you should say4 ,the spirit of ,god your ,father will help you1 and everyone who hears you will learn the good news that ,god's ,kingdom has come4 ,master1 how shall we ever have strength to do it8 burst out ,andrew4 ,do not be afraid6 ,jesus was standing now1 ready to bid them farewell4 ,god has given you his own power4 ,you carry news of eternal life2 you are doing the work of ,god's ,kingdom6 ,a few days later1 one of the ,twelve visited ,nazareth4 ,he saw the mother and brothers of ,jesus and told them how ,jesus was sending missionaries of the ,kingdom to every village in ,palestine4 ,mary was at once fearful4 ,that will put him in great danger1 she said nervously4 ,he has already made a big enough fool of himself1 remarked one of her sons rudely4 ,he was a strong young fellow about twenty-five4 ,the trouble with him is that people make too much of him4 ,don't speak that way1 ,jude1 protested ,mary4 ,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 mind4 ,bah6 ,the only trouble with him is that popularity has gone to his head6 ,what should ,i do1 ,jude8 asked ,mary4 ,he is bound to get into some kind of trouble if he goes on like this4 ,oh1 ,i don't know4 ,jude wished his mother would stop worrying4 ,perhaps we can make him come home4 ,mary snatched at the suggestion4 ,let us go to him right away4 ,she prepared hastily for the trip1 greatly relieved to be doing something about her strange son ,jesus4 ,upon arriving at ,capernaum1 ,mary and ,jude went directly to the home of ,simon where they knew ,jesus stayed4 ,they found the courtyard crowded4 ,mary was dismayed4 ,don't worry1 said ,jude4 ,he will come when ,i tell him you are here waiting for him4 ,he began to shove through the tightly packed people4 ,there were angry murmurs1 but ,jude paid no attention4 ,as he got farther into the courtyard he could hear a man shouting angrily4 ,that's not ,jesus' voice1 he thought4 ,finally he reached a place where he could see his brother4 ,behind ,jesus stood some of the disciples who had already returned from their mission4 ,all around him were sick and lame people1 but he was not healing them4 ,he was standing silently before the man whose harsh voice ,jude had heard4 ,the man was completely out of control of himself4 ,jude couldn't see why he was so angry1 but he thought this must have been going on for some time4 ,who is the angry one8 he asked a bystander4 ,some scribe4 ,the scribe had almost run out of breath1 but ,jesus still said nothing4 ,irritated by ,jesus' silence1 he threw a final accusation at him4 ,you false prophet6 ,you are a complete fake6 ,a man in the crowd suddenly cried out3 ,he is not false6 ,he tells us the truth as no man ever did4 ,he has brought healing to many1 added another4 ,how could he do that if he were not sent from ,god8 ,others nodded4 ,the angry scribe turned on the man4 ,many magicians can heal and drive out demons6 ,i can show you a hundred right here in ,galilee who can do anything he can6 ,bah6 ,this prophet of yours is a fake6 ,the man did not know what to answer4 ,i'll tell you why he can drive out demons1 snapped the enraged scribe4 ,i'll tell you6 ,the prince of all demons has got hold of him6 ,that's why he can do it6 ,scornfully he drove home his point4 ,why shouldn't he be stronger than the demons8 ,he is possessed by ,satan himself4 ,simon flushed4 ,the charge was crude and ridiculous4 ,he opened his mouth to deny it1 but he realized he could not4 ,how could he prove the scribe wrong8 ,simon's anger turned to shame4 ,jesus' voice was calm and controlled1 when at last he spoke4 ,would ,satan cast out his own helpers8 he asked the man1 coolly4 ,there was a touch of sarcasm in his voice4 ,a nation divided within itself will fall6 ,has ,satan risen up against himself and given me power to destroy his own power over men8 ,jude was amazed at the power of his brother's words4 ,this did not sound as though he were out of his mind6 ,jesus did not give the scribe a chance to reply4 ,no6 he declared1 speaking now to all the people4 ,i have no demon4 ,no one can enter a man's house and take his property without first binding the owner with ropes4 ,i have power to cast out demons because ,i have overcome the prince of all evil6 ,the answer could not be denied4 ,looking sternly at the scribe1 ,jesus said3 ,i tell you1 men will be forgiven all their sins and blasphemies except one3 ,if you harden yourself against the ,holy ,spirit1 you commit eternal sin6 ,jesus then raised his voice4 ,by the very finger of ,god ,i cast out demons--and because ,i have overcome the evil one himself1 ,god is now ruling among you6 ,an excited woman cried out1 ,how fortunate your mother is to have such a son6 ,the person who is truly fortunate is the one who hears and believes the ,word of ,god1 answered ,jesus quickly4 ,jude looked at the woman startled4 ,she had said his mother was fortunate--but to ,mary ,jesus was a great worry6 ,remembering why he had come1 ,jude began to push his way toward ,jesus4 ,when finally he could get no farther1 he touched the shoulder of a man ahead of him4 ,would you tell the ,rabbi that his mother and brothers want to see him outside8 ,when the man delivered the message to ,jesus1 the disciples stepped forward and started to clear a path1 but ,jesus put out his hand and stopped them4 ,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 courtyard4 ,who is my mother1 and who are my brothers8 ,the words were gentle1 very different from his tone a moment before4 ,i tell you1 you are my mother and my brothers6 ,anyone who does the will of ,god is my brother1 my sister1 my mother6 ,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 family4 ,anyone who thinks more of his own mother1 wife1 or child1 than he does of the ,kingdom cannot be my disciple4 ,master1 we have given up everything to follow you1 said ,simon4 ,you may have to give even your life1 ,simon1 answered ,jesus4 ,yet great is your reward in heaven4 ,jude pushed his way out of the courtyard4 ,the first thing he said to his mother was1 ,jesus seems like another person4 ,despair darkened ,mary's expression4 ,do you mean that what the people are saying about him is true8 she asked4 ,no1 no4 ,i didn't mean that1 ,jude said quickly4 ,he is different in another way4 ,he is 444 he is not like us any more4 ,he tried to describe ,jesus but could not4 ,well1 what happened8 ,mary was relieved but puzzled4 ,what did he do8 ,jude then told her all that he had seen from the moment he had entered the courtyard4 ,she listened1 wondering at the son who had left her home only a few months before4 ,when ,jude finished she turned to leave4 ,wait1 mother6 said ,jude4 ,don't you want to see him8 ,there is no reason for us to see him1 my son1 replied ,mary quietly4 ,he doesn't need us to care for him4 ,this is ,god's work that he is doing4 ,that same day ,mary returned to ,nazareth1 filled with wonder at the things that had happened4 ,not only ,mary but the disciples too were amazed at ,jesus' power4 ,even the ,zealot1 the most eager to start spreading the news of the ,kingdom1 saw how much he needed to learn before attempting to do ,jesus' work4 ,at the table that evening1 ,simon spoke the feeling of them all4 ,master1 how shall we ever be strong enough to be your missionaries8 ,whoever knows ,god1 lives by his power1 ,simon1 answered ,jesus4 ,the evil one does not rule such men4 ,but ,i believe in ,god1 ,master1 said ,simon4 ,yet ,i cannot heal anyone4 ,he paused and then added in a tone of despair1 ,i could never have answered that scribe6 ,simon1 if you had real faith in ,god--even a tiny grain--you would be able to do great things4 ,i have prayed many times and still ,i do not have the strength1 said ,simon humbly4 ,listen to me1 said ,jesus4 ,suppose you were to go to a friend's house late at night and say3 ',friend1 will you lend me three loaves of bread8 ,a visitor has arrived unexpectedly and ,i am out of food4' ,suppose he were to answer3 ',don't bother me4 ,i'm in bed and the door is locked4 ,i can't get up4' ,what would you do8 ,after a pause1 ,john answered1 ,why1 you just keep on knocking until he does get up6 ,the disciples smiled4 ,true6 said ,jesus4 ,he may not get up because of friendliness1 but if you keep on knocking1 he'll give you the bread just to get rid of you6 ,but ,god is your friend6 ,will he not give you what you ask8 ,but you must not grow weary in asking4 ,in a certain town1 he continued1 there was a very unfair judge4 ,he didn't care about anyone4 ,there was a poor widow in that town who was being mistreated4 ,again and again she went to the judge and asked him to help her--but he never paid any attention4 ,finally he said to himself3 ',i don't care about this woman1 but she is becoming a nuisance4 ,perhaps if ,i give her what she wants she will stop pestering me4' ,jesus said very emphatically1 ,if this wicked man finally helped a widow because she kept on asking for justice1 won't ,god1 who is good and just1 answer you if you pray sincerely8 ,simon saw how little real faith he had in spite of all his praying4 ,how often he had thought to himself4 ,now ,i'll pray and see what happens4 ,he had been testing ,god1 not trusting him6 ,o ,master1 he urged1 won't you teach us to pray as ,john the ,baptizer taught his disciples8 ,when you pray1 say3 ',our ,father in heaven1 holy be thy name4 ,thy ,kingdom come1 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven4' ,most of the time1 the disciples had to admit1 they thought only of persuading ,god to do what they wanted4 ,ask your ,heavenly ,father1 ',give us today the food we will need to do our work tomorrow1' said ,jesus4 ,anyone who serves ,god trusts him for all things he needs day by day4 ,then you must ask ,god to forgive you your sins4 ,but if you are not willing to forgive others1 do not think for one moment that ,god will forgive you4 ,master1 how often shall someone sin against me and ,i go on forgiving him8 asked ,peter4 ,seven times8 ,not seven times1 ,peter1 but seventy times seven4 ,jesus paused and then went on4 ,the ,kingdom of ,heaven is like a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants4 ,the king ordered one man1 with his wife and children1 to be sold into slavery1 and all his possessions sold for cash so that the debt could be met4 ,the servant fell on his knees and begged1 ',master have patience with me and ,i will pay you every penny4' ,out of pity1 the king released him and forgave him the whole debt4 ,on his way home1 the servant met a fellow servant who owed him a very small sum of money4 ,he grabbed the poor fellow by the throat and demanded1 ',you pay me what you owe me6' ,the man fell on his knees and begged1 ',have patience with me and ,i will pay you4' ,but he refused4 ,instead1 he put him into prison until the debt should be paid4 ,the other servants saw how unfair this was and they told the king what had happened4 ,the king called for the unjust servant and said3 ',you wicked servant6 ,when you asked1 ,i forgave you all that you owed me--should you not have been merciful to your fellow servant1 as ,i was merciful to you8' ,very angry1 the king threw the unjust man into jail to remain there until his whole debt was paid4 ,neither can you be forgiven1 concluded ,jesus1 unless you forgive others from your heart4 ,after a moment ,john said3 ,do you really think ,god pays attention to us4 ,master8 ,he seems so far away4 ,oh1 ,i know he watches over the nation--but ,i am not sure he cares what happens to me6 ,jesus nodded toward ,simon4 ,simon loves his children1 he said4 ,simon1 if your little son should ask you for a piece of bread1 would you give him a rock to eat8 ,or if he asked for a broiled fish1 would you give him a poisonous snake instead8 ,or if he asked for an egg1 would you give him a scorpion with a deadly stinger8 ,no1 of course not6 exclaimed ,simon4 ,well1 then1 if you can do that much for your children1 do you not think that ,god will do far more for those who trust him8 ,jesus lifted his arms to pray4 ,it seemed to ,simon that ,jesus was praying specially for him when he asked the ,heavenly ,father to send the ,holy ,spirit upon them all4 ,as they left the place of prayer1 ,simon and ,andrew dropped behind the others4 ,what ,i cannot understand1 said ,andrew1 is how he knows all these things4 ,where did he learn it all8 ,it is strange1 agreed ,simon4 ,you would almost think he came down from heaven1 wouldn't you8 ,illustration #h4 ,,he ,,is ,,more ,,than ,a ,,teacher ,far away to the south1 ,john the ,baptizer was imprisoned in ,king ,herod's fortress at ,machaerus4 ,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 beyond4 ,he did not expect to lie in this dungeon long4 ,at any moment the ,day of ,judgment might come2 ,god would send hosts of angels to punish wrongdoers and to reward his faithful servants4 ,john listened intently to the news that his followers brought about ,jesus4 ,they told him all that ,jesus did3 his demand that all men should repent2 the new teaching about the ,kingdom of ,god which was the talk of men everywhere4 ,john was amazed at the power ,jesus had to heal many sick people2 he was glad when he heard that ,jesus was not afraid of the ,pharisees4 ,but as days passed1 doubts began to creep into the ,baptizer's mind4 ,could ,god have chosen this man to deliver ,his people8 ,john could not understand why the deliverance did not come4 ,jesus was training only a handful of disciples to preach4 ,it would take more than that to bring ,god's great day4 ,at last the ,prophet sent two messengers to ,jesus4 ,our ,prophet1 ,john the ,baptizer1 has sent us to ask a question1 said the leader4 ,are you the ,one whom ,god has sent to judge the wicked and justify the faithful8 ,this very question was stirring in the minds of the disciples4 ,why did ,jesus not tell them plainly who he was8 ,are you the ,messiah of ,god8 repeated the man4 ,or should we look for someone else8 ,you know what ,i teach1 answered ,jesus4 ,you have heard about the things that ,i do4 ,go back to ,john and tell him that the eyes of the blind are opened2 the lame walk2 lepers are cleansed--the good news that ,god is present among men is declared to everyone who will listen4 ,but1 ,rabbi1 said the puzzled leader1 what shall we tell the ,prophet8 ,are you truly the ,messiah8 ,how do you expect to know the ,messiah8 asked ,jesus4 ,what will he do that you will recognize him8 ,the men did not answer4 ,isaiah the ,prophet said3 ',here is my servant1 my ,chosen ,one4 ,he will not be loud and noisy3 ,he will not raise a great shout in public4 ,he will not break a bent sapling or even blow out the tiniest lamp flame6' ,the followers of ,john murmured to themselves4 ,the ,messiah--coming silently8444 ,you say he won't even break a twig8 ,the ideas seemed to escape them1 slipping away as soon as they were spoken4 ,andrew was distressed at ,jesus' words4 ,master1 the ,messiah is mighty6 ,he will come from the sky in great glory4 ,how can you say that the ,messiah will come without people even knowing he is among us8 ,jesus turned to the followers of ,john the ,baptizer and said3 ,go tell ,john what you have heard4 ,he truly knows the will of ,god if he understands these things ,i have said4 ,impulsively ,andrew reached out his hand to stop the men4 ,but then he drew back3 ,jesus had told them to go4 ,he turned to ,jesus the instant they left and demanded1 ,how does the ,messiah come8 ,andrew1 replied ,jesus patiently1 don't you understand yet what ,i mean when ,i tell you that the ,kingdom of ,god is at hand8 ,andrew could not hide his disappointment4 ,jesus knew how hard it was for his disciple to grasp what he meant4 ,hopes that he had held for years were not easy to give up quickly4 ,then ,john the ,baptizer was wrong8 ,andrew's voice was subdued4 ,the ,messiah will not come with an army of angels to destroy the enemies of his people8 ,jesus answered gently4 ,among all men1 none is greater than ,john4 ,he was sent to prepare the way for me4 ,just the same1 the very least person in the ,kingdom is greater than ,john4 ,andrew sighed4 ,he could not believe ,jesus was wrong4 ,and yet it was hard to be satisfied with a kingdom that did not set the people free from oppression1 even if it was a kingdom of truth and help for the poor4 ,you will soon be sent out to spread the news of the true ,kingdom through this land1 said ,jesus4 ,you must find out for yourselves how great is the power ,god has sent among you4 ,during the week that followed1 ,jesus led the twelve men through the country on the other side of the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,the power of his words and actions amazed his disciples4 ,not until the day they returned to ,galilee1 however1 did the disciples begin to grasp for themselves the true meaning of what was happening4 ,while ,jesus was absent from ,capernaum with the ,twelve1 disease struck down the daughter of a man named ,jairus1 an elder of the synagogue4 ,jairus had strongly disapproved when the high priest ordered the elders of his synagogue to forbid ,jesus to preach there1 but he had been unable to do anything about it4 ,the doctors in ,capernaum could not help the girl4 ,jairus was terribly worried4 ,then he thought of ,jesus4 ,perhaps this great ,teacher could heal his daughter6 ,his heart sank when ,simon's wife told him that ,jesus and the others were in the country of ,gadara1 across the lake1 and that she did not know when they would be back4 ,every minute that ,jairus did not spend at the bedside of the sick child1 he watched the lake for a sign of ,jesus' return4 ,three nights he sat up with his little girl4 ,as he hastened anxiously to the shore of the lake on the last morning1 he said sadly to himself1 ,if the ,rabbi does not come today1 ,i shall never see my child alive again4 ,near the lake he caught sight of a crowd of people on the shore and broke into a run4 ,jesus had just stepped out of the boat4 ,jairus pushed into the crowd1 thinking only of his dying daughter4 ,he knelt imploringly at ,jesus' feet4 ,o ,rabbi6 ,help me6 ,i am in great trouble6 ,the disciples looked at one another in mild surprise4 ,was not this one of the elders of the synagogue8 ,these fellows are much humbler when they want something1 remarked ,andrew to ,john4 ,i know what ,i'd do if ,i were in the ,master's place1 murmured ,john4 ,jesus instantly sensed the desperate worry that had driven every other thought from ,jairus' mind4 ,what is it you need8 ,the disciples felt that the very tone of ,jesus' voice was a rebuke to their vengeful feelings4 ,my little daughter1 said ,jairus1 brokenly4 ,at this very moment she is dying4 ,please come and pray for her1 that she may live1 and not die6 ,we must hurry1 said ,jesus and started swiftly toward ,capernaum4 ,the people followed closely4 ,the disciples hurried to keep up with ,jesus1 but he paid no attention to them4 ,the anxious father stayed close beside ,jesus4 ,suddenly ,jesus stopped4 ,hurry1 ,rabbi1 begged ,jairus earnestly4 ,she may not live much longer4 ,but ,jesus seemed not to hear4 ,he looked at the disciples1 who were wondering why he had stopped4 ,who touched me8 ,jesus turned around where he stood4 ,simon laughed shortly and said3 ,what do you mean1 ,master8 ,in a crowd like this1 a dozen people could have touched you6 ,just the same1 ,i felt someone4 ,jesus searched the crowd behind ,simon4 ,most of the people looked at him blankly4 ,jesus continued to scan the crowd4 ,even ,jairus held back his urgent protest to hasten4 ,at that moment there was a disturbance in the crowd1 and a trembling woman came up to ,jesus4 ,i touched you1 ,rabbi1 she confessed tearfully4 ,jesus said to her kindly1 ,why did you do it8 ,rabbi1 ,i have been sick for twelve years4 ,i have spent all my money on doctors and ,i am worse than ever4 ,why did you touch me8 asked ,jesus4 ,i thought1 ,if ,i can touch only the edge of his robe1 ,i shall be healed4 ,then very simply she added4 ,so ,i did1 ,rabbi--and now ,i am well6 ,it is your faith in ,god that has healed you1 said ,jesus to the kneeling woman4 ,do not tremble and be afraid4 ,it is faith like yours that ,god most desires4 ,while ,jesus was speaking1 a man had hurried down the street toward them4 ,jairus recognized one of his own servants4 ,hurry1 ,master6 ,oh1 hurry6 he cried4 ,but he knew it was too late4 ,the servant came to him sadly4 ,she is dead4 ,there is no use bothering the ,rabbi any more4 ,jesus turned to ,jairus4 ,courage1 sir6 ,do not be sorrowful4 ,what a shame6 ,simon remembered his own children and knew how the man felt4 ,his little one is dead6 ,jesus turned to the disciples and said1 ,you saw a woman healed through faith4 ,they looked at him1 wondering what he meant4 ,to ,jairus1 ,jesus said1 ,come1 take me to your home4 ,all hope was gone for ,jairus1 but obediently he led the way4 ,already the hired wailers filled ,jairus' house4 ,their loud cries of grief1 the shrill sound of flutes playing funeral music1 and the hysterical weeping of the friends of the child's mother made such noise that ,jesus could hardly be heard4 ,why all this wailing8 ,jesus cried4 ,the noise quieted a little4 ,the child is not dead6 ,she is only asleep6 ,the wailers burst into derisive laughter4 ,she sleeps soundly6 ,clear this crowd out of here1 ,jesus commanded4 ,jairus was glad to be rid of them4 ,amid angry murmurs1 he sent every single one of them out of the house4 ,several of the disciples were waiting outside2 they watched the hired wailers leave4 ,what do you suppose is going on8 asked ,andrew4 ,they waited a little longer1 but at last the suspense was too much4 ,come on1 said the ,zealot1 let's go in4 ,they pressed through the front door into an empty room4 ,where have they gone8 ,the sound of soft weeping came from the next room4 ,hesitating now1 they went nearer so that they could look through a doorway4 ,the men never forgot what they saw4 ,the little girl was standing beside the bed looking up at ,jesus4 ,he held her hand in his4 ,her mother had thrown her arms around ,jairus and was weeping4 ,simon1 ,james1 and ,john stood speechless1 staring at the child who a moment before had been lying dead4 ,she is alive6 gasped ,andrew4 ,the child turned toward them1 but the disciples shrank back as though fearful of what they saw4 ,i'm hungry1 she said4 ,jesus gripped ,jairus' shoulder gently4 ,give the child something to eat now4 ,neither of the parents replied2 but they kneeled before ,jesus4 ,the awed disciples turned toward ,jesus4 ,could this man who gave life to the dead be the ,master they knew so well8 ,for your sakes1 ,jesus said1 ,i am glad ,i was not here when this child died4 ,his words struck deep into the memories of the disciples4 ,i have come to tell you what life really is4 ,this child was dead and lives again4 ,but ,i warn you3 there is a kind of death from which no one can return4 ,and there is true life3 whoever has this life can never die4 ,who is he--who is this ,one who raises the dead8 ,the minds of the disciples raced1 trying to grasp the meaning of what had happened4 ,fear not the death of the body2 he who believes in ,god can never die4 ,just as ,i have given life to this little child ,i give eternal life to all who put their trust in ,god4 ,who can he be--who can he be--to give eternal life8 ,jesus turned to the parents of the child4 ,rise6 ,then he warned them and the disciples1 saying3 ,no one must hear about this4 ,only you understand its true meaning4 ,turning to the disciples1 he said1 ,let us go now4 ,seething with excitement they could not control1 the disciples followed ,jesus4 ,illustration #i4 ,,how ,,will ,,you ,,know ,,the ,,messiah8 ,one week later a messenger arrived at the court of ,king ,herod1 in ,tiberias1 a city not far from ,capernaum on the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,he carried reports from local officials throughout the provinces that ,herod ruled4 ,as he read them1 the king became more and more alarmed4 ,finally he turned to a slave4 ,tell my officers to come immediately6 ,when the high officials of the court arrived1 ,herod waved the papers and said1 ,every single governor reports that there are ,jews going through our cities and towns talking about some new kingdom6 ,he looked at them sharply4 ,do you know anything about this8 ,after a moment one of them answered1 ,there is a carpenter from ,nazareth preaching something like that4 ,do you think he has anything to do with this business8 ,i am not sure1 answered the man4 ,i know a ,pharisee in ,capernaum who says this fellow wants to do away with the ,jewish religion4 ,the man speaking was one of the ,herodians whom ,symeon had stirred up against ,jesus4 ,what sort of man is he8 demanded ,herod4 ,he has great influence with the people1 he said4 ,this ,pharisee admits that his miracles are not tricks4 ,miracles6 ,herod became very sober4 ,who is this man8 he demanded4 ,has ,john the ,baptizer risen from the dead8 ,against his better judgment he had executed the ,prophet a few weeks before4 ,that is not possible1 answered an officer4 ,we shall have a revolution on our hands if this really is ,john4 ,herod turned to the officer who had spoken last4 ,who is he1 if he isn't ,john8 ,people say different things4 ,some say he is ,elijah2 others say someone else1 but they all think he is a prophet4 ,that is exactly what they said about ,john the ,baptizer1 exclaimed ,herod4 ,john never sent out missionaries6 objected the ,herodian4 ,that only makes it worse6 ,the king pointed to the reports in front of him4 ,what if these ,jews are working for him8 ,they might be1 admitted the man4 ,if ,herod could have heard the conversation of ,simon and ,andrew at that moment1 he would have been even more anxious4 ,they were in high spirits as they walked the last mile of their trip back to ,capernaum4 ,how glad everyone has been to hear about the ,kingdom6 remarked ,simon4 ,do you not think that these people are ready to make the ,master their king8 ,they are very discontented1 agreed ,andrew4 ,herod has crushed them so that they are ready to do about anything4 ,for a distance they walked in silence4 ,finally ,simon said3 ,i cannot understand what it is about the ,master4 ,even evil spirits seem to fear him6 ,do you suppose this trip has made the others feel the way we do8 wondered ,andrew4 ,when ,simon and ,andrew arrived in ,capernaum1 they found that ,james1 ,john1 and the ,zealot had returned ahead of them4 ,they were telling ,jesus about their experiences4 ,the evil spirits themselves obeyed us in your name6 exclaimed ,john4 ,you have good reason to rejoice1 answered ,jesus4 ,nevertheless1 you should rejoice because you have done the will of ,god--not because you have conquered evil spirits4 ,well1 ,master1 remarked the ,zealot practically1 not everyone was glad to see us4 ,i had trouble with the ,pharisees4 ,they just argue and argue4 ,we talked to them too1 said ,andrew4 ,he was troubled4 ,many times we tried to tell them the news of the eternal ,kingdom1 but they would never receive what we said4 ,do you remember the story of the ,sower1 ,andrew8 asked ,jesus4 ,i never understood what you meant4 ,master1 answered ,andrew4 ,listen carefully4 ,the farmer who went out to sow was planting the seed of eternal life4 ,some fell on the road at the edge of the field1 and the birds ate it up4 ,this is like the person who hears my word but immediately forgets because ,satan robs him of it4 ,some of the seed fell on stony soil4 ,it grew fast1 but when the hot sun shone it withered away because it had weak roots4 ,this is like the person who is very enthusiastic at first1 but as soon as he has to work or suffer1 he gives up4 ,other seed fell among weeds1 which kept it from growing strong4 ,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 ,god4 ,but then there is the seed that fell on good soil2 it grew deep roots and produced a fine harvest4 ,this is like the person who hears and really understands my words4 ,he knows what eternal life is1 and helps other people to find it4 ,do you know1 the ,zealot broke in1 ,i should not be surprised if some of the ,pharisees would join us when we show our strength6 ,my ,kingdom is not of this world1 answered ,jesus4 ,no one who is seeking political power will join us4 ,only persons who want to do the will of ,god belong in my ,kingdom4 ,but1 ,master1 responded the ,zealot1 almost everyone listened eagerly to us6 ,it will not be difficult to start the ,kingdom in ,galilee6 ,we probably could unite the ,jews against ,herod1 replied ,jesus1 but that is not our business4 ,god sent me into the world to proclaim the news of an eternal ,kingdom6 ,simon turned to the ,zealot4 ,you seem to think the people listened only because they hope we will free them from the ,romans4 ,i do not doubt that they would be glad to be rid of the ,romans2 but from what ,i saw1 ,i think they listened because we told them about the rule of ,god6 ,isn't that the same thing8 retorted the ,zealot4 ,jesus saw that most of the disciples still did not understand clearly what he was trying to do4 ,but he had little opportunity to explain further1 because the people of ,capernaum were every day crowding to the home of ,simon4 ,when all of the ,twelve had at last returned from their mission1 he said to them1 ,let us cross the lake and find a quiet place where we can rest and talk4 ,they hoped to leave unseen1 but many people followed them down to the lake where ,simon's boat was4 ,don't you see what ,i mean8 exclaimed the ,zealot4 ,what a wonderful chance we have to lead them against ,herod6 ,let us go over toward ,bethsaida1 replied ,jesus4 ,i know a hill where very few people pass by4 ,james and ,john turned the boat toward the hills nearly three miles across the lake4 ,the disappointed people watched ,jesus and the disciples push off4 ,a few men left the group and began to walk along the shore4 ,soon the others realized that they were going to go on foot around the lake4 ,some walked1 but others ran4 ,i believe the whole crowd is going to follow us1 remarked ,andrew1 looking back4 ,they are like sheep without a shepherd1 remarked ,jesus4 ,by the time the disciples had rowed across the lake1 the people were beginning to arrive4 ,i think ,i know a place where we can get away from them1 said ,philip4 ,he had lived in this part of the country4 ,we cannot send them away1 ,philip1 answered ,jesus4 ,when the boat landed he led the crowd to a grassy spot on the hillside overlooking the lake below4 ,all afternoon ,jesus taught them4 ,when at last the sun touched the hills of ,galilee across the lake1 the disciples interrupted4 ,master1 they said1 don't you think we had better send them away before it gets dark8 ,it is late1 added ,philip1 and there is no place to buy food here4 ,they will need to go to the villages4 ,that isn't necessary1 is it8 said ,jesus4 ,you give them something to eat4 ,the disciples looked at him blankly4 ,we didn't bring any provisions with us4 ,master1 said ,james4 ,and besides1 even if we had1 it would never be enough to feed this crowd6 ,jesus turned to ,philip4 ,what shall we do1 ,philip8 ,master1 even if there were a town near here1 it would take far more money than we have to buy enough food to give each person a tiny bit6 ,how many loaves have we all together8 asked ,jesus4 ,the disciples found1 as they expected1 that the people had brought no food4 ,this seems foolish to me1 remarked ,james4 ,finally ,andrew found a boy with some loaves and fish4 ,the boy let ,andrew take the lunch to ,jesus4 ,tell the people to sit down in groups1 said ,jesus4 ,before them all he held one of the loaves in his hands and thanked ,god for it2 then he broke it in pieces4 ,distribute this among the people1 he instructed the disciples4 ,this boy's loaves and fish will satisfy your hunger now1 said ,jesus to the eager crowd4 ,if you eat only this kind of food1 you will eventually die4 ,i have another kind to give you3 if you will eat the ,bread of eternal life1 you will never die6 ,come and eat this ,bread--you will never hunger again4 ,you must hear and believe my word1 for the ,father in heaven has sent me to you4 ,while the people ate1 they whispered among themselves in amazement4 ,where had this food come from8 ,they could hardly believe what the people near ,jesus said3 that he had broken the loaves and fish again and again1 until everyone had enough4 ,the ,zealot turned to ,james4 ,they will do anything for a person who gives them food1 he said4 ,jesus knew the people were thinking how good it was to receive the food4 ,god sent manna to your ancestors while they were in the desert1 he cried out1 but they died4 ,the true ,bread from heaven gives you eternal life4 ,eat this ,bread and you shall never hunger again6 ,give us this ,bread6 called out a man in the crowd4 ,we do not want to be hungry any more4 ,do not follow me because ,i give you loaves and fish--that kind of food perishes1 replied ,jesus4 ,rather1 believe my word1 in order that you may have eternal life6 ,but the people could think only of the free food ,jesus had given them4 ,they paid no attention to his words4 ,we will do anything for you6 they cried4 ,then another shout grew loud4 ,you shall be our king6 ,you shall be our king6 ,they are going to compel him to be king6 exclaimed the ,zealot4 ,jesus turned his back and called his disciples about him4 ,what is he going to do8 ,the ,zealot was alarmed4 ,surely he won't miss this opportunity8 ,let us go1 said ,jesus to the ,twelve1 starting toward the lake shore4 ,the ,zealot caught ,jesus' arm4 ,but1 ,master4444 ,he let go as ,simon gripped his shoulder4 ,he will be king all right1 ,simon told him4 ,but he is not the kind of king these people want4 ,i am sure of that4 ,the crowd were dumfounded to see ,jesus leave them so quickly4 ,a few attempted to follow1 but they soon realized that twilight was swiftly fading into the darkness of night and they turned back4 ,you row across to ,capernaum by yourselves1 said ,jesus to the disciples4 ,i will follow later4 ,the wondering men got into the boat and rowed away4 ,jesus stood watching them as they disappeared in the deep twilight4 ,then he turned and walked alone into the shadowy hills4 ,sometimes ,i wonder if he knows what he is doing6 burst out the ,zealot1 bitterly disappointed4 ,what an opportunity6 ,he just turned his back on them6 ,you know he has no desire for political power1 said ,john4 ,how can we ever establish the government of ,god if we never do anything practical8 asked the ,zealot4 ,what will his teachings ever amount to unless we put them in the place of the old laws8 ,simon could not forget the words of ,jesus4 ,he did not say1 ',i am your ,king4' ,he said1 ',i am the ,bread of ,life4' ,what do you mean8 asked the ,zealot4 ,are you sure he intends to start a rebellion8 asked ,simon4 ,i don't know what else all this talk of a ,kingdom could mean6 ,if he were an ordinary political leader--or even a ,rabbi--there would be no other way1 said ,simon1 reflectively4 ,but there is something about him that makes me think he is not going to do what we expect at all6 ,a gust of cold wind struck them1 and the men looked up4 ,even the western sky was black4 ,the boat was in the middle of the lake4 ,out of the dark night the wind blew in ever stronger gusts4 ,we're in for a squall1 said ,james1 worried4 ,the boat rolled4 ,it was heavily loaded1 and water splashed in4 ,steer into the waves1 called ,simon4 ,james and ,john tried to pull the boat around1 but the wind had caught them4 ,the boat swung broadside and lurched dangerously in the trough of the waves4 ,water poured in4 ,simon stepped swiftly to the center and sat down beside ,james4 ,together they pulled the heavy oar2 after a tense moment the boat swung slowly around4 ,we've got to bail this water out1 said ,simon4 ,more came over the side with each roll4 ,if we don't get this water out1 we'll never get to shore1 shouted ,simon4 ,what can we do8 cried the ,zealot4 ,waves continued to leap over the side into the boat4 ,desperately the men tried to bail out the water4 ,we'll never make it6 they cried1 seized by panic4 ,andrew clutched ,john's shoulder4 ,look6 ,what's that8 ,he pointed out into the blackness4 ,it's a ghost6 screamed one of the ,twelve4 ,the men forgot the waves4 ,terror gripped them4 ,o ,father in heaven1 cried ,simon1 save us6 ,do not be afraid6 ,it is ,i6 ,gradually it came to the men that it was the voice of ,jesus they were hearing4 ,oh1 save us4 ,master6 ,fear began to melt away4 ,jesus was in their midst4 ,why are you terrified8 he asked4 ,have you no faith1 even after being with me all this time8 ,the white crest on the waves disappeared4 ,the boat lay deep in the water1 but danger was past4 ,almost afraid to look1 the disciples turned to ,jesus4 ,who could he be--that he had power to calm the storm8 ,did ,i not give life to the little child in ,capernaum8 said ,jesus4 ,did ,i not give bread to the hungry crowds8 ,do you not yet understand8 ,illustration #aj4 ,,you ,,are ,,the ,,christ ,the household of ,symeon the ,pharisee was stirring with excitement4 ,during the day the servants had put the house in perfect order1 and now the cooks were preparing a banquet for the evening4 ,symeon himself was trying to make up his mind whether he should wear his highly ornamented robe4 ,finally he decided against it and chose another with fine cloth but very few trimmings4 ,a sensible ,pharisee did not try to dress too elegantly when an important official was to be his guest4 ,the banquet table was beautiful4 ,the servants had lighted candles to celebrate the victory of the great ,jewish general1 ,judas ,maccabaeus1 who had driven foreign tyrants out of ,palestine and purified the ,temple two hundred years before4 ,there was roast lamb1 deliciously cooked1 and all the best food which ,symeon could afford to set before his guest of honor4 ,nothing could be too good for a scribe sent by the highest authority of the ,jewish religion1 the high priest himself6 ,not until late in the evening did ,symeon's visitor arrive from his long journey4 ,at dinner the men ate in dignified silence1 but ,symeon was burning with curiosity4 ,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 ,galilee4 ,symeon was sure that the matter concerned ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,only when he had finished the dinner did the scribe speak to ,symeon4 ,you are a generous host1 my friend4 ,symeon smiled and bowed his head gratefully4 ,the scribe settled himself comfortably4 ,i come on very delicate business4 ,it must remain a secret4 ,the servants came in to clear the table1 and he stopped speaking4 ,then ,symeon sent them out and closed the door4 ,the high priest tells me that you know this ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,have you kept a close watch on him during the last few months8 ,yes1 replied ,symeon1 complimented by this confidential question4 ,i know all that he has done4 ,as you remember1 several months ago we ordered the elders of all the congregations to keep this ,nazarene out of our synagogues1 continued the scribe4 ,but of course that did not keep him from preaching to the people in public places4 ,he looked keenly at ,symeon4 ,not a word of this must come to the common people6 ,naturally1 agreed ,symeon4 ,very well1 then1 said the scribe4 ,do you think that we can convince his followers that their ,rabbi is not to be trusted8 ,that will be hard1 answered ,symeon4 ,he is more popular than ever4 ,then he told the scribe in detail how ,jesus had fed the crowd of five thousand people4 ,it sounds as though he might even have it in his power to persuade them to revolt1 observed the scribe when ,symeon had finished4 ,they actually did try to make him their king6 exclaimed ,symeon4 ,does ,herod know about that8 asked the man4 ,we have told some of the people at his court about it1 replied ,symeon4 ,if you want to know what ,i think--,herod is afraid to do anything6 ,he thinks the ,nazarene is ,john the ,baptizer risen from the dead6 ,but this ,jesus is as dangerous to ,herod as he is to us6 exclaimed the scribe4 ,that may be true1 but just the same ,herod knows that the people like ,jesus1 said ,symeon4 ,still1 ,i am sure the king would put a quick end to this small-town prophet if it could be done without stirring up the people4 ,look1 my friend1 declared the scribe4 ,you know as well as ,i do that these common folk will not follow anyone who goes too far for them4 ,from what you have told me1 we ought not to have much trouble showing these simple ,galileans that he is not a loyal ,jew at all4 ,symeon laughed bitterly4 ,every day he breaks the tradition a hundred times6 ,a frown came over his face4 ,the trouble is--the people like it6 ,that may be partly true1 admitted the scribe4 ,but ,i believe these country people are still real ,jews at heart4 ,they may be crude and uneducated1 but they will never follow anyone who is trying to destroy the ,law and break down our religion4 ,the ,nazarene can break a regulation here and there1 and they like it--yes6 ,but let him say anything against ,moses1 or ,abraham1 or the great ,rabbis--they will desert him by the hundreds6 ,if that happened1 ,herod would throw the whole band of them in prison without delay1 replied ,symeon enthusiastically4 ,i believe you have struck on the way to stop this false ,rabbi6 ,the scribe lowered his voice4 ,when do you think we could find him with some of his followers8 ,he is always at the lake in the morning1 replied ,symeon4 ,about ten o'clock the next day1 the men stepped into the sunlit street in front of ,symeon's home4 ,over their shoulders each wore a short cape1 beautifully decorated with four blue tassels1 one at each corner4 ,many ,jews wore this cape1 but only the ,pharisees added extra long blue tassels4 ,they descended the cobblestone street from the high part of ,capernaum where ,symeon lived and went toward the lake below4 ,people bowed and smiled1 but the two men paid no attention4 ,they were used to having people make way for them4 ,they strode into the crowded market place1 already hot under the rays of the morning sun4 ,the hoofs of many animals had raised a cloud of dust4 ,everywhere farmers and fishermen were shouting1 trying to catch the ear of persons who came to buy4 ,only the donkeys1 laboring under huge baskets of food1 refused to budge for the officials4 ,after a short walk through the narrow streets of ,capernaum1 ,symeon caught sight of the lake1 blue and cool1 dancing in the sunlight4 ,he pointed ahead of them4 ,the ,nazarene is usually on the shore a little way beyond those fishing boats4 ,they were approaching a group of fishermen who had drawn up their boats and spread nets on the beach4 ,we must show these people that he is not merely meddling with parts of the ,law1 remarked the scribe4 ,the fact is that he is not a true ,jew at all6 ,a group of people had gathered on the shore1 just to the right of the road4 ,there they are6 exclaimed ,symeon4 ,the two men stopped briefly at the edge of the circle of people and then walked boldly up to ,jesus4 ,seeing their robes1 everyone made way4 ,it is widely reported1 ,rabbi1 said the scribe1 that your disciples do not keep all the sacred customs of our religion4 ,jesus answered them the same way he spoke to the common people that sat around him4 ,where do your customs come from8 he asked directly4 ,just the opening they wanted6 ,the scribe did not miss his chance4 ,moses himself gave us these commands1 he declared4 ,yet ,i heard that your disciples do not wash their hands before meals as ,moses commanded us4 ,without a moment's hesitation ,jesus retorted3 ,have you forgotten that ,moses also commanded you to honor your father and your mother8 ,yet you have made up a rule that allows a rich man to say to his aged parents1 ',i can't support you--,i have given all my money to ,god4' ,the fact is that he has not given it to ,god at all2 he has only paid a fee to the priests6 ,jesus was indignant4 ,you talk about ,moses1 but you yourselves break his commands6 ,the scribe had to defend himself4 ,this rule was made by one of our great rabbis1 he said4 ,you have put human rules in the place of the commands of ,god1 declared ,jesus4 ,isaiah was talking about you when he said1 ',these people give me respect with their mouths1 but their hearts are far away from me6' ,do you dare attack the great ,rabbis8 demanded the scribe angrily4 ,every true ,jew at least respects their words4 ,yet you say that a man need not purify his hands before he eats6 ,it is not what goes into a man's mouth that hurts him1 replied ,jesus1 quietly4 ,it is the things that come out of a man--his words and deeds--that harm him4 ,are you saying that we should disobey this law8 retorted the scribe4 ,moses himself gave us this command6 ,you cannot find eternal life just by keeping rules1 replied ,jesus4 ,the watching people wondered at his calmness4 ,if you are really in search of the ,kingdom of ,god1 repent6 ,dramatically the scribe turned to the people4 ,do you see8 he demanded4 ,this man is not one of us6 ,he wants to change the laws that ,moses has given us6 ,he is dangerous--do not believe him6 ,he stalked through the awe-struck crowd and left1 followed by ,symeon4 ,for a long time1 ,jesus sat silently before the people4 ,by the time he finally spoke1 they were all wondering what he could say4 ,the door of the ,kingdom of ,heaven is open to anyone who will put his trust in ,god1 said ,jesus quietly4 ,the scribes and ,pharisees claim that they keep the ,law of ,moses4 ,they say they speak with ,god's authority4 ,do what they tell you if you want to--but do not act the way they do6 ,they have made so many rules for you that no one can obey them all6 ,do they help you enter the ,kingdom8 ,no6 ,they make life easy for themselves and impossible for all others6 ,they do all they can to attract attention4 ,every day their tassels get longer6 ,they sit in the most important places at feasts6 ,they love the front seats at the synagogue6 ,how they enjoy having people step out of their way and say1 ',good morning1 teacher'6 ,men who belong to ,god's ,kingdom do not want to be called ,rabbi2 they are all brothers and have only one ,father1 ,god in heaven4 ,he stood up4 ,let us leave this place1 he said4 ,simon fell in step with ,jesus as they turned toward ,capernaum4 ,the sun was still as bright2 the waves on the lake danced as merrily as before1 but the disciples took no joy in the beauty of the day4 ,master1 those men are trying to set the people against us1 said ,simon1 deeply concerned4 ,they can do nothing against ,god1 replied ,jesus4 ,but they are deceiving many people1 warned ,simon4 ,anyone who will believe them is blind to my gospel1 said ,jesus sadly4 ,let them follow these blind leaders1 if they insist--they will come to the same bad end6 ,it soon became plain that ,simon was right3 the scribe's attack on ,jesus was having a serious effect4 ,the next day each of the twelve disciples went to a different place in ,capernaum to preach the news of the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,at the end of the afternoon1 ,andrew stopped to visit a fisherman whom he had known since childhood4 ,the men ought to be coming in from the lake soon1 observed the wife of ,andrew's friend4 ,the dogs outside began to bark4 ,there they are now6 ,andrew6 ,an older man entered4 ,i am glad to see you4 ,what is this ,i hear about you these days8 ,he sat down for a moment before washing4 ,have you been getting along all right since you left your fishing8 ,what is your ,master doing8 ,i hear some very bad rumors6 ,andrew was taken back4 ,why1 ,i don't know what you mean4 ,well1 perhaps ,i should not have mentioned it1 the old fisherman said4 ,but ,i thought you could tell me the truth1 if anyone could4 ,what have you heard8 asked ,andrew1 puzzled4 ,everyone is talking about your ,rabbi1 answered the man4 ,is it true1 what they are saying8 ,i know nothing about it1 said ,andrew4 ,i thought you would have heard1 said the man1 hesitating4 ,one of the fishermen who listens to ,jesus told us today that he intends to destroy the ,jewish religion6 ,that is nonsense6 cried ,andrew4 ,where did he ever4444 ,suddenly it came to him3 ,this was what the scribe was telling people6 ,look here1 said ,andrew with great earnestness4 ,do you really think that ,jesus is trying to keep people from believing in ,god and serving him8 ,oh1 ,i didn't say that6 laughed the old fisherman4 ,i was only telling you what ,i heard4 ,a questioning tone came into his voice4 ,but he does say that you do not have to obey ,moses1 doesn't he8 ,andrew did not know what to answer4 ,it was true that ,jesus had said there were more important things than purifying the hands before eating6 ,there is something else ,i heard1 continued the older man4 ,how could a really great ,rabbi come from ,nazareth8 ,that town does not amount to anything4 ,what difference does it make where he comes from8 protested ,andrew4 ,the old man shrugged and stood up4 ,it is a serious matter for your ,jesus to say all the great ,rabbis are wrong4 ,i always wondered if you knew what you were doing when you gave up fishing4 ,he looked keenly at ,andrew4 ,today ,i took time off to go to listen to him myself4 ,he talks as if he knew more about ,god's will than ,moses did6 ,he goes too far for me4 ,after all1 ,i am a ,jew6 ,abruptly he changed the subject4 ,will you stay for supper1 ,andrew8 ,no 444 no4 ,i think ,i had better be going1 murmured ,andrew4 ,hurriedly he left4 ,he was much upset by the words of this trusted friend4 ,purple shadows filled the narrow streets4 ,most of the people were already indoors4 ,andrew felt terribly alone4 ,in his haste he tripped over a broken cart wheel and he was startled by its loud clatter on the paving4 ,he began to run4 ,he was relieved to get to ,simon's home4 ,jesus had not yet returned1 but ,andrew found the other disciples in the midst of a serious conversation4 ,everything the ,master does proves that ,god's power is in him1 ,john was saying4 ,we need him6 ,everybody in this city needs him6 ,andrew burst out3 ,have you heard what people are saying8 ,that scribe is telling everyone that we are trying to wipe out the whole ,jewish religion6 ,that is what we are talking about1 said ,simon4 ,andrew sat down as ,simon turned to ,john4 ,of course1 it is true that the ,master really does put his own teaching above the command of ,moses4 ,i know he does1 answered ,john passionately1 and he is right6 ,what should we do without him8 ,we have already given up everything to follow him6 ,he jumped to his feet and began to pace back and forth4 ,many people are leaving us1 said ,james1 greatly worried4 ,we shall soon have nobody4 ,can he really be right and all the ,rabbis and ,pharisees and scribes wrong8 exclaimed ,andrew4 ,if he were the ,messiah1 ,i should feel different1 but4444 ,he stopped4 ,the other men were staring at him4 ,the ,messiah6 ,at that moment ,jesus entered the room4 ,he saw ,james's anxiety4 ,john stopped walking4 ,andrew was flushed with excitement4 ,his last remark had stamped an expression of amazement and doubt on the faces of all the men4 ,my followers1 said ,jesus1 grasping their thoughts immediately1 do not be troubled4 ,you believe in ,god1 believe also in me4 ,he sat in the midst of them4 ,god has sent me into the world with the light of his gospel4 ,i have not come to condemn the world1 but to save people from darkness4 ,if they do not believe my word1 that is because they love darkness better than the light4 ,john went back to his place and slumped down4 ,those who are truly seeking ,god know that our gospel is true and come to us1 continued ,jesus4 ,but those who turn away from us do it for just one reason3 their lives are evil4 ,it is true that they obey many laws and seem very religious1 but their hearts are proud4 ,they do not really depend on ,god4 ,they do not live close to him4 ,they cannot endure the truth which shows them that they are in darkness4 ,after a long silence1 ,andrew rose and walked out into the cool night4 ,he looked up at the clear stars and wondered how long it would be before they would look down on a happy nation1 ruled by ,god's ,messiah4 ,the turmoil in his heart had quieted while ,jesus spoke4 ,the new moon1 thin as a curved sword1 gleamed high above4 ,a faint wind rattled the palms on the street in front of the house4 ,simon came out4 ,what if everyone leaves us1 ,simon8 asked ,andrew abruptly4 ,simon's answer was firm4 ,he is the only one who has a message of eternal life4 ,if we leave him1 to whom can we go8 ,jesus had seen how terribly disturbed the disciples were by the criticisms against him4 ,therefore1 very early the next morning before the people began to come to market1 he took them to the lake4 ,they had no idea where he was leading them as they stepped into ,simon's boat4 ,what a relief it was to be away from the crowds of ,capernaum6 ,they were glad for the silence of the lake1 smooth as a mirror in the calm of the dawn1 after the noise and bustle of street and market4 ,through the mist the men could see a few fishermen working hard to gather in their nets with the night's catch of fish4 ,simon and ,andrew recognized them1 but the men did not look up and the disciples passed unseen4 ,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 fog4 ,the mist began now to tear into ragged pieces1 clinging here and there to the lake4 ,the disciples caught sight of the stately crest of ,mount ,hermon to the north1 white with summer snow1 standing guard over all ,galilee4 ,a breeze sprang up and blew the remaining mist to tatters4 ,little wisps of fog chased each other over the surface of the water as though ashamed to be caught by the sun4 ,jesus turned his gaze from the noble mountain ahead of them and spoke to the disciples4 ,i must warn you against the tricks of the ,pharisees and scribes4 ,their false arguments sometimes sound reasonable1 but the evil purpose of these men grows like a nasty mold4 ,it will creep into your very hearts and destroy the ,bread of ,life4 ,james leaned over to ,philip4 ,that reminds me--did you bring enough food for this trip8 ,the provisions ought to be stored under the stern seat1 answered ,philip4 ,james reached under the seat4 ,nothing here1 he said4 ,what6 ,no food8 ,the other disciples had heard what he said4 ,they were hungry4 ,they forgot that ,jesus was speaking4 ,look under the front seat1 ,andrew1 said ,simon4 ,the men searched everywhere2 there was but one loaf in the boat4 ,james turned to ,philip in a temper4 ,what in the world are we going to eat8 ,jesus had watched them without saying a word4 ,now he spoke4 ,my followers1 what have you to worry about8 ,this stupid ,philip forgot to bring the food6 said ,james1 irritated4 ,have you ever gone hungry when you were with me8 asked ,jesus patiently4 ,you have seen me feed crowds--and yet you do not trust me6 ,many times you have heard me say that ,i am the ,bread of ,life--and now you are worried about your stomachs6 ,tempers cooled as quickly as they had risen4 ,do you not understand the meaning of the things ,i do8 asked ,jesus4 ,you are right4 ,master1 said ,james1 shamefaced4 ,we should not worry about food4 ,is that all ,i mean to you8 asked ,jesus4 ,you do not understand why ,i fed the people1 do you8 99 99 99 99 99 ,simon and ,john brought the boat to land at a deserted spot near the fishing village of ,bethsaida1 and ,jesus led the men north along the ,jordan toward the ,lebanon ,mountains4 ,for three days they traveled1 finally reaching the narrow valleys of the foothills of the ,lebanons4 ,the land was hilly but very fertile4 ,many people lived here3 a few ,jews but many gentiles4 ,the disciples had never traveled this far north before4 ,as the mountains grew higher1 they turned westward toward the ,mediterranean ,sea4 ,jesus chose this road because he believed he could find privacy in which to teach the disciples4 ,however1 things were not as ,jesus hoped4 ,about ten miles from ,sidon1 a gentile city on the seacoast1 they passed through a small village4 ,the disciples thought they had not been recognized1 but a short distance beyond the town ,john said1 ,there is someone following us6 ,the others glanced around4 ,a woman was coming after them4 ,let us hurry on1 said ,simon4 ,perhaps she will drop back4 ,all of them quickened their pace4 ,after a moment ,simon glanced around again4 ,she is running after us6 ,the woman cried out3 ,o thou ,son of ,david6 ,have pity on me6 ,jesus paid no attention4 ,have mercy on me1 ,son of ,david6 cried the woman desperately4 ,my daughter has an evil spirit6 ,still ,jesus walked on4 ,send her away1 ,master1 said ,simon4 ,she is just going to keep on wailing behind us4 ,jesus stopped4 ,god has sent me only to the lost sheep of the flock of ,israel4 ,and she is a gentile1 said ,james with satisfaction4 ,when the woman overtook them1 he was sure ,jesus would send her away4 ,kneeling1 the woman said1 ,do help me1 ,lord6 ,the disciples were taken back4 ,how did she dare call him ,lord6 ,who did she think he was8 ,when ,jesus spoke to the woman his voice was kindly1 but the words seemed harsh3 ,woman1 it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs under the table4 ,that will show her she has no right to bother us1 thought ,james4 ,but ,james was mistaken4 ,no1 ,master1 the woman answered smiling1 but the dogs can wait patiently for the crumbs to fall from the children's table1 can't they8 ,jesus' face lighted up4 ,o woman1 you have great faith6 ,you have found the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,go back to your daughter2 your prayer is granted4 ,the disciples were aghast4 ,james burst out1 ,master1 what can this mean8 ,how can a gentile be included in our ,kingdom8 demanded ,simon4 ,do you not yet understand why ,i have come8 answered ,jesus4 ,my ,father sent me to declare that all who are far away from him may come back if they will repent4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god belongs to anyone who will come4 ,but that cannot mean all the gentiles1 protested ,simon4 ,you have forgotten what the ,prophet ,hosea once said1 replied ,jesus4 ,to certain people it was said at one time1 ',you do not belong to ,god'--but now these very people are the children of ,god6 ,there was finality in ,jesus' voice1 and the disciples could say nothing more as the woman went home to her daughter4 ,jesus knew from their sullen silence that the disciples resented his kindness to the gentile woman4 ,he saw ,simon1 ,andrew1 and ,james drop behind the group4 ,how can he do a thing like that8 fumed ,simon4 ,he came to help outcasts--but not gentiles6 ,she had the impudence to call him ',lord'6 remarked ,andrew4 ,nevertheless1 not one of them dared complain against ,jesus even though they went on talking among themselves after they left the country around ,sidon4 ,jesus made it so hard for them to follow him6 ,yet they were bound to him1 and nothing could drive them away4 ,jesus did not enter ,sidon1 but turned back toward the mountain passes that led toward ,caesarea ,philippi1 a city near the foot of ,mount ,hermon4 ,the disciples had preached the good news of the ,kingdom in the villages of upper ,galilee1 and every day they saw people that they recognized4 ,but something seemed to be wrong4 ,when they had preached before1 the people had welcomed them with joy4 ,but now people hardly even greeted them6 ,what had happened8 ,had they forgotten the ,rabbi from ,nazareth who had healed their sick8 ,where were the people who had said that ,jesus had changed their lives and given them new hope8 ,have the rumors about us spread here too8 asked ,james in despair4 ,do you wonder the people think he goes to extremes8 asked ,james bitterly4 ,if they knew he told a gentile woman she could share in our ,kingdom1 everyone would turn away from us6 ,sometimes it almost seems as though the scribes were right6 confessed ,andrew4 ,simon caught him up instantly4 ,do you think that ,jesus is trying to destroy the faith of our nation8 he asked sharply4 ,andrew did not answer4 ,why did we follow him in the first place1 brother8 urged ,simon4 ,still ,andrew said nothing--but he knew what ,simon meant4 ,should we go back to our fishing1 ,andrew8 ,oh1 no6 answered ,andrew1 thinking of the hopeless years before ,jesus came4 ,that could never be4 ,god has sent him to open a new day for us6 declared ,simon firmly4 ,jesus had been walking with ,philip1 but now he dropped back beside the other disciples4 ,the road lay between high rock walls4 ,their footsteps rang with a hollow sound4 ,the shadows were deep2 no other travelers were in sight4 ,james said quietly1 ,we were just talking about what people are saying1 ,master4 ,what do they say about me8 asked ,jesus4 ,simon knew that he sensed the discouragement and doubt of his followers4 ,the ,pharisees say that you are trying to break down the ,law of ,moses1 replied ,john hesitantly4 ,there was a long silence4 ,some people think you are ,john the ,baptizer risen from the dead1 added ,andrew4 ,the ,zealot said3 ,i hear some saying that you are ,elijah come down from heaven to prepare the way of the ,messiah4 ,that is what ,i thought at first4 ,a tiny stream of water1 flowing over a rock1 could be heard in the silence that followed the ,zealot's remark4 ,what else do people say about me8 persisted ,jesus4 ,many people think that you are a prophet4 ,master1 answered ,simon4 ,jesus looked quietly at the men around him4 ,when he spoke his words came deliberately4 ,his voice was strong and deep4 ,but1 ,simon1 who do you believe ,i am8 ,to ,simon1 ,jesus' question was like a powerful beam of light shining into the darkest corners of his mind1 driving away the last black shadows of doubt4 ,with a sigh he raised his head and caught sight of the brilliant blue sky high above the dark valley that shut them in4 ,the answer to his ,master's question was as clear as that sunny sky--why had he not known it before8 ,simon's lips moved2 then came his answer3 ,you are the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god4 ,illustration #aa4 ,a ,,secret ,,is ,,told ,you are the ,christ--the ,son of the living ,god6 ,against the high rock walls of the narrow ravine1 the words echoed in the disciples' ears4 ,for many months not one of them had dared to say that he believed this was true--but now ,simon had confessed it plainly4 ,simon1 declared ,jesus1 unless ,god had taught you this1 you could never have known it4 ,from this time on your name will be ,peter1 the ,rock4 ,on the solid rock of faith like yours1 ,i will build my ,church--and nothing shall ever destroy it6 ,whoever puts his faith in ,god is a member of my ,kingdom4 ,to you--he looked around at all the disciples now--,i have entrusted the keys to the door of my ,kingdom4 ,if you teach men to believe in me1 they shall enter6 ,we will tell every ,jew that you are the ,messiah6 burst out the ,zealot enthusiastically4 ,no6 declared ,jesus firmly4 ,this must remain a complete secret4 ,the disciples were dumfounded4 ,but1 ,master1 protested ,andrew1 a ,messiah whom nobody knows can never lead the people6 ,now is the time for action6 exclaimed the ,zealot4 ,i have work to do which you do not understand1 answered ,jesus4 ,i have come to save the people--but in order to do it1 ,i must first endure much suffering4 ,we are ready to fight for you1 answered ,judas4 ,it will cost more than that1 replied ,jesus4 ,i will be rejected by the high priest1 the ,pharisees1 the scribes--and every authority in our nation4 ,we can overcome them if we have to1 said the ,zealot impatiently4 ,the answer came like an exploding bomb4 ,they are going to kill me1 declared ,jesus plainly4 ,the men looked at him speechless4 ,they may try to kill you1 blurted ,andrew1 but they can never do it6 ,i must die1 repeated ,jesus4 ,there is no other way for me to finish the work that ,god sent me to do4 ,a great force rose within ,simon ,peter2 words flooded his lips4 ,no6 ,this cannot be6 ,god would never let it happen6 ,he has sent you to lead us6 ,you cannot die6 ,jesus' stern voice cut him short1 ,get behind me1 ,satan6 ,you are not on the side of ,god when you talk like that4 ,you make it harder for me to do what ,i was sent to do6 ,if ,i were to do what you want1 ,i could never do my ,father's work6 ,master1 how can you say such a thing6 protested ,andrew1 defending his brother4 ,you do not know ,god's purpose1 answered ,jesus1 turning quickly4 ,you have your own idea about what ,i should do--but you do not know the will of ,god6 ,then ,jesus spoke with great force to all the disciples4 ,i am not going to lead you to the victory you expect4 ,if you are determined to follow me1 you will suffer4 ,no one who seeks worldly gain is fit to be my disciple4 ,but if you are willing to lose your life for my sake--then you will find eternal life6 ,peter was humiliated4 ,to think that the ,master could accuse him of serving the evil one6 ,peter1 said ,jesus1 now gentle1 the people of ,israel have many needs--but ,i am sent to bring them eternal life in his ,kingdom4 ,peter sat with his eyes cast down4 ,jesus spoke to all the men4 ,there was once a time when ,i was tempted to preach some other message1 continued ,jesus4 ,soon after ,i was baptized by ,john in the ,jordan ,river1 ,i went alone into the wilderness to pray and to seek the will of the ,heavenly ,father4 ,for forty days ,i fasted4 ,the ,tempter came to me in a vision and said to me1 ',if you are really the ,son of ,god1 turn this stone into bread6' ,i could have great power over men if ,i were willing to satisfy the desires of these hungry people6 ,the disciples remembered how ,jesus had refused to listen to the five thousand people who tried to make him their king4 ,but ,i could not do that1 continued ,jesus4 ,i remembered what the ,scriptures say3 ',man does not live only on bread--but on every word of truth which comes from ,god4' ,peter was looking at ,jesus attentively4 ,then in my vision ,satan took me to the highest spire on the roof of the ,temple in ,jerusalem1 continued ,jesus4 ',leap down6' he said1 'you will not be hurt3 ,aren't you the ,messiah8 ,the angels will protect you6 ,when these people see you do such a marvelous miracle they will all fall down and worship you6' ,jesus paused4 ,do you see why this was wrong8 ,the ,father does not give me special protection4 ,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 life6 ,the disciples again remembered another thing ,jesus had refused to do3 he would not perform a miracle for the ,pharisees6 ,no man submits to the rule of ,god just because you amaze him with miracles6 ,jesus spoke now to ,peter4 ,finally ,satan took me to the top of a great mountain where we could see every nation in the world4 ,in my vision ,i saw all the people who were oppressed by unjust kings4 ,i saw all the wealth and power of the earth4 ,then ,satan whispered in my ear1 ',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 me6' ,worship ,satan6 ,the idea sent a chill through the disciples4 ,i did not come to set up a new empire on earth1 declared ,jesus1 turning to the ,zealot4 ,that is not what ,god sent me to do6 ,we must not do our own will1 but the will of the ,father in heaven6 ,i am here to proclaim an eternal ,kingdom6 ,there was a long silence4 ,so ,i answered ,satan1 ',you shall worship the ,lord your ,god1 and him only shall you serve4' ,peter now understood why ,jesus had rebuked him4 ,but if you die8 he asked4 ,how can you give men eternal life if you die8 ,the ,kingdom of ,god will come in great power when the ,son of ,man has risen from the dead1 declared ,jesus4 ,the disciples were not sure what the ,master meant by his last remark4 ,they had more than enough to think about4 ,after a few minutes they climbed out of the deep valley4 ,before them lay rolling woodland cut into sections by deep ravines which carried swift streams to the ,jordan4 ,it was very different from the rocky hills the disciples had traveled since leaving the territory around ,sidon4 ,the ,jordan ,river lies over there1 said ,simon1 pointing east4 ,the men paused and looked while they caught their breath4 ,heavy trees hanging over the edge of the deep river gorge concealed the stream itself4 ,do we have to go through there8 inquired ,john4 ,he remembered stories that travelers told about this wild country3 lions and wolves lurked in the heavy growth of trees that covered the cliffs and gullies4 ,if we go to ,caesarea ,philippi1 we will1 answered the ,zealot4 ,he was familiar with this part of the country1 having traveled through it before as far east as ,damascus4 ,john looked inquiringly at ,jesus4 ,we will travel back to ,capernaum in a few days1 said ,jesus4 ,but first we will go over toward ,caesarea ,philippi4 ,he led them down the slope4 ,i do not blame him for not wanting to go back to ,galilee right away1 remarked ,andrew as they walked4 ,the people certainly do not follow him as they once did1 agreed ,simon4 ,things are not as bad as he thinks1 said ,andrew4 ,there are many people who would go anywhere with us4 ,these scribes have turned some people against us1 but we can win them back6 ,simon shook his head4 ,perhaps4 ,but the ,master has usually known what to expect4 ,he has not been wrong other times4 ,oh1 ,i am sure it is just discouragement6 insisted ,andrew4 ,he will get over it4 ,peter1 however1 was not satisfied4 ,all the way down through the deep ravines that descended to the ,jordan he said nothing4 ,the sun was behind the hills by the time the disciples entered the dense growth of trees4 ,the road was narrow1 and they had to pick their way with care because of roots and overhanging branches4 ,john looked fearfully from left to right as they went farther and farther into the forest4 ,i don't think it is very safe in here at night1 he whispered to ,james4 ,several of the men were keeping a sharp watch1 peering into the trees and turning to look behind4 ,they wondered if ,jesus knew that the tangled undergrowth might conceal vicious animals4 ,he must want to cross the river before nightfall1 answered ,james4 ,peter and ,andrew took no notice of the blackness of the jungle4 ,at last ,peter said3 ,the ,master does not get easily discouraged4 ,he means more than we think when he says he is going to die4 ,he will tell us plainly if we ask him4 ,oh1 let's not talk to him now6 replied ,andrew quickly4 ,i think we understand4 ,peter looked at him narrowly4 ,we ought to ask him1 ,andrew1 he insisted4 ,we must be sure6 ,there is time enough later on4 ,andrew was evasive4 ,i believe you are afraid of what he might say6 ,andrew would not meet his brother's eyes4 ,come with me6 ,almost by force1 ,peter pulled his brother along until they had overtaken ,jesus4 ,master1 said ,peter1 tell us plainly what you meant by saying that you must die4 ,if ,i go straight on with the task ,god has given me to do1 ,i shall be killed4 ,you know what the ,prophet says about ,god's servant3 ',he was despised1 and rejected of men4' ,but1 ,master1 interrupted ,andrew1 what good can dying do8 ,if you are killed1 how can we ever save the ,jews8 ,not even the ,son knows the will of the ,father in some matters1 replied ,jesus4 ,god's servants cannot always understand him4 ,he asks us only to obey and trust him4 ,you take away every hope6 cried ,andrew4 ,what is going to become of us8 ,peter put his arm across his brother's shoulder to restrain him4 ,anyone who wants to save his own life will surely lose it1 said ,jesus gently4 ,but if you are willing to lose your life for my sake1 you will find true life4 ,andrew's mind was whirling4 ,he could not grasp the meaning of ,jesus' words4 ,only ,peter's strong grip on his shoulder kept him from answering with senseless protests4 ,they dropped behind the others and ,andrew burst out3 ,we are wrong6 ,all this time we have been wrong6 ,he looked desperately at ,peter and whispered1 ,let us go back to our fishing boats1 brother6 ,they stood facing each other in a little clearing4 ,andrew's panic shook ,peter deeply4 ,then you do believe that the scribes and ,pharisees are right1 ,andrew8 ,but his brother would not answer4 ,do you think that the ,master's power comes from ,satan8 ,peter asked again4 ,andrew sat down heavily on a rock at the side of the road and buried his face in his hands4 ,peter could hear him breathing hard as he murmured1 ,oh1 ,i cannot escape from him--but ,i cannot understand him6 ,the other disciples had disappeared into the woods on the opposite edge of the open glade4 ,their footsteps quickly died away4 ,the silence of the murky forest settled around the two fishermen4 ,tears came through ,andrew's fingers1 but he made no sound4 ,he did not observe that they were alone4 ,come1 brother1 ,peter urged anxiously1 we must hurry4 ,the others are getting ahead of us4 ,this forest is dangerous after dark4 ,peter was greatly relieved when he and ,andrew finally caught up with the others4 ,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 river4 ,their sandals were wet from fording the river1 but they hardly noticed it1 so relieved were they to be once again in open country4 ,it was almost totally dark now4 ,only dimly could they make out the bulk of ,mount ,hermon rising directly ahead of them1 hiding the evening star4 ,jesus led the tired men to an inn4 ,he must have intended to lead us here1 exclaimed ,john1 catching sight of the faint glimmer of a lamp in the courtyard of the building4 ,he1 ,peter1 and ,james stayed in a single tiny room4 ,this has been a hard day1 remarked ,james wearily1 stretching out on the bed4 ,i do not believe we shall leave ,galilee again until we go to ,jerusalem1 observed ,peter4 ,i wish we knew what would happen there1 remarked ,john4 ,do you think he will really be killed8 ,you know what ,andrew says1 replied ,peter1 avoiding a direct answer4 ,i cannot believe that the ,master is just discouraged1 stated ,james flatly4 ,that is not like him4 ,peter nodded his agreement4 ,he thought of how ,andrew was inwardly torn4 ,i cannot escape from him--but ,i cannot understand him6 he had said4 ,james blew out the oil lamp4 ,the men settled themselves for the night4 ,peter spoke4 ,if we follow him to ,jerusalem1 we must be ready to suffer with him4 ,we must not doubt4 ,tell me1 ,simon ,peter1 how can the ,messiah of ,god die8 asked ,james4 ,the fishermen heard ,peter sigh4 ,how it can be 444 ,i do not know4 ,i know only that we must decide whether we shall go on4 ,now is the time to decide4444 ,his voice trailed off4 ,far into the night the fishermen stared open-eyed into the darkness4 ,when at last they fell into a troubled sleep1 they were no nearer the answer4 ,at dawn there was a knock at the door of their room4 ,the men stirred1 and ,peter rose4 ,scarcely visible in the faint light stood ,jesus4 ,peter stepped back1 and ,jesus entered4 ,will you come to pray with me in the mountain8 ,jesus asked4 ,the men dressed and followed ,jesus outside4 ,the road on which the inn was built lay at the foot of ,mount ,hermon4 ,its snowy crest rose majestically above them1 shining brilliantly in the morning sun4 ,a few days before1 the fishermen had seen this peak above the mist that lay over the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,the beauty of the mountain would have lifted the spirits of men whose hearts were less heavy1 but ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john had awakened with the same anxiety that had troubled their rest4 ,they did not talk1 but climbed steadily toward the summit of the mountain4 ,at last ,jesus stopped4 ,below them lay the valleys of ,galilee4 ,far to the south a blanket of fog covered the lake4 ,as ,peter looked1 he could not keep back his homesickness2 on the shore of that misty lake lived his wife and children4 ,the flood of sunlight had gradually crept down the slope toward them1 and now the four men felt its warmth4 ,let us kneel here and pray1 said ,jesus4 ,while ,jesus and the three fishermen were away in the mountain1 a strange scene occurred at the inn where the other nine disciples had just awakened4 ,early travelers were moving along the road in front of the inn4 ,among them came a man leading a donkey on which a boy was riding4 ,he stopped at the inn4 ,has ,jesus of ,nazareth passed this way8 he asked the innkeeper1 who was standing there4 ,haven't heard anything about him1 answered the man curtly4 ,suddenly he shouted1 ,watch out6 ,the boy was falling off the donkey4 ,his father leaped to catch him1 but the donkey shied away and the boy fell heavily to the ground and lay still4 ,ah1 my son6 cried the father4 ,he lifted the child gently and carried him toward the inn4 ,here1 you6 shouted the owner roughly4 ,get that boy out of here4 ,he has a devil6 ,the father hesitated and then started toward a long bench4 ,let me lay him here1 he begged4 ,well1 all right1 grumbled the innkeeper4 ,but don't take him inside4 ,people had heard the noise and were looking out of the windows4 ,philip and the ,zealot came through the doorway4 ,what is the matter with your son8 they asked sympathetically4 ,he has falling sickness1 answered the man4 ,he often hurts himself this way4 ,he was wiping blood from a cut on the boy's pale forehead4 ,the lad opened his eyes and tried to rise4 ,stay there1 my son1 urged the father4 ,he turned to ,philip and the ,zealot4 ,can you tell me where ,i can find ,jesus of ,nazareth8 ,i have heard wonderful reports of his power to heal4 ,the two disciples glanced at each other4 ,at that moment ,judas and ,levi came out of the inn4 ,this man is looking for the ,master1 said ,philip4 ,are you his followers8 cried the man4 ,i have traveled for five days to find you6 ,if only you will heal my son6 ,travelers had stopped and clustered around the lad on the bench4 ,almost all the guests at the inn had come outside4 ,the four disciples looked at one another2 none offered to heal the boy4 ,some of you visited my own village and healed many who had evil spirits1 said the father hopefully4 ,he could not understand why the men hesitated4 ,they still made no move toward the boy4 ,andrew came out of the inn4 ,can you heal my son8 the man asked ,andrew4 ,andrew glanced at the others4 ,he knew why they hung back4 ,he looked at the boy4 ,the father's voice was urgent4 ,the people watched intently as ,andrew stepped up to the boy1 lying limp but conscious4 ,be gone from him6 commanded ,andrew1 as though speaking to an evil spirit in the boy4 ,a shiver ran through his body1 but then he lay still again4 ,scornful smiles curled the lips of the people who watched4 ,a great healer1 this man6 ,he tells the devil to leave and the boy is worse off than before6 ,andrew flamed scarlet--but he was not thinking of the bystanders4 ,in his heart he knew he was powerless to help the boy4 ,the father bent over his son and then suddenly stood up4 ,you cannot help him6 ,you have no power6 ,andrew was stunned4 ,for a moment he stood stock-still4 ,then he turned and walked away4 ,a fine proof of the power of the ,nazarene6 remarked a man sarcastically4 ,the people recognized him as a priest who had stopped a few minutes before to watch4 ,the father of the boy looked around at the people1 desperately seeking someone else to help him4 ,where is your ,master8 cried the father desperately4 ,yes1 where is your ,master8 echoed the priest in derision4 ,you had better go and find him6 ,he left a couple hours ago with three others1 said the innkeeper1 in a very matter-of-fact way4 ,he went up there4 ,he waved toward the great mountain4 ,the people looked where he pointed4 ,there he is6 cried a man in the crowd4 ,distant figures were moving down the mountainside4 ,now we shall see if this ,nazarene can do better than his followers1 remarked the priest bitingly4 ,as ,jesus approached1 he took in the whole scene at a glance3 the sick boy1 the despairing father1 the sneering official1 and the beaten disciples4 ,o sir1 my son has a terrible sickness6 said the father4 ,he even falls into the fire and hurts himself4 ,he gave a pitiable little gesture toward his son1 stretched on the bench4 ,your disciples could not help him at all6 ,jesus turned to his disciples4 ,they looked at him dully4 ,andrew stood a distance away2 his face clearly showed his humiliation4 ,jesus' voice had in it more of weariness and sorrow than sharpness4 ,how utterly faithless you are6 ,you turn your backs on ,god himself6 ,how long must ,i teach you8 ,how much longer must ,i endure your cold hearts8 ,he turned to the man4 ,how long has your son been like this8 ,from the time he was a little child1 replied the father4 ,if you can do anything at all1 help us6 ,do have pity on us6 ,why do you say1 ',if you can'8 ,do you not believe that ,i can heal this boy8 ,anything can be done for one who has real faith6 ,the disciples knew that ,jesus might as well have been speaking to them4 ,o ,master1 the man cried passionately1 ,i really do believe6 ,help me to be rid of my doubt and fear6 ,andrew realized that the man was like himself3 torn between faith and doubt4 ,master1 help me to believe too1 murmured ,andrew4 ,jesus turned to the boy and spoke to him4 ,he gave a loud cry and then relaxed4 ,he is dead6 the father exclaimed4 ,jesus stooped and took the pale hand of the youth4 ,immediately he sat up2 then to the astonishment of everyone he stood4 ,jesus did not wait for the father's thanks4 ,he did not even glance at the crowd1 but turned to his disciples4 ,you had no power because you had no faith1 he said directly4 ,if you truly believe in ,god1 evil cannot stand against you4 ,without faith1 you are helpless4 ,but even the tiniest bit of real trust is mighty enough to change the whole world6 ,illustration #ab4 ,,the ,,greatest ,,among ,,us ,the next morning the disciples could not help noticing that ,peter acted differently4 ,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 men4 ,if ,john the ,baptizer really was ,elijah1 exclaimed ,peter1 then the ,kingdom ought to be very near6 ,will ,john be raised from the dead8 asked ,james4 ,jesus said that the ,messiah would rise1 remarked ,peter4 ,james said1 ,i don't see what he could mean by that4 ,do you remember the voice from the cloud8 interrupted ,john4 ,those were the same words that he heard when he was baptized3 ',you are my beloved ,son6' ,only this time we heard the voice too4 ,it said1 ',listen to him6' ,peter's voice showed the awe he felt4 ,i don't know what this vision means1 but ,i am sure he is the ,messiah himself6 ,james and ,john did not reply4 ,they needed their breath because they were climbing a steep hill4 ,when they reached the crest1 all the ,twelve stopped to rest4 ,the road had gradually turned east1 and now the green lowlands of the upper ,jordan ,valley lay behind them4 ,but the men did not look back2 they had eyes only for the gleaming city that lay in the shallow valley ahead of them1 ,caesarea ,philippi4 ,beyond the domes and colonnades of the city rose more mountains1 ridge after ridge1 climbing finally to the snowy crest of the range1 over nine thousand feet above4 ,the level valley before them1 however1 was green and fertile4 ,groves of trees and neatly planted fields reached to the very edge of the foothills on all sides of the city4 ,caesarea ,philippi seemed like a diamond set among green jewels4 ,the columns of several pagan temples reminded the travelers that this lovely city was the home of ,philip1 the son of ,herod the ,great4 ,he had spent much money to make it beautiful4 ,but the disciples found little pleasure in the sight4 ,heathen people building temples to worship idols6 murmured ,james4 ,as the men descended the hill they walked along the foot of a high cliff1 rising to their left4 ,we will not enter this city1 said ,jesus4 ,the men knew that a road branched to the south toward ,lake ,huleh1 which was not far from the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,john happened to look up at the cliff4 ,where does the water come from that runs down here8 he asked curiously4 ,shrubs of all kinds clung to crannies in the damp rock wall4 ,perhaps there is an underground stream1 replied ,james1 hopefully4 ,they were all thirsty4 ,a moment later he saw a deep pool almost hidden at the very foot of the cliff4 ,there it is6 he exclaimed4 ,several of the men started toward the spring4 ,wait6 called ,peter sharply4 ,he pointed up at the face of the cliff4 ,james looked up and saw that a deep hole had been carved in the rock4 ,it was framed by two stone columns and a stone arch4 ,under the arch stood a statue of ,pan1 the pagan god of nature4 ,stop6 cried ,peter4 ,that water is unholy6 ,the other disciples caught sight of the idol and shrank back4 ,this place is defiled6 exclaimed ,james in disgust4 ,we cannot drink this water6 ,the presence of the idol was an offense to the men and they deeply resented it4 ,just wait until we get control of this land again6 burst out the ,zealot4 ,we will break these filthy images to pieces6 ,just to think that the land of ,god's promise is filled with heathen idols6 ,peter was seething4 ,he turned to ,jesus4 ,how much longer must we endure this8 ,james interrupted4 ,it will not be long1 will it1 ,master8 ,can we start for ,jerusalem soon8 urged the ,zealot4 ,surely the time has come for ,god to deliver his people6 ,jesus said nothing1 but led them over the crest of a ridge till ,caesarea ,philippi disappeared behind them4 ,the road descended into a flat swamp land which reached as far south as ,lake ,huleh1 which they could now see4 ,the air was heavy with moist heat1 and the people they passed looked unhealthy4 ,the disciples scarcely noticed their discomfort1 however1 so eager was their conversation4 ,again they tried to make ,jesus promise that he would use his power soon to conquer the ,romans1 but ,jesus refused to join in their discussion of how they would rule the land when the ,romans were beaten4 ,not one of them remembered his solemn warnings about the suffering which they faced4 ,not one mentioned that ,jesus had said he would be killed in ,jerusalem4 ,judas listened and said little4 ,finally he could stand their conversation no longer4 ,how many of you have ever lived in ,jerusalem8 he asked1 breaking in4 ,i stayed there a few weeks once1 said ,james1 puzzled by his question4 ,i used to go every year when ,i was a boy1 said ,levi4 ,do you know any people who live in ,jerusalem8 asked ,judas4 ,john and ,i know some people we sold fish to1 answered ,andrew4 ,judas could hardly keep the scorn out of his voice4 ,you don't know the first thing about ,jerusalem6 ,you have no idea what you are getting into6 ,you don't know anyone there except a few low-class people6 ,the ,zealot interrupted4 ,you seem to forget that ,i have a large number of friends in ,jerusalem1 he said hotly4 ,the city is full of ,zealots6 ,they all know me4 ,yes1 and the police keep track of every one of them1 retorted ,judas4 ,just as soon as the ,romans see us with ,zealots they will think that we are trying to start trouble4 ,the best thing for us to do is to keep away from your friends6 ,i suppose you think we will win the confidence of the ,jews by mixing with ,pharisees6 snapped the ,zealot4 ,we will have to be careful1 of course1 said ,judas4 ,but ,i know the right people4 ,if we are clever1 we will work from the inside4 ,well1 ,i think the ,master knows what he is doing1 cut in ,andrew4 ,judas glanced ahead to where ,jesus was walking alone and lowered his voice4 ,you know ,i am loyal to him1 but he has been in ,jerusalem only a few times in his life4 ,he doesn't know any of the important people4 ,i can put him in touch with hundreds of men who will fight beside us1 said the ,zealot1 frowning at ,judas4 ,as ,andrew listened to the two men argue1 he had to admit to himself that ,jesus might need help when they came to ,jerusalem4 ,he did not say any more4 ,the twelve men and their ,master came to a ford where a sluggish stream flowed across the road toward the ,jordan4 ,single file1 the disciples waded through the shallowest place4 ,andrew was the last to cross1 and he found himself with ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john4 ,the four fishermen let the others walk ahead4 ,keeping his voice low1 ,james said to the others3 ,what is going to happen to the rest of us when we get to ,jerusalem8 ,those two men have been there and they know everyone6 ,we might even be pushed out completely6 ,the more they discussed it1 the more worried they became4 ,james and ,john wanted to be alone to talk about the schemes of ,judas and the ,zealot1 so when the ,twelve stopped for lunch1 they went to a near-by farm to buy food4 ,after lunch they again fell in step with ,andrew and ,peter4 ,you were absolutely right in what you said this morning1 said ,andrew emphatically4 ,simon ,peter and ,i have decided that we must settle right now before we get to ,jerusalem who should have first place among us4 ,we should talk to the ,master about it1 said ,james4 ,no1 answered ,john4 ,this is our affair4 ,we must settle it among ourselves4 ,simon ,peter was the first one ,jesus asked to give up his fishing and follow him2 he should be the leader4 ,i think so too1 agreed ,andrew heartily4 ,peter kept his thoughts to himself4 ,after all1 why should ,judas be the chief person8 ,he was not even a ,galilean6 ,i am going to talk to the others1 declared ,james1 hastening ahead4 ,judas and the ,zealot were walking ahead with ,jesus4 ,listen6 said ,james to the disciples4 ,do you realize that those two men are going to try to push us out when we get to ,jerusalem8 ,we shall not have any place in the new ,kingdom at all1 unless we protect our rights6 ,we think the best way is to decide now who should be first1 said ,john1 continuing4 ,the others nodded vigorous agreement4 ,i think ,simon ,peter is the one who should be our leader6 ,after all1 the ,master chose him first4 ,silence settled over the men4 ,james could not understand what was the matter4 ,finally ,philip said hesitantly1 ,we thought ,levi might know how to deal with the ,romans4 ,oh1 ,i don't think so6 exclaimed ,john4 ,he knows only the ,romans in ,galilee4 ,besides1 the best people in ,jerusalem might hold it against him that he was a taxgatherer1 added ,james1 without thinking how his words sounded4 ,levi flared up4 ,well1 ,i am not so sure they will like a fish peddler any better1 he remarked bitingly4 ,that is beside the point1 snapped ,james4 ,simon ,peter was the first--and you have to admit it6 ,at that moment the ,zealot and ,judas joined the group4 ,what are you talking about8 demanded the ,zealot4 ,when no one replied1 ,judas laughed and remarked3 ,it's not hard to guess6 ,well1 we shall see who is greatest when we get to ,jerusalem6 ,it was a long and hot trip from ,caesarea ,philippi to ,capernaum1 and the men did not stop arguing until they came to the very door of ,peter's house4 ,their home-coming was spoiled4 ,everyone was in bad humor4 ,peter remembered how he had longed to see his wife and children when he had looked down on the ,lake of ,galilee from ,mount ,hermon4 ,now this bitter dispute had completely taken away the pleasure of it4 ,peter's wife could not understand why all the men1 even her husband1 ate supper in silence4 ,after they had finished eating1 ,james rose and stood in the open doorway1 blocking it4 ,he glared angrily at ,judas and the ,zealot4 ,he could hardly restrain his bitter resentment against these men1 and he was determined to make the ,master put them in their place4 ,but it was ,jesus who spoke first--before ,james could begin his angry accusations4 ,what were you wrangling about on the road8 ,james felt his anger turn against the ,master1 who was sitting near the door4 ,he had not been wrangling6 ,it was a matter of simple fairness6 ,why were you wrangling on the road today8 ,not one of the disciples ventured to answer--the question was put to them a second time4 ,an evil spirit of envy and dispute has come among us1 said ,jesus4 ,the men sensed how deeply hurt he was4 ,if any of you wish to be first in the ,kingdom of ,god1 you must learn to serve rather than to rule4 ,while he was speaking1 ,peter's little daughter peeked around the edge of the doorway4 ,she drew back at the sight of the men1 but she was so curious that soon she put her head around the corner again4 ,jesus saw the disciples smile and he turned4 ,come here1 little girl1 he said gently and held out his hands1 smiling4 ,she came to him1 and he lifted her to his lap4 ,she leaned trustingly against his shoulder and looked shyly at the men4 ,with his arms around her1 ,jesus said1 ,if you are willing to serve even this little child1 then you have discovered what it means to be my disciples4 ,but if you do anything to keep even the most despised person from believing in me1 you would be better off in the bottom of the sea with a great stone tied around your neck6 ,when ,james finally spoke1 his tone was controlled4 ,but1 ,master1 who is to rule in the new ,kingdom when we get to ,jerusalem8 ,the disciples leaned forward4 ,now we shall get this business settled6 thought the ,zealot4 ,among the gentiles1 a man is great if he rules over many people1 answered ,jesus4 ,but in the ,kingdom of ,heaven it is the other way around3 you are great if you serve1 not rule4 ,but when we get to ,jerusalem1 ,master1 who is going to run the new government8 insisted ,james boldly4 ,do you think of nothing but ruling others8 ,you do not understand my ,kingdom at all4 ,then1 slowly and emphatically1 ,jesus said3 ,james1 if you want to be great in my ,kingdom1 you must be a servant6 ,if you want to be the chief disciple1 you must make yourself the slave of all the others6 ,i myself did not come to rule over many nations--,i came to serve the people--yes1 even to give my life to buy them from slavery6 ,master1 we know that the new ,kingdom will be different1 interrupted ,peter4 ,but we shall rule the gentiles1 shan't we8 ,he did not wait for an answer4 ,you ought to decide which one of us will have the main authority4 ,the ,zealot looked at ,peter suspiciously4 ,so that's how he thinks he will get his way6 he thought4 ,now look1 he said to ,jesus in his most practical tone4 ,i know many people in ,jerusalem who can help us4444 ,james's anger boiled over4 ,master1 he is interested only in special privileges6 ,that is a lie6 snapped the ,zealot1 looking fiercely at ,james4 ,i want only4444 ,peter's little girl was crying4 ,harsh voices and frowning faces had frightened her4 ,she clutched ,jesus' robe with both tiny hands and buried her head in his robe4 ,here1 let me take her1 said ,peter1 starting to rise4 ,but the little girl clung all the closer to ,jesus4 ,except you become as little children1 said ,jesus1 you cannot enter the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,he stood up1 holding the child in his arms2 he did not intend to listen to the angry debate any longer4 ,i have appointed you to proclaim the news of the ,kingdom of ,god1 he declared4 ,you are the salt which must season the whole earth4 ,everything depends on you4 ,but what if the salt loses its taste8 ,the men again felt in his voice the deep grief they had caused him4 ,it is fit only to be thrown out and trampled on6 ,let there be peace between you6 ,jesus gently put ,peter's daughter in her father's arms and left the room4 ,he walked down to the shore of the lake4 ,the trip from ,caesarea ,philippi had been tiring1 and he longed to be alone4 ,under the tiny white stars he was far from the jealousies and selfishness of his followers4 ,sometimes they were truly noble and brave4 ,they were loyal too1 and yet 444 they seemed never to understand6 ,in the quiet night ,jesus gave thanks to his ,father in heaven for the men who had given up everything to follow him2 he prayed that they might soon understand the true meaning of the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,suddenly there were running footsteps behind him4 ,jesus stopped abruptly4 ,had ,herod already discovered that he was back in ,galilee8 ,had spies followed him here so that they could arrest him secretly8 ,two figures emerged from the darkness4 ,master6 ,it was ,john4 ,james was with him4 ,relief flooded through ,jesus4 ,we wanted to tell you about something we did4 ,there was a note of pride in ,john's voice4 ,do you remember when ,james and ,i went to buy food today8 ,we found a man casting out evil spirits in your name4 ,we put a stop to it right away6 ,we will never allow anyone to interfere with us1 added ,james4 ,he might even persuade some people to follow him4 ,we want nothing like that6 ,jesus did not answer1 but continued to look out over the dark lake4 ,why had these men followed him all the way out here to tell him this8 ,were they trying to convince him they were loyal in spite of the day's dispute8 ,or were they trying to persuade him to do what they wanted8 ,jesus turned to them4 ,what made you do a thing like that8 he demanded4 ,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 ourselves6 ,but he was not one of us1 explained ,james1 amazed4 ,that makes no difference1 answered ,jesus4 ,are we jealous of his power8 ,do we think always of our own reputation8 ,but doesn't it make any difference who has power in our ,kingdom8 asked ,james1 dumfounded4 ,we don't even know the man6 exclaimed ,john4 ,do not forbid him1 replied ,jesus4 ,no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me4 ,for he that is not against us is for us4 ,if a person so much as gives you a cup of water in my name1 ,god remembers him for it6 ,his voice was now calm1 with the note of sorrow which the men had heard twice before on this day4 ,do you still not understand what is going to happen in ,jerusalem8 he said4 ,i have told you already that ,i shall be killed6 ,i am not going to ,jerusalem to seek the praise of men1 but to give up my life for the sake of all men4 ,i shall be betrayed into the power of the high priests4 ,they will hand me over to the ,romans to be killed6 ,master6 cried ,james desperately4 ,do not say such a thing6 ,fear chilled him1 and the very night seemed to threaten4 ,james had been fighting this thought ever since ,jesus had first mentioned his death4 ,that can never1 never happen6 ,in spite of all ,i have said1 you still understand little of my work1 said ,jesus and left the two men4 ,they did not try to follow1 but stood listening to the sound of his footsteps dying away4 ,then they turned back4 ,there could be no mistaking his meaning this time3 the ,master knew he would die in ,jerusalem4 ,illustration #ac4 ,,the ,,messiah ,,must ,,die ,the next day1 ,jesus left ,capernaum with the ,twelve1 traveling swiftly on the main highway toward ,tiberias1 ,jericho1 and ,jerusalem4 ,early in the afternoon1 a wind rose from the south4 ,the sky grew dark2 clouds scudded overhead as the disciples plodded along the dusty road4 ,the ,lake of ,galilee lay to their left4 ,when the sun shone it was refreshing1 blue and cool4 ,now the water was gray1 whipped into angry waves by the wind4 ,only a few months before1 the men had nearly drowned in a gale like this4 ,to their right were bleak hills1 bare of trees4 ,an anxious shepherd was driving his sheep to shelter4 ,the black1 windy sky reminded the disciples of all the fears that filled them3 fear of their own future and distrust of one another4 ,where can we stay for the night4 ,master8 asked ,andrew1 raising his voice above a gust that snatched the words from his lips4 ,jesus glanced at the sky4 ,perhaps we can find an inn at ,tiberias4 ,the wind was hot and laden with dust4 ,its choking heat kept their skin dry even though the men perspired freely4 ,they covered their faces with their robes to avoid breathing dust4 ,the air was thick2 they could not see the sun1 though it was fully four hours before sunset4 ,they could not even see the crest of the ridge rising above them to the right4 ,if the wind changes to the southwest1 this is sure to turn to rain1 remarked ,james1 almost shouting4 ,john nodded4 ,a moment later they heard ,andrew call to them4 ,look there6 he shouted4 ,up the hill4 ,he was pointing to a tumble-down shed a few yards from the road to their right4 ,greatly relieved1 the whole group left the road and in a moment were inside the shelter4 ,we are lucky to find this1 said ,james1 throwing the cover off his face4 ,it is getting cooler1 and the wind is changing4 ,the disciples had hardly caught their breath when they heard a familiar sound4 ,sheep6 exclaimed ,philip4 ,an instant later a tightly packed flock of frightened sheep crowded into the shed4 ,it overflowed in a moment1 but the bleating animals kept on pushing in4 ,suddenly their shepherd stood in the midst of the men4 ,oh6 ,he was completely surprised at finding people in his shed4 ,we were looking for shelter from the wind and rain1 explained ,peter4 ,oh 444 why yes6 replied the man4 ,he was embarrassed in the presence of all these strangers4 ,this is a very poor old shed1 he said1 smiling apologetically4 ,shyly he turned away from the disciples and began to count his sheep4 ,the men watched4 ,he was very slow and started over again three times4 ,they smiled at each other as though to say1 ,a simple fellow1 isn't he8 ,the flimsy little shelter rocked under the gusts of the gale1 now at its height4 ,the shepherd was too busy counting to notice4 ,suddenly he jerked up straight4 ,there is one missing6 ,before the disciples could stop him1 he plunged into the windy darkness4 ,come back6 shouted ,james4 ,one is missing6 ,a heavy gust almost drowned the shepherd's reply4 ,you'll get hurt6 ,the man was gone4 ,how can he ever find his way8 protested ,james to the others4 ,there are gullies and high rocks6 ,he will be killed in the dark6 ,he has practically all the sheep in1 declared ,john4 ,he could wait a little while till this lets up4 ,he would leave his flock here and search all night for a sheep1 remarked ,jesus4 ,he ought not to risk his life like that1 answered ,james4 ,a good shepherd is ready to face death to find just one sheep1 said ,jesus4 ,death6 ,the twelve men had been able to think of nothing but fear and death the whole day through4 ,why did the ,master talk about it so much8 ,at that instant the shepherd came back4 ,under his arm was a lamb1 frightened but not harmed4 ,there1 sighed the man1 putting it gently down4 ,now all are safe4 ,you are hurt6 exclaimed ,peter4 ,he knelt and gently touched the man's ankle4 ,the shepherd flinched1 but said1 ,oh1 it is nothing6 ,let me bandage it1 insisted ,peter4 ,the man sat down2 he was in pain4 ,how did this happen8 asked ,peter1 tearing a strip of cloth from the long loose shirt he wore4 ,i heard the little one crying and ran toward him1 answered the man4 ,i must have stumbled on a sharp rock4 ,jesus was watching the man4 ,you are a faithful shepherd1 he said4 ,the shepherd looked up quickly and smiled4 ,this man understood6 ,but the disciples were quiet4 ,they knew ,jesus was thinking about his own work in ,jerusalem4 ,the wind had veered around and now blew from the southwest4 ,spattering drops turned into a steady1 cold1 driving rainstorm4 ,perhaps it will settle the dust1 said ,andrew hopefully4 ,he was thinking how dejected the sheep looked that had not found room in the shed when he felt cold water on his back4 ,this place leaks6 he exclaimed4 ,soon all the men were moving uncomfortably about1 trying to find places to stand where they could keep dry4 ,but it was hopeless4 ,the rain poured through the cracks in the old roof4 ,we might as well be walking outside as standing here1 declared the ,zealot in disgust4 ,the suggestion seemed sensible4 ,thank you for the shelter1 said ,jesus to the shepherd4 ,the rain had not let up at all1 but the men plunged into the night4 ,be careful of that ankle1 said ,peter1 the last to go4 ,the shepherd smiled in farewell4 ,two hours later the company of miserable disciples arrived in ,tiberias4 ,for an hour and a half they had been soaked to the skin4 ,the wind had become quite cold1 and they were chilled through4 ,only after they entered the city of ,tiberias did they find an inn where there was room for them4 ,this city is crowded with people going to ,jerusalem for the feast1 observed ,james1 as the disciples stripped off their wet clothing4 ,i wonder how ,herod likes to have his home city full of loyal ,jews1 replied ,john4 ,i just hope he does not find out we are here4 ,the disciples were alarmed when ,jesus insisted on teaching the next day in the market place1 where people gathered to gossip and buy food4 ,what if the tyrant discovers that we are here8 inquired ,andrew fearfully4 ,he could throw us into prison before we could escape6 ,this is an important city for us1 replied ,jesus4 ,we must tell the news of the ,kingdom to all these pilgrims who are traveling to ,jerusalem4 ,nervously the disciples kept watch for the ,roman police while ,jesus talked to the people4 ,it was well that they did4 ,here come some ,pharisees1 warned ,john4 ,the men were stepping around carts piled with food1 taking care to avoid the heavily burdened donkeys that crowded the street4 ,the people dropped back to let them pass4 ,the two ,pharisees smiled as they came up to ,jesus4 ,they seem friendly6 said ,john1 astonished4 ,don't let them deceive you1 warned the ,zealot4 ,jesus received the men graciously4 ,the first said3 ,rabbi1 we have come to warn you4 ,you had better get out of ,tiberias as soon as possible4 ,we have private information from ,herod's court that he intends to kill you6 ,the disciples were alarmed4 ,the ,zealot was frowning and looking at the ,pharisees very suspiciously4 ,why do you tell us this8 he asked bluntly4 ,they ignored his question1 waiting to see what ,jesus would say4 ,jesus' answer was stern3 ,go tell that sly fox that he does not have the power to stop my work6 ,the people were startled4 ,how did he dare speak like this about the king8 ,now ,i am preaching the good news of the ,kingdom of ,heaven and helping people1 continued ,jesus4 ,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 death6 ,unless you leave ,tiberias at once1 you will certainly die here1 said the second ,pharisee4 ,no4 ,there was bitter humor in ,jesus' tone4 ,it would hardly be right for a prophet to be killed anywhere but in ,jerusalem4 ,it is always our holy city that kills the messengers whom ,god sends6 ,the ,pharisees turned and walked away4 ,well6 exclaimed ,john4 ,for men who want to save us from ,herod they certainly act oddly4 ,they care nothing about our lives1 said the ,zealot sourly4 ,they are just trying to scare us out of ,galilee4 ,herod knows he cannot put us into prison--there would be a riot6 ,the people were indeed very loyal to ,jesus4 ,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 him4 ,we want you to lead us to ,jerusalem1 declared one man from ,capernaum who had often listened to ,jesus at the lakeside4 ,i must stay here several days to teach others who travel through1 answered ,jesus4 ,then we shall wait4 ,more and more people joined this man in asking ,jesus to lead them to ,jerusalem4 ,the disciples were greatly worried by this4 ,herod is sure to hear of this6 exclaimed ,andrew1 anxiously watching the people crowd around ,jesus4 ,he must know we are here by now1 said ,john4 ,any moment the men expected the officers of ,king ,herod to come to arrest them4 ,they were greatly relieved when ,jesus led a small group of especially loyal followers into the hills west of ,tiberias4 ,at least we are safe out here1 observed ,john as they climbed the brown hill above ,herod's capital city4 ,when ,jesus stopped1 they could see the whole ,lake of ,galilee spread below them4 ,high above the city rose the towers of ,herod's palace4 ,peter looked northward to where ,capernaum lay4 ,beyond the city he could see ,mount ,hermon1 majestic and cool4 ,a few days before1 he had stood on its slopes and gazed at ,capernaum1 where his wife and children lived4 ,then he had expected to see them soon4 ,but now he knew he might never see them again4 ,a ridge concealed the group with ,jesus from the road which led west from ,tiberias to the ,mediterranean ,sea4 ,tonight we shall rest in the hills1 said ,jesus to them2 there were about seventy beside the disciples4 ,tomorrow ,i will send you to prepare my way to ,jerusalem4 ,the thought of leaving ,herod's territory cheered the disciples1 but they had not heard all that their ,master had to say4 ,for a few more days ,i am going to remain here to summon these people to repent and confess that ,god is ,king1 continued ,jesus4 ,you are to stay with me4 ,i am sending these others into the cities that ,i will visit4 ,he turned to the ,seventy3 ,declare the good news of the rule of ,god4 ,tell them that the ,kingdom is here4 ,return to me on the third day4 ,then we shall set out for ,jerusalem6 ,the people began to talk excitedly with one another4 ,you must go two by two1 continued ,jesus1 raising his voice4 ,you have a great work to do1 and now is the time to do it6 ,pray1 therefore1 that you will find many who will believe your message of the ,kingdom of ,god and help you4 ,do not let anyone stop you1 but press on to tell the gospel in every city where ,jews live4 ,you will be in danger2 ,i send you out like sheep among wolves4 ,just the same1 have courage1 for you carry good news4 ,preach this message3 ',the rule of ,god is here2 give yourselves to him'6 ,after the ,seventy had gone1 great crowds continued to throng ,jesus as he preached in the market place of ,tiberias4 ,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 ,jesus4 ,the king knows he cannot arrest us1 said the ,zealot4 ,look at this crowd6 ,it will not be long before we are in ,jerusalem6 said ,john4 ,jerusalem6 ,the disciples began to talk eagerly about the new kingdom4 ,nothing must stop us6 declared ,james and ,john4 ,when the ,seventy returned1 they were enthusiastic4 ,everyone listened to us6 declared the first two men to return4 ,people brought their sick to us4 ,they believed our teaching6 ,even the demons obeyed us6 ,here is a man who wants to become a follower1 said his companion4 ,a third person stepped up to ,jesus and said very sincerely1 ,i will go with you anywhere4 ,jesus looked at him keenly and said3 ,my way is not easy4 ,the foxes in the woods have holes to sleep in4 ,even the wild birds have nests--but ,i have no home and no place to give you4 ,i will follow you anywhere1 said the man again4 ,through the day others returned4 ,every hour the disciples heard good reports of the success of the ,seventy4 ,at sunset all the followers whom ,jesus had sent out gathered in the hills4 ,the bright rays of the sinking sun lighted ,jesus' face as he raised his hand to quiet the excited men4 ,satan is utterly defeated6 he declared4 ,the power of ,god is yours6 ,nothing can stand in the way of ,god's rule6 ,the people could not restrain their excitement4 ,they burst into a babble of conversation4 ,one man cried out1 ,master1 we even have power over demons6 ,jesus answered quickly4 ,you should rejoice because you know what it is to be a part of ,god's ,kingdom--not because you can do miracles6 ,he raised his arms to pray4 ,like the silent shadow that had stolen over them as the sun sank from sight1 a reverent hush settled over the crowd4 ,father in heaven1 ,i thank thee that thou hast concealed thyself from men who think they are wise4 ,i praise thee that thou hast revealed all these things to the humble and the simple4 ,i praise thee that it is thy purpose to rule over all who are willing to give their hearts to thee4 ,while the group were returning to their lodging in ,tiberias1 ,james and ,john made a discovery that shocked and angered them4 ,one of the ,seventy had been turned roughly away from a town on the border of ,samaria4 ,indignantly the two fishermen came with the man to ,jesus4 ,this man was driven out of a village in ,samaria1 they said angrily4 ,let us call down fire from the sky and burn up these people6 ,no6 commanded ,jesus4 ,we have not come to destroy men's lives but to save them4 ,why should these worthless ,samaritans be allowed to stand in the way of the ,kingdom of ,god8 demanded ,james hotly4 ,we should destroy them4 ,they are enemies of ,god6 ,our own towns in ,galilee have rejected us as harshly as any town in ,samaria1 answered ,jesus4 ,he pointed northward toward the villages on the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,his voice sent a chill through the fishermen3 ,o ,bethsaida1 you are doomed--you are doomed6 ,if my miracles had been done in ,tyre or ,sidon1 they would have repented long ago4 ,but you have turned your back on me6 ,and you1 ,capernaum6 ,will you become great8 ,no6 ,you shall be utterly destroyed for your sin6 ,these towns--the ones ,james and ,john knew and loved the best--,jesus condemned because they had not accepted his gospel6 ,did he believe ,galilee had rejected him8 ,of what mighty destruction was he speaking8 ,by morning the fishermen had forgotten ,jesus' somber warning4 ,the little waves on the lake sparkled in the brightness of the sun4 ,as ,jesus' followers walked briskly with him along the road toward ,jerusalem1 they could talk of nothing but their arrival in the holy city4 ,we shall be welcomed in ,jerusalem1 said ,peter4 ,see how well liked the ,master is by all the pilgrims6 ,that is true1 agreed a man from ,capernaum4 ,but just the same1 ,pilate is a dangerous man4 ,did you hear what he did at the last festival8 ,no1 answered ,james4 ,what was that8 ,some ,zealots from ,galilee started a riot in the ,temple4 ,i did not see what happened myself1 but they say that the ,roman soldiers put a stop to the trouble and within a few hours ,pilate crucified twelve of the ,zealots4 ,he looked at the others4 ,there were many ,galileans in ,jerusalem--but that did not stop ,pilate6 ,but we are not going to start a riot1 ,james hastened to say4 ,as ,judas says1 we will work from the inside until the right time4 ,peter glanced curiously at the other men4 ,no doubt of the future seemed to cross their minds4 ,peter restrained a desire to interrupt4 ,finally ,james turned to him and asked1 ,do you think ,jesus would let himself be trapped by the officials8 ,very forcefully ,peter answered3 ,i do not think he will be trapped4 ,i do not know what will happen4 ,but do not forget what he said2 again and again he has told us that he will be killed in ,jerusalem6 ,oh1 ,i am sure he doesn't mean it the way it sounds1 said ,james hastily4 ,he was discouraged when he said that4 ,just the same1 he definitely said his work in ,jerusalem would cost his life6 ,there will be no new kingdom for any of us if that happens6 replied ,james4 ,illustration #ad4 ,a ,,day ,,of ,,victory ,within two hours ,jesus and his friends had reached the southern end of the ,lake of ,galilee4 ,they knew that the heavy rain had made the lake rise almost to the point of flooding the water front at ,tiberias4 ,but they never expected the sight that lay before them4 ,usually the ,jordan wound sluggishly between low banks4 ,now a huge overflow was pouring out of the lake1 filling the wide river bed with muddy water4 ,the disciples looked with dismay at the uprooted bushes and broken limbs swirling past them4 ,they could hardly believe that this destructive flood had been the narrow ,jordan they had forded so many times before4 ,do you think that we can find a place to wade through8 ,james and ,john were walking down the bank4 ,james shook his head4 ,it is not deep1 but it is terribly swift4 ,look how wide it is6 ,a quarter mile of water lay between them and the other side4 ,i guess we shall have to travel down the road on this side4 ,they turned back to the others4 ,i am not going through ,samaria6 exclaimed ,james4 ,perhaps we can find a shallow place to cross before we get that far1 replied ,john4 ,none of the other people were willing to risk their lives by attempting to ford the rushing river4 ,come6 called ,jesus to the ones who stood wondering what to do4 ,he started down the road toward ,samaria2 some of the people looked doubtful1 but no one objected4 ,the road followed the high hills that shut in the ,jordan ,valley on the west1 but it was well above the flood level of the river4 ,fully four miles to the east stretched the broad lowlands of the ,jordan1 small hills1 an occasional steep bluff1 and at the center1 the flooded river4 ,as the group traveled south1 the flat valley narrowed and the hills came closer on both east and west4 ,some of the farms near the river were under water4 ,we may be able to cross near here1 observed ,andrew4 ,they had walked about five miles4 ,do you remember if there is a bridge on the road across to ,gadara8 ,james pointed to a white strip below them4 ,the road is just ahead4 ,jesus walked past the crossroad without turning4 ,surely he is not going through ,samaria6 exclaimed ,james4 ,has he forgotten how these people treated our messengers8 asked ,john4 ,perhaps he does not want all the travelers on the other road to know he is going to the ,passover1 guessed one man4 ,he is a complete stranger to the people in this part of ,samaria4 ,we could go all the way through the province before anyone would discover we are on our way to ,jerusalem4 ,perhaps we shall find lodging more easily along this road1 observed another4 ,i doubt if anyone will even sell us food1 said ,james pessimistically4 ,samaritans are mean4 ,we shall soon find out1 remarked ,andrew4 ,this road leads right to ,scythopolis4 ,this town was just over the border from ,galilee4 ,it was the largest of the ten cities which together were called ,decapolis2 it was part of ancient ,samaria1 and ,jews usually avoided it4 ,north of the city the ,jordan ,valley grew suddenly wide2 here the range of high hills along which they were walking turned almost due west4 ,perhaps there will be some here who know the ,master is a great prophet1 said one of the men hopefully as the city came into view4 ,probably never even heard of him1 replied another4 ,at that moment a small group of men came out of a ramshackly house standing just outside the city gate4 ,some hobbled2 one crawled on his knees4 ,lepers6 exclaimed ,john4 ,don't get near them6 ,the ten sick men came straight toward ,jesus4 ,everyone sighed with relief when they stopped several paces from the band of ,galileans4 ,unclean6 ,we are unclean6 they called4 ,the law compelled them to warn everyone of their disease with this cry4 ,master1 have mercy upon us4 ,they were indeed a pitiable sight4 ,with inward pain1 ,jesus looked at their wasted bodies1 mere skin and bone4 ,repulsive scars from the disease marked their faces4 ,these men seem to know the ,master1 murmured ,andrew in surprise4 ,they might be ,galileans1 replied ,james4 ,perhaps they live here because they were driven out of their homes4 ,the people were afraid that the lepers might come near them1 but the twelve disciples knew that ,jesus intended to help them4 ,make ready and go immediately to ,jerusalem1 commanded ,jesus4 ,go to the priest there and get a certificate showing that you are clean according to the ,law of ,moses4 ,the ten men turned without a word and made for the leper house4 ,in a moment they were out again1 taking the road around the outside of the city4 ,on the way to ,jerusalem they would beg food4 ,let us go into the city1 said ,jesus4 ,he had hardly come into the shadow of the high wall when one of the lepers came running back4 ,he threw himself down in front of ,jesus and cried out3 ,blessed art thou4 ,master6 ,god is good6 ,i am clean6 ,it was true4 ,the men could see no sign of the terrible disease4 ,where are the other nine8 asked ,jesus4 ,were they not healed also8 ,this man is not from ,galilee6 exclaimed ,andrew under his breath4 ,is this ,samaritan the only one to come back and thank me8 ,jesus asked the people4 ,he turned to the man4 ,get up and go back to your own home4 ,your faith has made you well4 ,the gate into ,scythopolis was like a dark tunnel because the wall was so thick4 ,roman guards stationed on the inside examined the travelers as they passed through4 ,if they were surprised to find a large group of ,galileans in a town on the border of ,samaria1 they said nothing4 ,this town seems different from the one that refused us1 admitted ,james4 ,every one of the people who accompanied ,jesus found a place to stay4 ,they discovered that many of the townsmen knew about ,jesus4 ,some even gathered curiously in the courtyard of the inn where ,jesus rested4 ,by the time they left ,scythopolis the next morning everyone knew they were there4 ,the ,master could make many disciples here1 observed ,andrew enthusiastically4 ,all the followers of ,jesus were in high spirits4 ,even though ,jesus kept a fast pace1 they did not fall behind4 ,at noon they passed through a large town1 but ,jesus paused only long enough for them to draw water to drink4 ,farther south they entered the narrowest part of the ,jordan ,valley4 ,the road followed the brink of low limestone cliffs which overhung the ,jordan4 ,the swift water was cutting into the banks2 whirlpools and rapids swirled below them4 ,occasionally they had to walk around places where the river had undermined a section of the bank and caused a cave-in4 ,even though the river constantly washed away portions of their farms1 the people raised heavy crops4 ,the farmers lived in crowded villages along the road4 ,between the wheat from the rich soil and the sheep that grazed on the hills above1 the people were quite prosperous4 ,for two days ,jesus pressed forward without a rest4 ,as the group approached the borders of ,judea1 the valley gradually widened until the mountains across the river were blue in the haze that hung heavy in the air4 ,the damp heat had nearly exhausted the travelers1 but some inward force seemed to drive ,jesus faster every hour4 ,in the afternoon of the second day they crossed the first of the streams that flowed from the highlands behind ,jericho4 ,ahead of the disciples1 clear to the foot of the distant hills1 lay green fields of wheat1 fig orchards1 and vineyards4 ,beside the road were rows of stately palms4 ,there is ,jericho6 ,everyone looked ahead4 ,the city stood on a low1 flat hill4 ,its walls rose high above the trees4 ,the ,galileans could see very clearly the beautiful theater built thirty years before by ,herod the ,great1 father of ,herod ,antipas1 ruler of ,galilee4 ,beside it stood the massive fortress which he had built to defend ,jericho4 ,dominating both city and plain stood the square stone tower of ,cyprus2 from this high lookout ,herod's soldiers could easily see any enemy who might dare attack ,jericho4 ,jewish pilgrims crowded the road4 ,they must have waded the ,jordan at the ford where we first heard ,john the ,baptizer1 commented ,andrew to ,john4 ,the way we came is shorter1 answered ,john1 thinking of the many loads of salted fish he and ,andrew had brought to ,jerusalem on the road east of the river4 ,the disciples saw the ,galilean pilgrims on the road staring at ,jesus and murmuring to one another4 ,at length one man came up to ,john4 ,wasn't your ,rabbi in ,tiberias a few days ago8 he asked4 ,john nodded4 ,the man and his friends joined the group with ,jesus4 ,others followed4 ,this is not good1 observed ,andrew4 ,it certainly would be better not to cause any disturbance in ,jericho1 agreed ,peter4 ,we shall be in serious trouble if ,pilate's local commander sends him word that we caused a riot here1 added ,judas4 ,i hope these people keep their heads4 ,outside the gate of ,jericho sat the usual line of beggars1 ragged1 filthy1 and diseased4 ,some were silent1 but others called out1 asking alms4 ,hardly anyone paid any attention4 ,suddenly there was a loud cry from the side of the road4 ,jesus6 ,jesus6 ,thou ,son of ,david6 ,messiah6 ,have mercy on me6 ,shut up6 snapped someone4 ,others looked harshly at the beggar who had shouted1 but he could not see their hard faces4 ,he was blind4 ,jesus6 ,messiah6 ,have pity on me6 ,his voice was louder than before4 ,in the name of heaven1 make that wretch be quiet6 burst out ,judas4 ,we shall have the whole ,roman army on us if anyone hears him talking as though ,jesus were going to lead a revolution6 ,jesus stopped4 ,who is calling to me8 ,oh1 just some beggar1 answered ,james4 ,bring him to me4 ,the man who had scolded the beggar said to him3 ,don't worry4 ,the ,master himself is calling you4 ,the blind man leaped to his feet1 threw off his tattered coat1 and pushed his way through the crowd toward ,jesus4 ,what do you want me to do for you8 asked ,jesus4 ,the beggar dropped to his knees4 ,o ,master1 that ,i might be able to see again6 ,a hush had fallen over the crowd4 ,jesus said3 ,open your eyes4 ,your faith has made you well again4 ,the man looked around him4 ,he saw the people1 the city wall above him1 the palm trees at the side of the road4 ,jesus turned and led the crowd through the gate into ,jericho4 ,people clustered around the beggar as he walked after ,jesus4 ,he talked loudly and happily1 hardly able to express his joy4 ,judas came up to ,jesus4 ,can't we send that man away8 ,think what will happen if the ,romans hear him babbling like this6 ,let him tell what has happened to him1 answered ,jesus4 ,we have come to ,judea to proclaim the gospel4 ,that man has found the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,let him declare it to everyone6 ,we are losing our chance to win over the high priests in ,jerusalem6 burst out ,judas4 ,before tomorrow night word will reach them that the people are trying to make ,jesus king6 ,they will all be against us6 ,well1 there is nothing to do about it now1 said the ,zealot4 ,the man in front of ,judas stopped in his tracks and ,judas ran into him4 ,what is the matter now8 he demanded impatiently4 ,the ,zealot pointed to a tree over their heads4 ,look6 ,a man was standing on a heavy lower limb of one of the sycamore trees that grew at the side of the street4 ,the whole crowd gaped4 ,jesus spoke with someone in the crowd for a moment and then called to the man in the tree3 ,zacchaeus1 come down here6 ,i want to visit your home4 ,judas turned to a man beside him4 ,who is that fellow8 ,he is the chief tax collector in ,jericho4 ,he is very rich4 ,a tax collector6 exploded ,judas4 ,he turned to the ,zealot4 ,did you hear that8 ,he wants to stay with a tax collector6 ,why does he insist on mixing with such people8 ,everyone will say he is a lover of traitors and sinners6 ,if ,judas had not known it was useless1 he would have protested to ,jesus then and there4 ,zacchaeus climbed out of the tree and stood in front of ,jesus4 ,may ,i come to your home8 asked ,jesus again4 ,oh1 yes1 ,master6 exclaimed ,zacchaeus1 and he turned to lead the way4 ,the rumor spread fast4 ,the ,galilean ,prophet was staying with ,zacchaeus6 ,the deliverer of ,israel--staying with a tax collector8 ,impossible6 ,perhaps he was not ,messiah at all6 ,the publican knew that people considered him a traitor4 ,he knew how much it meant that ,jesus had chosen him for a friend4 ,the next morning1 just before ,jesus left his home1 ,zacchaeus declared in the presence of all the disciples3 ,i am not the man ,i was yesterday4 ,i intend to be a different person4 ,if ,i have cheated anyone in collecting taxes1 ,i will give half of all that ,i possess to the poor2 and ,i will give every man whom ,i cheated four times what ,i took from him4 ,jesus smiled4 ,zacchaeus1 this day ,god has forgiven your sin and accepted you in his ,kingdom4 ,because you believe1 you are a true son of ,abraham4 ,after they had left1 ,judas could contain himself no longer4 ,master1 think of our task in ,jerusalem6 he exclaimed4 ,what will the best people think of us8 ,they will never believe we come to do ,god's will if we act as though we approved of lawbreakers6 ,judas1 answered ,jesus1 the ,son of ,man has come to seek and to save those who are lost4 ,zacchaeus was waiting for someone to summon him to repent and submit himself to ,god4 ,my ,father has sent me into the world to tell just such people--outcasts1 beggars1 sinners1 even gentiles--that he is ready to receive anyone who will repent4 ,many people were waiting at the city gate for ,jesus to lead them to ,jerusalem4 ,going before them1 he walked from the fertile lowlands around ,jericho into the bleak hills of ,judea4 ,above the city the travelers paused for a last look4 ,beyond the green plain lay the river1 hidden in a tangle of trees1 bushes1 and high grass4 ,wise travelers crossed the river only at the regular fords because this jungle concealed wolves1 jackals1 bears1 and lions even this far south4 ,the ,dead ,sea lay perfectly still4 ,mud flats marked the place where the ,jordan emptied into it4 ,andrew was glad that they traveled in a large group1 for this steep road was a favorite of robbers4 ,in ,galilee they often heard reports of travelers being ambushed1 beaten1 and robbed in these lonely mountains4 ,in small knots the disciples argued about the outcome of the things that had happened in ,jericho4 ,by the time they had covered the fifteen rough miles to the outskirts of ,jerusalem1 the men were more deeply excited than they themselves realized4 ,all their hope and faith in the ,master was to be put to the test6 ,drawing near the holy city1 the road crossed the southern shoulder of the ,hill of ,olives and here the men first caught sight of the capital city of ,palestine4 ,there were many beautiful buildings2 ,pilate had just built a graceful new aqueduct through the mountains to ,jerusalem4 ,the little town of ,bethphage lay outside the city wall4 ,but the disciples had eyes only for ,mount ,zion and the ,temple4 ,they never saw ,jerusalem without a thrill4 ,the ,temple was the symbol of their religious faith1 the place where ,god had established his glory4 ,mount ,zion held the eye of every traveler who ascended to the gates of the holy city4 ,jesus called two of the disciples4 ,we will wait here at the ,hill of ,olives1 he said4 ,you go into ,bethphage4 ,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 house4 ,bring it to me4 ,if anyone asks you what right you have to do it1 tell him1 ',the ,lord needs it1 and he will send it back immediately4' ,on the way to ,bethphage one of the men said1 ,did you know the ,master had planned to ride into ,jerusalem on a donkey8 ,no1 answered his companion4 ,both men were surprised to find that ,jesus had prepared for his visit4 ,when they got back to the ,hill of ,olives1 several men took off their cloaks and placed them on the back of the colt4 ,jesus seated himself on the animal1 and the entire group moved toward the gate of ,jerusalem4 ,pilgrims who crowded the roads stopped to watch1 then recognized ,jesus and joined the crowd4 ,excitement became intense4 ,when the gate of the holy city came into view1 several men ran ahead to clear the way4 ,snatches of song and psalms of praise could be heard on every side4 ,the tremendous enthusiasm of the people did not break out1 however1 until the procession entered the city4 ,for a moment all was quiet as they walked under the cool shadowed gate4 ,then the colt carried ,jesus out of the gate into the city4 ,it seemed to the amazed disciples that a thousand people filled the cobblestone street4 ,hosanna6 ,save us now6 cried the crowd4 ,blessed is the one who comes in the name of the ,lord ,god4 ,blessed is the messenger whom ,god has sent to deliver his people6 ,hosanna6 ,hosanna6 ,pilate will hear about this within an hour6 shouted ,judas in the ear of the ,zealot4 ,nonsense6 ,there is nothing to fear4 ,look at this crowd6 ,pilate would never dare arrest us6 ,judas rushed up to ,jesus and pulled at his robe4 ,master1 make them stop6 ,make them stop6 ,jesus' answer cut through the tumult4 ,if these people did not proclaim the ,kingdom1 the very stones in the street would have to cry out6 ,men were taking off their cloaks and throwing them in the street in front of ,jesus4 ,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 carpet4 ,blessed is the kingdom of our great ,king ,david6 shouted the people4 ,blessed is his ,son who comes to deliver us6 ,as ,jesus rode by1 everyone fell into step behind him1 singing and shouting praises4 ,jesus led the crowd up the hill of ,zion straight to the ,temple4 ,he got off the colt and entered4 ,hundreds pushed in after him1 still shouting hosannas4 ,what ,jesus saw shocked him4 ,it was early evening1 and most of the people who came to sacrifice had left4 ,but the courtyard of the house of ,god was neither empty nor quiet4 ,a large number of young bulls and sheep were tethered there and made a great disturbance4 ,jesus had seen these animals here when he had visited ,jerusalem before2 indignation rose up inside him4 ,priests were carrying water to the bullocks4 ,others were putting away small tables where they counted money as they sold the animals4 ,the whole scene reminded ,jesus more of a barnyard or a market place than the ,temple of ,god4 ,with rising anger1 ,jesus walked slowly around the entire courtyard4 ,he examined everything in it very closely4 ,the people saw his frown1 and their enthusiasm melted away4 ,the shouting stopped4 ,what is he going to do8 murmured ,andrew4 ,jesus turned his back on the whole disgusting scene and walked out of the ,temple4 ,why has he gone8 everyone asked4 ,only the disciples followed ,jesus4 ,the people scattered to the places where they lodged1 wondering what would happen on the morrow4 ,why was he angry8 asked ,andrew4 ,i don't know1 answered ,peter4 ,there are many things ,i should like to know1 observed ,judas4 ,there was deep feeling in ,peter's voice when he spoke again4 ,there is one thing certain3 very soon we shall know when he intends to bring in the new ,kingdom4 ,the people are for us4 ,perhaps tomorrow will tell6 ,illustration #ae4 ,,dispute ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,dusk on the ,hill of ,olives was quiet and restful after the excitement of the day4 ,the gentle wind in the olive trees1 which grew thickly in the ,garden of ,gethsemane1 was so different from the noise and smell of the ,temple courtyard6 ,while the disciples slept1 ,jesus went deeper into the ,garden1 where he could pray alone4 ,when he knelt on the rocky ground1 the moon1 almost full1 was just rising in the east4 ,but when ,jesus finally returned to the ,twelve and wrapped his coat around him to sleep1 the moon was high above1 cold and white4 ,the sound of travelers on the road through the olive orchard awakened ,peter the next morning4 ,the morning sunlight threw long shadows on the ground4 ,between the trees ,peter could see pilgrims passing along the road4 ,jerusalem would be crowded this ,passover season6 ,for a moment ,peter could not remember why he felt so excited when he awoke4 ,then the events of the day before flooded into his memory4 ,he stood up stiffly4 ,he had been cold all night2 the hard ground was a poor bed for men who would soon be ruling the gentiles6 ,jesus stood up and stretched4 ,come1 my followers6 he called4 ,there is work to do in the ,temple6 ,the men arose and walked down the slope to a small spring that trickled from under a rock4 ,when they had washed1 ,jesus led them to the road that crossed the ,kidron ,valley toward the ,golden ,gate of the ,temple4 ,all the men were hungry4 ,along the road they found no food for sale4 ,everyone who lived outside the city walls bought food in the market of ,jerusalem4 ,just above the ,kidron1 a leafy tree stood beside the road4 ,it is too early for figs1 remarked ,andrew4 ,jesus did not hear3 he was gazing at the tree4 ,he turned to the twelve men4 ,this tree is a good picture of the religion of the priests4 ,it has many leaves and looks strong4 ,but there is not one bit of fruit on it4 ,he pointed to the ,temple above them4 ,the sun shone brilliantly on ,mount ,zion4 ,it was a sight to inspire every pilgrim who climbed the ,jericho road4 ,the ,temple is beautiful4 ,there are many priests4 ,our ,law is righteous4 ,moses and the ,prophets were great teachers4 ,but our religion is all fine appearance6 ,it is producing nothing6 ,our priests and rulers obey the ,romans4 ,the ,temple is filled with people who spend their time selling bullocks and exchanging money6 ,the disciples realized that ,jesus had been deeply offended by the things he had seen in the ,temple the evening before4 ,jesus continued in a quieter tone3 ,there was once a man who had a fig tree like this one planted in his vineyard4 ,he came to see if it was producing fruit1 but there was none to be found4 ,there were no figs the next year either4 ,when he found none the third year1 he said to his gardener3 ',that tree has not given us any fruit in three years4 ,cut it down4 ,it is just taking up valuable ground4' ,but the gardener said3 ',let me give it one more chance4 ,let me dig round it and put manure on it4 ,if it does not bear fruit next year1 we will cut it down4' ,with great force ,jesus said3 ,our nation has had more than enough time to show results6 ,god will judge us for failing him6 ,let this fig tree teach you that ,god will condemn all religion that does not produce real fruit1 no matter how fine it may look6 ,jesus' voice struck dread into the disciples4 ,he sounded like ,jeremiah pronouncing doom on the city of ,jerusalem4 ,and he had said there was work for him at the ,temple6 ,what did he intend to do8 ,as the disciples followed ,jesus through the ,valley of ,kidron1 they were uneasy4 ,jesus strode through the ,golden ,gate into the ,temple without looking to the right or to the left4 ,he walked through ,solomon's ,porch into the courtyard4 ,gentiles were allowed to come this far1 but only ,jews could go farther4 ,several gates led through a second wall into another court4 ,over each gate hung a great sign3 ,,no ,,foreigner ,,is ,,allowed ,,inside ,,the ,,wall ,,surrounding ,,the ,,sanctuary4 ,,whoever ,,is ,,caught ,,will ,,be ,,put ,,to ,,death6 ,,he ,,alone ,,will ,,be ,,responsible6 ,one whole side of the outer yard was filled with stamping bulls and sheep4 ,the bawling of the cattle1 the stirring of the nervous sheep1 and the fluttering of pigeons in cages piled high on the ground made great confusion4 ,even this early in the morning dust filled the air over the courtyard4 ,high above the ,temple area rose four stone towers4 ,andrew shaded his eyes and looked up4 ,steel armor glinted in the sunlight4 ,from this lookout1 called the ,tower of ,antonia1 ,pilate's ,roman soldiers kept keen watch over everything that happened in the ,temple4 ,but it was not the tethered animals or the bustling crowds that caught ,jesus' attention4 ,not even the ,roman fort interested him after the first glance4 ,what grated most disagreeably upon him was the bickering of the priests4 ,even above the noise the disciples could hear the priests arguing with pilgrims who needed an animal to sacrifice4 ,jesus and the ,twelve stopped to watch one priest4 ,as they listened1 ,peter saw his ,master's anger rising4 ,a ,galilean had brought a young bull all the way from his home4 ,to the disciples he looked like a farmer who did not have much to live on4 ,such men usually sacrificed a sheep or a pigeon4 ,but this man must have wanted to give a better sacrifice4 ,he was watching the priest examine the legs of his bullock4 ,finally the priest straightened up4 ,no6 ,this beast will not do4 ,but ,i brought this bull all the way from ,galilee1 protested the farmer4 ,i can't help that1 answered the priest4 ,he is not good enough4 ,not good enough6 cried the man in dismay4 ,that is the best bull ,i ever raised6 ,all right1 then2 look6 ,the priest pointed to a small cut on the rear leg of the bullock4 ,but that happened on the trip1 explained the farmer4 ,there is nothing really wrong with him4 ,do you want to offer a sacrifice to ,god which is not perfect8 ,the man did not answer4 ,i'll tell you what ,i will do1 the disciples heard the priest say4 ,i will trade you a perfect sheep for this bull4 ,the farmer's face reddened angrily4 ,for an instant he seemed about to strike the priest2 then he jerked at the tether and led his bullock out of the ,temple court without replying4 ,jesus turned to the disciples1 his voice indignant4 ,that man brought the best he had--and was turned away6 ,jesus walked toward the ,beautiful ,gate1 between the outer courtyard and the inner court where the ,temple building stood4 ,at the foot of the steps which led through the gate he stopped4 ,on each side of the gate were money-changers4 ,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 money4 ,because there was a profit on this exchange1 the ,temple treasury had grown rich4 ,pilate had forced the high priest to use some of this money to pay for the great aqueduct that brought water to ,jerusalem4 ,the men were weighing coins on their scales4 ,clinking money and noisy arguing made the scene all the more like a public market4 ,jesus stood before the row of tables1 looking at the money-changers4 ,suddenly he spoke in a voice that was firm and clear4 ,the arguing stopped2 men forgot the money and looked up4 ,silence settled over that part of the ,temple courtyard2 ,jesus had taken command4 ,it is written in the ,scriptures1 ',my house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations6' ,but you have made it a den of robbers6 ,jesus stepped swiftly toward the first table and with a sweep of his arm threw the table over into the dust4 ,the scales crashed to the ground2 money rolled everywhere4 ,in an instant ,jesus was striding down the whole row4 ,the money-changers were terrified4 ,jesus did not leave a single table standing4 ,scales and coins1 records on parchment1 and chairs lay in confusion on the ground4 ,the onlookers could hardly believe what they saw2 who could this be1 who dared clear this courtyard as though it were his own8 ,judas moved quickly toward ,jesus4 ,stop6 ,stop6 he cried out4 ,but ,jesus paid no attention4 ,he turned to those who were selling animals and pigeons and cried out3 ,take these things away6 ,you shall not make my ,father's house a house of trade6 ,he picked up a piece of rope and1 knotting a whip of cords1 began to drive the bullocks out of the ,temple4 ,people stood as though paralyzed4 ,heavy swirls of dust hung in the morning air4 ,the empty cages from which the pigeons had escaped lay scattered4 ,judas stood stock-still behind ,jesus1 not daring to protest again4 ,the ,roman guards peered alertly from the ,tower of ,antonia1 but now all had become quiet below them4 ,come6 ,let us leave this place6 ,jesus walked across the broad royal porch and down toward the market place of ,jerusalem4 ,the disciples finally started after him4 ,all ,jerusalem saw him do it6 exclaimed ,andrew4 ,judas could hold back no longer4 ,why did he have to do a thing like this6 he cried passionately4 ,this will turn everyone against us6 ,the other eleven men knew that the ,romans had seen it all2 within a few minutes it would be reported to ,pilate4 ,the priests will be against us6 burst out ,judas again4 ,what can we do when every important person will say that we are wrong8 ,not even the ,zealot could find an answer4 ,the disciples heard rushing footsteps behind them4 ,fear clutched them as they caught sight of a crowd pouring down the street from the ,temple4 ,they gathered around ,jesus4 ,hosanna6 ,the ,son of ,david has come to rule his eternal kingdom6 ,save us now6 ,through the narrow streets on every side1 people came running4 ,these people are not against us6 cried the ,zealot4 ,peter caught sight of the man whose bullock had been rejected by the priest4 ,of course1 this man would be on ,jesus' side6 ,jesus waved his hand1 and the crowd gradually became quiet4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god is present among you6 he said to them4 ,god rules every man who trusts him4 ,nothing is impossible for a man who has faith6 ,for a moment an outburst of hosannas drowned his voice4 ,god does not desire more offerings and sacrifices6 ,he wants you to trust him as your ,father6 ,he wants you to love his will above everything else and to obey him faithfully4 ,any man who hears and believes my word shall have eternal life in ,god's ,kingdom6 ,already the crippled1 blind1 and diseased were pressing forward to the place where ,jesus stood4 ,looking at them with pity1 ,jesus repeated words now familiar to the disciples3 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 for he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor4 ,he has sent me to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for the blind4 ,he has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim this is the year of the ,lord's blessing6 ,it seemed a long time since ,peter had heard ,jesus read from ,isaiah in the synagogue at ,nazareth4 ,you are the ,one the ,prophets tell about6 cried a beggar in the crowd4 ,you are the ,son of ,david6 ,all day ,jesus remained in ,jerusalem1 teaching and healing4 ,roman soldiers came to investigate1 but they did not disturb him4 ,look at all these people1 the ,zealot said enthusiastically4 ,he must be getting ready to declare himself king6 ,he did just the right thing this morning6 ,judas turned on him4 ,the people cannot make anyone king1 he said bluntly4 ,the ,romans and the priests are all that count6 ,the other disciples wavered between hope and discouragement4 ,later in the day ,pharisees and priests joined the crowd4 ,see8 said ,judas4 ,already they are spying on us4 ,the hearts of the ,twelve sank4 ,judas must be right4 ,they urged ,jesus to leave ,jerusalem immediately1 but not until evening did ,jesus lead them back to the ,hill of ,olives4 ,at least he is not going to risk being arrested by staying in the city at night1 sighed ,peter in relief4 ,the ,roman soldiers will never find us here unless someone tells them where we are4 ,none of the disciples slept soundly that night4 ,again ,jesus spent most of the night in prayer4 ,the men rose early1 glad to be rid of the discomfort of the cold ground1 but dreading to enter ,jerusalem again4 ,jesus did not seek the crowds in the market place2 he walked straight to the ,temple4 ,the money-changers had not come back2 no animals stamped their hoofs in the courtyard4 ,james glanced up at the ,tower of ,antonia4 ,did the guard know that ,jesus was the man who had caused the riot yesterday8 ,jesus paid no attention to guards or priests4 ,he sat down near the gate where the ,jews entered the inner court to put gifts into the ,temple offering box4 ,within an hour the rumor spread through ,jerusalem that he was in the ,temple4 ,people began to come in great numbers4 ,scribes1 ,pharisees1 and ,roman soldiers were there too4 ,after ,jesus had been teaching awhile one of the scribes interrupted4 ,he lived on the ,temple grounds4 ,what ,i want to know1 he demanded1 is what right you have to call the ,temple of ,god your ,father's house8 ,how do you dare act as you do8 ,i will ask you a question1 replied ,jesus4 ,if you answer it1 ,i will tell you what right ,i have to act as ,i do4 ,where did ,john the ,baptizer get his right to preach8 ,from ,god in heaven1 or was he given it by some man1 perhaps a priest8 ,from ,god1 of course1 thought all the people instantly4 ,the scribe knew what the people believed4 ,he reflected1 ,if ,i say1 ,from heaven1 then he will ask us why we did not believe ,john's word4 ,but if ,i say1 ,from men--no1 that will never do6 ,these people all think ,john came from ,god6 ,after a long pause1 the scribe said1 ,i do not know4 ,all right1 then1 said ,jesus4 ,that is why you cannot understand where ,i get the right to act as ,i do6 ,listen to a story ,i shall tell you4 ,a man planted a vineyard4 ,he put a fence around it1 dug a wine press1 and built a guard tower to protect it4 ,then he leased his vineyard to some farmers and went away4 ,at harvest-time he sent a servant to collect the rent1 but the farmers beat the man and sent him away with nothing4 ,the owner sent another servant1 but the farmers clubbed him on the head and insulted him4 ,the farmers abused every man the owner sent2 they even killed some of them4 ,finally the owner thought1 ',i am sure they will respect my son4' ,so he sent his only son to collect the rent4 ,when the wicked farmers saw the young man coming1 they said to each other3 ',this young fellow will inherit the vineyard4 ,if we kill him1 we will possess it6' ,so they beat the young man to death and threw his body over the fence of the vineyard4 ,what will the owner of the vineyard do8 demanded ,jesus4 ,he will utterly destroy these evil farmers and will give the vineyard to other people whom the farmers hated6 ,the scribe backed away and went into the inner court4 ,look at him6 whispered ,judas to ,peter4 ,do you know what he is going to do8 ,he is going to report to the others6 ,judas began to move away4 ,where are you going8 asked ,peter4 ,i don't want to be seen around here4 ,peter followed him to the outer gate of the ,temple4 ,he was disturbed by what had happened the day before1 but he put on a bold manner with ,judas4 ,i don't think there is any reason to be afraid1 remarked ,peter4 ,judas looked at ,peter as though he had no sense at all4 ,anyone can see that we haven't a chance4 ,the priests are plotting against us right this minute4 ,look at that guard1 he pointed at the tower2 he sees everything we do6 ,peter did not reply4 ,anyhow1 did you hear that story ,jesus told8 ,you heard him say that they killed the son too1 didn't you8 ,peter jerked up his head4 ,do you mean4444 ,judas nodded4 ,all the way from ,galilee he has told us that he would be killed here4 ,peter looked over at ,jesus4 ,he acts very deliberately4 ,he seems to know what he is doing4 ,judas laughed bitterly4 ,he knows what he is doing1 all right6 ,he caught sight of some ,pharisees coming down the steps of the ,beautiful ,gate4 ,there are some more6 ,he turned his face away from them4 ,peter started toward ,jesus1 but ,judas hung back4 ,don't you want to hear what they say8 asked ,peter4 ,come on4 ,i'm keeping out of sight from now on4 ,and you had better look out for yourself too6 ,peter did not wait to argue4 ,rabbi1 the ,pharisee was saying1 we know you are a sincere and fearless man4 ,you have a reputation for never playing politics4 ,you always tell men to do what ,god wants4 ,the people were surprised4 ,this ,pharisee did not speak in a superior tone like the others4 ,tell me1 ,rabbi1 asked the ,pharisee1 is it right to pay taxes to the ,romans or not8 ,peter knew instantly that it was a trap4 ,if ,jesus answered that the ,jews should pay the ,roman tax1 he would be called a traitor to his people4 ,if he said the tax was wrong1 he would be reported to ,pilate and arrested4 ,a clever trick6 ,why do you try to trap me8 demanded ,jesus4 ,bring me a ,roman coin4 ,he held it up and asked the ,pharisee1 ,whose picture is stamped on this8 ,caesar's1 he answered4 ,all right1 then1 said ,jesus4 ,give to the ,romans what belongs to them--but be sure that you give to ,god what belongs to him6 ,jesus had escaped the trap1 but ,peter was puzzled4 ,what could he mean by saying1 ,give to the ,romans what belongs to them8 ,they were not going to live under the ,romans much longer6 ,the people were angry with this attempt to trick ,jesus4 ,they murmured threats when another scribe spoke up1 ,rabbi1 what is the most important command in the ,law8 ,jesus replied without hesitating4 ,the ,lord your ,god is one ,god and you must love him with your whole heart1 your whole soul2 your whole mind1 and your whole strength4 ,and the second is this3 ,you must love your neighbor as yourself4 ,no commands are greater than these4 ,i think you are right1 ,rabbi1 answered the scribe thoughtfully4 ,it is much more important to love ,god and one's neighbor sincerely than to make many sacrifices in the ,temple4 ,the disciples were suspicious2 what new trick was this8 ,but ,jesus answered the scribe warmly4 ,you are not far from the ,kingdom of ,god6 ,andrew came through the crowd toward ,peter4 ,have you seen ,judas8 ,we were talking just a minute ago4 ,both the men searched among the people4 ,he must have gone6 ,the fishermen were puzzled4 ,he did not want the officials to see him with us1 remarked ,peter4 ,later in the afternoon the people began to leave the ,temple court4 ,the disciples became anxious4 ,with hardly anyone around1 the ,romans could easily arrest ,jesus6 ,in a few more minutes there would be almost no one in the ,temple4 ,but still ,jesus talked to a few persons who needed him4 ,when they left the men sighed with relief4 ,where is ,judas8 asked ,jesus4 ,not one of the disciples knew4 99 99 99 99 99 ,judas had not left the ,temple1 as ,peter supposed4 ,at that very moment he was only a few yards away from them4 ,after talking to ,peter1 he had walked through the inner court to the council chamber of the high priest4 ,his knock interrupted a secret meeting4 ,a priest opened the door4 ,what do you want here8 ,i want to talk with the high priest4 ,inside he saw the rulers of the ,temple4 ,let him in1 ordered ,caiaphas1 the high priest4 ,you are with the ,galilean6 he said accusingly the instant he saw ,judas4 ,i was1 but ,i am no longer1 replied ,judas4 ,now ,i know that he is really very dangerous6 ,the men looked at him suspiciously4 ,judas plunged ahead1 trying to please the hard-faced men4 ,this ,jesus does not really love the ,law4 ,he disobeys the great ,rabbis6 ,he cannot help us against the ,romans4 ,the ,kingdom he talks about is a dream6 ,all he does is arouse the people1 and ,i am afraid he will bring ,pilate's vengeance upon us all6 ,the priests were surprised4 ,the high priest demanded1 ,well1 what do you want8 ,i will help you take him for thirty silver coins4 ,the dreadful offer was made4 ,he was pale1 and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead4 ,will you help us arrest him secretly--so that the people will not find out8 ,every eye was on ,judas4 ,i will4 ,very well1 then4 ,it is a bargain4 ,illustration #af4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,hope ,late that night ,judas crept into the olive orchard4 ,silently he lay down among the disciples2 but he did not close his eyes4 ,he listened alertly to catch any sound that would tell him that the others were awake4 ,there was only uneasy breathing and restless turning4 ,he lifted his head and looked carefully among the sleepers4 ,where was ,jesus8 ,stealthily ,judas arose4 ,he knew the ground well2 many times he had strolled in this peaceful grove during visits to ,jerusalem4 ,he walked through the olive orchard to the road that led to ,bethany4 ,across the ,valley of ,kidron the walls of ,jerusalem gleamed white in the moonlight4 ,still he saw no sign of ,jesus4 ,judas did not cross the deserted road1 but walked carefully toward the section of the orchard that lay farthest from the sleeping disciples4 ,a low wall loomed ahead2 here the great press was built which crushed the oil from the olives4 ,silently ,judas climbed over the wall and stood still for a moment1 listening intently4 ,but ,judas heard nothing4 ,he started across the enclosure around the olive press1 but stopped suddenly4 ,only a few steps away from ,judas knelt ,jesus1 his face bowed almost to the ground4 ,the moonlight striking down through the trees shone around him4 ,judas was shivering in the frosty night2 for an instant he wondered how ,jesus could endure the cold4 ,judas breathed softly2 he had not been heard6 ,then1 so gently that ,judas was not even startled1 a voice sounded4 ,jesus was praying4 ,heavenly ,father1 ,i have proclaimed thy gospel to the disciples whom thou hast given me4 ,they have believed thy word4 ,they know that my message comes from thee2 they believe that thou didst send me4 ,bless them4 ,heavenly ,father4 ,i am going to leave them2 they must stay in the world4 ,keep them by thy power1 holy ,father4 ,i have given them thy ,word1 and the world hates them because they belong to thee4 ,i do not ask thee to take them out of the world2 protect them from the evil one4 ,consecrate them by thy truth2 thy ,word is truth4 ,as thou hast sent me into the world1 so ,i have sent them into the world4 ,judas stood like a statue2 the ,master was praying for him6 ,jesus had not finished4 ,i do not pray only for my disciples4 ,heavenly ,father4 ,i pray for all who believe in me3 make them all one together6 ,help them to be one as we are one--,i in them and thou in me4 ,o ,father in heaven1 just and merciful1 the world has not known thee1 but ,i have2 and my followers know that ,i have come from thee4 ,give them the love which has bound thee to me and me to them4 ,the prayer ended4 ,how terribly calm ,jesus was6 ,he was so sure that ,god was right there6 ,with an effort ,judas controlled a mad desire to flee and instead walked quietly away4 ,but when he was out of earshot he broke into a run4 ,not knowing where he was going1 he ran until his breath came in gasps4 ,he found himself among houses4 ,it was ,bethany1 empty and bare in the night1 but here where people lived he felt secure from the terror of the ,garden where ,jesus was talking with ,god4 ,dreading to go back to the ,hill of ,olives1 ,judas slumped down on a bench beside the town well4 ,he remembered the day he had first heard ,jesus preach in ,jerusalem4 ,what mysterious power had compelled him to follow this strange ,rabbi8 ,since then he himself had often preached the gospel of the ,kingdom which he had learned from ,jesus4 ,judas pressed his fists against his temples4 ,never1 never could he escape this man from ,nazareth6 ,god was in him6 ,every memory of his life with ,jesus rose up and condemned ,judas for his bargain with the priests4 ,he could never keep it6 ,he would go back to ,jesus and confess his great sin6 ,he stood up shivering4 ,it was the cold of the night1 he told himself4 ,he took a few faltering steps toward ,gethsemane and stopped4 ,what could he be thinking of8 ,was he serious about giving up his plan to put ,jesus in the power of the high priest8 ,judas dropped again to the bench4 ,he had promised to help the high priest for good reasons4 ,jesus was a very dangerous man6 ,if he should confess his bargain to ,jesus now1 he might be helping to overthrow the sacred religion of his nation6 ,no6 ,he must go through with it6 ,jesus must be stopped6 ,the moon was pale in the dawn when ,judas finally forced himself to go back to the olive orchard4 ,he could not put ,jesus' prayer out of his mind4 ,how could he ever face him8 ,yet ,judas found courage and strength in the thought that ,god knew that he was doing this difficult thing for the sake of true religion4 ,comforted by this1 he crept to the place where the men slept and lay down on the hard ground4 ,just the same1 his heart was cold within him as he watched the dawn change the sky4 ,a half hour later the sun was still hidden behind the hills of ,judea2 gray light filled the olive grove4 ,the disciples slept1 but ,judas was wide-awake4 ,suddenly he heard a footfall4 ,among the trees he saw a figure moving toward them4 ,for an instant panic gripped him4 ,was someone else guiding the priests to the place where ,jesus stayed8 ,judas shook ,peter by the shoulder4 ,simon ,peter6 ,peter6 ,the fisherman did not move4 ,judas shook him harder4 ,eh8 ,what is it8 ,peter was heavy with sleep4 ,there is someone coming4 ,instantly ,peter was awake4 ,judas pointed to the man1 now very near them4 ,peter stood up1 and ,judas followed him4 ,they recognized a young man whom they had seen often in the ,temple4 ,i am glad to find you awake1 he said to ,peter4 ,i have come to warn you of danger4 ,judas' heart leaped4 ,had this fellow seen him going into the priests' council chamber8 ,i am a student in the ,temple1 explained the young man4 ,i have heard your ,rabbi every day4 ,peter looked closely at the face of the youth4 ,he seemed sincere4 ,yesterday the priests had a meeting4 ,they are going to stop your ,rabbi6 ,fear was like a heavy hand on ,judas4 ,this fellow was going to betray him to ,peter6 ,what do you mean8 asked ,peter4 ,the other disciples were aroused by ,peter's voice4 ,several sat up and stared at the three men4 ,i do not know just what they plan to do1 continued the student4 ,but ,i know that they want to accuse him before ,pilate4 ,relief flooded through ,judas4 ,the man did not know6 ,jesus still slept soundly1 but the others gathered around4 ,this young man says that the priests are plotting to arrest us1 ,peter said to them4 ,the dawn light1 dimmed by the morning mist1 threw an ashy gray color over the faces of the ,twelve4 ,peter could see that they were afraid and very suspicious of the visitor4 ,he turned sharply to him4 ,why have you come out here8 ,the young man did not hesitate4 ,your ,rabbi knows the truth about us4 ,we all know he is right2 that is why the others hate him so6 ,he looked down at ,jesus4 ,but ,i believe his word6 ,god has sent him to call us back to ,him6 ,judas turned away4 ,the courage of this young man made the disciples ashamed4 ,after a moment ,james said1 ,we thank you for coming here4 ,the young man smiled and answered3 ,i must go back to the ,temple4 ,let no harm come to your ,rabbi6 ,without comment the twelve men watched him leave4 ,the warm sunlight awakened ,jesus when the mist began to drift away4 ,he was surprised to find all the men up4 ,a few were talking quietly2 others sat alone4 ,judas' back was turned4 ,peter came over to ,jesus4 ,a student from the ,temple came here while you slept1 ,master4 ,he told us that the priests are plotting against us4 ,all but ,judas were looking at ,jesus4 ,he stood up4 ,his cloak was soiled from constant use4 ,small twigs and dirt clung to the coarse cloth4 ,but tangled hair and rumpled clothes could not hide the ,master's great dignity4 ,his voice was untroubled when he answered4 ,today is the ,feast of the ,passover4 ,today the lamb is killed so that the people may be saved4 ,the ,father in heaven has sent the ,son of ,man to be delivered up4 ,in a little while you will see me no more2 then after a short time you will see me again4 ,we do not understand what you are saying4 ,master1 said ,peter4 ,you will soon be full of sorrow--but the people who hate me will be glad that they have overcome me1 answered ,jesus4 ,but your sorrow will turn to joy4 ,right now you are full of fear--and you will be even more afraid6 ,but do not lose heart3 ,i will return and give you the kind of joy that no one can take away from you4 ,the disciples could make nothing of ,jesus' words4 ,what could he mean by saying1 ,i will return8 ,jesus prepared to go into ,jerusalem4 ,with growing dread1 the disciples realized what he intended to do4 ,would he pay no attention to the warnings of the young man8 ,as they came into the ,temple1 ,jesus found a large crowd that had gathered early to meet him4 ,the disciples felt like prisoners giving up all hope of freedom4 ,at first not a priest or ,pharisee was anywhere to be seen4 ,so eagerly did the disciples keep watch that they hardly heard what ,jesus was saying4 ,do not let anyone deceive you1 he warned the people4 ,in the last days many false prophets will come in the name of ,god--but do not follow them6 ,if you are my true followers1 men will hate you and try to kill you4 ,but even when you are dragged before kings and priests and put on trial1 tell everyone the gospel of ,god6 ,do not worry or try to prepare ahead of time--,i will give you answers that your enemies cannot escape4 ,look6 whispered ,andrew4 ,there they come6 ,judas saw a priest he had talked to the day before walking toward ,jesus4 ,but the ,master paid no attention4 ,in those days1 he continued1 your own friends will betray you4 ,they will put you to death4 ,everyone will hate you for my sake--but do not be afraid6 ,if you are willing to give your life for me1 you shall have eternal life4 ,like darts his words struck into ,judas4 ,the time will come when ,jerusalem will be surrounded by enemy armies1 declared ,jesus4 ,then she will soon be destroyed4 ,let everyone flee to the hills for his life1 for in those days ,god will punish this wicked city for her sin4 ,every single building will be leveled to the ground6 ,our beautiful ,temple6 cried a man in the crowd4 ,look at these great stones6 ,will all this be destroyed8 ,i tell you solemnly1 declared ,jesus1 the day is coming when not one stone in this ,temple will be left standing6 ,the priest broke in4 ,how do you dare say that8 ,this is the house of ,god4 ,it took the finest workmen in ,israel forty-six years to build it4 ,god will not let his ,temple be destroyed6 ,you do not know how to save your ,temple6 retorted ,jesus4 ,you think it is holy because you make many sacrifices in it6 ,but ,i tell you that your enemies will tear down your ,temple and kill your children1 all because you do not know that ,god has come to you6 ,what do you mean8 exclaimed the priest4 ,look at the monuments we have built in memory of the prophets6 ,you decorate the tombs of the prophets and say to yourselves1 ',if we had lived then1 we would have treated them better6' ,but you kill the prophets that ,god sends you1 just as your ancestors did6 ,your religion is like a filthy cup3 bright and shiny on the outside1 but dirty inside6 ,your ,temple is beautiful1 but your religion is rotten6 ,the priests shrank back from the sheer force of ,jesus' anger4 ,you are like whitewashed tombs3 clean on the outside1 but inside they stink with rotten bones6 ,you put on a show of goodness--but your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and wickedness6 ,the disciples were horrified4 ,jesus was attacking the very priests themselves6 ,did he realize what would happen8 ,god will punish you for killing the prophets1 just as he condemned your wicked fathers for their sins6 ,you snakes6 ,you nest of vipers6 ,there is no way for you to escape eternal fire6 ,the priests flushed crimson4 ,the people watched them stalk into the inner court4 ,judas saw the hatred on their faces and knew that they would never be satisfied until they had killed ,jesus4 ,he was glad now that he had gone over to their side4 ,we had better leave this place6 whispered ,andrew to ,peter4 ,he looked toward the gate where the priests had gone4 ,but ,jesus was talking to the people again4 ,he will never leave6 answered ,peter4 ,panic seized the ,zealot4 ,come on6 ,we must get out of here6 ,he kept looking at the guards in the tower4 ,what are you thinking of8 demanded ,peter1 turning on him4 ,we can't leave the ,master alone6 ,i'm not going to be caught like a rat in a trap6 ,the ,zealot looked at the high walls around them4 ,i will not leave this place until the ,master does1 declared ,james firmly4 ,you will never get out1 warned the ,zealot4 ,just the same1 ,i'm staying1 repeated ,james stubbornly4 ,all day the crowd listened eagerly to every word that ,jesus spoke4 ,even in their despair the disciples knew that ,jesus would consider the day well spent4 ,how ,i wish he would leave6 burst out ,john1 late that afternoon4 ,where will we eat the ,passover meal tonight8 ,during a pause he asked ,jesus the question4 ,you and ,peter go into the city1 answered ,jesus4 ,you will meet a man carrying a water jar4 ,follow him to his house4 ,tell the owner that the ,rabbi says1 ',where is the room in which ,i am to eat the ,passover with my disciples8' ,this man will show you a large room upstairs1 with table and couches arranged for us4 ,prepare the ,passover meal there4 ,the two disciples were amazed3 ,jesus had planned the meal ahead of time6 ,glad to get out of the ,temple1 they did as they were told4 ,at twilight1 ,jesus and the others arrived4 ,all except ,jesus were completely worn out4 ,they had given up all hope4 ,who could tell what might happen before this night was over8 ,like men in a daze1 the disciples washed their hands in basins which ,peter and ,john had filled with water4 ,then they lay down on the couches around the table4 ,but ,jesus did not immediately lie down with the others4 ,curiously the men watched him take off his robe and tie a towel around his waist4 ,he began to pour water into a basin4 ,then ,jesus carried the basin to where ,andrew lay and knelt at his couch4 ,the fisherman hardly knew what to say4 ,slaves and servants washed the feet of guests6 ,silently ,jesus washed the feet of all the ,twelve1 coming last to ,simon ,peter4 ,master6 ,you shall not do this for me6 ,he drew away from ,jesus1 who was kneeling at the foot of his couch4 ,peter1 you do not understand why ,i am doing this--but very soon you will6 ,i will never let you wash my feet6 protested ,peter4 ,unless ,i wash your feet1 answered ,jesus gravely1 you cannot share in my suffering and my glory4 ,peter realized how much this act meant to ,jesus4 ,o ,master1 wash my head and my hands too6 ,no1 replied ,jesus1 drying ,peter's feet with the towel1 since ,i have done this1 you are clean all over4 ,no more is needed4 ,reverence filled the disciples as they listened to his words2 but not until he had put on his robe and taken his place at the table did they understand4 ,do you know why ,i have done this8 he asked4 ,you call me your ,rabbi and your ,master--and that is right3 ,i am your ,master4 ,if ,i am willing to wash your feet1 should you not serve one another8 ,no servant is greater than his ,master4 ,you must learn this3 if any man wishes to be great in the ,kingdom of ,heaven1 he must be the slave of all men for my sake4 ,the disciples began to eat4 ,the supper was simple4 ,a piece of roast lamb in a shallow bowl was the chief dish4 ,there was a plate of unleavened bread1 a vegetable1 and a bowl of sauce made of dates1 raisins1 and vinegar4 ,there was nothing else except a single large cup of wine mixed with water4 ,each man took a piece of meat in his hand and ate it4 ,some first dipped it into the vinegar sauce4 ,the men were glad for the food1 but it did not drive away their discouragement4 ,everyone knew it could not be long until they were arrested4 ,amid these dark thoughts1 ,jesus spoke4 ,the hand of him who betrays me is with me on this table6 ,the disciples could hardly believe their ears4 ,one of us--betray you8 asked ,peter4 ,they looked at each other4 ,one of you at this table will betray me1 but woe to him who does this deed6 declared ,jesus4 ,is it ,i8 asked ,james4 ,he seemed to doubt even himself4 ,john leaned back to ,jesus4 ,tell us who it is1 ,master4 ,it is not ,i1 is it1 ,rabbi8 urged ,judas4 ,jesus turned to him4 ,are you sure it is not you8 ,he looked accusingly at ,judas4 ,then ,jesus said sternly1 ,whatever you are planning to do--do it quickly6 ,judas left the room immediately4 ,he must be going out to pay for the food1 remarked ,andrew4 ,master1 ,i don't care what the others may do2 ,i will stay with you6 declared ,peter4 ,jesus looked at him sadly3 ,peter1 you are going to face a terrible test1 but ,i have asked ,god to help you4 ,you must help the others4 ,master1 repeated ,peter1 eager to convince himself that he was not afraid1 ,i swear that ,i will do anything for you4 ,i am ready even to die for you6 ,jesus shook his head4 ,you have promised more than you can do4 ,before the cock crows at dawn you will deny three times that you ever knew me6 ,when the men had finished eating the meat1 ,jesus picked up a piece of the unleavened bread and held it in his hands4 ,i have looked forward to eating this ,passover meal with you before my suffering begins4 ,he raised his eyes4 ,heavenly ,father1 ,i thank thee that thou hast shown mercy and love to thy children4 ,i thank thee that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to babes4 ,then ,jesus broke the bread and gave the pieces to the disciples1 saying3 ,take this bread4 ,it is my body2 ,i am the ,bread of ,life4 ,if you believe in me1 you already have eternal life4 ,just as ,i have broken this bread1 my body will be broken when ,i suffer for you4 ,every time you break bread1 therefore1 remember what ,i have done for you4 ,the men were not sure that they understood all that ,jesus meant1 but they knew they were somehow sharing the life of their ,master as they took the bread and ate it4 ,then ,jesus took the large cup of wine and water in his hand4 ,this cup of wine stands for a promise of salvation3 take it and drink the wine1 every one of you4 ,this wine is my lifeblood1 which ,i give that you may have eternal life4 ,whenever you drink it1 remember my promise to you4 ,jesus handed the cup to ,john1 who was reclining next to him4 ,john sipped from it and passed it on4 ,reverently each man drank from the cup4 ,jesus put it on the table and arose from his couch4 ,the group stood and chanted together a psalm of thanksgiving3 ,i love the ,lord1 because he heareth ,my voice and my supplications4 ,because he hath inclined his ear unto me1 ,therefore will ,i call upon him as long as ,i live4 ,the cords of death entangled me1 ,and the pains of hell laid hold on me3 ,i found trouble and sorrow4 ,then called ,i upon the name of the ,lord3 ,o ,lord1 ,i beseech thee1 deliver my soul4 ,gracious is the ,lord1 and righteous2 ,yea1 our ,god is merciful4 ,the ,lord saveth the simple2 ,i was discouraged1 and he saved me4 ,return unto thy rest1 ,o my soul2 ,for the ,lord hath blessed thee greatly4 ,come6 ,follow me6 ,abruptly ,jesus walked from the room1 down the stairs1 and into the dark street4 ,the moon had just risen2 it hung low over the ,hill of ,olives1 blood-red in a black sky1 giving almost no light4 ,jesus walked swiftly toward the city gate4 ,the disciples glanced up and down each street they crossed1 alert for any sign of soldiers4 ,it did not take them long to reach the foot of the ,hill of ,olives4 ,jesus did not go to their usual resting place4 ,instead1 he led the eleven men toward his place of prayer in the ,garden of ,gethsemane4 ,they were panting for breath when ,jesus entered a narrow gate through the stone wall that ,judas had climbed over the night before4 ,the ,garden was dark4 ,among the dense trees the moon could not be seen at all4 ,during the week1 the men had slept under clear skies2 but now there was a damp chill that threatened a storm on the morrow4 ,when ,jesus stopped1 his followers sank wearily on the ground4 ,wait here for me while ,i pray1 said ,jesus4 ,a note of distress had crept into his voice4 ,he turned to ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john4 ,come with me4 ,they groped their way through the woods1 their hands before them4 ,jesus stopped4 ,my soul is very sorrowful1 even to death4 ,wait here and pray for me4 ,the men had never known ,jesus to be like this before2 he was almost appealing to them for help4 ,a short distance away ,jesus knelt on the ground4 ,the hard day1 the meal1 and the walk up the hill had made the fishermen drowsy1 but they heard ,jesus praying very earnestly4 ,o ,father1 thou canst do all things6 ,if it be possible1 spare me this suffering4 ,nevertheless not my will1 but thine1 be done4 ,they heard his voice no more4 ,peter did not know how long he had slept when he was awakened by ,jesus' shaking his shoulder4 ,simon ,peter6 ,are you sleeping8 ,couldn't you stay awake and pray with me even one hour8 ,james and ,john roused themselves4 ,stay awake1 all of you4 ,pray that you will not fail me now when ,i need you most6 ,i know you want to be my true friends--but you have not the strength6 ,hard as the three men tried1 they could not stay awake4 ,twice more ,jesus came and aroused them4 ,the last time ,peter awoke the moon was high1 but was almost hidden behind a cloud4 ,he could make out the faint outline of the figure of ,jesus standing beside him4 ,a chilly wind had sprung up and rattled the leaves4 ,the night wind carried a warning ,peter could not understand4 ,james and ,john slept heavily4 ,still resting8 said ,jesus4 ,the two men stirred and looked at ,jesus1 greatly ashamed4 ,come6 ,get up6 ,the hour has come when the ,son of ,man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men6 ,through the black woods rang the sound of a sword clanging against a steel shin guard4 ,peter leaped to his feet4 ,james6 ,john6 ,through the gnarled trees the men saw a sight that struck terror into their hearts3 led by ,roman soldiers1 a mob carrying torches was advancing toward them4 ,the yellow flames whipped in the wind and cast hideous twisting shadows as they came nearer the ,garden4 ,they must know we are here6 whispered ,james4 ,come on6 ,let's get out of here6 ,the two fishermen fled into the darkness4 ,torchlight glinted on spears and helmets4 ,there was no sign of the other eight disciples4 ,peter stood rooted to the spot from which he had risen4 ,jesus watched calmly4 ,some in the noisy crowd carried clubs4 ,the light from the flares struck through the trees and fell full on ,jesus' face4 ,there he is6 ,the cry echoed in the ,garden4 ,a wall of smoking torches and gleaming swords and shields closed around ,peter and ,jesus4 ,there was no escape now4 ,a ,roman soldier stepped forward4 ,hold up that torch6 he commanded his aide4 ,in the wavering light he peered into the faces of ,peter and ,jesus4 ,another figure stepped from the group4 ,judas6 ,peter was stunned4 ,hail1 ,master6 said ,judas4 ,then very deliberately1 as though forcing himself1 he kissed ,jesus4 ,do you betray me with a kiss1 ,judas8 asked ,jesus1 sadly4 ,the traitor could not bear the voice of the man he had once called his ,master2 he turned and rushed out of the circle of ,jews and soldiers4 ,peter never saw him again4 ,the captain gave a sharp command1 and several soldiers stepped toward ,jesus4 ,the group of men broke into angry shouts4 ,jesus' stern voice rang through the clamor4 ,why do you come to arrest me with swords and clubs as though ,i were a robber8 ,day after day ,i was in the ,temple teaching--you never tried to arrest me there6 ,for an instant the torches ceased waving4 ,then the mob surged all the more angrily upon ,peter and ,jesus4 ,peter snatched his short sword from his belt and struck a wild blow4 ,a man cried out sharply4 ,the captain shouted a command3 soldiers pushed through the rabble and seized ,jesus4 ,a burly soldier knocked ,peter backward2 he fell heavily and lay still4 ,when ,peter came to his senses1 he was breathing hard4 ,he had no idea how long he had been stretched on the ground half stunned4 ,he lifted himself on one elbow4 ,torches were moving down the road4 ,the sound of the mob was faint in his ears4 ,for the first time ,peter realized that he was alone4 ,the ,master was gone6 ,what would he do without him8 ,loneliness swept over the fisherman4 ,he leaped to his feet and dashed headlong through the trees where the soldiers had led ,jesus4 ,he tripped over a root and plunged to his knees2 branches lashed his face when he arose1 but in his panic he did not feel them4 ,he burst out onto the road4 ,in the distance the tiny lights were going out1 one by one1 as the procession entered the gate of ,jerusalem4 ,with a cry of helpless despair1 ,peter ran down the hill toward the city4 ,illustration #ag4 ,,the ,,darkest ,,hour ,,of ,,all ,as ,peter ran he realized that he did not know where the ,roman soldiers were taking ,jesus4 ,what if he should lose sight of them8 ,he was gasping for breath by the time he reached the city gate4 ,the ,temple was closed4 ,would they lead the ,master to ,pilate8 ,in the darkness1 ,peter could barely make out the massive bulk of the fortress of ,antonia1 the ,roman prison4 ,no sound broke the silence within its walls4 ,peter ran a few steps and stood panting at the first street crossing4 ,desperately he glanced one way and the other4 ,if only there were someone to tell him which way they had gone with ,jesus6 ,would they go to the house of the high priest himself8 ,peter turned and ran toward the south side of ,jerusalem1 his sandals clattering on the stone paving4 ,at every turn in the winding street ,peter peered into the darkness1 hoping to see the wavering light of torches ahead of him4 ,he did not notice a dark figure standing against the wall of a house that closed in the narrow street until he ran into him4 ,startled but glad to see someone1 ,peter asked1 ,sir1 have you seen soldiers and men with clubs passing this way8 ,the question was out before he realized his danger4 ,what if this stranger were an enemy8 ,he could not even see his face4 ,the man's answer was cautious4 ,some men went by here a few minutes ago4 ,the voice seemed familiar to ,peter4 ,did they have a prisoner8 he asked4 ,the torches were too dim for me to see4 ,peter forgot to thank the stranger in his haste to overtake ,jesus4 ,he rounded the next corner1 running1 then stopped short4 ,flickering straight ahead of him were torches4 ,soon he was close enough behind the men who carried them to see more clearly4 ,the yellow flames threw weird patterns on the houses3 shadows of men twisted and dodged on the walls as the torchbearers swung the lights to and fro4 ,peter followed cautiously1 coming no closer than necessary4 ,his heart leaped when he heard a step behind him4 ,he jerked around and saw a young priest4 ,fear clutched at him4 ,he was trapped6 ,before he could move1 the man spoke4 ,there they are4 ,peter recognized the voice4 ,it was the person he had run into a moment before6 ,the priest looked at him curiously and exclaimed1 ,you were with the ,galilean1 weren't you8 ,a denial sprang to ,peter's lips4 ,then he recognized the priest3 it was the student who had come to the ,hill of ,olives that very morning6 ,what are they going to do8 ,peter could keep back his anxiety no longer4 ,the young priest shook his head gravely4 ,i fear the worst4 ,look6 ,they have stopped6 ,he pointed4 ,the torches shone on a heavy wooden gate4 ,it swung open1 and the group started to enter4 ,let's follow them in1 urged the priest4 ,oh1 no6 protested ,peter4 ,they will recognize me4 ,they wouldn't let me in anyway4 ,but the priest was already hastening ahead4 ,peter followed4 ,his friend entered with the last of the group1 and the gates swung shut4 ,a servant woman stood outside to question everyone who wanted to go into the house of the high priest4 ,torches fastened to the walls on each side of the gate threw a pool of yellow light on the street4 ,peter could hear many people inside2 torchlight flickered on the high walls of the palace of the high priest1 rising behind the gate4 ,driven by curiosity1 ,peter came closer and closer4 ,the woman looked at him but said nothing4 ,peter hid his face2 he was glad the torches were smoky and low4 ,suddenly the gate opened1 and ,peter saw his friend4 ,let this man in1 he ordered the servant woman4 ,there was nothing for ,peter to do but go in4 ,as soon as he stepped into the light the woman said loudly3 ,wait a minute6 ,aren't you one of this ,galilean's followers8 ,peter froze with fear4 ,no6 he snapped1 and plunged through the gate to get away from her4 ,sweat stood out on his forehead4 ,a narrow escape6 ,peter was relieved that the large courtyard of the high priest's palace was so crowded4 ,he shrank into a shadowed corner and anxiously searched for ,jesus4 ,in this great house met the ,sanhedrin1 the great council of all the rulers of the ,jews4 ,peter saw the rough soldier who had knocked him down standing outside the door4 ,jesus must be inside6 ,there was nothing to do but wait4 ,peter began to feel cold4 ,near the center of the yard several men had built a charcoal fire4 ,peter was tempted to warm his hands1 but immediately gave up the idea3 these very men had seen him in the ,garden6 ,he walked back and forth in the shadows1 but it did not help much3 his feet were getting numb4 ,he wished he had never come into the courtyard4 ,if he tried to get out1 the woman would see him4 ,fifteen minutes passed4 ,what was happening in the priest's dark palace8 ,peter shivered and pulled his coat tight around him4 ,how good that fire would feel6 ,at last he could stand it no longer4 ,taking care to keep the firelight from shining on his face1 he went nearer4 ,how long will it take to condemn him8 ,peter heard one of the men ask impatiently4 ,it won't be long1 answered another4 ,he was in the uniform of the high priest's servants4 ,too bad his disciples got away6 growled the first4 ,i would like to get hold of that one that struck ,malchus with his sword6 ,a man came out of the palace and joined the others around the fire4 ,he's a stubborn fellow6 exclaimed the man4 ,he won't answer any questions6 ,what about the witnesses8 inquired a man who had not spoken before4 ,the other laughed4 ,they tell different stories6 ,they can't agree on what the ,galilean said6 ,don't worry1 said the high priest's servant confidently4 ,no matter what happens1 they won't let him get away now4 ,the last spark of hope in ,peter died4 ,the priests were determined to kill ,jesus4 ,the end had come4 ,peter did not notice that the man in front of him had moved so that the firelight shone directly on his face4 ,say6 ,weren't you with that ,galilean8 ,like a thunderbolt the question struck ,peter4 ,he stiffened with terror and cursed himself for having dared to come near the fire4 ,of course not6 he answered gruffly1 and backed away4 ,the man who had seen him strike ,malchus with his sword had not heard the question4 ,peter sighed4 ,his luck could not last much longer4 ,a group of people were going through the gate4 ,perhaps he could slip out without being noticed4 ,the priest who had got him in here had disappeared4 ,a cry went up at the door of the palace4 ,guards were coming out of the priests' council room6 ,suddenly ,jesus stood in the doorway4 ,peter's throat went dry4 ,what had they done to his ,master8 ,his face was swollen from many blows4 ,it glistened wet in the firelight--they had spit on him6 ,jesus stumbled as he came down the short stone staircase4 ,a rough fellow kicked him4 ,get along there6 ,he laughed coarsely4 ,pity flooded through ,peter1 then rage at the man who had hurt ,jesus4 ,what is the verdict8 ,a man was speaking to ,peter4 ,the verdict8 ,peter mumbled the words stupidly4 ,another man answered the question4 ,he is doomed to die4 ,peter looked from one to the other4 ,die8 ,yes4 ,they are going to ask ,pilate to sentence him to death4 ,the others looked at ,peter curiously4 ,someone grabbed him roughly by the shoulder4 ,say1 you6 ,didn't ,i see you in the olive orchard8 ,a guard6 ,he waved to the others4 ,come over here6 ,here is one of the ,galileans4 ,listen to his accent6 ,like icy water1 fear swept ,peter's daze away4 ,faces full of scorn surrounded him4 ,panic-stricken1 ,peter wrenched loose4 ,in the name of ,god1 ,i never even heard of this ,jesus6 he swore4 ,what are you talking about8 ,then a shrill sound caught ,peter's ear4 ,the words stopped in his throat4 ,outside the wall a rooster was crowing4 ,peter's lips were open1 but no sound came from them4 ,he was staring at the man who had accused him1 but he didn't see him4 ,the flush of anger and panic drained from his face4 ,jesus had heard4 ,with terrible dread1 ,peter watched his ,master turn4 ,their eyes met4 ,time stood still4 ,peter forgot everyone else3 there were just the two of them4 ,master and cursing disciple4 ,the sadness in ,jesus' eyes burned through ,peter4 ,do you betray me too1 ,peter8 the ,master seemed to say4 ,come on6 ,get going6 ,a guard slapped ,jesus heavily4 ,driven by the rough men1 ,jesus went out of the gate4 ,like a sleepwalker1 ,peter followed4 ,the guards did not try to stop him4 ,the servant woman at the gate did not notice him4 ,for an instant he stood in the street watching the men take ,jesus away4 ,the gate closed behind him4 ,then the terrible dream broke2 scalding tears flooded ,peter's eyes4 ,they came from his very heart4 ,he walked a little way down the dark street and stopped1 leaning against a stone wall4 ,desperately he pressed his face into his hands4 ,how could he stand this bitter remorse8 ,if only he had been faithful to his ,master6 ,peter was certain that the end had come2 he dreaded seeing his ,master condemned to death by the ,roman governor1 ,pilate4 ,all night he walked the deserted streets of ,jerusalem4 ,but when morning came he could not stay away from the fortress of ,antonia1 where he knew that ,jesus would soon be brought before ,pilate4 ,in the cold dawn it was a forbidding sight4 ,herod the ,great1 who had ruled before ,pilate's time1 had covered the massive rock on which the fortress stood with stones too steep and smooth for attackers to climb4 ,the walls rose sixty feet above this and towers were built at each corner4 ,the guards on the highest towers were one hundred and eighty feet above the pavement inside the fortress4 ,from it they could see everything in the ,temple below as well as the countryside north1 east1 and west of ,jerusalem4 ,a short stairway led from the ,temple porch into the fort4 ,a crowd of men were gathered in the ,temple' courtyard1 among them not one who had ever heard ,jesus teach4 ,peter had lost all fear of being seen4 ,as he waited1 his mind was entirely taken up with thoughts of what might be happening to his ,master behind the closed doors of ,pilate's judgment hall4 ,peter was surprised to see ,pilate come out of the fort down the steps into the ,temple4 ,where was ,jesus8 ,why did ,pilate come here8 ,then ,peter remembered3 the priests would not enter the ,roman building1 for fear of making themselves impure for the ,passover4 ,after a delay ,pilate came slowly out of the high priest's council chamber4 ,he stopped and looked at the men crowded before him4 ,a few cried out1 ,where is the ,galilean8 ,pilate waved his hand for silence4 ,i have examined this ,jesus4 ,he has not committed any crime4 ,a priest in the crowd cried out loudly3 ,he is stirring up the people6 ,he has made trouble both in ,galilee and in ,judea4 ,i have examined him1 and so has ,herod1 declared ,pilate4 ,we agree that he does not deserve to die4 ,i am going to order my soldiers to whip him and let him go4 ,the crowd was still4 ,then a priest cried out3 ,no6 ,away with him6 ,he is destroying our holy religion6 ,the rabble in the court burst out with angry shouts3 ,to the cross with him6 ,pilate turned around and went into the fortress4 ,the priests were worried lest ,jesus be set free4 ,they began to argue with the men in the courtyard4 ,do not let him escape now6 they urged4 ,make ,pilate crucify him6 ,a shout arose when a group of ,roman soldiers came out of the fort into the ,temple2 ,jesus was with them4 ,a cry broke from ,peter's lips when he saw his ,master before the crowd4 ,thorn branches had been twisted into a wreath and pressed on his head4 ,he wore a purple robe4 ,peter could see he was in pain4 ,behold6 ,here is the man6 cried ,pilate4 ,crucify him6 ,crucify him6 ,pilate hesitated4 ,if you let him go1 you are an enemy of the ,roman emperor6 shouted a priest4 ,peter could tell that ,pilate was afraid4 ,he walked to the stone seat where he announced his decisions4 ,embedded in the pavement before him was the ,roman seal and some ,latin words4 ,the ,roman guards led ,jesus to another seat4 ,he was very weak from his beating4 ,while the people were shouting1 ,pilate turned toward the priests gathered in a knot near his judgment seat and said bitterly3 ,you have wanted a ,jewish king--well1 here he is6 ,behold the king of the ,jews6 ,the high priest looked coldly at ,pilate and said1 ,we have only one king3 ,caesar4 ,pilate looked down at the ground4 ,there was one more possibility4 ,this innocent ,galilean might yet go free4 ,pilate remembered that custom allowed him to set free one prisoner at ,passover time--a prisoner whom the people chose4 ,amid the commotion in the courtyard1 ,pilate stared at the ,latin words on the pavement before him4 ,if only the people would ask that ,jesus be released6 ,i shall let one prisoner go free1 cried the governor4 ,shall it be ,bar-,abbas or the king of the ,jews8 ,a priest called out1 ,give us ,bar-,abbas6 ,then the crowd took up the cry1 ,we want ,bar-,abbas6 ,bar-,abbas6 ,a murderer8 ,peter could hardly believe it6 ,the cries grew louder4 ,give us ,bar-,abbas6 ,what shall ,i do with ,jesus1 called 'the ,christ'8 ,pilate asked1 cornered4 ,the people saw that he feared them1 and their hateful screams made ,peter shiver4 ,crucify him6 ,crucify him6 ,the crowd surged toward ,jesus1 and the ,roman guards drew their swords to protect their prisoner4 ,pilate saw that only blood would satisfy the people4 ,amid the tumult he sat silent1 his eyes once again on the ,latin words before him4 ,at last he stood up4 ,he was beaten4 ,the crowd was almost out of control4 ,several times he raised his hand and started to speak1 but each time he could scarcely hear his own voice4 ,the leader of the palace guard glanced anxiously at ,pilate and waved to a group of soldiers waiting inside the fort4 ,they made a tight circle around ,jesus4 ,pilate dropped his hand limply and turned to the priest4 ,do with him whatever you want4 ,the bloodthirsty mob surged toward the guards1 but could not break through the line of soldiers1 which stood like a steel wall until the door of the fort had slammed shut behind ,jesus4 ,peter made no attempt to follow4 ,he took little notice of the men around him1 who gave him curious stares4 ,peter walked to the place where ,jesus had stood4 ,he looked down and read the words which were written on the pavement in front of the judgment seat3 ,,justice ,,and ,,mercy4 ,pilate too had betrayed the ,christ6 ,illustration #ah4 ,,the ,,rock ,,of ,,faith ,the ,passover ,feast was ended1 and the pilgrims from ,galilee were leaving ,jerusalem4 ,the friends of ,jesus1 and especially the eleven disciples1 were dazed by the death of their ,master4 ,in the blackest discouragement1 wondering what they should do1 they gathered at the house where ,jesus had eaten his last meal4 ,they repeated over and over again the story of the things that had happened4 ,some talked about returning to ,galilee4 ,two followers who lived in ,emmaus1 a town several miles west of ,jerusalem1 decided to go back to their homes4 ,the two men took the road that led over the hill of ,calvary where ,jesus had died4 ,the cross still stood4 ,moving in the breeze was the sign which ,pilate had ordered tacked to the very top3 ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,the ,,jews4 ,at the hour of ,jesus' death this hill had trembled as a storm thundered through the sky4 ,but now ,calvary was quiet4 ,in the bright morning the two men could hardly believe that here they had heard the death cry of their ,master3 ,my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 ,when the men came near the cross1 they stood silent for many minutes4 ,finally ,cleopas1 the older of the two remarked1 ,they haven't taken the sign down yet4 ,do you think others will be crucified on his cross1 ,cleopas8 asked the other4 ,perhaps4 ,after a long silence1 ,cleopas added3 ,do you remember the centurion who was in charge of the soldiers8 ,just after ,jesus died1 ,i heard him say1 ',this man truly was a son of ,god6' ,do you think any of the others believed8 mused the other man4 ,most of them scoffed6 answered ,cleopas bitterly4 ,one priest said over and over1 ',you saved others--now save yourself6' and laughed4 ,tears of anger sprang into ,cleopas' eyes4 ,that is where his mother stood when he told ,john to take care of her1 remarked his companion4 ,at that moment the wind tore loose the parchment nailed at the top of the cross4 ,it drifted to the ground a few yards away4 ,the younger man looked at ,cleopas3 ,shall ,i get it8 ,after a moment ,cleopas replied3 ,no4 ,let it lie there4 ,why keep things that make us remember these days8 ,he turned his back on the cross and started down the hill toward ,emmaus4 ,his companion said nothing2 he knew the bitterness that made ,cleopas speak this way4 ,the road down to ,emmaus was rough but heavily traveled4 ,from all ,judea1 camel caravans carried olive oil and wool to ,joppa1 the main seaport of southern ,palestine4 ,up from the sea rode ,roman soldiers to guard ,jerusalem1 ,jericho1 and the forts across the ,jordan4 ,toward sunset the two travelers came in sight of the ,valley of ,aijalon1 sloping down to the sea4 ,here ,king ,saul had fought many bloody battles with the ancient ,philistines4 ,the low-hanging sun made a great golden blaze on the ,mediterranean ,sea1 twenty miles away4 ,we are not far from ,emmaus now1 remarked ,cleopas4 ,a warning cry sounded behind them3 ,caravan6 ,the two men moved to the side of the road1 and found1 when they turned1 that another traveler had joined them4 ,he had been very close behind1 but the two men had been so deep in conversation that they had not noticed him4 ,after the camels had passed1 kicking up the dust with their wide1 padded feet1 the stranger walked on with them4 ,what is all this you are talking about8 he asked in a friendly way4 ,cleopas glanced at his companion4 ,was it dangerous to answer frankly8 ,certainly they were safe here6 ,you must not have stayed in ,jerusalem very long if you have not heard about what happened1 he replied4 ,what is that8 asked the man4 ,it is about ,jesus of ,nazareth1 answered ,cleopas4 ,he was a ,galilean4 ,the common people all thought he was a ,prophet4 ,god truly had given him a message for us6 ,he warned us to repent and give our lives to ,god if we wish to have eternal life4 ,cleopas paused and his companion took up the story4 ,you see1 the high priests hated ,jesus because he called them hypocrites to their faces4 ,he was right3 they are cruel to the poor6 ,they make many sacrifices1 but just the same they do not really love ,god4 ,three days ago the priests took him prisoner and handed him over to ,pilate to be crucified4 ,we hoped that he would begin a great new day for our people--but now he is dead4 ,the men had reached the foot of the hill4 ,green grass grew where a tiny brook trickled beside the road4 ,we did have a surprise though1 added ,cleopas4 ,some women in our group went out to the tomb where we laid him but they could not find his body6 ,they saw a vision of angels who told them he was alive4 ,some of us went and looked for ourselves4 ,his body was gone--but no one saw ,jesus4 ,the stranger looked keenly at the two travelers4 ,you have read the ,prophets1 haven't you8 he asked4 ,they say that the ,messiah must suffer before he can be victorious4 ,cleopas looked at the man curiously4 ,what do you mean8 he asked4 ,all the things happened just as the ,prophets said1 repeated the stranger4 ,the books of ,moses say3 ',the ,lord thy ,god will raise up a ,prophet among you1 from among your very brethren1 like me4 ,you must listen to his word6' ,is not your ,rabbi that ,one8 ,and ,isaiah too4 ,he said3 ',behold1 my ,servant1 whom ,i have chosen6 ,i will put my ,spirit upon him and he shall declare judgment to gentiles4 ,he shall not strive or cry out2 no one shall hear his voice in the streets6' ,your master is this ,servant of ,god6 ,did he not die on a cross8 ,isaiah said that he would be treated like a criminal6 ,but if he was the ,messiah1 why did the priests hate him8 cried ,cleopas4 ,they always kill the messengers of ,god4 ,isaiah said1 ',they hear1 but do not understand2 they see1 but their minds are blind--their hearts are cold4' ,these priests will not let ,god give them eternal life6 ,all the rest of the way to ,emmaus the two friends talked earnestly with this stranger who understood the ,scriptures so well4 ,they had never realized that the ,prophets taught that the ,messiah would die4 ,they had always thought he would triumph over everybody6 ,they remembered now that ,jesus had said some of these very things4 ,at last they came to the village4 ,it was dusk4 ,cleopas stopped in front of a small house4 ,come in with us and spend the night1 for the day is almost over1 he said4 ,with a smile1 the stranger accepted4 ,it had been a long journey1 and the three men were very hungry4 ,after washing1 ,cleopas brought bread and fish to the table4 ,they lay down on the hard couches4 ,the guest picked up a small loaf and raised his eyes to bless it4 ,he broke the bread and handed it to the men4 ,they took it from him--and suddenly they knew who he was4 ,there was only one who had ever given them bread like that6 ,it must be the ,master himself6 ,they dropped to their knees4 ,joy1 reverence1 and fear filled them4 ,when they looked up1 ,jesus was gone4 ,no wonder our hearts burned within us while he talked to us on the road6 exclaimed ,cleopas4 ,we must tell the others6 answered his companion4 ,let us hurry back to ,jerusalem4 ,by the time the moon rose1 ,cleopas and his companion were halfway to ,jerusalem4 ,it made the shadowed ravines between the mountains seem blacker than ever1 but they were grateful for the faint light on the road4 ,they knew that robbers could very easily hide among the rocks that lay along the highway4 ,yet fear was almost forgotten in their great eagerness to get to ,jerusalem and tell the news3 the ,master was alive6 ,the two travelers pressed forward at a pace swifter than they would have thought possible on this steep road4 ,for lack of breath1 they talked very little4 ,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 morning4 ,the building was completely dark4 ,not a trace of light showed through the closed shutters4 ,cleopas knocked sharply on the wooden door4 ,in the silence they heard only their own heavy breathing and realized that they were very tired4 ,cleopas knocked again4 ,there was a muffled footstep inside2 then the bolt scraped and the door opened a crack4 ,open up6 whispered ,cleopas impatiently4 ,it seemed to take a long time for the man at the door to recognize them and open the door4 ,cleopas and his friend rushed up the stairs and burst into the upper room4 ,everyone was there4 ,in the instant before he spoke1 ,cleopas realized that something had changed since he had left in the morning4 ,the men were not dejected2 they were talking excitedly4 ,but ,cleopas did not stop to find out why4 ,we have seen him6 ,he is alive6 ,the disciples leaped to their feet4 ,james stared as though he had not understood4 ,we saw him on the road to ,emmaus6 ,you too6 exclaimed ,peter4 ,he ate with us in my home1 declared ,cleopas4 ,he turned to ,peter in amazement4 ,did you say you have seen him8 ,i saw him this morning4 ,after the women told us they had seen a vision at the tomb1 ,john and ,i went to look for ourselves4 ,they were right6 ,the ,master's body was gone4 ,i came back here and then set out alone for ,galilee4 ,i had traveled about an hour when the ,master appeared to me1 standing in the road4 ,he commanded me to return here4 ,when we first saw him1 we did not know who he was1 said ,cleopas4 ,then he told everything that had happened4 ,at first many wondered if the story could be true1 but as they listened1 their joy and amazement grew4 ,when ,cleopas finished1 they stirred and sighed4 ,here was one at least who certainly believed ,jesus was alive6 ,the air was heavy in the crowded room4 ,an iron pan filled with burning charcoal stood near the wall4 ,several broiled fish1 left over from supper1 lay on the coals4 ,cleopas and his friend looked at them hungrily4 ,peter handed pieces to them4 ,james rose from the rough wooden bench on which he sat and opened the shutters4 ,andrew poured oil from a large jar into the nearly empty lamps4 ,the men breathed deeply of the cool air that swept through the window4 ,the lamplight sprang up4 ,hope and wonder flickered through the disciples' minds1 still dulled by the sorrow of the ,master's violent death4 ,if ,i could just see him myself6 murmured ,john4 ,suddenly ,jesus was there4 ,he did not come in--he just appeared standing in the midst of them4 ,john drew in his breath sharply4 ,was this a ghost8 ,did the others see8 ,the men shrank from the place where ,jesus stood4 ,do not be afraid4 ,it is ,i6 ,look at my hands and my feet4 ,do you not see the wounds of the cross8 ,the men stared4 ,in the palms of his hands ,james could see the marks of nails4 ,his voice was real too6 ,the men did not trust their eyes4 ,several reached out timidly and touched the scars4 ,they moved like men in a dream4 ,have you any food8 asked ,jesus4 ,peter took another piece of fish from the charcoal stove and handed it to ,jesus4 ,when the disciples saw their ,master eat1 their doubts vanished4 ,they began to talk1 trying to realize that the impossible had really happened2 their ,leader was really living6 ,master1 burst out ,james enthusiastically1 are you going to drive out the ,romans now and give the ,kingdom back to us8 ,the others suddenly became quiet1 listening for his answer4 ,it is not for you to know when the ,father in heaven will do that1 ,james1 replied ,jesus4 ,in his own time he will destroy all evil4 ,he has already come among you3 all you must do is accept the power he gives you to obey his commands4 ,master1 what do you want us to do8 asked ,peter4 ,hearing his brother's strong voice1 ,andrew could hardly believe that only that morning ,peter had tried to leave ,jerusalem because everything reminded him that he had denied his ,lord4 ,jesus looked around at the circle of his disciples and raised his hands over them4 ,just as the ,father sent me into the world1 he said1 ,i am sending you4 ,may the ,holy ,spirit fill you with power4 ,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 life4 ,those who repent and believe this gospel shall be forgiven their sins4 ,but if anyone does not believe your words1 the anger of ,god hangs over him6 ,as mysteriously as he had come1 ,jesus left the men4 ,they remained silent4 ,each man saw in the face of the others a joy none could express4 ,at last ,peter spoke3 ,we must let everyone know that ,jesus has risen from the dead6 ,day by day the disciples learned that ,jesus was doing greater things among them than he had ever done before4 ,faith which had been uncertain was now sure4 ,every afternoon the disciples went to the ,temple to pray and tell the story of ,jesus' power4 ,some people were surprised1 for they thought the work of ,jesus would stop when he was crucified4 ,but many believed the word of the disciples and became followers with them4 ,it was not long before the success of ,peter and the others came to the attention of the high priest4 ,one day1 immediately after the hour of prayer1 he called his councilors together4 ,did you see that fisherman who used to follow the ,galilean we killed8 he demanded4 ,he was standing boldly in the ,temple declaring that his ,rabbi is alive6 ,purple veins stood out on the face and throat of the angry man4 ,have you ever heard such an insolent lie8 ,they have invented the whole story from beginning to end6 ,the other men were with him1 added a councilor4 ,they succeeded in getting the people very much stirred up4 ,it must be stopped6 ,if we can silence them with threats--all right4 ,if not4444 ,he lapsed into silence4 ,then his anger boiled to the surface again4 ,what man in his right mind could believe such a fairy tale8 ,that upstart from ,galilee--risen from the dead6 ,a young priest sighed and spoke4 ,what can we do8 ,those men seem to believe very sincerely that it happened4 ,the high priest was instantly suspicious4 ,you sound as though you agreed with them1 he observed bitingly4 ,i'll tell you what we must do6 ,keep a sharp watch on them4 ,the minute they make trouble--arrest them6 ,we can do whatever we want then4 ,just before the hour of prayer the following afternoon1 ,peter and ,john entered the ,temple with the worshipers who were streaming from the city4 ,to the two disciples it seemed a long time since ,jesus had been there1 but nothing was changed4 ,the row of slender columns which enclosed the inner court was majestic in the afternoon sunlight4 ,words of ,moses1 carved in the stone of the ,beautiful ,gate1 invited every ,jew to enter for prayer4 ,there were no money-changers there4 ,since ,jesus had driven them out1 neither they nor the sellers of animals had tried to come back4 ,two men carrying a cripple on a litter passed ,peter and ,john4 ,the disciples had seen him before1 begging money from all who walked by4 ,his helpers placed him near the ,beautiful ,gate as ,peter and ,john climbed up the steps toward him4 ,the beggar looked at them1 smiled1 and held out his hand4 ,will you give a little money to a lame man8 he asked4 ,peter and ,john stopped in front of the man4 ,he was a miserable sight--dirty1 ragged1 and thin from hunger4 ,his bony legs were paralyzed and useless4 ,look at us6 commanded ,peter4 ,the beggar looked at them expectantly4 ,we do not have any money1 said ,peter1 but we will give you what we do have6 ,by the power of ,jesus ,christ the ,nazarene1 stand up and walk6 ,peter stooped and pulled the man to his feet4 ,people had turned at the sound of ,peter's voice4 ,the beggar was standing alone6 ,the man looked at his feet2 then1 utterly amazed1 took a cautious step4 ,the trumpet sounded from the roof of the ,temple1 calling the people to prayer1 but none paid any attention2 they rushed toward the beggar to see what had happened4 ,swiftly ,peter led the man toward the outer part of the ,temple courtyard4 ,the people crowded after ,peter4 ,at the trumpet signal the high priest left the council chamber and entered the rear gate of the inner court4 ,how strange6 ,the ,temple was deserted6 ,two other priests came into the court4 ,what has happened8 they asked1 baffled4 ,where are the people8 ,through the columns1 the high priest saw people running4 ,look6 he exclaimed4 ,he turned and waved to several burly guards in the uniform of the high priest's palace4 ,we need you here6 ,they followed the priests toward the sound of the crowd4 ,people were pushing forward to catch a glimpse of the beggar clinging to the two disciples4 ,peter raised his hands and cried out so all could hear3 ,men of ,israel1 why are you so surprised at this8 ,why are you staring at us as though we had healed this man by our own strength8 ,we did not do it at all6 ,astonished at his words1 the people became very quiet4 ,peter saw the high priest1 but his voice did not waver4 ,my friends1 this man was not healed by any power of ours4 ,he was healed in the name of ,jesus of ,nazareth1 ,god's ,chosen ,servant4 ,the ,god of ,israel sent him to tell you the gospel of life1 but you refused to listen to him4 ,you handed him over to ,pilate to be killed6 ,even when the governor wanted to release him1 you demanded that this holy and just ,one from ,god should be crucified6 ,the high priest turned and spoke to the guards1 but ,peter did not hesitate a moment4 ,we declare to you that ,god raised ,jesus from the dead--we have seen him ourselves6 ,his power healed this man6 ,i know that you killed the ,lord of ,life without realizing what you were doing4 ,but the ,prophets knew this would happen to the ,christ2 they said he would suffer6 ,god has chosen this way of saving you6 ,there was a disturbance at the edge of the crowd4 ,guards were thrusting the people roughly aside in their haste to get to him4 ,repent now6 cried ,peter boldly4 ,ask ,god to forgive you for the terrible thing you have done1 in order that your sin may be blotted out4 ,god sent ,jesus to be your ,saviour6 ,the guards burst through the crowd and seized ,peter4 ,quickly his wrists were tied with rope4 ,a cry of protest rose4 ,two men stepped in front of the guards as they shoved ,peter toward the gate of the ,roman fort next to the ,temple1 but they were quickly beaten off by curses and the threat of the clubs4 ,what must we do8 cried a man in the crowd1 cut to the heart by ,peter's words4 ,in spite of the guards ,peter bravely called out3 ,repent and give your whole life to ,god6 ,believe in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,saviour6 ,silence6 ,the chief guard struck ,peter with his club4 ,when they came to the priests1 the guards stopped4 ,the high priest and the fisherman from ,galilee stood face to face4 ,peter's clothes were torn1 and his hands were bound behind him4 ,the anger of the high priest had turned to scornful triumph4 ,for a moment he stood sneering at ,peter2 then he stepped toward him and slapped him heavily across the face4 ,you liar6 ,you will find out that you can't blaspheme the ,law of ,god6 ,peter's face showed red marks4 ,his eyes shone with a strange joy1 and he smiled4 ,his voice was fearless1 its sound filled the whole ,temple4 ,i shall never stop telling what ,i have seen with my own eyes6 ,i shall obey ,god1 and not man6 ,pain shot through his shoulder as a guard struck him a heavy blow and shoved him roughly toward the fortress gate4 ,without looking back1 ,peter walked courageously into the ,roman prison4 ,,scripture ,,references ,,pages ,,chapter #a #aa ,matt4 #c3a-f #ab ,luke #c3aj-af #ab ,matt4 #c3g-aj #ac ,matt4 #c3ac ,,chapter #b #ba1 #bb ,luke #aj3be #bb ,luke #ag3bj1 #ba #bb ,matt4 #e3ch-dh #bc ,matt4 #ac3ca-cc #bc ,luke #e3d-aa ,,chapter #c #cb ,mark #a3bc-bg ,,chapter #d #ce ,matt4 #aa3bh #cg-ci ,mark #aj3ag-ca #dj ,luke #ah3i-ad #da-dc ,luke #d3af-cj ,,chapter #e #df1 #dg ,luke #ac3aj-ag #di ,matt4 #aj3cd #di ,mark #f3ag #ej ,john #c3cj #ea1 #eb ,mark #b3a-ab ,,chapter #f #ee ,matt4 #g3a-e #eg1 #eh ,luke #g3cf #eg ,mark #b3ag #eg ,luke #e3cb #fj ,mark #b3ah-bb #fj ,matt4 #aa3af-ai #fj ,matt4 #bc3bc1 #bd #fa ,mark #b3bc-bh #fb1 #fc ,mark #c3a-f ,,chapter #g #fe-fg ,matt4 #aj3a-bc #fg ,mark #c3ba #fh ,mark #c3bb-bg #fi ,matt4 #ab3bd-cb #fi ,luke #aa3bg1 #bh #gj ,mark #c3ca-ce #ga ,luke #aa3e-aj #ga1 #gb ,luke #ah3a-h #gb ,matt4 #f3i-ae #gb ,matt4 #ah3ba1 #bb ,,chapter #h #gd1 #ge ,matt4 #aa3b-ae #gg-gi ,mark #e3ba-dc ,,chapter #i #ha ,mark #f3ad-af #hb1 #hc ,mark #d3ac-bj #hd1 #he ,mark #f3cd #hd1 #he ,john #f3a-ae #hf1 #hg ,mark #f3de-eb ,,chapter #aj #ib ,mark #g3a-bc #ib1 #ic ,mark #ab3ch-dj #ic ,matt4 #ae3ad #ie ,john #ad3a #ie ,john #c3ag-ai #if1 #ig ,mark #h3ad-ba #ih ,matt4 #ae3ba-bh #ajj1 #aja ,mark #h3bg-cj #ajj1 #aja ,john #f3ff-fh ,,chapter #aa #ajb ,matt4 #af3ag-bj #ajc ,mark #h3ca-ch #ajd1 #aje ,luke #d3a-ac #ajg ,matt4 #af3be #aji-aab ,mark #i3ad-bi ,,chapter #ab #aac1 #aad ,mark #i3b-aj #aae-aai ,mark #i3cc-cg #abj1 #aba ,mark #i3ch-da #aba ,mark #i3ca1 #cb ,,chapter #ac #abf ,luke #ac3ca-cc #abg ,luke #aj3a-ab #abh ,luke #i3eg1 #eh #abh ,luke #aj3ag-ba #abi ,luke #i3ea-ef #abi ,luke #aj3ac-ae ,,chapter #ad #acc1 #acd ,luke #ag3aa-ai #acf ,mark #aj3df-eb #acg ,luke #ai3a-aj #aci1 #adj ,mark #aa3a-aa ,,chapter #ae #adb ,luke #ac3f-i #ade ,mark #aa3ae-ag #ade ,john #b3ac-af #adg1 #adh ,mark #aa3bg-cc #adh ,mark #ab3a-i #adi ,mark #ab3ac-ag #adi ,mark #ab3bh-cd #aej1 #aea ,luke #bb3c-f ,,chapter #af #aef1 #aeg ,mark #ac3a1 #b1 #i-bc #aeg1 #aeh ,matt4 #bc3be-cf #aeh ,mark #ad3ab-af #aei ,john #ac3a-ag #afj ,mark #ad3ag-ba #afj ,matt4 #bf3ca-ce #afj ,matt4 #aa3be #afj1 #afa ,matt4 #bf3bf-bi #afb ,mark #ad3cb-db #afc ,mark #ad3dc-ej ,,chapter #ag #afg-afi ,mark #ad3ec-gb #afi ,luke #bb3fa #agj ,luke #bc3ac-af #aga ,luke #bc3ah-be #aga ,john #ah3ch to #ai3af ,,chapter #ah #agc-agf ,luke #bd3ac-ce #agh ,luke #bd3cf-dc #agh ,acts #a3f #agi ,matt4 #bh3ah-bj #agi ,luke #bd3df-dh #ahj-ahb ,acts #c3a to #d3d