Jesus Leaves Galilee

Chapter 52
MATT. 8:19-22; LUKE 9:51-62; JOHN 7:2-13

TOWARD THE END OF SEPTEMBER Jesus left Capharnaum for Nazareth. He found His brethren making preparations for their trip to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Though they had no faith in Him, they invited Jesus to go with them to Jerusalem and stake His fortunes on a public manifestation. But He said to them:
"My time has not yet come, but your time is always at hand. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I bear witness concerning it, that its works are evil. As for you, go up to the feast, but I do not go up to this feast, for My time is not yet fulfilled."
So Jesus remained behind when His relatives set out on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The time for His public entrance into the Holy City was months distant.
When He finally left, about a week after the others, He avoided the usual pilgrim route (through the Perea) and made directly for Jerusalem across Samaria. To insure accommodations, He sent some of the disciples ahead to the town where they were to spend the night. When the Samaritans recognized the disciples were Jewish pilgrims, however, they refused to receive them. James and John asked Christ to punish this affront but He rebuked them instead:
"You do not know of what manner of spirit you are; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."
About this time a Scribe came to Jesus and said he would follow Him wherever He went. But Jesus replied:
"The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
To another aspirant, who wished first to bury his dead father, He said:
"Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but do thou go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
And to a third, who wished first to say farewell to his family, Jesus replied:
"No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

The way we react to opposition often indicates how well we have understood the meaning of Christ's teaching. When the disciples were refused lodging, they wanted Christ to call down fire from heaven and to destroy the inhospitable Samaritans. But Christ reminded them that His followers were to save men, not to destroy them. Christ would remind us of the same thing when we are vindictive and want to "get even with" those who have injured us.

Part V; The Feast of Tabernacles

Part V
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

IN THE fall of the year 29, Jesus closed His Galilean ministry and went down to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, a commemoration of the Israelites' wanderings in the desert. He took the route through Samaria, traveling slowly with a large band of His followers, and in the course of the journey He sent out seventy-two of them on a brief missionary tour. In one of the villages along the road, He related the Parable of the Good Samaritan, showing an example of true Christian love and neighborliness; and at Bethany He paused at the home of Lazarus.
When He reached Jerusalem He began teaching in the temple. The Pharisees sent attendants to seize Him, and, when they were thwarted in this, they sought to embarrass Him with a legal case, inviting Him to apply His doctrine of mercy to the judgment of an adulteress; but their cunning quailed before His wisdom. Even more typical of the malice of the Pharisees was their reaction to Christ's cure of a man who had been born blind. They brutally interrogated both the man and his parents, in the hope of making them deny the miracle; then they drove the uncooperative witness from their community.
From the Feast of Tabernacles (October) to the Feast of the Dedication (December) Jesus traveled about Judea, preaching and healing. He still makes use of parables (the Rich Man and His Soul; the Watchful Servants; the Barren Fig Tree; the Narrow Gate); but He speaks openly, too, assuring of His providence and the power of prayer and warning against hypocrisy and avarice. He is especially scathing in His denunciations of the Pharisees.

A Parable of Mercy

Chapter 51
MATT. 18:21-35

Now PETER CAME TO JESUS AND ASKED, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" But Jesus answered:
"I do not say to thee seven times, but seventy times seven."
And He related the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, illustrating the need of forgiving our fellowmen.
"This is why the kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who desired to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had no means of paying, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But the servant fell down and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay thee all!' And moved with compassion, the master of the servant released him, and forgave him the debt.
"But as the servant went out, he met one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and he laid hold of him and throttled him, saying, 'Pay what thou owest.' His fellow-servant therefore fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay thee all.' But he would not; but went away and cast him into prison until he should pay what was due.
"His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place. Then his master called him and said to him, 'Wicked servant! I forgave thee all the debt, because thou didst entreat me. Shouldst not thou also have had pity on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?' And his master, being angry, handed him over to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not each forgive your brothers from your hearts."

Peter thought he was being generous in suggesting "seven" as the number of times he should forgive offenses against him, for "seven" was commonly used to indicate a considerable number. But Christ's answer, "Seventy times seven," represents an infinitely greater number. Peter's question can be on our lips often. For we, too, frequently find ourselves overlooked, slighted, offended, even outraged by others. And Christ's answer to Peter is meant for us also. We must always forgive; for the true follower of Christ the measure of forgiveness is inexhaustible.

Last Days in Capharnaum

Chapter 50
MATT. 17:23—18:20; 10:41-42; MARK 9:32-49; LUKE 9:46-50; 17:1-4

WHEN JESUS AND His DISCIPLES had returned to Capharnaum, the tax-collectors came to Peter and asked him if his Master paid the poll-tax for the maintenance of the temple. Peter replied that He did, and went in to get the money for the tax, but Jesus forestalled him:
"What dost thou think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive tribute or customs; from their own sons, or from others?"
"From others," answered Peter. And Jesus said:
"The sons then are exempt. But that we may not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And opening its mouth thou wilt find a stater; take that and give it to them for Me and for thee."
On the way to Capharnaum Jesus had observed that the disciples were bickering about something, and when they reached their house He asked them:
"What were you arguing about on the way?"
They were ashamed to answer, for they had been arguing about their rank in His kingdom. Sitting down outside the house, Jesus called all of the disciples together and spoke to them about humility.
"If any man wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all, and servant of all"
There were some little children playing nearby. Jesus called one of them to Him and taking Him in His arms, said to the disciples:
"Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such little child for My sake, receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me. For he who is the least among you, he is the greatest."
John said that they had come on a man casting out devils in Christ's name and had rebuked him. But Jesus corrected him, saying:
"Do not forbid him, because there is no one who shall work a miracle in My name, and forthwith be able to speak ill of Me. For he who is not against you is for you."
He went on to speak of the reward of charity and the punishment of scandal:
"He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a just man because he is a just man, shall receive a just man's reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones but a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.
"Woe to the world because of scandals! For it must needs be that scandals come, but woe to the man through whom scandal does come! But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it were better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven always behold the face of My Father in heaven'. For the Son of Man came to save what was lost. What do you think? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them stray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go in search of the one that has strayed? And if he happens to find it, amen I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that a single one of these little ones should perish.
"If thy hand is an occasion of sin to thee, cut it off! It is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than, having two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, 'Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.' And if thy foot is an occasion of sin to thee, cut it off! It is better for thee to enter into life everlasting lame, than, having two feet, to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire, 'Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched,' And if thy eye is an occasion of sin to thee, pluck it out! It is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hellfire, 'Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.' For everyone shall be salted with fire, and every victim shall be salted. Salt is good; but if the salt becomes insipid, what shall you season it with? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

THE PROPER SPIRIT OF CORRECTION
"But if thy brother sin against thee, go and show him his fault, between thee and him alone. If he listen to thee, thou hast won thy brother. But if he do not listen to thee, take with thee one or two more so that on the word of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed. And if he refuse to hear them, appeal to the Church, but if he refuse to hear even the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican. Amen I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven."
"I say to you further, that if any two of you shall agree on earth about anything at all for which they ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together for My sake, there am I in the midst of them."

Christ taught us the proper procedure to use in dealing with someone who is in need of correction. We must move cautiously and our action must be motivated by love, not by anger; He tells us we must be charitable and that we must not embarrass those whom we are seeking to admonish. The correction should be given privately, unless this kind of treatment fails. Even then we are to avoid causing unnecessary scandal; we may go only so far as is needed in making the matter public. If we have employees, children, or anyone else to correct, do we observe this charity recommended by Christ?

Jesus Cures a Possessed Boy

Chapter 49
MATT. 17:14-22; MARK 9:13-31; LUKE 9:37-45
AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN they found the other disciples in the midst of a crowd, arguing with some Scribes. The people were surprised, but ran to welcome Him, and Jesus said:
"What are you arguing about among yourselves?"
A man in the crowd answered that his son was possessed by an evil spirit which threw him into dangerous convulsions. He said that he had brought the boy to be cured by His disciples, but that they could not cure him. Jesus said:
"O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me."
When the boy was brought before Jesus, the evil spirit convulsed his body and he fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked his father:
"How long is it since this has come upon him?"
"From his infancy," the father replied. He begged Jesus to help if He could, but Jesus said:
"If thou, canst believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
"I do believe," cried the father. "Help my unbelief."
Seeing a crowd was forming again, Jesus said:
"Thou deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him and enter him no more."
Then Jesus helped the boy to his feet and returned him to his father.
Later the disciples asked Him why they had been unable to cure the boy. Jesus answered:
"Because of your little faith; for amen I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Remove from here'; and it will remove. And nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind can only be cast out by prayer and fasting."
And He said to His disciples:
"Store up these words in your minds: the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and having been killed, He will rise again on the third day."

This miracle teaches the power of and need for faith. But one remark of Christ underlies two other great needs in the spiritual life-prayer and fasting. Prayer unites us to God; fasting or self-denial frees us from the fetters and power of uncontrolled passions. Without all three, faith, prayer, and self-denial, there is no genuine progress in the spiritual life. These three enable me to overcome diabolical power. Are all three an important part of my life?

The Transfiguration

Chapter 48
MATT. 17:1-13; MARK 9:1-12; LUKE 9:28-36

A WEEK LATER, having returned to Galilee, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and ascended a high mountain. While He was praying there, He was transfigured before His disciples. His face shone with a sunlike radiance, and an aura of light surrounded His whole body, making His clothes appear dazzlingly white. And on either side of Jesus appeared Moses and Elias, who conversed with Him about His Passion.
The Apostles had been sleeping while Christ prayed, and they witnessed this mysterious scene when they awoke. Presently, as Moses and Elias withdrew, Peter said to Jesus exultantly, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If Thou wilt, let us set up three tents here, one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias."
As Peter spoke to Jesus, a luminous cloud appeared above their heads, and a voice came from the cloud, saying:
"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him."
Terrified at this voice from the sky, the disciples threw themselves face-down on the ground. But Jesus came up and reassured them, saying:
"Arise, and do not be afraid."
And when they looked up again, Jesus was alone.
Coming down from the mountain, He cautioned them:
"Tell the vision to no one, till the Son of Man has risen from the dead."
They obeyed Jesus and kept this matter to themselves. But as they walked along they began discussing what He meant by the words, "risen from the dead." And they asked, "Why then do the Pharisees and Scribes say that Elias must come first?" Jesus answered:
"Elias indeed is to come and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elias has come already, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also shall the Son of Man suffer at their hands."

Three had the happiness of witnessing the Transfiguration; the same three were present at the Agony in the Garden. Therein is one of the mysteries of the Christian life. Great joy and great suffering are mixed in a life close to God. To give oneself completely to God will bring greater peace and joy to the soul than anything else. But with the joy will be suffering. For the Christian life is a life like Christ's.