They Fail To Arrest Him

WHILE the Festival of Tabernacles is still in progress the religious leader send out police officers to arrest Jesus. He does not attempt to hide. Instead, Jesus keeps on teaching publicly, saying: "I continue a little while longer with you before I got to him that sent me, and where I am you cannot come." The Jews do not understand, and so they inquire among themselves: "Where does this man intend going, so that we shall not find him? He does not intend to go to the Jews dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks does he? What does this saying mean that he said, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me, and where I am you cannot come? ' Jesus, of course, is talking about his approaching death and resurrection to life in heaven, where his enemies cannot follow.

The seventh and last day of the festival arrives. Each morning of the festival, a priest has poured out water, which he took from the Pool of Siloam, so that it flowed to the base of the altar. Likely reminding the people of this daily ceremony, Jesus cries out: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He that puts faith in me, just as the Scripture has said, 'Out from the inmost part streams of living water will flow.'"

Actually, Jesus is here speaking about the grand consequences when the holy spirit would be poured out. the following year this pouring out of holy spirit occurs at Pentecost. There streams of living water flow forth when the 120 disciples begin ministering to the people. But until then, there is no spirit in the sense that none of Christ's disciples are anointed with holy spirit and called to heavenly life.

In response to Jesus' teaching, some begin saying: "This is for a certainty the Prophet, evidently referring to the prophet greater than Moses who was promised to come. Others say:" "This is the Christ." But others protest: "The Christ is not actually coming out of Galilee, is he? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ is coming from the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem the village where David used to be?"

Next time: Conclusion of They Fail To Arrest Him

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

Conclusion of At The Festival Of The Tabernacles

The people in the crowd, probably visitors to the festival are unaware of such efforts. They consider it inconceivable that anyone would want to kill such a wonderful teacher. So they believe that something must be wrong with Jesus for him to think this. "You have a demon," they say. "Who is seeking to kill you?"

The Jewish leaders want Jesus killed, even though the crowd may not realize it. When Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath a year and a half before the leaders tried to kill him. So Jesus now points up their unreasonableness by asking them: "If a man receives a circumcision on a sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you violently angry at me because I made a man completely sound in health on a sabbath? Stop judging from the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

Inhabitants of Jerusalem, who are aware of the situation, now say: "This is the man they are seeking to kill, is it not? And yet, see! he is speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. The rulers have not yet come to know for a certainty that this is the Christ, have they?" These residents of Jerusalem explain why they do not believe that Jesus is the Christ: "We know where this man is from; yet when the Christ comes, no on is to know where he is from." Jesus answers: "You both know me and know where I am from. Also, I have not come of my own initiative, but he that sent me is real, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am a representative from him, and that One sent me forth." At this they try to lay hold of him, perhaps to put him in prison or to have him killed. Yet they do not succeed because it is not time for Jesus to die.

Still, many put faith in Jesus, as indeed they should. Why, he has walked on water, calmed the winds, quieted storm seas, miraculously fed thousands on a few loaves and fishes, cured the sick, made the lame walk, opened the eyes of the blind, cured lepers and even raised the dead. So they ask: "When the Christ arrives, he will not perform more signs than this man has performed will he?"

When the Pharisees hear the crowd murmuring these things, they and the chief priests send out officers to arrest Jesus. John 7:11-32.

Next time: They Fail To Arrest Him

At The Festival Of The Tabernacles

JESUS has become famous during the nearly three years since his baptism. Many thousands have seen his miracles, and reports about his activities have spread throughout the country. Now, as the people gather for the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, they look for him there. "Where is that man? They want to know.

Jesus has become a subject of controversy. "He is a good man," some say. "He is not, but he misleads the crowd," others assert. There is a lot of subdued talk of this sort during the opening days of the festival. Yet, no one has the courage to speak out publicly in Jesus' behalf. This is because the people fear reprisal from the Jewish leaders.

When the festival is half over, Jesus arrives. He goes up to the temple, where the people are amazed at his marvelous teaching ability. Since Jesus never attended the rabbinical schools, the Jews fall to wondering: "How does this man have a knowledge of letters, when he has not studied at the schools?"

"What I teach is not mine," Jesus explains, "but belongs to him that sent me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the teacher whether it is from God or I speak of my own originality." Jesus' teaching holds closely to God's law. Thus, it should be obvious that he is seeking God's glory, not his own. "Moses gave you the Law, did he not?" Jesus asks. By way of rebuke, he says: "Not one of you obeys the Law." "Why are you seeking to kill me?" Jesus then asks.

Next time: Conclusion of At The Festivals Of Tabernacles

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

Conclusion of A Secret Trip To Jerusalem

As they are walking along the road, a scribe says to Jesus: "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you are about to go." Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have roosts," Jesus responds, "but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head." Jesus is explaining that the scribe will experience hardship if he becomes his follower. And the implication seems to be that the scribe is too proud to accept this mode of life.

To another man, Jesus says: "Be my follower." "Permit me first to leave and bury my father," the man answers. "Let the dead bury the dead," Jesus replies, "but you go away and declare abroad the Kingdom of God." The man's father evidently had not yet died, for if he had, it would be unlikely that his son would be here listening to Jesus. The son apparently is asking for time to await his father's death. He is not prepared to put the Kingdom of God first in his life.

As they proceed on the road toward Jerusalem, another man tells Jesus: "I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those in my household." In answer Jesus says: "No man that has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well fitted for the kingdom of God." Those who will be Jesus' disciples must have their eyes focused on Kingdom service. Just as a furrow likely will become crooked if a plowman does not keep looking straight ahead, so anyone who looks behind at this old system of things may well stumble off the road leading to eternal life. John 7:2-10; Luke 9:51-62; Matthew 8:19-22.

Next time: At The Festival Of The Tabernacles

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

A Secret Trip To Jerusalem

IT IS the autumn of 32 C.E., and the Festival of Tabernacle is near. Jesus has confined his activity mostly to Galilee since the Passover of 31 C.E., when the Jews tried to kill him. Likely, since then Jesus has only visited Jerusalem to attend the three annual festivals of the Jews. Jesus' brothers now urge him: "Pass on over from here and go into Judea." Jerusalem is Judea's main city and the religious center of the whole country. His brothers reason: "Nobody does anything in secret while himself seeking to be know publicly."

Although James, Simon, Joseph and Judas do not believe that their elder brother, Jesus is really the Messiah,they want him to show his miraculous powers to all those gathered at the festival. Jesus, however, is aware of the danger. "The world has no reason to hate you," he says, "but it hates me, because I bear witness concerning it that its works are wicked." So Jesus tells his brothers: "You go up to the festival; I am not yet going up to this festival."

The Festival of Tabernacles is a seven-day celebration. On the eighth day it is brought to a close with solemn activities. The festival marks the end of the agricultural year and is a time of great rejoicing and thanksgiving. Several days after Jesus' brothers leave to attend along with the main body of travelers, he and his disciples go secretly, staying out of the public eye. They take the routed through Samaria, rather than the one that most people take near the Jordan River.

Since Jesus and his company will need accommodations in a Samaritan village, he sends messengers ahead to make preparations. The people, however, refuse to do anything for Jesus after learning that he is heading for Jerusalem. Indignantly, James and John ask: "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and annihilate them?" Jesus rebukes them for suggesting such a thing, and they travel on to another village.

Next time: Conclusion of A Secret Trip To Jerusalem

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

A Lesson In Forgiveness

Jesus is apparently still in the house in Capernaum with his disciples. He has been discussing with them how to handle difficulties between brothers, so Peter asks: "Lord, how many times is my brother to sin against me and am I to forgive him?" Since Jewish religious teachers propose granting forgiveness up to three times, Peter probably considers it very generous to suggest "up to seven times?" But the whole idea of keeping such a record is wrong. Jesus corrects Peter: "I say to you, not up to seven times, but, up to seventy-seven times." He is showing that no limit should be put on the number of times Peter forgives his brother.

To impress on the disciples their obligation to be forgiving, Jesus tells them an illustration. It is about a king who wants to settle accounts with his slaves. One slave is brought to him who owes the enormous debt 60,0,0 denarii. there is no way he can possibly pay it. So, as Jesus explains, the king orders that he and his wife and children be sold and payment be made.

At that the slave falls down at his master's feet and begs: "Be patient with me and I will pay back everything to you." Moved with pity for him, the master mercifully cancels the slave's enormous debt. But no sooner has he done so, Jesus continues, than this slave goes and finds a fellow slave who owes him only 100 denarii. The man grabs his fellow slave by the throat and begins choking him, saying: "Pay back whatever you owe." But the fellow slave does not have the money. So he falls at the feet of the slave to whom he is in debt, begging: "Be patient with me and I will pay you back." Unlike his master, the slave is not merciful, and he has he fellow slave thrown into prison.

Well, Jesus continues, the other slaves who saw what had happened go and tell the master. He angrily summons the slave. "Wicked slave," he says, "I canceled all that debt for you, when you entreated me. Ought you not, in turn, to have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy on you?z' Provoked to wrath, the master delivers the unmerciful slave over to the jailers until he should pay back all that he owes.

Then Jesus concludes: "In like manner my heavenly Father will also deal with you if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts."

What a find lesson in forgiveness! Compared with the large debt of sin that God has forgiven us, whatever transgression may be committed against us by a Christian brother is small indeed. Furthermore, Jehovah God has forgiven us thousands of times. Often, we are not even aware of our sins against him. Therefore, can we not forgive our brother a few times, even if we have a legitimate cause for complaint? Remember, as Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount, God will "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 18:21-35; 6:12; Colossians 3:13.

Next time: A Secret Trip To Jerusalem

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

Conclusion of Further Corrective Counsel

Jesus also warns: "See to it that you men do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven." He then illustrates the preciousness of "little ones" when he tells about a man who possesses a hundred sheep but loses one. The man will leave the 99 to search for the lost one, Jesus explains, and on finding it will rejoice more over it than over the 99. "Likewise," Jesus then concludes, "it is not a desirable thing with my Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish."

Possibly having in mind his apostles' argument among themselves, Jesus urges: "Have salt in yourselves, and keep peace between one another." Tasteless foods are made more palatable by salt. Thus, figurative salt makes what one says easier to accept. Having such salt will help preserve the peace.

But because of human imperfection, at times serious disputes will occur. Jesus also provides guidelines for handling them. "If your brother commits a sin," Jesus say, "go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." If he does not listen, Jesus advises, "take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established."

Only as a last resort, Jesus says, take the matter to "the congregation who can render a judicial decision. If the sinner will not abide by their decision, Jesus concludes, "let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector."

In making such a decision, overseers need to adhere closely to instructions in Jehovah's Word. Thus, when they find an individual guilty and worthy of punishment, the judgment 'will already have been bound in heaven.' And whey they "loose on earth," that is, find one innocent, it will already have been "loosed in heaven." In such judicial deliberations, Jesus says, "where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst." Matthew 18:6-20; Mark 9:38-50; Luke 9:49, 50.

Next time: A Lesson In Forgiveness

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

Further Corrective Counsel

WHILE Jesus and his apostles are still in the house in Capernaum, something besides the apostles' argument over who is the greatest is discussed. This is an incident that may also have occurred on their return to Capernaum, when Jesus was not personally present. The apostle John reports: "We saw a certain man expelling demons by use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he was not accompanying us."

Evidently John views the apostles as an exclusive, title holding team of healers. So he feels that the man was performing powerful works improperly because he was not part of their group. However, Jesus counsels: "Do not try to prevent him, for there is not one that will do a powerful work on the basis of my name that will quickly be able to revile me; for he that is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink on the ground that you belong to Christ,I truly tell you, he will by no means lose his reward."

It was not necessary for this man bodily to follow Jesus to be on his side. The Christians congregation had not yet been set up, so his not being part of their group did not mean that he was of a separate congregation. the man really had faith in Jesus' name and thus succeeded in expelling demons. He was doing something that compared favorably with what Jesus said was deserving of a reward. Jesus shows that for doing this, he will not lose his reward.

But what if the man was stumbled by the words and actions of the apostles? This would be very serious! Jesus observes: "Whoever stumbles one of these little ones that believe, it would be finer for him if a millstone such as is turned by an ass were put around his neck and he were actually pitched into the sea."

Jesus says that his followers should remove from their lives anything that is dear to them as a hand, a foot, or an eye that may cause them to stumble. Better to be without this cherished thing and enter into God's Kingdom than to hold on to it and be pitched into Gehenna (a burning rubbish heap near Jerusalem), which symbolizes eternal destruction.

Next time: Conclusion of Further Corrective Counsel

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

Conclusion of A Lesson In Humility

When the disciples get together after their return trip to Capernaum, perhaps at Peter's house, they ask: "Who really is the greatest inthe kingdom of the heavens?" Jesus knows what it is that prompts their question, being aware of what was going on among them as they trailed behind him on their return from Caesarea Philippi. So he asks: "What were you arguing over on the road?" Embarrassed, the disciples keep silent, for they had argued among themselves over who would be the greatest.

After nearly three years of Jesus' teaching, does it seem incredible that the disciples would have such an argument? Well, it reveals the strong influence of human imperfection, as well as of religious background. The Jewish religion in which the disciples had been reared stressed position or rank in all dealings. Furthermore, perhaps Peter, because of Jesus' promise of receiving certain "keys" to the Kingdom, felt superior. James and John may have had similar ideas because of being favored with witnessing Jesus' transfiguration.

Whatever the case, Jesus stages a moving demonstration in an effort to correct their attitudes. He calls a child, stands it in their midst, puts his arms around it, and says: "Unless you turn around and become as young children, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Therefore, whoever will humble himself like this young child is the one that is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens; and whoever receives one such young child on the basis of my name receives me also."

What a marvelous way to correct his disciples! Jesus does not become angry with them and call them haughty, greedy or ambitious. No, but he illustrates his corrective teaching by using the example of young children, who are characteristically modest and free from ambition and who generally have not thought of rank among themselves. Thus Jesus shows that his disciples need to develop these qualities that characterize humble children. As Jesus concludes: "He that conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one that is great." Matthew 17:22-27; 18:1-5; Mark 9:30-37; Luke 9:43-48.

Next time: Further Corrective Counsel

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991

A Lesson In Humility

AFTER healing the demonized boy in the region near Caesarea Philippi, Jesus wishes to return home to Capernaum. However, he wants to be alone with his disciples on the trip so that he can further prepare them for his death and their responsibilities afterward. "The Son of man is to be delivered into men's hand," he explains to them, "and they will kill him, but, despite being killed, he will rise three days later."

Even though Jesus spoke earlier about this, and three apostles actually saw the transfiguration during which his "departure" was discussed, his followers are still without understanding regarding the matter. Although none of them try to deny that he will be killed, as Peter did earlier, they are afraid to question him further about it.

Eventually they come into Capernaum, which has been a kind of home base during Jesus' ministry. It is also the hometown of Peter and a number of other apostles. There, men who collect the temple tax approach Peter. Perhaps attempting to involve Jesus in some breach of accepted custom, they ask: "Does your teacher not pay the two drachmas [temple]tax?" "Yes," Peter responds.

Jesus, who may have arrived at the house shortly afterward, is aware of what has occurred. So even before Peter can bring the matter up, Jesus asks: "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive duties or head tax? From their sons or from the strangers?" "From the strangers," Peter answers. Really, then, the sons are tax-free," Jesus observes. Since Jesus' Father is the King of the universe, the One who is worshiped at the temple, it is not really a legal requirement for God's son to pay the temple tax. "But that we do not cause them to stumble," Jesus says, "you go to the sea, cast a fishhook, and take the first fish coming up and, when you open its mouth, you will find a stater [four drachmas] coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you."

Next time: Conclusion of A lesson In Humility

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991