The Urantia Book
PAPER 164
AT THE FEAST OF DEDICATION
164:0.1 AS THE camp at Pella was being
established, Jesus, taking with him Nathaniel and Thomas, secretly
went up to Jerusalem to attend the feast of the dedication. Not
until they passed over the Jordan at the Bethany ford, did the two
apostles become aware that their Master was going on to Jerusalem.
When they perceived that he really intended to be present at the
feast of dedication, they remonstrated with him most earnestly,
and using every sort of argument, they sought to dissuade him. But
their efforts were of no avail; Jesus was determined to visit
Jerusalem. To all their entreaties and to all their warnings
emphasizing the folly and danger of placing himself in the hands
of the Sanhedrin, he would reply only, "I would give these
teachers in Israel another opportunity to see the light, before my
hour comes."
164:0.2 On they went toward Jerusalem, the two
apostles continuing to express their feelings of fear and to voice
their doubts about the wisdom of such an apparently presumptuous
undertaking. They reached Jericho about half past four and
prepared to lodge there for the night.
1. STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
164:1.1 That evening a considerable company
gathered about Jesus and the two apostles to ask questions, many
of which the apostles answered, while others the Master discussed.
In the course of the evening a certain lawyer, seeking to entangle
Jesus in a compromising disputation, said: "Teacher, I would like
to ask you just what I should do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus
answered, "What is written in the law and the prophets; how do you
read the Scriptures?" The lawyer, knowing the teachings of both
Jesus and the Pharisees, answered: "To love the Lord God with all
your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as
yourself." Then said Jesus: "You have answered right; this, if you
really do, will lead to life everlasting."
164:1.2 But the lawyer was not wholly sincere in
asking this question, and desiring to justify himself while also
hoping to embarrass Jesus, he ventured to ask still another
question. Drawing a little closer to the Master, he said, "But,
Teacher, I should like you to tell me just who is my neighbor?"
The lawyer asked this question hoping to entrap Jesus into making
some statement that would contravene the Jewish law which defined
one's neighbor as "the children of one's people." The Jews looked
upon all others as "gentile dogs." This lawyer was somewhat
familiar with Jesus' teachings and therefore well knew that the
Master thought differently; thus he hoped to lead him into saying
something which could be construed as an attack upon the sacred
law.
164:1.3 But Jesus discerned the lawyer's motive,
and instead of falling into the trap, he proceeded to tell his
hearers a story, a story which would be fully appreciated by any
Jericho audience. Said Jesus: "A certain man was going down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of cruel
brigands, who robbed him, stripped him and beat him, and
departing, left him half dead. Very soon, by chance, a certain
priest was going down that way, and when he came upon the wounded
man, seeing his sorry plight, he passed by on the other side of
the road. And in like manner a Levite also, when he came along and
saw the man, passed by on the other side. Now, about this time, a
certain Samaritan, as he journeyed down to Jericho, came across
this wounded man; and when he saw how he had been robbed and
beaten, he was moved with compassion, and going over to him, he
bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and setting the man
upon his own beast, brought him here to the inn and took care of
him. And on the morrow he took out some money and, giving it to
the host, said: `Take good care of my friend, and if the expense
is more, when I come back again, I will repay you.' Now let me ask
you: Which of these three turned out to be the neighbor of him who
fell among the robbers?" And when the lawyer perceived that he had
fallen into his own snare, he answered, "He who showed mercy on
him." And Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."
164:1.4 The lawyer answered, "He who showed
mercy," that he might refrain from even speaking that odious word,
Samaritan. The lawyer was forced to give the very answer to the
question, "Who is my neighbor?" which Jesus wished given, and
which, if Jesus had so stated, would have directly involved him in
the charge of heresy. Jesus not only confounded the dishonest
lawyer, but he told his hearers a story which was at the same time
a beautiful admonition to all his followers and a stunning rebuke
to all Jews regarding their attitude toward the Samaritans. And
this story has continued to promote brotherly love among all who
have subsequently believed the gospel of Jesus.
2. AT JERUSALEM
164:2.1 Jesus had attended the feast of
tabernacles that he might proclaim the gospel to the pilgrims from
all parts of the empire; he now went up to the feast of the
dedication for just one purpose: to give the Sanhedrin and the
Jewish leaders another chance to see the light. The principal
event of these few days in Jerusalem occurred on Friday night at
the home of Nicodemus. Here were gathered together some
twenty-five Jewish leaders who believed Jesus' teaching. Among
this group were fourteen men who were then, or had recently been,
members of the Sanhedrin. This meeting was attended by Eber,
Matadormus, and Joseph of Arimathea.
164:2.2 On this occasion Jesus' hearers were all
learned men, and both they and his two apostles were amazed at the
breadth and depth of the remarks which the Master made to this
distinguished group. Not since the times when he had taught in
Alexandria, Rome, and in the islands of the Mediterranean, had he
exhibited such learning and shown such a grasp of the affairs of
men, both secular and religious.
164:2.3 When this little meeting broke up, all
went away mystified by the Master's personality, charmed by his
gracious manner, and in love with the man. They had sought to
advise Jesus concerning his desire to win the remaining members of
the Sanhedrin. The Master listened attentively, but silently, to
all their proposals. He well knew none of their plans would work.
He surmised that the majority of the Jewish leaders never would
accept the gospel of the kingdom; nevertheless, he gave them all
this one more chance to choose. But when he went forth that night,
with Nathaniel and Thomas, to lodge on the Mount of Olives, he had
not yet decided upon the method he would pursue in bringing his
work once more to the notice of the Sanhedrin.
164:2.4 That night Nathaniel and Thomas slept
little; they were too much amazed by what they had heard at
Nicodemus's house. They thought much over the final remark of
Jesus regarding the offer of the former and present members of the
Sanhedrin to go with him before the seventy. The Master said: "No,
my brethren, it would be to no purpose. You would multiply the
wrath to be visited upon your own heads, but you would not in the
least mitigate the hatred which they bear me. Go, each of you,
about the Father's business as the spirit leads you while I once
more bring the kingdom to their notice in the manner which my
Father may direct."
3. HEALING THE BLIND BEGGAR
164:3.1 The next morning the three went over to
Martha's home at Bethany for breakfast and then went immediately
into Jerusalem. This Sabbath morning, as Jesus and his two
apostles drew near the temple, they encountered a well-known
beggar, a man who had been born blind, sitting at his usual place.
Although these mendicants did not solicit or receive alms on the
Sabbath day, they were permitted thus to sit in their usual
places. Jesus paused and looked upon the beggar. As he gazed upon
this man who had been born blind, the idea came into his mind as
to how he would once more bring his mission on earth to the notice
of the Sanhedrin and the other Jewish leaders and religious
teachers.
164:3.2 As the Master stood there before the
blind man, engrossed in deep thought, Nathaniel, pondering the
possible cause of this man's blindness, asked: "Master, who did
sin, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?"
164:3.3 The rabbis taught that all such cases of
blindness from birth were caused by sin. Not only were children
conceived and born in sin, but a child could be born blind as a
punishment for some specific sin committed by its father. They
even taught that a child itself might sin before it was born into
the world. They also taught that such defects could be caused by
some sin or other indulgence of the mother while carrying the
child.
164:3.4 There was, throughout all these regions,
a lingering belief in reincarnation. The older Jewish teachers,
together with Plato, Philo, and many of the Essenes, tolerated the
theory that men may reap in one incarnation what they have sown in
a previous existence; thus in one life they were believed to be
expiating the sins committed in preceding lives. The Master found
it difficult to make men believe that their souls had not had
previous existences.
164:3.5 However, inconsistent as it seems, while
such blindness was supposed to be the result of sin, the Jews held
that it was meritorious in a high degree to give alms to these
blind beggars. It was the custom of these blind men constantly to
chant to the passers-by, "O tenderhearted, gain merit by assisting
the blind."
164:3.6 Jesus entered into the discussion of
this case with Nathaniel and Thomas, not only because he had
already decided to use this blind man as the means of that day
bringing his mission once more prominently to the notice of the
Jewish leaders, but also because he always encouraged his apostles
to seek for the true causes of all phenomena, natural or
spiritual. He had often warned them to avoid the common tendency
to assign spiritual causes to commonplace physical events.
164:3.7 Jesus decided to use this beggar in his
plans for that day's work, but before doing anything for the blind
man, Josiah by name, he proceeded to answer Nathaniel's question.
Said the Master: "Neither did this man sin nor his parents that
the works of God might be manifest in him. This blindness has come
upon him in the natural course of events, but we must now do the
works of Him who sent me, while it is still day, for the night
will certainly come when it will be impossible to do the work we
are about to perform. When I am in the world, I am the light of
the world, but in only a little while I will not be with you."
164:3.8 When Jesus had spoken, he said to
Nathaniel and Thomas: "Let us create the sight of this blind man
on this Sabbath day that the scribes and Pharisees may have the
full occasion which they seek for accusing the Son of Man." Then,
stooping over, he spat on the ground and mixed the clay with the
spittle, and speaking of all this so that the blind man could
hear, he went up to Josiah and put the clay over his sightless
eyes, saying: "Go, my son, wash away this clay in the pool of
Siloam, and immediately you shall receive your sight." And when
Josiah had so washed in the pool of Siloam, he returned to his
friends and family, seeing.
164:3.9 Having always been a beggar, he knew
nothing else; so, when the first excitement of the creation of his
sight had passed, he returned to his usual place of alms-seeking.
His friends, neighbors, and all who had known him aforetime, when
they observed that he could see, all said, "Is this not Josiah the
blind beggar?" Some said it was he, while others said, "No, it is
one like him, but this man can see." But when they asked the man
himself, he answered, "I am he."
164:3.10 When they began to inquire of him how
he was able to see, he answered them: "A man called Jesus came by
this way, and when talking about me with his friends, he made clay
with spittle, anointed my eyes, and directed that I should go and
wash in the pool of Siloam. I did what this man told me, and
immediately I received my sight. And that is only a few hours ago.
I do not yet know the meaning of much that I see." And when the
people who began to gather about him asked where they could find
the strange man who had healed him, Josiah could answer only that
he did not know.
164:3.11 This is one of the strangest of all the
Master's miracles. This man did not ask for healing. He did not
know that the Jesus who had directed him to wash at Siloam, and
who had promised him vision, was the prophet of Galilee who had
preached in Jerusalem during the feast of tabernacles. This man
had little faith that he would receive his sight, but the people
of that day had great faith in the efficacy of the spittle of a
great or holy man; and from Jesus' conversation with Nathaniel and
Thomas, Josiah had concluded that his would-be benefactor was a
great man, a learned teacher or a holy prophet; accordingly he did
as Jesus directed him.
164:3.12 Jesus made use of the clay and the
spittle and directed him to wash in the symbolic pool of Siloam
for three reasons:
164:3.13 1. This was not a miracle response to
the individual's faith. This was a wonder which Jesus chose to
perform for a purpose of his own, but which he so arranged that
this man might derive lasting benefit therefrom.
164:3.14 2. As the blind man had not asked for
healing, and since the faith he had was slight, these material
acts were suggested for the purpose of encouraging him. He did
believe in the superstition of the efficacy of spittle, and he
knew the pool of Siloam was a semisacred place. But he would
hardly have gone there had it not been necessary to wash away the
clay of his anointing. There was just enough ceremony about the
transaction to induce him to act.
164:3.15 3. But Jesus had a third reason for
resorting to these material means in connection with this unique
transaction: This was a miracle wrought purely in obedience to his
own choosing, and thereby he desired to teach his followers of
that day and all subsequent ages to refrain from despising or
neglecting material means in the healing of the sick. He wanted to
teach them that they must cease to regard miracles as the only
method of curing human diseases.
164:3.16 Jesus gave this man his sight by
miraculous working, on this Sabbath morning and in Jerusalem near
the temple, for the prime purpose of making this act an open
challenge to the Sanhedrin and all the Jewish teachers and
religious leaders. This was his way of proclaiming an open break
with the Pharisees. He was always positive in everything he did.
And it was for the purpose of bringing these matters before the
Sanhedrin that Jesus brought his two apostles to this man early in
the afternoon of this Sabbath day and deliberately provoked those
discussions which compelled the Pharisees to take notice of the
miracle.
4. JOSIAH BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
164:4.1 By midafternoon the healing of Josiah
had raised such a discussion around the temple that the leaders of
the Sanhedrin decided to convene the council in its usual temple
meeting place. And they did this in violation of a standing rule
which forbade the meeting of the Sanhedrin on the Sabbath day.
Jesus knew that Sabbath breaking would be one of the chief charges
to be brought against him when the final test came, and he desired
to be brought before the Sanhedrin for adjudication of the charge
of having healed a blind man on the Sabbath day, when the very
session of the high Jewish court sitting in judgment on him for
this act of mercy would be deliberating on these matters on the
Sabbath day and in direct violation of their own self-imposed
laws.
164:4.2 But they did not call Jesus before them;
they feared to. Instead, they sent forthwith for Josiah. After
some preliminary questioning, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin
(about fifty members being present) directed Josiah to tell them
what had happened to him. Since his healing that morning Josiah
had learned from Thomas, Nathaniel, and others that the Pharisees
were angry about his healing on the Sabbath, and that they were
likely to make trouble for all concerned; but Josiah did not yet
perceive that Jesus was he who was called the Deliverer. So, when
the Pharisees questioned him, he said: "This man came along, put
clay upon my eyes, told me to go wash in Siloam, and I do now
see."
164:4.3 One of the older Pharisees, after making
a lengthy speech, said: "This man cannot be from God because you
can see that he does not observe the Sabbath. He violates the law,
first, in making the clay, then, in sending this beggar to wash in
Siloam on the Sabbath day. Such a man cannot be a teacher sent
from God."
164:4.4 Then one of the younger men who secretly
believed in Jesus, said: "If this man is not sent by God, how can
he do these things? We know that one who is a common sinner cannot
perform such miracles. We all know this beggar and that he was
born blind; now he sees. Will you still say that this prophet does
all these wonders by the power of the prince of devils?" And for
every Pharisee who dared to accuse and denounce Jesus one would
arise to ask entangling and embarrassing questions, so that a
serious division arose among them. The presiding officer saw
whither they were drifting, and in order to allay the discussion,
he prepared further to question the man himself. Turning to
Josiah, he said: "What do you have to say about this man, this
Jesus, whom you claim opened your eyes?" And Josiah answered, "I
think he is a prophet."
164:4.5 The leaders were greatly troubled and,
knowing not what else to do, decided to send for Josiah's parents
to learn whether he had actually been born blind. They were loath
to believe that the beggar had been healed.
164:4.6 It was well known about Jerusalem, not
only that Jesus was denied entrance into all synagogues, but that
all who believed in his teaching were likewise cast out of the
synagogue, excommunicated from the congregation of Israel; and
this meant denial of all rights and privileges of every sort
throughout all Jewry except the right to buy the necessaries of
life.
164:4.7 When, therefore, Josiah's parents, poor
and fear-burdened souls, appeared before the august Sanhedrin,
they were afraid to speak freely. Said the spokesman of the court:
"Is this your son? and do we understand aright that he was born
blind? If this is true, how is it that he can now see?" And then
Josiah's father, seconded by his mother, answered: "We know that
this is our son, and that he was born blind, but how it is that he
has come to see, or who it was that opened his eyes, we know not.
Ask him; he is of age; let him speak for himself."
164:4.8 They now called Josiah up before them a
second time. They were not getting along well with their scheme of
holding a formal trial, and some were beginning to feel strange
about doing this on the Sabbath; accordingly, when they recalled
Josiah, they attempted to ensnare him by a different mode of
attack. The officer of the court spoke to the former blind man,
saying: "Why do you not give God the glory for this? why do you
not tell us the whole truth about what happened? We all know that
this man is a sinner. Why do you refuse to discern the truth? You
know that both you and this man stand convicted of Sabbath
breaking. Will you not atone for your sin by acknowledging God as
your healer, if you still claim that your eyes have this day been
opened?"
164:4.9 But Josiah was neither dumb nor lacking
in humor; so he replied to the officer of the court: "Whether this
man is a sinner, I know not; but one thing I do know -- that,
whereas I was blind, now I see." And since they could not entrap
Josiah, they sought further to question him, asking: "Just how did
he open your eyes? what did he actually do to you? what did he say
to you? did he ask you to believe in him?"
164:4.10 Josiah replied, somewhat impatiently:
"I have told you exactly how it all happened, and if you did not
believe my testimony, why would you hear it again? Would you by
any chance also become his disciples?" When Josiah had thus
spoken, the Sanhedrin broke up in confusion, almost violence, for
the leaders rushed upon Josiah, angrily exclaiming: "You may talk
about being this man's disciple, but we are disciples of Moses,
and we are the teachers of the laws of God. We know that God spoke
through Moses, but as for this man Jesus, we know not whence he
is."
164:4.11 Then Josiah, standing upon a stool,
shouted abroad to all who could hear, saying: "Hearken, you who
claim to be the teachers of all Israel, while I declare to you
that herein is a great marvel since you confess that you know not
whence this man is, and yet you know of a certainty, from the
testimony which you have heard, that he opened my eyes. We all
know that God does not perform such works for the ungodly; that
God would do such a thing only at the request of a true worshiper
-- for one who is holy and righteous. You know that not since the
beginning of the world have you ever heard of the opening of the
eyes of one who was born blind. Look, then, all of you, upon me
and realize what has been done this day in Jerusalem! I tell you,
if this man were not from God, he could not do this." And as the
Sanhedrists departed in anger and confusion, they shouted to him:
"You were altogether born in sin, and do you now presume to teach
us? Maybe you were not really born blind, and even if your eyes
were opened on the Sabbath day, this was done by the power of the
prince of devils." And they went at once to the synagogue to cast
out Josiah.
164:4.12 Josiah entered this trial with meager
ideas about Jesus and the nature of his healing. Most of the
daring testimony which he so cleverly and courageously bore before
this supreme tribunal of all Israel developed in his mind as the
trial proceeded along such unfair and unjust lines.
5. TEACHING IN SOLOMON'S PORCH
164:5.1 All of the time this Sabbath-breaking
session of the Sanhedrin was in progress in one of the temple
chambers, Jesus was walking about near at hand, teaching the
people in Solomon's Porch, hoping that he would be summoned before
the Sanhedrin where he could tell them the good news of the
liberty and joy of divine sonship in the kingdom of God. But they
were afraid to send for him. They were always disconcerted by
these sudden and public appearances of Jesus in Jerusalem. The
very occasion they had so ardently sought, Jesus now gave them,
but they feared to bring him before the Sanhedrin even as a
witness, and even more they feared to arrest him.
164:5.2 This was midwinter in Jerusalem, and the
people sought the partial shelter of Solomon's Porch; and as Jesus
lingered, the crowds asked him many questions, and he taught them
for more than two hours. Some of the Jewish teachers sought to
entrap him by publicly asking him: "How long will you hold us in
suspense? If you are the Messiah, why do you not plainly tell us?"
Said Jesus: "I have told you about myself and my Father many
times, but you will not believe me. Can you not see that the works
I do in my Father's name bear witness for me? But many of you
believe not because you belong not to my fold. The teacher of
truth attracts only those who hunger for the truth and who thirst
for righteousness. My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they
follow me. And to all who follow my teaching I give eternal life;
they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my
hand. My Father, who has given me these children, is greater than
all, so that no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
The Father and I are one." Some of the unbelieving Jews rushed
over to where they were still building the temple to pick up
stones to cast at Jesus, but the believers restrained them.
164:5.3 Jesus continued his teaching: "Many
loving works have I shown you from the Father, so that now would I
inquire for which one of these good works do you think to stone
me?" And then answered one of the Pharisees: "For no good work
would we stone you but for blasphemy, inasmuch as you, being a
man, dare to make yourself equal with God." And Jesus answered:
"You charge the Son of Man with blasphemy because you refused to
believe me when I declared to you that I was sent by God. If I do
not the works of God, believe me not, but if I do the works of
God, even though you believe not in me, I should think you would
believe the works. But that you may be certain of what I proclaim,
let me again assert that the Father is in me and I in the Father,
and that, as the Father dwells in me, so will I dwell in every one
who believes this gospel." And when the people heard these words,
many of them rushed out to lay hands upon the stones to cast at
him, but he passed out through the temple precincts; and meeting
Nathaniel and Thomas, who had been in attendance upon the session
of the Sanhedrin, he waited with them near the temple until Josiah
came from the council chamber.
164:5.4 Jesus and the two apostles did not go in
search of Josiah at his home until they heard he had been cast out
of the synagogue. When they came to his house, Thomas called him
out in the yard, and Jesus, speaking to him, said: "Josiah, do you
believe in the Son of God?" And Josiah answered, "Tell me who he
is that I may believe in him." And Jesus said: "You have both seen
and heard him, and it is he who now speaks to you." And Josiah
said, "Lord, I believe," and falling down, he worshiped.
164:5.5 When Josiah learned that he had been
cast out of the synagogue, he was at first greatly downcast, but
he was much encouraged when Jesus directed that he should
immediately prepare to go with them to the camp at Pella. This
simple-minded man of Jerusalem had indeed been cast out of a
Jewish synagogue, but behold the Creator of a universe leading him
forth to become associated with the spiritual nobility of that day
and generation.
164:5.6 And now Jesus left Jerusalem, not again
to return until near the time when he prepared to leave this
world. With the two apostles and Josiah the Master went back to
Pella. And Josiah proved to be one of the recipients of the
Master's miraculous ministry who turned out fruitfully, for he
became a lifelong preacher of the gospel of the kingdom.
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