The Urantia Book
PAPER 171
ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM
171:0.1 THE day after the memorable sermon on
"The Kingdom of Heaven," Jesus announced that on the following day
he and the apostles would depart for the Passover at Jerusalem,
visiting numerous cities in southern Perea on the way.
171:0.2 The address on the kingdom and the
announcement that he was going to the Passover set all his
followers to thinking that he was going up to Jerusalem to
inaugurate the temporal kingdom of Jewish supremacy. No matter
what Jesus said about the nonmaterial character of the kingdom, he
could not wholly remove from the minds of his Jewish hearers the
idea that the Messiah was to establish some kind of nationalistic
government with headquarters at Jerusalem.
171:0.3 What Jesus said in his Sabbath sermon
only tended to confuse the majority of his followers; very few
were enlightened by the Master's discourse. The leaders understood
something of his teachings regarding the inner kingdom, "the
kingdom of heaven within you," but they also knew that he had
spoken about another and future kingdom, and it was this kingdom
they believed he was now going up to Jerusalem to establish. When
they were disappointed in this expectation, when he was rejected
by the Jews, and later on, when Jerusalem was literally destroyed,
they still clung to this hope, sincerely believing that the Master
would soon return to the world in great power and majestic glory
to establish the promised kingdom.
171:0.4 It was on this Sunday afternoon that
Salome the mother of James and John Zebedee came to Jesus with her
two apostle sons and, in the manner of approaching an Oriental
potentate, sought to have Jesus promise in advance to grant
whatever request she might make. But the Master would not promise;
instead, he asked her, "What do you want me to do for you?" Then
answered Salome: "Master, now that you are going up to Jerusalem
to establish the kingdom, I would ask you in advance to promise me
that these my sons shall have honor with you, the one to sit on
your right hand and the other to sit on your left hand in your
kingdom."
171:0.5 When Jesus heard Salome's request, he
said: "Woman, you know not what you ask." And then, looking
straight into the eyes of the two honor-seeking apostles, he said:
"Because I have long known and loved you; because I have even
lived in your mother's house; because Andrew has assigned you to
be with me at all times; therefore do you permit your mother to
come to me secretly, making this unseemly request. But let me ask
you: Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?" And
without a moment for thought, James and John answered, "Yes,
Master, we are able." Said Jesus: "I am saddened that you know not
why we go up to Jerusalem; I am grieved that you understand not
the nature of my kingdom; I am disappointed that you bring your
mother to make this request of me; but I know you love me in your
hearts; therefore I declare that you shall indeed drink of my cup
of bitterness and share in my humiliation, but to sit on my right
hand and on my left hand is not mine to give. Such honors are
reserved for those who have been designated by my Father."
171:0.6 By this time someone had carried word of
this conference to Peter and the other apostles, and they were
highly indignant that James and John would seek to be preferred
before them, and that they would secretly go with their mother to
make such a request. When they fell to arguing among themselves,
Jesus called them all together and said: "You well understand how
the rulers of the gentiles lord it over their subjects, and how
those who are great exercise authority. But it shall not be so in
the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever would be great among you, let him
first become your servant. He who would be first in the kingdom,
let him become your minister. I declare to you that the Son of Man
came not to be ministered to but to minister; and I now go up to
Jerusalem to lay down my life in the doing of the Father's will
and in the service of my brethren." When the apostles heard these
words, they withdrew by themselves to pray. That evening, in
response to the labors of Peter, James and John made suitable
apologies to the ten and were restored to the good graces of their
brethren.
171:0.7 In asking for places on the right hand
and on the left hand of Jesus at Jerusalem, the sons of Zebedee
little realized that in less than one month their beloved teacher
would be hanging on a Roman cross with a dying thief on one side
and another transgressor on the other side. And their mother, who
was present at the crucifixion, well remembered the foolish
request she had made of Jesus at Pella regarding the honors she so
unwisely sought for her apostle sons.
1. THE DEPARTURE FROM PELLA
171:1.1 On the forenoon of Monday, March 13,
Jesus and his twelve apostles took final leave of the Pella
encampment, starting south on their tour of the cities of southern
Perea, where Abner's associates were at work. They spent more than
two weeks visiting among the seventy and then went directly to
Jerusalem for the Passover.
171:1.2 When the Master left Pella, the
disciples encamped with the apostles, about one thousand in
number, followed after him. About one half of this group left him
at the Jordan ford on the road to Jericho when they learned he was
going over to Heshbon, and after he had preached the sermon on
"Counting the Cost." They went on up to Jerusalem, while the other
half followed him for two weeks, visiting the towns in southern
Perea.
171:1.3 In a general way, most of Jesus'
immediate followers understood that the camp at Pella had been
abandoned, but they really thought this indicated that their
Master at last intended to go to Jerusalem and lay claim to
David's throne. A large majority of his followers never were able
to grasp any other concept of the kingdom of heaven; no matter
what he taught them, they would not give up this Jewish idea of
the kingdom.
171:1.4 Acting on the instructions of the
Apostle Andrew, David Zebedee closed the visitors' camp at Pella
on Wednesday, March 15. At this time almost four thousand visitors
were in residence, and this does not include the one thousand and
more persons who sojourned with the apostles at what was known as
the teachers' camp, and who went south with Jesus and the twelve.
Much as David disliked to do it, he sold the entire equipment to
numerous buyers and proceeded with the funds to Jerusalem,
subsequently turning the money over to Judas Iscariot.
171:1.5 David was present in Jerusalem during
the tragic last week, taking his mother back with him to Bethsaida
after the crucifixion. While awaiting Jesus and the apostles,
David stopped with Lazarus at Bethany and became tremendously
agitated by the manner in which the Pharisees had begun to
persecute and harass him since his resurrection. Andrew had
directed David to discontinue the messenger service; and this was
construed by all as an indication of the early establishment of
the kingdom at Jerusalem. David found himself without a job, and
he had about decided to become the self-appointed defender of
Lazarus when presently the object of his indignant solicitude fled
in haste to Philadelphia. Accordingly, sometime after the
resurrection and also after the death of his mother, David betook
himself to Philadelphia, having first assisted Martha and Mary in
disposing of their real estate; and there, in association with
Abner and Lazarus, he spent the remainder of his life, becoming
the financial overseer of all those large interests of the kingdom
which had their center at Philadelphia during the lifetime of
Abner.
171:1.6 Within a short time after the
destruction of Jerusalem, Antioch became the headquarters of
Pauline Christianity, while Philadelphia remained the center
of the Abnerian kingdom of heaven. From Antioch the Pauline
version of the teachings of Jesus and about Jesus spread to all
the Western world; from Philadelphia the missionaries of the
Abnerian version of the kingdom of heaven spread throughout
Mesopotamia and Arabia until the later times when these
uncompromising emissaries of the teachings of Jesus were
overwhelmed by the sudden rise of Islam.
2. ON COUNTING THE COST
171:2.1 When Jesus and the company of almost one
thousand followers arrived at the Bethany ford of the Jordan
sometimes called Bethabara, his disciples began to realize that he
was not going directly to Jerusalem. While they hesitated and
debated among themselves, Jesus climbed upon a huge stone and
delivered that discourse which has become known as "Counting the
Cost." The Master said:
171:2.2 "You who would follow after me from this
time on, must be willing to pay the price of wholehearted
dedication to the doing of my Father's will. If you would be my
disciples, you must be willing to forsake father, mother, wife,
children, brothers, and sisters. If any one of you would now be my
disciple, you must be willing to give up even your life just as
the Son of Man is about to offer up his life for the completion of
the mission of doing the Father's will on earth and in the flesh.
171:2.3 "If you are not willing to pay the full
price, you can hardly be my disciple. Before you go further, you
should each sit down and count the cost of being my disciple.
Which one of you would undertake to build a watchtower on your
lands without first sitting down to count up the cost to see
whether you had money enough to complete it? If you fail thus to
reckon the cost, after you have laid the foundation, you may
discover that you are unable to finish that which you have begun,
and therefore will all your neighbors mock you, saying, `Behold,
this man began to build but was unable to finish his work.' Again,
what king, when he prepares to make war upon another king, does
not first sit down and take counsel as to whether he will be able,
with ten thousand men, to meet him who comes against him with
twenty thousand? If the king cannot afford to meet his enemy
because he is unprepared, he sends an embassy to this other king,
even when he is yet a great way off, asking for terms of peace.
171:2.4 "Now, then, must each of you sit down
and count the cost of being my disciple. From now on you will not
be able to follow after us, listening to the teaching and
beholding the works; you will be required to face bitter
persecutions and to bear witness for this gospel in the face of
crushing disappointment. If you are unwilling to renounce all that
you are and to dedicate all that you have, then are you unworthy
to be my disciple. If you have already conquered yourself within
your own heart, you need have no fear of that outward victory
which you must presently gain when the Son of Man is rejected by
the chief priests and the Sadducees and is given into the hands of
mocking unbelievers.
171:2.5 "Now should you examine yourself to find
out your motive for being my disciple. If you seek honor and
glory, if you are worldly minded, you are like the salt when it
has lost its savor. And when that which is valued for its
saltiness has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? Such
a condiment is useless; it is fit only to be cast out among the
refuse. Now have I warned you to turn back to your homes in peace
if you are not willing to drink with me the cup which is being
prepared. Again and again have I told you that my kingdom is not
of this world, but you will not believe me. He who has ears to
hear let him hear what I say."
171:2.6 Immediately after speaking these words,
Jesus, leading the twelve, started off on the way to Heshbon,
followed by about five hundred. After a brief delay the other half
of the multitude went on up to Jerusalem. His apostles, together
with the leading disciples, thought much about these words, but
still they clung to the belief that, after this brief period of
adversity and trial, the kingdom would certainly be set up
somewhat in accordance with their long-cherished hopes.
3. THE PEREAN TOUR
171:3.1 For more than two weeks Jesus and the
twelve, followed by a crowd of several hundred disciples,
journeyed about in southern Perea, visiting all of the towns
wherein the seventy labored. Many gentiles lived in this region,
and since few were going up to the Passover feast at Jerusalem,
the messengers of the kingdom went right on with their work of
teaching and preaching.
171:3.2 Jesus met Abner at Heshbon, and Andrew
directed that the labors of the seventy should not be interrupted
by the Passover feast; Jesus advised that the messengers should go
forward with their work in complete disregard of what was about to
happen at Jerusalem. He also counseled Abner to permit the women's
corps, at least such as desired, to go to Jerusalem for the
Passover. And this was the last time Abner ever saw Jesus in the
flesh. His farewell to Abner was: "My son, I know you will be true
to the kingdom, and I pray the Father to grant you wisdom that you
may love and understand your brethren."
171:3.3 As they traveled from city to city,
large numbers of their followers deserted to go on to Jerusalem so
that, by the time Jesus started for the Passover, the number of
those who followed along with him day by day had dwindled to less
than two hundred.
171:3.4 The apostles understood that Jesus was
going to Jerusalem for the Passover. They knew that the Sanhedrin
had broadcast a message to all Israel that he had been condemned
to die and directing that anyone knowing his whereabouts should
inform the Sanhedrin; and yet, despite all this, they were not so
alarmed as they had been when he had announced to them in
Philadelphia that he was going to Bethany to see Lazarus. This
change of attitude from that of intense fear to a state of hushed
expectancy was mostly because of Lazarus's resurrection. They had
reached the conclusion that Jesus might, in an emergency, assert
his divine power and put to shame his enemies. This hope, coupled
with their more profound and mature faith in the spiritual
supremacy of their Master, accounted for the outward courage
displayed by his immediate followers, who now made ready to follow
him into Jerusalem in the very face of the open declaration of the
Sanhedrin that he must die.
171:3.5 The majority of the apostles and many of
his inner disciples did not believe it possible for Jesus to die;
they, believing that he was "the resurrection and the life,"
regarded him as immortal and already triumphant over death.
4. TEACHING AT LIVIAS
171:4.1 On Wednesday evening, March 29, Jesus
and his followers encamped at Livias on their way to Jerusalem,
after having completed their tour of the cities of southern Perea.
It was during this night at Livias that Simon Zelotes and Simon
Peter, having conspired to have delivered into their hands at this
place more than one hundred swords, received and distributed these
arms to all who would accept them and wear them concealed beneath
their cloaks. Simon Peter was still wearing his sword on the night
of the Master's betrayal in the garden.
171:4.2 Early on Thursday morning before the
others were awake, Jesus called Andrew and said: "Awaken your
brethren! I have something to say to them." Jesus knew about the
swords and which of his apostles had received and were wearing
these weapons, but he never disclosed to them that he knew such
things. When Andrew had aroused his associates, and they had
assembled off by themselves, Jesus said: "My children, you have
been with me a long while, and I have taught you much that is
needful for this time, but I would now warn you not to put your
trust in the uncertainties of the flesh nor in the frailties of
man's defense against the trials and testing which lie ahead of
us. I have called you apart here by yourselves that I may once
more plainly tell you that we are going up to Jerusalem, where you
know the Son of Man has already been condemned to death. Again am
I telling you that the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands
of the chief priests and the religious rulers; that they will
condemn him and then deliver him into the hands of the gentiles.
And so will they mock the Son of Man, even spit upon him and
scourge him, and they will deliver him up to death. And when they
kill the Son of Man, be not dismayed, for I declare that on the
third day he shall rise. Take heed to yourselves and remember that
I have forewarned you."
171:4.3 Again were the apostles amazed, stunned;
but they could not bring themselves to regard his words as
literal; they could not comprehend that the Master meant just what
he said. They were so blinded by their persistent belief in the
temporal kingdom on earth, with headquarters at Jerusalem, that
they simply could not -- would not -- permit themselves to accept
Jesus' words as literal. They pondered all that day as to what the
Master could mean by such strange pronouncements. But none of them
dared to ask him a question concerning these statements. Not until
after his death did these bewildered apostles wake up to the
realization that the Master had spoken to them plainly and
directly in anticipation of his crucifixion.
171:4.4 It was here at Livias, just after
breakfast, that certain friendly Pharisees came to Jesus and said:
"Flee in haste from these parts, for Herod, just as he sought
John, now seeks to kill you. He fears an uprising of the people
and has decided to kill you. We bring you this warning that you
may escape."
171:4.5 And this was partly true. The
resurrection of Lazarus frightened and alarmed Herod, and knowing
that the Sanhedrin had dared to condemn Jesus, even in advance of
a trial, Herod made up his mind either to kill Jesus or to drive
him out of his domains. He really desired to do the latter since
he so feared him that he hoped he would not be compelled to
execute him.
171:4.6 When Jesus heard what the Pharisees had
to say, he replied: "I well know about Herod and his fear of this
gospel of the kingdom. But, mistake not, he would much prefer that
the Son of Man go up to Jerusalem to suffer and die at the hands
of the chief priests; he is not anxious, having stained his hands
with the blood of John, to become responsible for the death of the
Son of Man. Go you and tell that fox that the Son of Man preaches
in Perea today, tomorrow goes into Judea, and after a few days,
will be perfected in his mission on earth and prepared to ascend
to the Father."
171:4.7 Then turning to his apostles, Jesus
said: "From olden times the prophets have perished in Jerusalem,
and it is only befitting that the Son of Man should go up to the
city of the Father's house to be offered up as the price of human
bigotry and as the result of religious prejudice and spiritual
blindness. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets and
stones the teachers of truth! How often would I have gathered your
children together even as a hen gathers her own brood under her
wings, but you would not let me do it! Behold, your house is about
to be left to you desolate! You will many times desire to see me,
but you shall not. You will then seek but not find me." And when
he had spoken, he turned to those around him and said:
"Nevertheless, let us go up to Jerusalem to attend the Passover
and do that which becomes us in fulfilling the will of the Father
in heaven."
171:4.8 It was a confused and bewildered group
of believers who this day followed Jesus into Jericho. The
apostles could discern only the certain note of final triumph in
Jesus' declarations regarding the kingdom; they just could not
bring themselves to that place where they were willing to grasp
the warnings of the impending setback. When Jesus spoke of "rising
on the third day," they seized upon this statement as signifying a
sure triumph of the kingdom immediately following an unpleasant
preliminary skirmish with the Jewish religious leaders. The "third
day" was a common Jewish expression signifying "presently" or
"soon thereafter." When Jesus spoke of "rising," they thought he
referred to the "rising of the kingdom."
171:4.9 Jesus had been accepted by these
believers as the Messiah, and the Jews knew little or nothing
about a suffering Messiah. They did not understand that Jesus was
to accomplish many things by his death which could never have been
achieved by his life. While it was the resurrection of Lazarus
that nerved the apostles to enter Jerusalem, it was the memory of
the transfiguration that sustained the Master at this trying
period of his bestowal.
5. THE BLIND MAN AT JERICHO
171:5.1 Late on the afternoon of Thursday, March
30, Jesus and his apostles, at the head of a band of about two
hundred followers, approached the walls of Jericho. As they came
near the gate of the city, they encountered a throng of beggars,
among them one Bartimeus, an elderly man who had been blind from
his youth. This blind beggar had heard much about Jesus and knew
all about his healing of the blind Josiah at Jerusalem. He had not
known of Jesus' last visit to Jericho until he had gone on to
Bethany. Bartimeus had resolved that he would never again allow
Jesus to visit Jericho without appealing to him for the
restoration of his sight.
171:5.2 News of Jesus' approach had been
heralded throughout Jericho, and hundreds of the inhabitants
flocked forth to meet him. When this great crowd came back
escorting the Master into the city, Bartimeus, hearing the heavy
tramping of the multitude, knew that something unusual was
happening, and so he asked those standing near him what was going
on. And one of the beggars replied, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing
by." When Bartimeus heard that Jesus was near, he lifted up his
voice and began to cry aloud, "Jesus, Jesus, have mercy upon me!"
And as he continued to cry louder and louder, some of those near
to Jesus went over and rebuked him, requesting him to hold his
peace; but it was of no avail; he cried only the more and the
louder.
171:5.3 When Jesus heard the blind man crying
out, he stood still. And when he saw him, he said to his friends,
"Bring the man to me." And then they went over to Bartimeus,
saying: "Be of good cheer; come with us, for the Master calls for
you." When Bartimeus heard these words, he threw aside his cloak,
springing forward toward the center of the road, while those near
by guided him to Jesus. Addressing Bartimeus, Jesus said: "What do
you want me to do for you?" Then answered the blind man, "I would
have my sight restored." And when Jesus heard this request and saw
his faith, he said: "You shall receive your sight; go your way;
your faith has made you whole." Immediately he received his sight,
and he remained near Jesus, glorifying God, until the Master
started on the next day for Jerusalem, and then he went before the
multitude declaring to all how his sight had been restored in
Jericho.
6. THE VISIT TO ZACCHEUS
171:6.1 When the Master's procession entered
Jericho, it was nearing sundown, and he was minded to abide there
for the night. As Jesus passed by the customs house, Zaccheus the
chief publican, or tax collector, happened to be present, and he
much desired to see Jesus. This chief publican was very rich and
had heard much about this prophet of Galilee. He had resolved that
he would see what sort of a man Jesus was the next time he chanced
to visit Jericho; accordingly, Zaccheus sought to press through
the crowd, but it was too great, and being short of stature, he
could not see over their heads. And so the chief publican followed
on with the crowd until they came near the center of the city and
not far from where he lived. When he saw that he would be unable
to penetrate the crowd, and thinking that Jesus might be going
right on through the city without stopping, he ran on ahead and
climbed up into a sycamore tree whose spreading branches overhung
the roadway. He knew that in this way he could obtain a good view
of the Master as he passed by. And he was not disappointed, for,
as Jesus passed by, he stopped and, looking up at Zaccheus, said:
"Make haste, Zaccheus, and come down, for tonight I must abide at
your house." And when Zaccheus heard these astonishing words, he
almost fell out of the tree in his haste to get down, and going up
to Jesus, he expressed great joy that the Master should be willing
to stop at his house.
171:6.2 They went at once to the home of
Zaccheus, and those who lived in Jericho were much surprised that
Jesus would consent to abide with the chief publican. Even while
the Master and his apostles lingered with Zaccheus before the door
of his house, one of the Jericho Pharisees, standing near by,
said: "You see how this man has gone to lodge with a sinner, an
apostate son of Abraham who is an extortioner and a robber of his
own people." And when Jesus heard this, he looked down at Zaccheus
and smiled. Then Zaccheus stood upon a stool and said: "Men of
Jericho, hear me! I may be a publican and a sinner, but the great
Teacher has come to abide in my house; and before he goes in, I
tell you that I am going to bestow one half of all my goods upon
the poor, and beginning tomorrow, if I have wrongfully exacted
aught from any man, I will restore fourfold. I am going to seek
salvation with all my heart and learn to do righteousness in the
sight of God."
171:6.3 When Zaccheus had ceased speaking, Jesus
said: "Today has salvation come to this home, and you have become
indeed a son of Abraham." And turning to the crowd assembled about
them, Jesus said: "And marvel not at what I say nor take offense
at what we do, for I have all along declared that the Son of Man
has come to seek and to save that which is lost."
171:6.4 They lodged with Zaccheus for the night.
On the morrow they arose and made their way up the "road of
robbers" to Bethany on their way to the Passover at Jerusalem.
7. "AS JESUS PASSED BY"
171:7.1 Jesus spread good cheer everywhere he
went. He was full of grace and truth. His associates never ceased
to wonder at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth.
You can cultivate gracefulness, but graciousness is the aroma of
friendliness which emanates from a love-saturated soul.
171:7.2 Goodness always compels respect, but
when it is devoid of grace, it often repels affection. Goodness is
universally attractive only when it is gracious. Goodness is
effective only when it is attractive.
171:7.3 Jesus really understood men; therefore
could he manifest genuine sympathy and show sincere compassion.
But he seldom indulged in pity. While his compassion was
boundless, his sympathy was practical, personal, and constructive.
Never did his familiarity with suffering breed indifference, and
he was able to minister to distressed souls without increasing
their self-pity.
171:7.4 Jesus could help men so much because he
loved them so sincerely. He truly loved each man, each woman, and
each child. He could be such a true friend because of his
remarkable insight -- he knew so fully what was in the heart and
in the mind of man. He was an interested and keen observer. He was
an expert in the comprehension of human need, clever in detecting
human longings.
171:7.5 Jesus was never in a hurry. He had time
to comfort his fellow men "as he passed by." And he always made
his friends feel at ease. He was a charming listener. He never
engaged in the meddlesome probing of the souls of his associates.
As he comforted hungry minds and ministered to thirsty souls, the
recipients of his mercy did not so much feel that they were
confessing to him as that they were conferring with
him. They had unbounded confidence in him because they saw he had
so much faith in them.
171:7.6 He never seemed to be curious about
people, and he never manifested a desire to direct, manage, or
follow them up. He inspired profound self-confidence and robust
courage in all who enjoyed his association. When he smiled on a
man, that mortal experienced increased capacity for solving his
manifold problems.
171:7.7 Jesus loved men so much and so wisely
that he never hesitated to be severe with them when the occasion
demanded such discipline. He frequently set out to help a person
by asking for help. In this way he elicited interest, appealed to
the better things in human nature.
171:7.8 The Master could discern saving faith in
the gross superstition of the woman who sought healing by touching
the hem of his garment. He was always ready and willing to stop a
sermon or detain a multitude while he ministered to the needs of a
single person, even to a little child. Great things happened not
only because people had faith in Jesus, but also because Jesus had
so much faith in them.
171:7.9 Most of the really important things
which Jesus said or did seemed to happen casually, "as he passed
by." There was so little of the professional, the well-planned, or
the premeditated in the Master's earthly ministry. He dispensed
health and scattered happiness naturally and gracefully as he
journeyed through life. It was literally true, "He went about
doing good."
171:7.10 And it behooves the Master's followers
in all ages to learn to minister as "they pass by" -- to do
unselfish good as they go about their daily duties.
8. PARABLE OF THE POUNDS
171:8.1 They did not start from Jericho until
near noon since they sat up late the night before while Jesus
taught Zaccheus and his family the gospel of the kingdom. About
halfway up the ascending road to Bethany the party paused for
lunch while the multitude passed on to Jerusalem, not knowing that
Jesus and the apostles were going to abide that night on the Mount
of Olives.
171:8.2 The parable of the pounds, unlike the
parable of the talents, which was intended for all the disciples,
was spoken more exclusively to the apostles and was largely based
on the experience of Archelaus and his futile attempt to gain the
rule of the kingdom of Judea. This is one of the few parables of
the Master to be founded on an actual historic character. It was
not strange that they should have had Archelaus in mind inasmuch
as the house of Zaccheus in Jericho was very near the ornate
palace of Archelaus, and his aqueduct ran along the road by which
they had departed from Jericho.
171:8.3 Said Jesus: "You think that the Son of
Man goes up to Jerusalem to receive a kingdom, but I declare that
you are doomed to disappointment. Do you not remember about a
certain prince who went into a far country to receive for himself
a kingdom, but even before he could return, the citizens of his
province, who in their hearts had already rejected him, sent an
embassy after him, saying, `We will not have this man to reign
over us'? As this king was rejected in the temporal rule, so is
the Son of Man to be rejected in the spiritual rule. Again I
declare that my kingdom is not of this world; but if the Son of
Man had been accorded the spiritual rule of his people, he would
have accepted such a kingdom of men's souls and would have reigned
over such a dominion of human hearts. Notwithstanding that they
reject my spiritual rule over them, I will return again to receive
from others such a kingdom of spirit as is now denied me. You will
see the Son of Man rejected now, but in another age that which the
children of Abraham now reject will be received and exalted.
171:8.4 "And now, as the rejected nobleman of
this parable, I would call before me my twelve servants, special
stewards, and giving into each of your hands the sum of one pound,
I would admonish each to heed well my instructions that you trade
diligently with your trust fund while I am away that you may have
wherewith to justify your stewardship when I return, when a
reckoning shall be required of you.
171:8.5 "And even if this rejected Son should
not return, another Son will be sent to receive this kingdom, and
this Son will then send for all of you to receive your report of
stewardship and to be made glad by your gains.
171:8.6 "And when these stewards were
subsequently called together for an accounting, the first came
forward, saying, `Lord, with your pound I have made ten pounds
more.' And his master said to him: `Well done; you are a good
servant; because you have proved faithful in this matter, I will
give you authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying,
`Your pound left with me, Lord, has made five pounds.' And the
master said, `I will accordingly make you ruler over five cities.'
And so on down through the others until the last of the servants,
on being called to account, reported: `Lord, behold, here is your
pound, which I have kept safely done up in this napkin. And this I
did because I feared you; I believed that you were unreasonable,
seeing that you take up where you have not laid down, and that you
seek to reap where you have not sown.' Then said his lord: `You
negligent and unfaithful servant, I will judge you out of your own
mouth. You knew that I reap where I have apparently not sown;
therefore you knew this reckoning would be required of you.
Knowing this, you should have at least given my money to the
banker that at my coming I might have had it with proper
interest.'
171:8.7 "And then said this ruler to those who
stood by: `Take the money from this slothful servant and give it
to him who has ten pounds.' And when they reminded the master that
such a one already had ten pounds, he said: `To every one who has
shall be given more, but from him who has not, even that which he
has shall be taken away from him.'"
171:8.8 And then the apostles sought to know the
difference between the meaning of this parable and that of the
former parable of the talents, but Jesus would only say, in answer
to their many questions: "Ponder well these words in your hearts
while each of you finds out their true meaning."
171:8.9 It was Nathaniel who so well taught the
meaning of these two parables in the after years, summing up his
teachings in these conclusions:
171:8.10 1. Ability is the practical measure of
life's opportunities. You will never be held responsible for the
accomplishment of that which is beyond your abilities.
171:8.11 2. Faithfulness is the unerring measure
of human trustworthiness. He who is faithful in little things is
also likely to exhibit faithfulness in everything consistent with
his endowments.
171:8.12 3. The Master grants the lesser reward
for lesser faithfulness when there is like opportunity.
171:8.13 4. He grants a like reward for like
faithfulness when there is lesser opportunity.
171:8.14 When they had finished their lunch, and
after the multitude of followers had gone on toward Jerusalem,
Jesus, standing there before the apostles in the shade of an
overhanging rock by the roadside, with cheerful dignity and a
gracious majesty pointed his finger westward, saying: "Come, my
brethren, let us go on into Jerusalem, there to receive that which
awaits us; thus shall we fulfill the will of the heavenly Father
in all things."
171:8.15 And so Jesus and his apostles resumed
this, the Master's last journey to Jerusalem in the likeness of
the flesh of mortal man.
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