Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 135: IVAN KRSTITELJ
Sekcije
- Uvod
- § 1. IVAN POSTAJE NAZARIT
- § 2. ZAHARIJINA SMRT
- § 3. ŽIVOT PASTIRA
- § 4. ELIZABETINA SMRT
- § 5. KRALJEVSTVO BOŽJE
- § 6. IVAN POČINJE PROPOVIJEDATI
- § 7. IVAN PUTUJE PREMA SJEVERU
- § 8. SUSRET ISUSA I IVANA
- § 9. ČETRDESET DANA PROPOVIJEDANJA
- § 10. IVAN PUTUJE PREMA JUGU
- § 11. IVAN U ZATOČENIŠTVU
- § 12. SMRT IVANA KRSTITELJA
Paper 135
John the Baptist
John the Baptist
Sections
- Introduction
- § 1. John Becomes a Nazarite
- § 2. The Death of Zacharias
- § 3. The Life of a Shepherd
- § 4. The Death of Elizabeth
- § 5. The Kingdom of God
- § 6. John Begins to Preach
- § 7. John Journeys North
- § 8. Meeting of Jesus and John
- § 9. Forty Days of Preaching
- § 10. John Journeys South
- § 11. John in Prison
- § 12. Death of John the Baptist
IVAN Krstitelj rođen je 25. ožujka 7. godine pr. Kr., čime se ispunilo obećanje koje je Gabrijel dao Elizabeti u lipnju prethodne godine. Pet je mjeseci Elizabeta čuvala u tajnosti Gabrijelov posjet; a kada je o tome rekla svom mužu Zahariji, bio je veoma uznemiren i u potpunosti je povjerovao njezinu kazivanju tek nakon što je, otprilike šest tjedana prije Ivanova rođenja, usnio neobičan san. Osim Gabrijelova posjeta Elizabeti i Zaharijina sna, u rođenju Ivana Krstitelja nije bilo ničega neobičnog ni nadnaravnog.
135:0.1 (1496.1)
JOHN the Baptist was born March 25, 7 {scaps{scaps{b.c.}scaps}scaps}, in accordance with the promise that Gabriel made to Elizabeth in June of the previous year. For five months Elizabeth kept secret Gabriel’s visitation; and when she told her husband, Zacharias, he was greatly troubled and fully believed her narrative only after he had an unusual dream about six weeks before the birth of John. Excepting the visit of Gabriel to Elizabeth and the dream of Zacharias, there was nothing unusual or supernatural connected with the birth of John the Baptist.
Po povratku iz Nazareta, Ivanovi su roditelji započeli njegovo sustavno obrazovanje. U tom malom selu nije bilo sinagoške škole; no budući da je bio svećenik, Zaharija je bio prilično obrazovan, dok je Elizabeta bila daleko obrazovanija od prosječne žene u Judeji. I ona je pripadala svećeničkom rodu, budući da je potjecala od „Aronovih kćeri“. Budući da je Ivan bio jedinac, njegovi su roditelji posvećivali mnogo vremena njegovu umnom i duhovnom odgoju. Zaharija je imao samo kratka razdoblja službe u Hramu u Jeruzalemu, pa je velik dio svoga vremena posvećivao poučavanju svoga sina.
135:0.4 (1496.4)
After their return from Nazareth John’s parents began the systematic education of the lad. There was no synagogue school in this little village; however, as he was a priest, Zacharias was fairly well educated, and Elizabeth was far better educated than the average Judean woman; she was also of the priesthood, being a descendant of the “daughters of Aaron.” Since John was an only child, they spent a great deal of time on his mental and spiritual training. Zacharias had only short periods of service at the temple in Jerusalem so that he devoted much of his time to teaching his son.
Budući da Ivan nije pohađao školu, njegovi su roditelji smatrali da je četrnaesta godina prikladno vrijeme za polaganje službenog Nazaritskog zavjeta. Zaharija i Elizabeta poveli su svoga sina u Engedi, pokraj Mrtvog mora. Ondje se nalazilo južno središte Nazaritskog bratstva, i mladić je tamo propisno i svečano primljen u taj red za cijeli život. Nakon tih obreda i polaganja zavjeta da će se uzdržavati od svih opojnih pića, pustiti kosu da raste i ne dodirivati mrtve, obitelj je otišla u Jeruzalem, gdje je Ivan pred hramom dovršio prinošenje prinosa koji su se zahtijevali od onih koji su polagali Nazaritski zavjet.
135:1.1 (1496.6)
John had no school from which to graduate at the age of fourteen, but his parents had selected this as the appropriate year for him to take the formal Nazarite vow. Accordingly, Zacharias and Elizabeth took their son to Engedi, down by the Dead Sea. This was the southern headquarters of the Nazarite brotherhood, and there the lad was duly and solemnly inducted into this order for life. After these ceremonies and the making of the vows to abstain from all intoxicating drinks, to let the hair grow, and to refrain from touching the dead, the family proceeded to Jerusalem, where, before the temple, John completed the making of the offerings which were required of those taking Nazarite vows.
Ivan je položio iste životne zavjete kakvi su bili propisani njegovim znamenitim prethodnicima, Samsonu i proroku Samuelu. Na doživotnog se Nazarita gledalo kao na posvećenu i svetu osobu. Židovi su Nazaritu iskazivali gotovo isto poštovanje i štovanje kakvo su iskazivali velikom svećeniku, što nije bilo neobično, jer su doživotno posvećeni Nazariti bili jedine osobe, osim velikih svećenika, kojima je bilo dopušteno ući u Svetinju nad svetinjama u hramu.
135:1.2 (1496.7)
John took the same life vows that had been administered to his illustrious predecessors, Samson and the prophet Samuel. A life Nazarite was looked upon as a sanctified and holy personality. The Jews regarded a Nazarite with almost the respect and veneration accorded the high priest, and this was not strange since Nazarites of lifelong consecration were the only persons, except high priests, who were ever permitted to enter the holy of holies in the temple.
U šesnaestoj godini, nakon što je čitao o Iliji, Ivan je bio duboko zadivljen prorokom s Karmelske gore i odlučio je usvojiti njegov način odijevanja. Od toga je dana Ivan uvijek nosio odjeću od dlake i kožni pojas. Sa šesnaest godina bio je viši od šest stopa i gotovo potpuno tjelesno razvijen. S raspuštenom kosom i osobitim načinom odijevanja doista je bio upečatljiv mladić. Njegovi su roditelji očekivali velike stvari od tog svog jedinog sina, djeteta obećanja i doživotnog Nazarita.
135:1.4 (1497.2)
When sixteen years old, John, as a result of reading about Elijah, became greatly impressed with the prophet of Mount Carmel and decided to adopt his style of dress. From that day on John always wore a hairy garment with a leather girdle. At sixteen he was more than six feet tall and almost full grown. With his flowing hair and peculiar mode of dress he was indeed a picturesque youth. And his parents expected great things of this their only son, a child of promise and a Nazarite for life.
Zaharija je umro nakon nekoliko mjeseci bolesti, u srpnju 12. godine po Kr., kada je Ivan tek navršio nešto više od osamnaest godina. Za Ivana je to bilo vrlo teško vrijeme, jer je Nazaritski zavjet zabranjivao dodirivanje mrtvih, čak i članova vlastite obitelji. Premda se Ivan nastojao pridržavati ograničenja svoga zavjeta glede onečišćenja dodirom mrtvih, sumnjao je da je u potpunosti ispunio zahtjeve Nazaritskog reda; stoga je nakon očeva pogreba otišao u Jeruzalem, gdje je u Nazaritskom dijelu ženskog dvorišta hrama prinio žrtve koje su se zahtijevale za njegovo očišćenje.
135:2.1 (1497.3)
After an illness of several months Zacharias died in July, {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 12, when John was just past eighteen years of age. This was a time of great embarrassment to John since the Nazarite vow forbade contact with the dead, even in one’s own family. Although John had endeavored to comply with the restrictions of his vow regarding contamination by the dead, he doubted that he had been wholly obedient to the requirements of the Nazarite order; therefore, after his father’s burial he went to Jerusalem, where, in the Nazarite corner of the women’s court, he offered the sacrifices required for his cleansing.
U rujnu te godine Elizabeta i Ivan otputovali su u Nazaret kako bi posjetili Mariju i Isusa. Ivan je već gotovo donio odluku da započne svoje životno djelo, ali su ga, ne samo Isusove riječi nego i njegov primjer, potaknuli da se vrati kući, brine o svojoj majci i čeka „dolazak Očeva časa“. Nakon što se na kraju tog ugodnog posjeta oprostio od Isusa i Marije, Ivan više nije vidio Isusa sve do njegova krštenja u Jordanu.
135:2.2 (1497.4)
In September of this year Elizabeth and John made a journey to Nazareth to visit Mary and Jesus. John had just about made up his mind to launch out in his lifework, but he was admonished, not only by Jesus’ words but also by his example, to return home, take care of his mother, and await the “coming of the Father’s hour.” After bidding Jesus and Mary good-bye at the end of this enjoyable visit, John did not again see Jesus until the event of his baptism in the Jordan.
Ivan i Elizabeta su se po povratku kući počeli pripremati za budućnost. Kako Ivan nije želio prihvatiti svećenički prihod koji mu je pripadao iz hramskih sredstava, nakon nešto manje od dvije godine gotovo su ostali bez doma; stoga su odlučili povesti stado ovaca prema jugu. Ljeto u kojem je Ivan navršio dvadeset godina bilo je obilježeno njihovim preseljenjem u Hebron. U takozvanoj „Judejskoj pustinji“ Ivan je čuvao svoje ovce uz manji potok koji je bio pritoka većeg toka što se kod En-Gedija ulijevao u Slano more. Zajednica u En-Gediju uključivala je ne samo Nazarite doživotnog i vremenski ograničenog posvećenja nego i mnoge druge asketske pastire koji su se sa svojim stadima okupljali u ovom području i družili s Nazaritskim bratstvom. Uzdržavali su se uzgojem ovaca i darovima koje je njihov red primao od imućnih Židova.
135:2.3 (1497.5)
John and Elizabeth returned to their home and began to lay plans for the future. Since John refused to accept the priest’s allowance due him from the temple funds, by the end of two years they had all but lost their home; so they decided to go south with the sheep herd. Accordingly, the summer that John was twenty years of age witnessed their removal to Hebron. In the so-called “wilderness of Judea” John tended his sheep along a brook that was tributary to a larger stream which entered the Dead Sea at Engedi. The Engedi colony included not only Nazarites of lifelong and time-period consecration but numerous other ascetic herdsmen who congregated in this region with their herds and fraternized with the Nazarite brotherhood. They supported themselves by sheep raising and from gifts which wealthy Jews made to the order.
135:2.4 (1497.6)
As time passed, John returned less often to Hebron, while he made more frequent visits to Engedi. He was so entirely different from the majority of the Nazarites that he found it very difficult fully to fraternize with the brotherhood. But he was very fond of Abner, the acknowledged leader and head of the Engedi colony.
Ivan je duž doline ovog potočića izgradio najmanje dvanaest kamenih zaklona i noćnih torova, načinjenih od naslaganog kamenja, u kojima je mogao nadzirati i čuvati svoja stada ovaca i koza. Njegov mu je pastirski život pružao mnogo vremena za razmišljanje. Često je razgovarao s Ezdom, siročetom iz Bet-Zura, kojega je na neki način posvojio i koji se brinuo za stada kada bi Ivan odlazio u Hebron posjetiti svoju majku i prodati ovce, kao i kada bi silazio u En-Gedi na subotnja bogoslužja. Ivan i mladić živjeli su vrlo jednostavno, hraneći se ovčetinom, kozjim mlijekom, divljim medom i jestivim skakavcima tog kraja. Njihovu uobičajenu prehranu povremeno su dopunjavale namirnice donesene iz Hebrona i En-Gedija.
135:3.1 (1497.7)
Along the valley of this little brook John built no less than a dozen stone shelters and night corrals, consisting of piled-up stones, wherein he could watch over and safeguard his herds of sheep and goats. John’s life as a shepherd afforded him a great deal of time for thought. He talked much with Ezda, an orphan lad of Beth-zur, whom he had in a way adopted, and who cared for the herds when he made trips to Hebron to see his mother and to sell sheep, as well as when he went down to Engedi for Sabbath services. John and the lad lived very simply, subsisting on mutton, goat’s milk, wild honey, and the edible locusts of that region. This, their regular diet, was supplemented by provisions brought from Hebron and Engedi from time to time.
Elizabeta je slala Ivanu vijesti o prilikama u Palestini i svijetu, a on je postajao sve uvjereniji da se brzo približavao kraj starog poretka; da će upravo on postati glasnik dolaska novog doba, „kraljevstva nebeskog“. Ovaj je snažni pastir veoma uživao u spisima proroka Daniela. Tisuću je puta pročitao Danielov opis velikog lika za koji mu je Zaharija rekao da predstavlja povijest velikih svjetskih kraljevstava, počevši od Babilona, zatim Perzije, Grčke i konačno Rima. Ivan je shvatio da je Rim već tada bio sastavljen od tako raznorodnih naroda i rasa da nikada ne bi mogao postati snažno povezano i čvrsto učvršćeno carstvo. Vjerovao je da je Rim već tada bio podijeljen, poput Sirije, Egipta, Palestine i drugih pokrajina; a zatim je dalje čitao: „U dane ovih kraljeva Bog neba podići će kraljevstvo koje nikada neće propasti. To kraljevstvo neće prijeći na drugi narod, nego će razbiti i uništiti sva ta kraljevstva, a samo će stajati dovijeka.“ „Njemu će biti predana vlast, slava i kraljevstvo, da mu služe svi narodi, plemena i jezici. Njegova je vlast vječna vlast koja neće proći, a njegovo kraljevstvo nikada neće biti uništeno.“ „Kraljevstvo, vlast i veličanstvo kraljevstava pod svim nebesima bit će dano narodu svetaca Svevišnjega, čije je kraljevstvo vječno kraljevstvo, i sve će mu vlasti služiti i pokoravati mu se.“
135:3.2 (1498.1)
Elizabeth kept John posted about Palestinian and world affairs, and his conviction grew deeper and deeper that the time was fast approaching when the old order was to end; that he was to become the herald of the approach of a new age, “the kingdom of heaven.” This rugged shepherd was very partial to the writings of the Prophet Daniel. He read a thousand times Daniel’s description of the great image, which Zacharias had told him represented the history of the great kingdoms of the world, beginning with Babylon, then Persia, Greece, and finally Rome. John perceived that already was Rome composed of such polyglot peoples and races that it could never become a strongly cemented and firmly consolidated empire. He believed that Rome was even then divided, as Syria, Egypt, Palestine, and other provinces; and then he further read “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And this kingdom shall not be left to other people but shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” “And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom never shall be destroyed.” “And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
Ivan se nikada nije mogao potpuno osloboditi zbunjenosti koju su u njemu izazvali ono što je od svojih roditelja čuo o Isusu i odlomci koje je čitao u Pismima. U Danielu je čitao: „Gledah u noćnim viđenjima, i gle, s oblacima nebeskim dolazi netko poput Sina Čovječjeg; njemu bijaše dana vlast, slava i kraljevstvo.“ Ali ove prorokove riječi nisu bile u skladu s onim što su ga roditelji poučavali. Ni njegov razgovor s Isusom tijekom posjeta kada je imao osamnaest godina nije odgovarao ovim riječima iz Pisama. Unatoč toj zbunjenosti, kroz svu svoju nedoumicu majka ga je uvjeravala da je njegov daleki rođak, Isus iz Nazareta, pravi Mesija, da je došao sjesti na Davidovo prijestolje i da će on (Ivan) postati glasnik koji će mu pripraviti put i biti glavni podupiratelj.
135:3.3 (1498.2)
John was never able completely to rise above the confusion produced by what he had heard from his parents concerning Jesus and by these passages which he read in the Scriptures. In Daniel he read: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom.” But these words of the prophet did not harmonize with what his parents had taught him. Neither did his talk with Jesus, at the time of his visit when he was eighteen years old, correspond with these statements of the Scriptures. Notwithstanding this confusion, throughout all of his perplexity his mother assured him that his distant cousin, Jesus of Nazareth, was the true Messiah, that he had come to sit on the throne of David, and that he (John) was to become his advance herald and chief support.
Od svega što je Ivan čuo o poročnosti i zlu Rima, o raspojasanosti i moralnoj ispraznosti ovoga carstva, kao i na temelju onoga što je znao o zlim djelima Heroda Antipe i upravitelja Judeje, bio je sklon vjerovati da se približavao kraj doba. Ovom se grubom i plemenitom djetetu prirode činilo da je svijet sazrio za završetak čovjekova doba i svitanje novog i božanskog doba — nebeskog kraljevstva. U Ivanovu je srcu sve više rasla spoznaja da je on trebao biti posljednji iz reda starih proroka i prvi iz reda novih. Gotovo je drhtao od sve snažnijeg poticaja da izađe i objavi svim ljudima: “Pokajte se! Uredite svoj odnos s Bogom! Pripremite se za kraj; pripremite se za pojavu novog i vječnog poretka zemaljskih poslova, nebeskog kraljevstva.”
135:3.4 (1498.3)
From all John heard of the vice and wickedness of Rome and the dissoluteness and moral barrenness of the empire, from what he knew of the evil doings of Herod Antipas and the governors of Judea, he was minded to believe that the end of the age was impending. It seemed to this rugged and noble child of nature that the world was ripe for the end of the age of man and the dawn of the new and divine age—the kingdom of heaven. The feeling grew in John’s heart that he was to be the last of the old prophets and the first of the new. And he fairly vibrated with the mounting impulse to go forth and proclaim to all men: “Repent! Get right with God! Get ready for the end; prepare yourselves for the appearance of the new and eternal order of earth affairs, the kingdom of heaven.”
17. kolovoza 22. godine po Kr., kad je Ivanu bilo dvadeset osam godina, iznenada je preminula njegova majka. Kako su Elizabetini prijatelji poznavali nazirejska ograničenja u pogledu dodira s mrtvima, čak i unutar vlastite obitelji, uredili su sve detalje Elizabetine sahrane prije nego što su poslali po Ivana. Kad je primio vijest o majčinoj smrti, Ivan je rekao Ezdi da odvede stada u En-Gedi i sam krenuo u Hebron.
135:4.1 (1499.1)
On August 17, {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 22, when John was twenty-eight years of age, his mother suddenly passed away. Elizabeth’s friends, knowing of the Nazarite restrictions regarding contact with the dead, even in one’s own family, made all arrangements for the burial of Elizabeth before sending for John. When he received word of the death of his mother, he directed Ezda to drive his herds to Engedi and started for Hebron.
Po povratku u En-Gedi nakon majčinog pogreba, Ivan je predao svoja stada bratstvu i na neko se vrijeme odvojio od vanjskog svijeta dok je postio i molio se. Ivan je poznavao samo stare načine pristupanja božanstvu; poznavao je samo zapise o ljudima poput Ilije, Samuela i Daniela. Ilija je bio njegov ideal proroka. Ilija je bio prvi među učiteljima Izraela koji je smatran prorokom, a Ivan je iskreno vjerovao da će on biti posljednji iz ove duge i slavne loze nebeskih glasnika.
135:4.2 (1499.2)
On returning to Engedi from his mother’s funeral, he presented his flocks to the brotherhood and for a season detached himself from the outside world while he fasted and prayed. John knew only of the old methods of approach to divinity; he knew only of the records of such as Elijah, Samuel, and Daniel. Elijah was his ideal of a prophet. Elijah was the first of the teachers of Israel to be regarded as a prophet, and John truly believed that he was to be the last of this long and illustrious line of the messengers of heaven.
Ivan je živio u En-Gedi dvije i pol godine i tijekom tog razdoblja uvjerio većinu pripadnika ovoga bratstva da je “kraj epohe blizu”; da se “nebesko kraljevstvo uskoro treba pojaviti.” Sve njegovo rano učenje bilo je utemeljeno na ondašnjoj židovskoj ideji i pojmu Mesije kao obećanog osloboditelja židovske nacije od dominacije poganskih vladara.
135:4.3 (1499.3)
For two and a half years John lived at Engedi, and he persuaded most of the brotherhood that “the end of the age was at hand”; that “the kingdom of heaven was about to appear.” And all his early teaching was based upon the current Jewish idea and concept of the Messiah as the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation from the domination of their gentile rulers.
Ivan je u ovo vrijeme mnogo čitao sveta Pisma koja je našao u nazirejskom domu u En-Gedi. Naročito su ga se dojmile knjige prorokâ Izaije i Malahije, posljednjeg proroka toga vremena. Više je puta pročitao posljednjih pet poglavlja Knjige proroka Izaije i vjerovao je u ta proročanstva. Također je čitao u Knjizi proroka Malahije: „Evo, poslat ću vam proroka Iliju prije nego dođe dan velik i strašan, dan Gospodinov; on će obratiti srca otaca k sinovima, a srca sinova k ocima, da ne dođem i ne udarim prokletstvom zemlju.” Upravo ga je ovo obećanje proroka Malahije o Ilijinu povratku navelo da pričeka s početkom propovijedanja o dolazećem kraljevstvu i s opominjanjem Židova da izbjegnu gnjev koji dolazi. Ivan se osjećao spremnim objaviti poruku o dolazećem kraljevstvu, ali ga je očekivanje Ilijina dolaska zadržalo više od dvije godine. Znao je da on nije Ilija. Što je onda Malahija time mislio? Je li ovo proročanstvo trebalo shvatiti doslovno ili slikovito? Kako je mogao znati istinu? Na kraju se usudio pomisliti da će, kao što je prvi od proroka bio poznat pod imenom Ilija, tako i posljednji naposljetku biti poznat pod istim imenom. Ipak, njegove su sumnje bile dovoljno snažne da se nikada nije proglasio Ilijom.
135:4.4 (1499.4)
Throughout this period John read much in the sacred writings which he found at the Engedi home of the Nazarites. He was especially impressed by Isaiah and by Malachi, the last of the prophets up to that time. He read and reread the last five chapters of Isaiah, and he believed these prophecies. Then he would read in Malachi: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers toward the children and the hearts of the children toward their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” And it was only this promise of Malachi that Elijah would return that deterred John from going forth to preach about the coming kingdom and to exhort his fellow Jews to flee from the wrath to come. John was ripe for the proclamation of the message of the coming kingdom, but this expectation of the coming of Elijah held him back for more than two years. He knew he was not Elijah. What did Malachi mean? Was the prophecy literal or figurative? How could he know the truth? He finally dared to think that, since the first of the prophets was called Elijah, so the last should be known, eventually, by the same name. Nevertheless, he had doubts, doubts sufficient to prevent his ever calling himself Elijah.
Pod utjecajem Ilije Ivan je odlučio usvojiti njegov način neposrednog i otvorenog napadanja grijeha i poroka svojih suvremenika. Nastojao se odijevati poput Ilije i govoriti poput Ilije; po svemu vanjskom nalikovao je drevnom proroku. Bio je upravo takvo snažno i upečatljivo dijete prirode, jednako neustrašiv i odvažan propovjednik pravednosti. Ivan nije bio nepismen; dobro je poznavao židovska sveta Pisma, ali nije bio osobito obrazovan. Bio je bistar mislilac, snažan govornik i gorljivi osuđivač zla. Teško da je mogao biti uzor svom naraštaju, ali je bio rječita opomena.
135:4.5 (1499.5)
It was the influence of Elijah that caused John to adopt his methods of direct and blunt assault upon the sins and vices of his contemporaries. He sought to dress like Elijah, and he endeavored to talk like Elijah; in every outward aspect he was like the olden prophet. He was just such a stalwart and picturesque child of nature, just such a fearless and daring preacher of righteousness. John was not illiterate, he did well know the Jewish sacred writings, but he was hardly cultured. He was a clear thinker, a powerful speaker, and a fiery denunciator. He was hardly an example to his age, but he was an eloquent rebuke.
135:4.6 (1499.6)
At last he thought out the method of proclaiming the new age, the kingdom of God; he settled that he was to become the herald of the Messiah; he swept aside all doubts and departed from Engedi one day in March of {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 25 to begin his short but brilliant career as a public preacher.
Kako bi se mogla razumjeti Ivanova poruka, potrebno je uzeti u obzir stanje židovskog naroda u vrijeme njegova javnog djelovanja. Gotovo stotinu godina Izrael se nalazio u velikoj nedoumici; nisu mogli objasniti svoju dugotrajnu podložnost nežidovskim vladarima. Zar Mojsije nije učio da ispravnost uvijek biva nagrađena blagostanjem i snagom? Nisu li oni bili Božji izabrani narod? Zašto je Davidovo prijestolje bilo pusto i prazno? U svjetlu Mojsijeva učenja i proročkih pouka, Židovima je bilo teško objasniti svoju dugotrajnu nacionalnu potlačenost.
135:5.1 (1500.1)
In order to understand John’s message, account should be taken of the status of the Jewish people at the time he appeared upon the stage of action. For almost one hundred years all Israel had been in a quandary; they were at a loss to explain their continuous subjugation to gentile overlords. Had not Moses taught that righteousness was always rewarded with prosperity and power? Were they not God’s chosen people? Why was the throne of David desolate and vacant? In the light of the Mosaic doctrines and the precepts of the prophets the Jews found it difficult to explain their long-continued national desolation.
Otprilike stotinu godina prije vremena Isusa i Ivana u Palestini se pojavila nova škola religijskih učitelja, apokaliptičari. Ovi su novi učitelji razvili sustav vjerovanja koji je patnje i poniženje Židova objašnjavao time da su kao narod plaćali kaznu za svoje grijehe. Vratili su se dobro poznatim razlozima kojima su se objašnjavala babilonska i druga sužanjstva prijašnjih vremena. Ali, tako su učili apokaliptičari, Izrael se trebao ohrabriti; dani njihove nevolje bili su gotovo pri kraju; razdoblje Božje stege nad svojim izabranim narodom bilo je gotovo završeno; Božje strpljenje prema nežidovskim narodima bilo je gotovo iscrpljeno. Kraj rimske vladavine bio je istoznačan s krajem epohe i, u određenom smislu, s krajem svijeta. Ovi su se novi učitelji uvelike oslanjali na predviđanja Daniela i dosljedno učili da se stvaranje približava svojoj završnoj fazi; kraljevstva ovoga svijeta trebala su postati kraljevstvo Božje. Židovskom umu toga vremena to je bilo značenje izraza “nebesko kraljevstvo” koji se provlači kroz učenja i Ivana i Isusa. Za Židove Palestine izraz “nebesko kraljevstvo” imao je samo jedno značenje: potpuno pravedno stanje u kojem bi Bog (Mesija) vladao narodima zemlje savršenstvom vlasti, baš kao što vlada na nebu — “Neka bude volja tvoja na zemlji kao i na nebu.”
135:5.2 (1500.2)
About one hundred years before the days of Jesus and John a new school of religious teachers arose in Palestine, the apocalyptists. These new teachers evolved a system of belief that accounted for the sufferings and humiliation of the Jews on the ground that they were paying the penalty for the nation’s sins. They fell back onto the well-known reasons assigned to explain the Babylonian and other captivities of former times. But, so taught the apocalyptists, Israel should take heart; the days of their affliction were almost over; the discipline of God’s chosen people was about finished; God’s patience with the gentile foreigners was about exhausted. The end of Roman rule was synonymous with the end of the age and, in a certain sense, with the end of the world. These new teachers leaned heavily on the predictions of Daniel, and they consistently taught that creation was about to pass into its final stage; the kingdoms of this world were about to become the kingdom of God. To the Jewish mind of that day this was the meaning of that phrase—the kingdom of heaven—which runs throughout the teachings of both John and Jesus. To the Jews of Palestine the phrase “kingdom of heaven” had but one meaning: an absolutely righteous state in which God (the Messiah) would rule the nations of earth in perfection of power just as he ruled in heaven—“Your will be done on earth as in heaven.”
U Ivanovo su vrijeme svi Židovi s nestrpljenjem pitali: “Koliko će još trebati da dođe kraljevstvo?” Općenito je vladalo osjećanje da se bližio kraj vladavine nežidovskih naroda. Među svim je Židovima bila prisutna živa nada i snažno iščekivanje da će se ispunjenje čežnje svih vjekova dogoditi za života tog naraštaja.
135:5.3 (1500.3)
In the days of John all Jews were expectantly asking, “How soon will the kingdom come?” There was a general feeling that the end of the rule of the gentile nations was drawing near. There was present throughout all Jewry a lively hope and a keen expectation that the consummation of the desire of the ages would occur during the lifetime of that generation.
Dok su se Židovi uvelike razlikovali u svojim pogledima na narav nastupajućeg kraljevstva, svi su se slagali da je taj događaj bio neizbježan, da je trebao nastupiti uskoro, da je doslovce stajao pred vratima. Mnogi koji su doslovno tumačili Stari zavjet očekivali su novoga kralja u Palestini, obnovljeni židovski narod izbavljen iz ruku svojih neprijatelja i pod vlašću nasljednika kralja Davida — Mesije, koji će uskoro biti priznat kao zakoniti i pravedni vladar cijeloga svijeta. Druga, premda nešto manja, skupina pobožnih Židova zastupala je posve drukčije gledište o tome Božjem kraljevstvu. Učili su da nastupajuće kraljevstvo nije od ovoga svijeta, da se svijet neumitno približava svome svršetku te da će „novo nebo i nova zemlja” označiti uspostavu Božjega kraljevstva; da će to kraljevstvo biti vječno; da će grijeh biti dokinut; i da će njegovi građani postati besmrtni kako bi zauvijek uživali u tome beskrajnom blaženstvu.
135:5.4 (1500.4)
While the Jews differed greatly in their estimates of the nature of the coming kingdom, they were alike in their belief that the event was impending, near at hand, even at the door. Many who read the Old Testament literally looked expectantly for a new king in Palestine, for a regenerated Jewish nation delivered from its enemies and presided over by the successor of King David, the Messiah who would quickly be acknowledged as the rightful and righteous ruler of all the world. Another, though smaller, group of devout Jews held a vastly different view of this kingdom of God. They taught that the coming kingdom was not of this world, that the world was approaching its certain end, and that “a new heaven and a new earth” were to usher in the establishment of the kingdom of God; that this kingdom was to be an everlasting dominion, that sin was to be ended, and that the citizens of the new kingdom were to become immortal in their enjoyment of this endless bliss.
Svi su se slagali da je uspostavi novoga kraljevstva na zemlji nužno moralo prethoditi neko odlučujuće razdoblje očišćenja i pročišćenja. Doslovni su tumači učili da će uslijediti svjetski rat koji će uništiti sve nevjernike, dok će vjerni krenuti ususret sveopćoj i vječnoj pobjedi. Duhovno usmjereni učili su da će kraljevstvo biti uvedeno velikim Božjim sudom, koji će nepravednike prepustiti njihovoj zasluženoj osudi, kazni i konačnom uništenju, a istodobno uzdignuti vjerne svece izabranoga naroda na visoke položaje časti i vlasti uz Sina Čovječjega, koji će u Božje ime vladati nad iskupljenim narodima. Ova je potonja skupina također vjerovala da će mnogim pobožnim nežidovima biti dopušteno pridružiti se zajedništvu novoga kraljevstva.
135:5.5 (1500.5)
All were agreed that some drastic purging or purifying discipline would of necessity precede the establishment of the new kingdom on earth. The literalists taught that a world-wide war would ensue which would destroy all unbelievers, while the faithful would sweep on to universal and eternal victory. The spiritists taught that the kingdom would be ushered in by the great judgment of God which would relegate the unrighteous to their well-deserved judgment of punishment and final destruction, at the same time elevating the believing saints of the chosen people to high seats of honor and authority with the Son of Man, who would rule over the redeemed nations in God’s name. And this latter group even believed that many devout gentiles might be admitted to the fellowship of the new kingdom.
Neki su Židovi zastupali stanovište da bi Bog ovo novo kraljevstvo mogao uspostaviti neposrednim božanskim činom, dok je velika većina vjerovala da će postaviti svoga zastupnika i posrednika — Mesiju. To je bilo jedino moguće značenje koje je pojam Mesije mogao imati u svijesti Židova iz vremena Ivana i Isusa. Mesija nije mogao biti netko tko bi samo poučavao Božju volju ili naglašavao potrebu za pravednim životom. Svim takvim svetim ljudima Židovi su davali naslov proroka. Mesija je morao biti više od proroka; Mesija je trebao uspostaviti novo kraljevstvo, Božje kraljevstvo. Nitko tko to nije učinio nije mogao biti Mesija u tradicionalnom židovskom smislu.
135:5.6 (1501.1)
Some of the Jews held to the opinion that God might possibly establish this new kingdom by direct and divine intervention, but the vast majority believed that he would interpose some representative intermediary, the Messiah. And that was the only possible meaning the term Messiah could have had in the minds of the Jews of the generation of John and Jesus. Messiah could not possibly refer to one who merely taught God’s will or proclaimed the necessity for righteous living. To all such holy persons the Jews gave the title of prophet. The Messiah was to be more than a prophet; the Messiah was to bring in the establishment of the new kingdom, the kingdom of God. No one who failed to do this could be the Messiah in the traditional Jewish sense.
Tko je trebao biti taj Mesija? I ovdje su se židovski učitelji razilazili. Stariji su se držali učenja o Davidovu sinu. Noviji su učili da bi, budući da je novo kraljevstvo nebesko kraljevstvo, i novi vladar mogao biti božanska ličnost, ona koja je odavna sjedila zdesna Bogu na nebu. I koliko god se to moglo činiti čudnim, oni koji su zastupali takvo gledište nisu ga smatrali ljudskim Mesijom, običnim čovjekom, nego „Sinom Čovječjim” — Sinom Božjim — nebeskim Princom koji je dugo čekao da preuzme vlast nad obnovljenom zemljom. Takva je bila vjerska pozadina židovskog svijeta kada je Ivan istupio propovijedajući: „Obratite se jer je blizu kraljevstvo nebesko.”
135:5.7 (1501.2)
Who would this Messiah be? Again the Jewish teachers differed. The older ones clung to the doctrine of the son of David. The newer taught that, since the new kingdom was a heavenly kingdom, the new ruler might also be a divine personality, one who had long sat at God’s right hand in heaven. And strange as it may appear, those who thus conceived of the ruler of the new kingdom looked upon him not as a human Messiah, not as a mere man, but as “the Son of Man”—a Son of God—a heavenly Prince, long held in waiting thus to assume the rulership of the earth made new. Such was the religious background of the Jewish world when John went forth proclaiming: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Stoga je bilo očito da je Ivanov proglas o dolasku kraljevstva u svijesti njegovih slušatelja imao najmanje pola tuceta različitih značenja. No bez obzira na značenje koje su pridavali izrazima kojima se Ivan služio, svaku je od tih različitih skupina Židova koji su iščekivali kraljevstvo privlačilo propovijedanje ovog iskrenog, gorljivog i neposrednog propovjednika pravednosti i pokajanja, koji je tako ozbiljno opominjao svoje slušatelje da „bježe od gnjeva koji dolazi”.
135:5.8 (1501.3)
It becomes apparent, therefore, that John’s announcement of the coming kingdom had not less than half a dozen different meanings in the minds of those who listened to his impassioned preaching. But no matter what significance they attached to the phrases which John employed, each of these various groups of Jewish-kingdom expectants was intrigued by the proclamations of this sincere, enthusiastic, rough-and-ready preacher of righteousness and repentance, who so solemnly exhorted his hearers to “flee from the wrath to come.”
Početkom mjeseca ožujka 25. godine po Kr. Ivan je putovao zapadnom obalom Mrtvoga mora i uz rijeku Jordan sve do mjesta nasuprot Jerihonu, do drevnoga gaza preko kojeg su Jošua i djeca Izraelova prešli kada su prvi put ušli u obećanu zemlju; a nakon što je prešao na drugu stranu rijeke, nastanio se blizu ulaza u gaz i počeo propovijedati ljudima koji su prolazili preko rijeke. Bio je to najprometniji od svih prijelaza preko Jordana.
135:6.1 (1501.4)
Early in the month of March, {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 25, John journeyed around the western coast of the Dead Sea and up the river Jordan to opposite Jericho, the ancient ford over which Joshua and the children of Israel passed when they first entered the promised land; and crossing over to the other side of the river, he established himself near the entrance to the ford and began to preach to the people who passed by on their way back and forth across the river. This was the most frequented of all the Jordan crossings.
Svima koji su slušali Ivana bilo je očito da je on bio više od propovjednika. Velika većina onih koji su slušali tog neobičnog čovjeka koji je došao iz judejske pustinje odlazila je vjerujući da su čuli glas proroka. Nije čudo što su duše tih umornih i iščekujućih Židova bile duboko potresene takvom pojavom. Nikada u cijeloj židovskoj povijesti pobožna djeca Abrahamova nisu toliko čeznula za „utjehom Izraela” niti su gorljivije iščekivala „obnovu kraljevstva”. Nikada u cijeloj židovskoj povijesti Ivanova poruka: „kraljevstvo nebesko je blizu” nije mogla imati tako dubok i sveopći odjek kao upravo u vrijeme kada se on tako tajanstveno pojavio na obali ovog južnog prijelaza preko Jordana.
135:6.2 (1501.5)
It was apparent to all who heard John that he was more than a preacher. The great majority of those who listened to this strange man who had come up from the Judean wilderness went away believing that they had heard the voice of a prophet. No wonder the souls of these weary and expectant Jews were deeply stirred by such a phenomenon. Never in all Jewish history had the devout children of Abraham so longed for the “consolation of Israel” or more ardently anticipated “the restoration of the kingdom.” Never in all Jewish history could John’s message, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” have made such a deep and universal appeal as at the very time he so mysteriously appeared on the bank of this southern crossing of the Jordan.
Potekao je iz redova pastira, poput Amosa. Bio je odjeven poput negdašnjeg Ilije i grmio je svojim opomenama te iznosio svoja upozorenja u „duhu i sili Ilijinoj”. Nije stoga čudno što je ovaj neobični propovjednik izazvao velik nemir diljem cijele Palestine dok su putnici širili vijest o njegovom propovijedanju duž Jordana.
135:6.3 (1502.1)
He came from the herdsmen, like Amos. He was dressed like Elijah of old, and he thundered his admonitions and poured forth his warnings in the “spirit and power of Elijah.” It is not surprising that this strange preacher created a mighty stir throughout all Palestine as the travelers carried abroad the news of his preaching along the Jordan.
Postojalo je još nešto neobično i novo u vezi s djelovanjem ovog nazaritskog propovjednika: on je svakoga od svojih vjernika krstio u Jordanu „radi oproštenja grijeha”. Premda krštenje nije bilo nova ceremonija među Židovima, oni nikada prije nisu vidjeli da se ono koristi na način i u svrhu kako ga je Ivan sada primjenjivao. Dugo je već postojao običaj da se tako krštavaju nežidovski prozeliti koji su se pridruživali zajedništvu vanjskog predvorja hrama, ali nikada prije sami Židovi nisu bili pozvani podvrgnuti se krštenju pokajanja. Samo je petnaest mjeseci prošlo između vremena kada je Ivan počeo propovijedati i krštavati te njegova uhićenja i zatočenja na poticaj Heroda Antipe, ali u tom je kratkom razdoblju Ivan krstio znatno više od sto tisuća pokajnika.
135:6.4 (1502.2)
There was still another and a new feature about the work of this Nazarite preacher: He baptized every one of his believers in the Jordan “for the remission of sins.” Although baptism was not a new ceremony among the Jews, they had never seen it employed as John now made use of it. It had long been the practice thus to baptize the gentile proselytes into the fellowship of the outer court of the temple, but never had the Jews themselves been asked to submit to the baptism of repentance. Only fifteen months intervened between the time John began to preach and baptize and his arrest and imprisonment at the instigation of Herod Antipas, but in this short time he baptized considerably over one hundred thousand penitents.
U svibnju ove godine, dok se još zadržavao na betanijskom gazu, svećenici i leviti poslali su izaslanstvo da ispita Ivana tvrdi li on da je Mesija i po čijoj vlasti propovijeda. Ivan je odgovorio tim ispitivačima riječima: „Idite i recite svojim gospodarima da ste čuli ‘glas onoga koji viče u pustinji’, kao što je rekao prorok: ‘Pripremite put Gospodinu, poravnajte put našemu Bogu. Svaka će se dolina ispuniti, a svaka će se gora i brežuljak sniziti; neravni će se putovi izravnati, a teško prohodna mjesta postati ravnom dolinom; i svaki će čovjek vidjeti spasenje Božje.’”
135:6.6 (1502.4)
In May of this year, while he still lingered at Bethany ford, the priests and Levites sent a delegation out to inquire of John whether he claimed to be the Messiah, and by whose authority he preached. John answered these questioners by saying: “Go tell your masters that you have heard ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness,’ as spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘make ready the way of the Lord, make straight a highway for our God. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; the uneven ground shall become a plain, while the rough places shall become a smooth valley; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
Ivan je bio hrabar, ali netaktičan propovjednik. Jednog je dana propovijedao i krstio na zapadnoj obali Jordana, kada je skupina farizeja i nekoliko saduceja došla i predstavila se za krštenje. Prije nego što ih je poveo u vodu, Ivan im se kao skupini obratio riječima: „Zmijski porodi, tko vas je upozorio da bježite od gnjeva koji dolazi? Ja ću vas krstiti, ali vas upozoravam da donesete plodove dostojne iskrenog pokajanja ako želite primiti oproštenje svojih grijeha. Nemojte mi govoriti da je Abraham vaš otac. Kažem vam da Bog od ovih dvanaest stijena pred vama može podići dostojnu djecu Abrahamu. I već je sjekira položena do samoga korijena stabala. Svako stablo koje ne donosi dobar rod bit će posječeno i bačeno u oganj.” (Dvanaest stijena na koje je aludirao bili su navodni spomen-kamenovi koje je Jošua postavio u znak sjećanja na prijelaz „dvanaest plemena” upravo na ovom mjestu kada su prvi put ušli u obećanu zemlju.)
135:6.7 (1502.5)
John was a heroic but tactless preacher. One day when he was preaching and baptizing on the west bank of the Jordan, a group of Pharisees and a number of Sadducees came forward and presented themselves for baptism. Before leading them down into the water, John, addressing them as a group said: “Who warned you to flee, as vipers before the fire, from the wrath to come? I will baptize you, but I warn you to bring forth fruit worthy of sincere repentance if you would receive the remission of your sins. Tell me not that Abraham is your father. I declare that God is able of these twelve stones here before you to raise up worthy children for Abraham. And even now is the ax laid to the very roots of the trees. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is destined to be cut down and cast into the fire.” (The twelve stones to which he referred were the reputed memorial stones set up by Joshua to commemorate the crossing of the “twelve tribes” at this very point when they first entered the promised land.)
Ivan je održavao pouke za svoje učenike, tijekom kojih ih je podučavao pojedinostima njihova novog života i nastojao odgovarati na njihova brojna pitanja. Savjetovao je učiteljima da poučavaju u duhu Zakona kao i u njegovu slovu. Bogatima je rekao da hrane siromašne; carinicima je rekao: „Ne ubirajte više od onoga što vam je određeno.” Vojnicima je rekao: „Ne činite nasilje i ne iznuđujte ništa nepravedno — budite zadovoljni svojom plaćom.” A svima je govorio: „Pripremite se za svršetak doba — blizu je kraljevstvo nebesko.”
135:6.8 (1502.6)
John conducted classes for his disciples, in the course of which he instructed them in the details of their new life and endeavored to answer their many questions. He counseled the teachers to instruct in the spirit as well as the letter of the law. He instructed the rich to feed the poor; to the tax gatherers he said: “Extort no more than that which is assigned you.” To the soldiers he said: “Do no violence and exact nothing wrongfully—be content with your wages.” While he counseled all: “Make ready for the end of the age—the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Ivan je još uvijek imao nejasne predodžbe o nadolazećem kraljevstvu i njegovu kralju. Što je dulje propovijedao, to je bivao sve zbunjeniji, ali ta intelektualna nesigurnost u pogledu naravi nadolazećeg kraljevstva nikada ni najmanje nije umanjila njegovo uvjerenje u sigurnost njegova skorog dolaska. Ivan je mogao biti zbunjen u umu, ali nikada u duhu. Nije imao nikakve sumnje u dolazak kraljevstva, ali je bio daleko od sigurnosti da će Isus biti vladar toga kraljevstva. Sve dok se Ivan držao ideje o obnovi Davidova prijestolja, činila su mu se dosljednima učenja njegovih roditelja da će Isus, rođen u Davidovu gradu, biti dugo očekivani izbavitelj; ali u onim trenucima kada je više naginjao učenju o duhovnom kraljevstvu i svršetku zemaljskog vremenitog doba, bio je duboko nesiguran u pogledu uloge koju će Isus imati u tim događajima. Ponekad je dovodio sve u pitanje, ali ne zadugo. Doista je želio sve to raspraviti sa svojim rođakom, ali to je bilo protivno njihovu izričitom dogovoru.
135:7.1 (1503.1)
John still had confused ideas about the coming kingdom and its king. The longer he preached the more confused he became, but never did this intellectual uncertainty concerning the nature of the coming kingdom in the least lessen his conviction of the certainty of the kingdom’s immediate appearance. In mind John might be confused, but in spirit never. He was in no doubt about the coming kingdom, but he was far from certain as to whether or not Jesus was to be the ruler of that kingdom. As long as John held to the idea of the restoration of the throne of David, the teachings of his parents that Jesus, born in the City of David, was to be the long-expected deliverer, seemed consistent; but at those times when he leaned more toward the doctrine of a spiritual kingdom and the end of the temporal age on earth, he was sorely in doubt as to the part Jesus would play in such events. Sometimes he questioned everything, but not for long. He really wished he might talk it all over with his cousin, but that was contrary to their expressed agreement.
Dok je Ivan putovao prema sjeveru, mnogo je razmišljao o Isusu. Zaustavio se na više od deset mjesta dok je putovao uz Jordan. Upravo je u Adamu prvi put spomenuo „onoga koji dolazi poslije mene” kao odgovor na izravno pitanje svojih učenika: „Jesi li ti Mesija?” Nastavio je govoreći: „Poslije mene dolazi jedan koji je jači od mene, kojemu nisam dostojan sagnuti se i odvezati remenje na obući. Ja vas krstim vodom, ali on će vas krstiti Duhom Svetim. U ruci svojoj drži lopatu da očisti gumno svoje; skupit će pšenicu u svoju žitnicu, a pljevu će spaliti ognjem neugasivim.”
135:7.2 (1503.2)
As John journeyed north, he thought much about Jesus. He paused at more than a dozen places as he traveled up the Jordan. It was at Adam that he first made reference to “another one who is to come after me” in answer to the direct question which his disciples asked him, “Are you the Messiah?” And he went on to say: “There will come after me one who is greater than I, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. And his shovel is in his hand thoroughly to cleanse his threshing floor; he will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff will he burn up with the judgment fire.”
Kao odgovor na pitanja svojih učenika, Ivan je nastavljao širiti svoja učenja, iz dana u dan dodajući još više onoga što je bilo korisno i utješno u usporedbi s njegovom ranijom i zagonetnom porukom: „Obratite se i primite krštenje.” U to su vrijeme već počela pristizati mnoštva iz Galileje i Dekapolisa. Deseci iskrenih vjernika ostajali su dan za danom uz svojega voljenog učitelja.
135:7.3 (1503.3)
In response to the questions of his disciples John continued to expand his teachings, from day to day adding more that was helpful and comforting compared with his early and cryptic message: “Repent and be baptized.” By this time throngs were arriving from Galilee and the Decapolis. Scores of earnest believers lingered with their adored teacher day after day.
U prosincu 25. godine po Kr., kada je Ivan tijekom svoga putovanja uz Jordan stigao u okolicu Pele, njegova se slava proširila cijelom Palestinom, a njegovo je djelovanje postalo glavnom temom razgovora u svim gradovima oko Galilejskog jezera. Isus je povoljno govorio o Ivanovoj poruci, što je navelo mnoge iz Kafarnauma da se pridruže Ivanovu pokretu pokajanja i krštenja. Ribari Jakov i Ivan, Zebedejevi sinovi, otišli su u prosincu, ubrzo nakon što je Ivan zauzeo svoje propovjedničko mjesto blizu Pele, i ponudili se za krštenje. Odlazili su vidjeti Ivana jednom tjedno i donosili Isusu svježe, neposredne izvještaje iz prve ruke o djelovanju ovog navjestitelja.
135:8.1 (1503.4)
By December of {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 25, when John reached the neighborhood of Pella in his journey up the Jordan, his fame had extended throughout all Palestine, and his work had become the chief topic of conversation in all the towns about the lake of Galilee. Jesus had spoken favorably of John’s message, and this had caused many from Capernaum to join John’s cult of repentance and baptism. James and John the fishermen sons of Zebedee had gone down in December, soon after John took up his preaching position near Pella, and had offered themselves for baptism. They went to see John once a week and brought back to Jesus fresh, firsthand reports of the evangelist’s work.
Isusova braća Jakov i Juda razgovarali su o tome da odu Ivanu na krštenje; i sada, kada je Juda došao u Kafarnaum radi subotnjih službi, on i Jakov, nakon što su čuli Isusov govor u sinagogi, odlučili su posavjetovati se s njim o svojim planovima. Bilo je to u subotu navečer, 12. siječnja 26. godine po Kr. Isus je zatražio da odgode razgovor do sljedećeg dana, kada će im dati svoj odgovor. Te je noći vrlo malo spavao, budući da je bio u bliskom zajedništvu sa svojim Ocem na nebu. Dogovorio je podnevni ručak sa svojom braćom i namjeravao im tom prilikom iznijeti svoje mišljenje u vezi s Ivanovim krštenjem. Jakov i Juda stigli su s ručkom i čekali ga u prostoriji za pohranu drvene građe, jer još nije bilo vrijeme podnevnog odmora, a znali su da je Isus bio vrlo točan u takvim stvarima.
135:8.2 (1503.5)
Jesus’ brothers James and Jude had talked about going down to John for baptism; and now that Jude had come over to Capernaum for the Sabbath services, both he and James, after listening to Jesus’ discourse in the synagogue, decided to take counsel with him concerning their plans. This was on Saturday night, January 12, {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 26. Jesus requested that they postpone the discussion until the following day, when he would give them his answer. He slept very little that night, being in close communion with the Father in heaven. He had arranged to have noontime lunch with his brothers and to advise them concerning baptism by John. That Sunday morning Jesus was working as usual in the boatshop. James and Jude had arrived with the lunch and were waiting in the lumber room for him, as it was not yet time for the midday recess, and they knew that Jesus was very regular about such matters.
Neposredno prije podnevnog odmora, Isus je odložio alat, skinuo tesarsku pregaču i jednostavno rekao trojici radnika koji su bili s njim u radionici: „Došao je moj čas.” Otišao je do svoje braće Jakova i Jude, ponovivši: „Došao je moj čas — idemo Ivanu.” I smjesta su krenuli prema Peli, jedući svoj ručak na putu. Bilo je to u nedjelju, 13. siječnja. Prenoćili su u dolini Jordana i sutradan oko podneva stigli na mjesto gdje je Ivan krštavao.
135:8.3 (1504.1)
Just before the noon rest, Jesus laid down his tools, removed his work apron, and merely announced to the three workmen in the room with him, “My hour has come.” He went out to his brothers James and Jude, repeating, “My hour has come—let us go to John.” And they started immediately for Pella, eating their lunch as they journeyed. This was on Sunday, January 13. They tarried for the night in the Jordan valley and arrived on the scene of John’s baptizing about noon of the next day.
Ivan je upravo počeo krštavati kandidate za taj dan. Deseci pokajnika već su stajali u redu čekajući svoj red kada su Isus i njegova dva brata zauzeli svoje mjesto među iskrenim muškarcima i ženama koji su postali vjernici u Ivanovo propovijedanje o dolazećem kraljevstvu. Ivan se već raspitivao o Isusu kod Zebedejevih sinova. Već je čuo Isusove komentare o njegovu propovijedanju i iz dana u dan očekivao da će Isus stići, ali nije očekivao da će ga susresti među kandidatima koji su čekali krštenje.
135:8.4 (1504.2)
John had just begun baptizing the candidates for the day. Scores of repentants were standing in line awaiting their turn when Jesus and his two brothers took up their positions in this line of earnest men and women who had become believers in John’s preaching of the coming kingdom. John had been inquiring about Jesus of Zebedee’s sons. He had heard of Jesus’ remarks concerning his preaching, and he was day by day expecting to see him arrive on the scene, but he had not expected to greet him in the line of baptismal candidates.
Budući da je bio zaokupljen pojedinostima brzog krštavanja tako velikog broja obraćenika, Ivan nije pogledao prema Isusu sve dok Sin Čovječji nije stao neposredno pred njega. Kada je Ivan prepoznao Isusa, obred je na trenutak bio prekinut dok je pozdravljao svoga rođaka po tijelu i upitao ga: „Ali zašto ti silaziš u vodu da me pozdraviš?” A Isus je odgovorio: „Da se podvrgnem tvome krštenju.” Ivan je odvratio: „Ali ja trebam biti kršten od tebe. Zašto ti dolaziš k meni?” A Isus je prošaptao Ivanu: „Neka bude ovako sada, jer nam dolikuje da damo ovaj primjer mojoj braći koja ovdje stoje sa mnom i da ljudi znaju da je moj čas došao.”
135:8.5 (1504.3)
Being engrossed with the details of rapidly baptizing such a large number of converts, John did not look up to see Jesus until the Son of Man stood in his immediate presence. When John recognized Jesus, the ceremonies were halted for a moment while he greeted his cousin in the flesh and asked, “But why do you come down into the water to greet me?” And Jesus answered, “To be subject to your baptism.” John replied: “But I have need to be baptized by you. Why do you come to me?” And Jesus whispered to John: “Bear with me now, for it becomes us to set this example for my brothers standing here with me, and that the people may know that my hour has come.”
U Isusovu glasu mogao se čuti ton odlučnosti i autoriteta. Ivan je drhtao od uzbuđenja dok se pripremao krstiti Isusa iz Nazareta u Jordanu u podne, u ponedjeljak 14. siječnja 26. godine po Kr. Tako je Ivan krstio Isusa i njegova dva brata, Jakova i Judu. A nakon što je krstio ovu trojicu, otpustio je ostale za taj dan, objavljujući mnoštvu da će nastaviti krštenja sutradan u podne. Dok su se ljudi razilazili, četvorica muškaraca koji su još uvijek stajali u vodi čuli su neobičan zvuk, i uskoro se na trenutak pojavila prikaza neposredno iznad Isusove glave, a oni su čuli glas koji je govorio: „Ovo je moj ljubljeni Sin, u kojemu sam veoma zadovoljan.” Velika je promjena nastupila na Isusovu licu, i izlazeći iz vode u tišini, oprostio se od njih i krenuo prema brdima na istoku. I nitko više nije vidio Isusa četrdeset dana.
135:8.6 (1504.4)
There was a tone of finality and authority in Jesus’ voice. John was atremble with emotion as he made ready to baptize Jesus of Nazareth in the Jordan at noon on Monday, January 14, {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 26. Thus did John baptize Jesus and his two brothers James and Jude. And when John had baptized these three, he dismissed the others for the day, announcing that he would resume baptisms at noon the next day. As the people were departing, the four men still standing in the water heard a strange sound, and presently there appeared for a moment an apparition immediately over the head of Jesus, and they heard a voice saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” A great change came over the countenance of Jesus, and coming up out of the water in silence he took leave of them, going toward the hills to the east. And no man saw Jesus again for forty days.
Ivan je slijedio Isusa dovoljno daleko kako bi mu ispričao o Gabrielovu posjetu njegovoj majci prije nego što su se njih dvojica rodila, jer je o tome toliko puta slušao iz usta svoje majke. Dopustio je Isusu da nastavi svojim putem nakon što je rekao: „Sada sa sigurnošću znam da si ti Izbavitelj.” Ali Isus nije odgovorio.
135:8.7 (1504.5)
John followed Jesus a sufficient distance to tell him the story of Gabriel’s visit to his mother ere either had been born, as he had heard it so many times from his mother’s lips. He allowed Jesus to continue on his way after he had said, “Now I know of a certainty that you are the Deliverer.” But Jesus made no reply.
Kad se Ivan vratio svojim učenicima (sada ih je imao nekih dvadeset pet do trideset koji su stalno boravili s njim), zatekao ih je u ozbiljnom razgovoru o onome što se upravo dogodilo u vezi s Isusovim krštenjem. Bili su još više začuđeni kada im je Ivan ispričao o Gabrijelovu posjetu Mariji prije Isusova rođenja, kao i da mu Isus nije odgovorio ni riječju nakon što mu je to ispričao. Te večeri nije bilo kiše, i ta se skupina od trideset ili više ljudi dugo zadržala u razgovoru pod zvjezdanim nebom. Pitali su se kamo je Isus otišao i kada će ga ponovno vidjeti.
135:9.1 (1505.1)
When John returned to his disciples (he now had some twenty-five or thirty who abode with him constantly), he found them in earnest conference, discussing what had just happened in connection with Jesus’ baptism. They were all the more astonished when John now made known to them the story of the Gabriel visitation to Mary before Jesus was born, and also that Jesus spoke no word to him even after he had told him about this. There was no rain that evening, and this group of thirty or more talked long into the starlit night. They wondered where Jesus had gone, and when they would see him again.
Ivanova je propovijed nakon ovog događaja poprimila nov i autoritativan ton naviještanja dolazećeg kraljevstva i očekivanog Mesije. Ovih četrdeset dana čekanja na Isusov povratak bilo je vrlo napeto razdoblje. Ali Ivan je nastavio propovijedati s velikom silom, a njegovi su učenici otprilike u to vrijeme počeli propovijedati mnogobrojnim masama koje su se okupljale oko Ivana na Jordanu.
135:9.2 (1505.2)
After the experience of this day the preaching of John took on new and certain notes of proclamation concerning the coming kingdom and the expected Messiah. It was a tense time, these forty days of tarrying, waiting for the return of Jesus. But John continued to preach with great power, and his disciples began at about this time to preach to the overflowing throngs which gathered around John at the Jordan.
Tijekom ovih četrdeset dana čekanja, zemljom su se pronosile mnoge glasine koje su dopirale sve do Tiberijade i Jeruzalema. Tisuće su dolazile vidjeti novu zanimljivost u Ivanovu taboru, navodnog Mesiju, ali Isusa nije bilo. Kad su Ivanovi učenici tvrdili da je taj neobični Božji čovjek otišao u brda, mnogi su posumnjali u cijelu priču.
135:9.3 (1505.3)
In the course of these forty days of waiting, many rumors spread about the countryside and even to Tiberias and Jerusalem. Thousands came over to see the new attraction in John’s camp, the reputed Messiah, but Jesus was not to be seen. When the disciples of John asserted that the strange man of God had gone to the hills, many doubted the entire story.
Otprilike tri tjedna nakon što je Isus otišao, u Pelu je stiglo novo izaslanstvo svećenika i farizeja iz Jeruzalema. Izravno su upitali Ivana: „Jesi li ti Ilija ili prorok kojega je obećao Mojsije?” Kad je Ivan odgovorio: „Nisam”, usudili su se upitati: „Jesi li ti Mesija?” Ivan je odgovorio: „Nisam.” Tada su ljudi iz Jeruzalema rekli: „Ako nisi ni Ilija, ni prorok, ni Mesija, zašto onda krstiš narod i izazivaš toliko uzbuđenje?” Ivan je odgovorio: „Neka oni koji su me čuli i primili moje krštenje kažu tko sam. Ali ja vam objavljujem da, premda vas krstim vodom, među nama je bio jedan koji će se vratiti i krstiti vas Duhom Svetim.”
135:9.4 (1505.4)
About three weeks after Jesus had left them, there arrived on the scene at Pella a new deputation from the priests and Pharisees at Jerusalem. They asked John directly if he was Elijah or the prophet that Moses promised; and when John said, “I am not,” they made bold to ask, “Are you the Messiah?” and John answered, “I am not.” Then said these men from Jerusalem: “If you are not Elijah, nor the prophet, nor the Messiah, then why do you baptize the people and create all this stir?” And John replied: “It should be for those who have heard me and received my baptism to say who I am, but I declare to you that, while I baptize with water, there has been among us one who will return to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Ovih je četrdeset dana bilo teško razdoblje za Ivana i njegove učenike. Kakav će biti odnos između Ivana i Isusa? Pokrenule su se rasprave o stotinama pitanja. Počeli su se javljati politički motivi i težnja za osobnim probitkom. Vodile su se žustre rasprave o različitim idejama i poimanjima Mesije. Hoće li postati vojskovođa i davidovski kralj? Hoće li poraziti rimske vojske kao što je Jošua porazio Kanaance? Ili je došao utemeljiti duhovno kraljevstvo? Ivan je, zajedno s manjinom, bio sklon zaključku da je Isus došao utemeljiti kraljevstvo nebesko, premda ni sam nije bio posve siguran što je sve trebalo biti obuhvaćeno tom misijom uspostave kraljevstva nebeskog.
135:9.5 (1505.5)
These forty days were a difficult period for John and his disciples. What was to be the relation of John to Jesus? A hundred questions came up for discussion. Politics and selfish preferment began to make their appearance. Intense discussions grew up around the various ideas and concepts of the Messiah. Would he become a military leader and a Davidic king? Would he smite the Roman armies as Joshua had the Canaanites? Or would he come to establish a spiritual kingdom? John rather decided, with the minority, that Jesus had come to establish the kingdom of heaven, although he was not altogether clear in his own mind as to just what was to be embraced within this mission of the establishment of the kingdom of heaven.
Bilo je rano u subotu ujutro, 23. veljače, kada je Ivanova skupina, dok je blagovala jutarnji obrok, podigla pogled prema sjeveru i ugledala Isusa kako im prilazi. Kad im se približio, Ivan se popeo na obližnju stijenu i, podigavši svoj zvonki glas, povikao: „Evo Sina Božjega, Izbavitelja svijeta! Ovo je onaj za koga sam rekao: ‘Poslije mene dolazi onaj koji je veći od mene, jer bijaše prije mene.’ Zato sam izišao iz pustinje propovijedati pokajanje i krstiti vodom, navješćujući da je blizu kraljevstvo nebesko. A sada dolazi onaj koji će vas krstiti Duhom Svetim. Vidio sam kako je božanski Duh sišao na ovoga čovjeka i čuo glas Božji kako govori: ‘Ovo je moj ljubljeni Sin, u kojemu sam veoma zadovoljan.’”
135:9.7 (1505.7)
It was early on the morning of Sabbath, February 23, that the company of John, engaged in eating their morning meal, looked up toward the north and beheld Jesus coming to them. As he approached them, John stood upon a large rock and, lifting up his sonorous voice, said: “Behold the Son of God, the deliverer of the world! This is he of whom I have said, ‘After me there will come one who is preferred before me because he was before me.’ For this cause came I out of the wilderness to preach repentance and to baptize with water, proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And now comes one who shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit. And I beheld the divine spirit descending upon this man, and I heard the voice of God declare, ‘This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’”
Sutradan rano ujutro Isus se oprostio od Ivana i njegovih učenika te se vratio u Galileju. Nije im rekao kada će ga ponovno vidjeti. Na Ivanove upite o njegovu propovijedanju i poslanju rekao je samo: „Moj će te Otac voditi sada i ubuduće, kao što te je vodio i u prošlosti.” I tako su se toga jutra ta dva velika čovjeka rastala na obali Jordana i više se nikada nisu susrela u tijelu.
135:9.9 (1506.2)
Early in the morning of the next day he took leave of John and his disciples, going back to Galilee. He gave them no word as to when they would again see him. To John’s inquiries about his own preaching and mission Jesus only said, “My Father will guide you now and in the future as he has in the past.” And these two great men separated that morning on the banks of the Jordan, never again to greet each other in the flesh.
Kako je Isus otišao prema sjeveru, u Galileju, Ivan je osjetio poriv da se vrati prema jugu. Tako su u nedjelju ujutro, 3. ožujka, Ivan i njegovi preostali učenici krenuli prema jugu. U međuvremenu je otprilike četvrtina Ivanovih najbližih sljedbenika otišla u Galileju u potrazi za Isusom. Ivan je osjećao tugu i zbunjenost. Nikada više nije propovijedao onako kako je to činio prije Isusova krštenja. Nekako je osjećao da odgovornost za dolazeće kraljevstvo više nije na njegovim ramenima. Osjećao je da je njegov rad gotovo završen; bio je neutješan i usamljen. Ali je nastavio propovijedati, krstiti i putovati prema jugu.
135:10.1 (1506.3)
Since Jesus had gone north into Galilee, John felt led to retrace his steps southward. Accordingly, on Sunday morning, March 3, John and the remainder of his disciples began their journey south. About one quarter of John’s immediate followers had meantime departed for Galilee in quest of Jesus. There was a sadness of confusion about John. He never again preached as he had before baptizing Jesus. He somehow felt that the responsibility of the coming kingdom was no longer on his shoulders. He felt that his work was almost finished; he was disconsolate and lonely. But he preached, baptized, and journeyed on southward.
U blizini sela Adama, gdje se zadržao nekoliko tjedana, Ivan je izrekao svoj znameniti prijekor Herodu Antipi zbog toga što je ovaj nezakonito uzeo ženu drugoga čovjeka. U lipnju ove godine (26. godine po Kr.) Ivan se vratio na betanijski gaz na Jordanu, gdje je više od godinu dana ranije počeo propovijedati o dolazećem kraljevstvu. Tijekom tjedana nakon Isusova krštenja karakter Ivanova propovijedanja postupno se promijenio u naviještanje milosrđa običnom narodu, dok je s obnovljenom žestinom osuđivao pokvarene političke i vjerske vladare.
135:10.2 (1506.4)
Near the village of Adam, John tarried for several weeks, and it was here that he made the memorable attack upon Herod Antipas for unlawfully taking the wife of another man. By June of this year ({scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 26) John was back at the Bethany ford of the Jordan, where he had begun his preaching of the coming kingdom more than a year previously. In the weeks following the baptism of Jesus the character of John’s preaching gradually changed into a proclamation of mercy for the common people, while he denounced with renewed vehemence the corrupt political and religious rulers.
Herod Antipa, na čijem je području Ivan propovijedao, počeo se pribojavati da on i njegovi učenici ne podignu pobunu. Herodu se također nisu svidjele Ivanove javne kritike njegovog privatnog života. Zbog svega toga Herod je odlučio baciti Ivana u tamnicu. Tako su rano ujutro 12. lipnja, prije nego što je mnoštvo stiglo slušati propovijedanje i promatrati krštenja, Herodovi ljudi uhitili Ivana. Kako su tjedni prolazili, a Ivan nije bio pušten na slobodu, njegovi su se učenici raspršili po cijeloj Palestini, dok su mnogi otišli u Galileju kako bi se pridružili Isusovim sljedbenicima.
135:10.3 (1506.5)
Herod Antipas, in whose territory John had been preaching, became alarmed lest he and his disciples should start a rebellion. Herod also resented John’s public criticisms of his domestic affairs. In view of all this, Herod decided to put John in prison. Accordingly, very early in the morning of June 12, before the multitude arrived to hear the preaching and witness the baptizing, the agents of Herod placed John under arrest. As weeks passed and he was not released, his disciples scattered over all Palestine, many of them going into Galilee to join the followers of Jesus.
Ivan se u tamnici osjećao usamljenim i pomalo ogorčenim. Samo je nekolicini njegovih sljedbenika bilo dopušteno da ga posjete. Čeznuo je vidjeti Isusa, ali se morao zadovoljiti vijestima o njegovom radu koje je primao od onih svojih sljedbenika koji su postali vjernici u Sina Čovječjeg. Često je dolazio u iskušenje da posumnja u Isusa i njegovo božansko poslanje. Ako je Isus bio Mesija, zašto nije učinio ništa da ga izbavi iz ove nepodnošljive tamnice? Više od godinu i pol ovaj snažni Božji čovjek, naviknut na život pod otvorenim nebom, čamio je u toj prezrenoj tamnici. Ovo je iskustvo bilo velika kušnja njegove vjere u Isusa i njegove odanosti Isusu. Doista, cijelo je ovo iskustvo bilo velika kušnja Ivanove vjere čak i u Boga. Mnogo je puta bio u iskušenju da posumnja čak i u vjerodostojnost vlastitog poslanja i iskustva.
135:11.1 (1506.6)
John had a lonely and somewhat bitter experience in prison. Few of his followers were permitted to see him. He longed to see Jesus but had to be content with hearing of his work through those of his followers who had become believers in the Son of Man. He was often tempted to doubt Jesus and his divine mission. If Jesus were the Messiah, why did he do nothing to deliver him from this unbearable imprisonment? For more than a year and a half this rugged man of God’s outdoors languished in that despicable prison. And this experience was a great test of his faith in, and loyalty to, Jesus. Indeed, this whole experience was a great test of John’s faith even in God. Many times was he tempted to doubt even the genuineness of his own mission and experience.
Nakon što je nekoliko mjeseci proveo u tamnici, došla mu je skupina njegovih učenika i, nakon što su ga izvijestili o Isusovom javnom djelovanju, rekla: „Učitelju, vidiš dakle da onaj koji je bio s tobom gore na Jordanu napreduje i prima sve koji mu dolaze. Čak blaguje s carinicima i grešnicima. Ti si mu hrabro posvjedočio, a on ipak ne čini ništa da te izbavi.” Ali Ivan je odgovorio svojim prijateljima: „Ovaj čovjek ne može ništa učiniti ako mu to nije dano od njegova Oca na nebu. Dobro se sjećate da sam rekao: ‘Ja nisam Mesija, nego sam poslan pred njim da mu pripravim put.’ I to sam učinio. Onaj koji ima zaručnicu jest zaručnik, a prijatelj zaručnika koji stoji pokraj njega i sluša njegov glas silno se raduje zbog zaručnikova glasa. Zato je ova moja radost ispunjena. On mora rasti, a ja se moram umanjivati. Ja sam sa zemlje i objavio sam svoju poruku. Isus iz Nazareta dolazi na zemlju s neba i iznad je svih nas. Sin Čovječji sišao je od Boga i objavit će vam Božje riječi. Jer Otac na nebu ne daje Duha svome Sinu na mjeru. Otac ljubi Sina i uskoro će sve predati u njegove ruke. Tko vjeruje u Sina ima vječni život. I ove su riječi koje vam govorim istinite i trajne.”
135:11.2 (1507.1)
After he had been in prison several months, a group of his disciples came to him and, after reporting concerning the public activities of Jesus, said: “So you see, Teacher, that he who was with you at the upper Jordan prospers and receives all who come to him. He even feasts with publicans and sinners. You bore courageous witness to him, and yet he does nothing to effect your deliverance.” But John answered his friends: “This man can do nothing unless it has been given him by his Father in heaven. You well remember that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I am one sent on before to prepare the way for him.’ And that I did. He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom who stands near by and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is fulfilled. He must increase but I must decrease. I am of this earth and have declared my message. Jesus of Nazareth comes down to the earth from heaven and is above us all. The Son of Man has descended from God, and the words of God he will declare to you. For the Father in heaven gives not the spirit by measure to his own Son. The Father loves his Son and will presently put all things in the hands of this Son. He who believes in the Son has eternal life. And these words which I speak are true and abiding.”
Ovi su učenici bili toliko zapanjeni Ivanovim riječima da su se udaljili u tišini. Ivan je također bio veoma uznemiren, jer je shvatio da je izrekao proročanstvo. Nikada više nije u potpunosti posumnjao u Isusovo poslanje i božansku prirodu. Ali Ivanu je bilo veliko razočaranje to što mu Isus nije poslao nikakvu poruku, što ga nije došao posjetiti i što nije upotrijebio nijednu od svojih velikih moći da ga izbavi iz tamnice. Isus je znao sve o tome. Gajio je veliku ljubav prema Ivanu, ali sada, svjestan svoje božanske prirode i potpuno upoznat s velikim stvarima koje su čekale Ivana nakon njegova odlaska iz ovoga svijeta, te znajući da je Ivanovo zemaljsko djelo bilo završeno, obuzdao se i nije se umiješao u prirodni tijek života i rada ovog velikog propovjednika-proroka.
135:11.3 (1507.2)
These disciples were amazed at John’s pronouncement, so much so that they departed in silence. John was also much agitated, for he perceived that he had uttered a prophecy. Never again did he wholly doubt the mission and divinity of Jesus. But it was a sore disappointment to John that Jesus sent him no word, that he came not to see him, and that he exercised none of his great power to deliver him from prison. But Jesus knew all about this. He had great love for John, but being now cognizant of his divine nature and knowing fully the great things in preparation for John when he departed from this world and also knowing that John’s work on earth was finished, he constrained himself not to interfere in the natural outworking of the great preacher-prophet’s career.
Ova je duga neizvjesnost u tamnici bila ljudski nepodnošljiva. Samo nekoliko dana prije svoje smrti Ivan je ponovno poslao pouzdane glasnike Isusu s pitanjem: „Je li moje djelo završeno? Zašto čamim u tamnici? Jesi li ti doista Mesija ili trebamo čekati drugoga?” I kada su ova dva učenika prenijela ovu poruku Isusu, Sin Čovječji je odgovorio: „Vratite se Ivanu i recite mu da ga nisam zaboravio, nego neka mi dopusti da i ovo podnesem, jer nam dolikuje ispuniti svu pravednost. Recite Ivanu što ste vidjeli i čuli — siromašnima se naviješta dobra vijest — i, naposljetku, recite ljubljenom glasniku moje zemaljske misije da će biti obilno blagoslovljen u dobu koje dolazi ako ne nađe razloga posumnjati i spotaknuti se zbog mene.” Ovo je bila posljednja riječ koju je Ivan primio od Isusa. Ova ga je poruka veoma utješila i mnogo pridonijela učvršćenju njegove vjere te ga pripremila za tragični završetak njegova života u tijelu koji je uslijedio ubrzo nakon ovog nezaboravnog događaja.
135:11.4 (1507.3)
This long suspense in prison was humanly unbearable. Just a few days before his death John again sent trusted messengers to Jesus, inquiring: “Is my work done? Why do I languish in prison? Are you truly the Messiah, or shall we look for another?” And when these two disciples gave this message to Jesus, the Son of Man replied: “Go back to John and tell him that I have not forgotten but to suffer me also this, for it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Tell John what you have seen and heard—that the poor have good tidings preached to them—and, finally, tell the beloved herald of my earth mission that he shall be abundantly blessed in the age to come if he finds no occasion to doubt and stumble over me.” And this was the last word John received from Jesus. This message greatly comforted him and did much to stabilize his faith and prepare him for the tragic end of his life in the flesh which followed so soon upon the heels of this memorable occasion.
Kako je Ivan djelovao u južnoj Pereji u vrijeme svojeg uhićenja, odmah je odveden u tamnicu tvrđave Makarej, gdje je bio zatočen sve do pogubljenja. Herod je vladao Perejom kao i Galilejom, a u to je vrijeme imao rezidencije i u Juliji i u Makareju u Pereji. U Galileji je njegovo službeno prebivalište bilo premješteno iz Seforisa u novu prijestolnicu Tiberijadu.
135:12.1 (1508.1)
As John was working in southern Perea when arrested, he was taken immediately to the prison of the fortress of Machaerus, where he was incarcerated until his execution. Herod ruled over Perea as well as Galilee, and he maintained residence at this time at both Julias and Machaerus in Perea. In Galilee the official residence had been moved from Sepphoris to the new capital at Tiberias.
Herod se bojao osloboditi Ivana jer je strahovao da ne potakne pobunu. Bojao se i pogubiti ga, kako se nije htio izložiti opasnosti da njegova smrt izazove nemire u prijestolnici, budući da su tisuće Perejaca vjerovale da je Ivan svet čovjek i prorok. Herod je stoga držao nazaritskog propovjednika u tamnici, ne znajući što bi drugo s njim učinio. Ivan je više puta bio izveden pred Heroda, ali nikada nije htio pristati ni napustiti Herodove oblasti ni odreći se svih javnih djelovanja ako bi bio oslobođen. Ovaj novi i sve veći nemir oko Isusa iz Nazareta također je upozoravalo Heroda da nije vrijeme pustiti Ivana na slobodu. Povrh svega, Ivan je bio žrtva žestoke i gorke mržnje Herodijade, Herodove nezakonite žene.
135:12.2 (1508.2)
Herod feared to release John lest he instigate rebellion. He feared to put him to death lest the multitude riot in the capital, for thousands of Pereans believed that John was a holy man, a prophet. Therefore Herod kept the Nazarite preacher in prison, not knowing what else to do with him. Several times John had been before Herod, but never would he agree either to leave the domains of Herod or to refrain from all public activities if he were released. And this new agitation concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was steadily increasing, admonished Herod that it was no time to turn John loose. Besides, John was also a victim of the intense and bitter hatred of Herodias, Herod’s unlawful wife.
135:12.4 (1508.4)
Since much building was still going on at Tiberias, Herod spent considerable time at his Perean residences, and he was partial to the fortress of Machaerus. It was a matter of several years before all the public buildings and the official residence at Tiberias were fully completed.
Povodom svojeg rođendana Herod je priredio veliku gozbu u Makarejskoj palači za svoje velikaše, visoke časnike i druge uglednike iz Galileje i Pereje. Kako Herodijada već dugo nije uspijevala nagovoriti Heroda da smakne Ivana, sada je ovu prigodu iskoristila kao pogodan trenutak da ga lukavim planiranjem usmrti.
135:12.5 (1508.5)
In celebration of his birthday Herod made a great feast in the Machaerian palace for his chief officers and other men high in the councils of the government of Galilee and Perea. Since Herodias had failed to bring about John’s death by direct appeal to Herod, she now set herself to the task of having John put to death by cunning planning.
Tijekom večernjeg slavlja i zabave Herodijada je predstavila svoju kćerku da pleše pred gostima na gozbi. Herodu se djevojčin nastup veoma svidio te ju je, pozvavši je k sebi, pohvalio riječima:: „Šarmantna si djevojko! Veoma si me razveselila. Zatraži od mene na ovaj moj rođendan što god želiš i dat ću ti što god zatražiš, pa bilo to i do polovice mojega kraljevstva.” Herod je ovako govorio dok je bio pod utjecajem mnogih vina. Djevojka se povukla u stranu i upitala svoju majku što treba zatražiti od Heroda. Herodijada joj je rekla: „Idi k Herodu i zatraži glavu Ivana Krstitelja.” I djevojka se vratila k trpezi i rekla Herodu: „Želim da mi odmah sada daš glavu Ivana Krstitelja na pladnju.”
135:12.6 (1508.6)
In the course of the evening’s festivities and entertainment, Herodias presented her daughter to dance before the banqueters. Herod was very much pleased with the damsel’s performance and, calling her before him, said: “You are charming. I am much pleased with you. Ask me on this my birthday for whatever you desire, and I will give it to you, even to the half of my kingdom.” And Herod did all this while well under the influence of his many wines. The young lady drew aside and inquired of her mother what she should ask of Herod. Herodias said, “Go to Herod and ask for the head of John the Baptist.” And the young woman, returning to the banquet table, said to Herod, “I request that you forthwith give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
Heroda su obuzeli strah i žalost, ali zbog svoje zakletve i zbog svih onih koji su s njim sjedili za stolom nije htio odbiti njezin zahtjev. Herod Antipa poslao je vojnika i zapovjedio mu da donese Ivanovu glavu. Tako je Ivanu te noći u tamnici bila odrubljena glava, a vojnik je donio glavu proroka na pladnju i predao je djevojci koja je čekala u stražnjem dijelu gozbene dvorane. Djevojka je potom predala pladanj svojoj majci. Kada su Ivanovi učenici čuli za to, došli su u tamnicu po Ivanovo tijelo i, nakon što su ga položili u grob, otišli su i javili Isusu.
135:12.7 (1508.7)
Herod was filled with fear and sorrow, but because of his oath and because of all those who sat at meat with him, he would not deny the request. And Herod Antipas sent a soldier, commanding him to bring the head of John. So was John that night beheaded in the prison, the soldier bringing the head of the prophet on a platter and presenting it to the young woman at the rear of the banquet hall. And the damsel gave the platter to her mother. When John’s disciples heard of this, they came to the prison for the body of John, and after laying it in a tomb, they went and told Jesus.