Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 141 : POČETAK JAVNOG DJELOVANJA
Paper 141
Beginning the Public Work
Beginning the Public Work
PRVOGA dana u tjednu, 19. siječnja 27. godine po Kr., Isus i dvanaestorica apostola pripremili su se napustiti svoj tabor u Betsaidi. Dvanaestorica nisu bili upoznati s Učiteljevim planovima osim da su trebali ići u Jeruzalem na proslavu Pashe u travnju i da će tom prilikom putovati dolinom Jordana. Iz Zebedejeve kuće nisu otišli sve do blizu podneva, jer su se obitelji apostola i drugi učenici došli oprostiti i poželjeti im uspjeh u novom djelu koje su trebali započeti.
141:0.1 (1587.1)
ON THE first day of the week, January 19, {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 27, Jesus and the twelve apostles made ready to depart from their headquarters in Bethsaida. The twelve knew nothing of their Master’s plans except that they were going up to Jerusalem to attend the Passover feast in April, and that it was the intention to journey by way of the Jordan valley. They did not get away from Zebedee’s house until near noon because the families of the apostles and others of the disciples had come to say good-bye and wish them well in the new work they were about to begin.
Upravo pred polazak, apostoli su primijetili da nema Učitelja i Andrija ga je otišao potražiti. Poslije kraće potrage našao je Isusa kako sjedi u čamcu podalje niz obalu i plače. Dvanaestorica su često vidjela Učitelja kako tuguje i bila su svjedoci njegovih kratkih razdoblja ozbiljne zaokupljenosti mislima, ali ga nitko od njih nikada nije vidio kako plače. Andrija je bio pomalo iznenađen vidjevši Učitelja u takvom stanju uoči njihova odlaska u Jeruzalem, ali se usudio prići mu i upitati: „Učitelju, zašto plačeš na ovaj veliki dan kada trebamo krenuti u Jeruzalem navijestiti Očevo kraljevstvo? Tko te je od nas ražalostio?“ Isus mu je, vraćajući se s njim k apostolima, odgovorio: „Nitko me od vas nije ražalostio. Tužan sam samo zato što se nitko iz obitelji moga oca Josipa nije sjetio doći i poželjeti nam Božji blagoslov.“ U to je vrijeme Ruta bila u posjetu svome bratu Josipu u Nazaretu. Ostale članove obitelji spriječili su ponos, razočaranje, nerazumijevanje i sitne zamjerke nastale zbog povrijeđenih osjećaja.
141:0.2 (1587.2)
Just before leaving, the apostles missed the Master, and Andrew went out to find him. After a brief search he found Jesus sitting in a boat down the beach, and he was weeping. The twelve had often seen their Master when he seemed to grieve, and they had beheld his brief seasons of serious preoccupation of mind, but none of them had ever seen him weep. Andrew was somewhat startled to see the Master thus affected on the eve of their departure for Jerusalem, and he ventured to approach Jesus and ask: “On this great day, Master, when we are to depart for Jerusalem to proclaim the Father’s kingdom, why is it that you weep? Which of us has offended you?” And Jesus, going back with Andrew to join the twelve, answered him: “No one of you has grieved me. I am saddened only because none of my father Joseph’s family have remembered to come over to bid us Godspeed.” At this time Ruth was on a visit to her brother Joseph at Nazareth. Other members of his family were kept away by pride, disappointment, misunderstanding, and petty resentment indulged as a result of hurt feelings.
Kafarnaum nije bio daleko od Tiberijade, a Isusova se slava počela širiti cijelom Galilejom, pa čak i izvan nje. Isus je znao da će Herod uskoro početi obraćati pozornost na njegov rad; stoga je smatrao najboljim otputovati s apostolima na jug, u Judeju. Skupina od više od stotinu vjernika željela je poći s njima, ali im se Isus obratio i zamolio ih da ne putuju s njim i apostolima niz Jordan. Premda su pristali ostati u Betsaidi, mnogi su već nakon nekoliko dana krenuli za Učiteljem.
141:1.1 (1587.3)
Capernaum was not far from Tiberias, and the fame of Jesus had begun to spread well over all of Galilee and even to parts beyond. Jesus knew that Herod would soon begin to take notice of his work; so he thought best to journey south and into Judea with his apostles. A company of over one hundred believers desired to go with them, but Jesus spoke to them and besought them not to accompany the apostolic group on their way down the Jordan. Though they consented to remain behind, many of them followed after the Master within a few days.
Prvoga dana Isus i apostoli stigli su samo do Tariheje, gdje su prenoćili. Sljedećega dana stigli su do mjesta na Jordanu blizu Pele, gdje je Ivan propovijedao godinu dana ranije i gdje je Isus primio krštenje. Ondje su se zadržali više od dva tjedna, poučavajući i propovijedajući. Do kraja prvoga tjedna nekoliko stotina ljudi iz Galileje, Fenicije, Sirije, Dekapolisa, Pereje i Judeje okupilo se u taboru blizu mjesta gdje su boravili Isus i dvanaestorica.
141:1.2 (1587.4)
The first day Jesus and the apostles only journeyed as far as Tarichea, where they rested for the night. The next day they traveled to a point on the Jordan near Pella where John had preached about one year before, and where Jesus had received baptism. Here they tarried for more than two weeks, teaching and preaching. By the end of the first week several hundred people had assembled in a camp near where Jesus and the twelve dwelt, and they had come from Galilee, Phoenicia, Syria, the Decapolis, Perea, and Judea.
Isus nije javno propovijedao. Andrija je podijelio mnoštvo i svakoj skupini dodijelio propovjednike za jutarnja i poslijepodnevna okupljanja; poslije večere Isus je razgovarao s dvanaestoricom. Nije ih učio ništa novo, već je ponavljao svoja prijašnja učenja i odgovarao na njihova brojna pitanja. Jedne im je večeri govorio o četrdeset dana koje je proveo u brdima u blizini tog mjesta.
141:1.3 (1588.1)
Jesus did no public preaching. Andrew divided the multitude and assigned the preachers for the forenoon and afternoon assemblies; after the evening meal Jesus talked with the twelve. He taught them nothing new but reviewed his former teaching and answered their many questions. On one of these evenings he told the twelve something about the forty days which he spent in the hills near this place.
Mnogi od ljudi koji su došli iz Pereje i Judeje već su bili kršteni Ivanovim krštenjem i željeli su bolje upoznati Isusova učenja. Apostoli su znatno napredovali u poučavanju Ivanovih učenika jer ni na koji način nisu umanjivali Ivanovo propovijedanje, a u to vrijeme nisu ni krstili nove učenike. Ivanovim je učenicima uvijek bila kamen spoticanja činjenica da Isus, ako je doista bio onaj kojega je Ivan navijestio, nije učinio ništa da ga izbavi iz zatvora. Ivanovi učenici nikada nisu mogli razumjeti zašto Isus nije spriječio okrutnu smrt njihova voljenog učitelja.
141:1.4 (1588.2)
Many of those who came from Perea and Judea had been baptized by John and were interested in finding out more about Jesus’ teachings. The apostles made much progress in teaching the disciples of John inasmuch as they did not in any way detract from John’s preaching, and since they did not at this time even baptize their new disciples. But it was always a stumbling stone to John’s followers that Jesus, if he were all that John had announced, did nothing to get him out of prison. John’s disciples never could understand why Jesus did not prevent the cruel death of their beloved leader.
Iz večeri u večer, Andrija je pažljivo poučavao svoje apostole o osjetljivoj i teškoj zadaći održavanja skladnog odnosa sa sljedbenicima Ivana Krstitelja. Tijekom ove prve godine Isusova javnog djelovanja više od tri četvrtine njegovih sljedbenika prethodno je slijedilo Ivana i primilo njegovo krštenje. Cijela ova 27. godina po Kr. bila je posvećena tihom preuzimanju Ivanova rada u Pereji i Judeji.
141:1.5 (1588.3)
From night to night Andrew carefully instructed his fellow apostles in the delicate and difficult task of getting along smoothly with the followers of John the Baptist. During this first year of Jesus’ public ministry more than three fourths of his followers had previously followed John and had received his baptism. This entire year of {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 27 was spent in quietly taking over John’s work in Perea and Judea.
Noć prije nego što će otići iz Pele, Isus je apostole poučio još nekim istinama o novom kraljevstvu. Učitelj je rekao: „Učili su vas tražiti dolazak kraljevstva Božjeg, a sada sam ja došao objaviti da je ovo dugo očekivano kraljevstvo blizu, štoviše, da je već ovdje i među nama. U svakom kraljevstvu mora postojati kralj koji sjedi na prijestolju i donosi zakone kraljevstva. Tako ste i vi već izgradili predodžbu o kraljevstvu nebeskom kao uzvišenoj vladavini židovskog naroda nad svim zemaljskim narodima, s Mesijom koji sjedi na Davidovu prijestolju i s tog mjesta čudesne moći proglašava zakone cijeloga svijeta. Ali, djeco moja, vi ne gledate očima vjere i ne čujete s razumijevanjem duha. Kažem vam da je kraljevstvo nebesko ostvarenje i priznavanje Božje vladavine u srcima ljudi. Istina, postoji Kralj u ovom kraljevstvu, a taj Kralj je moj Otac i vaš Otac. Mi smo uistinu njegovi vjerni podanici, ali od ove činjenice daleko je nadmoćnija preobražavajuća istina da smo mi njegovi sinovi. U mom će životu ova istina postati očita svima. Naš Otac također sjedi na prijestolju, ali ne na onom napravljenom rukama. Prijestolje Beskonačnoga jest Očevo vječno prebivalište u nebu nad nebesima; on ispunjava sve i proglašava svoje zakone svemirima nad svemirima. A Otac također vlada u srcima svoje djece na zemlji preko duha koji je poslao da prebiva u dušama smrtnih ljudi.“
141:2.1 (1588.4)
The night before they left Pella, Jesus gave the apostles some further instruction with regard to the new kingdom. Said the Master: “You have been taught to look for the coming of the kingdom of God, and now I come announcing that this long-looked-for kingdom is near at hand, even that it is already here and in our midst. In every kingdom there must be a king seated upon his throne and decreeing the laws of the realm. And so have you developed a concept of the kingdom of heaven as a glorified rule of the Jewish people over all the peoples of the earth with Messiah sitting on David’s throne and from this place of miraculous power promulgating the laws of all the world. But, my children, you see not with the eye of faith, and you hear not with the understanding of the spirit. I declare that the kingdom of heaven is the realization and acknowledgment of God’s rule within the hearts of men. True, there is a King in this kingdom, and that King is my Father and your Father. We are indeed his loyal subjects, but far transcending that fact is the transforming truth that we are his sons. In my life this truth is to become manifest to all. Our Father also sits upon a throne, but not one made with hands. The throne of the Infinite is the eternal dwelling place of the Father in the heaven of heavens; he fills all things and proclaims his laws to universes upon universes. And the Father also rules within the hearts of his children on earth by the spirit which he has sent to live within the souls of mortal men.
„Kad ste podanici ovog kraljevstva, uistinu ste podložni zakonu Kozmičkog Vladara; ali kada, zahvaljujući evanđelju kraljevstva koje sam došao navijestiti, kroz vjeru otkrijete da ste sinovi, od tog trenutka više ne gledate na sebe kao na stvorenja podložna zakonu svemoćnoga kralja, nego kao na povlaštene sinove božanskog Oca punog ljubavi. Zaista, zaista vam kažem, kada je Očeva volja za vas zakon, jedva da ste u kraljevstvu. Ali kada Očeva volja doista postane vaša volja, tada ste uistinu u kraljevstvu, jer je kraljevstvo time postalo jedno ustaljeno iskustvo u vama samima. Kada je Božja volja za vas zakon, vi ste plemeniti podanici; ali kada vjerujete u ovo novo evanđelje božanskog sinstva, volja mojega Oca postaje vaša volja i vi bivate uzdignuti do visokog položaja slobodne djece Božje, oslobođenih sinova kraljevstva.“
141:2.2 (1588.5)
“When you are the subjects of this kingdom, you indeed are made to hear the law of the Universe Ruler; but when, because of the gospel of the kingdom which I have come to declare, you faith-discover yourselves as sons, you henceforth look not upon yourselves as law-subject creatures of an all-powerful king but as privileged sons of a loving and divine Father. Verily, verily, I say to you, when the Father’s will is your law, you are hardly in the kingdom. But when the Father’s will becomes truly your will, then are you in very truth in the kingdom because the kingdom has thereby become an established experience in you. When God’s will is your law, you are noble slave subjects; but when you believe in this new gospel of divine sonship, my Father’s will becomes your will, and you are elevated to the high position of the free children of God, liberated sons of the kingdom.”
Učitelj i njegovi apostoli ostali su u blizini Amatusa gotovo tri tjedna. Apostoli su nastavili propovijedati mnoštvu dva puta na dan, a Isus je propovijedao svake subote poslijepodne. Bilo je nemoguće nastaviti s ustaljenim običajem odmaranja svake srijede, pa je Andrija odredio da će se po dvojica apostola odmarati svakoga dana tijekom šest dana u tjednu, dok će tijekom subotnje službe svi biti na dužnosti.
141:3.1 (1589.2)
The Master and his apostles remained near Amathus for almost three weeks. The apostles continued to preach twice daily to the multitude, and Jesus preached each Sabbath afternoon. It became impossible to continue the Wednesday playtime; so Andrew arranged that two apostles should rest each day of the six days in the week, while all were on duty during the Sabbath services.
Petar, Jakov i Ivan uglavnom su javno propovijedali. Filip, Natanael, Toma i Šimun posvećivali su se ponajviše osobnom radu te vodili pouke za posebne skupine zainteresiranih; blizanci su nastavili brinuti se za održavanje reda, dok su Andrija, Matej i Juda činili tročlani upravni odbor, premda je svaki od njih također obavljao znatan vjerski rad.
141:3.2 (1589.3)
Peter, James, and John did most of the public preaching. Philip, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Simon did much of the personal work and conducted classes for special groups of inquirers; the twins continued their general police supervision, while Andrew, Matthew, and Judas developed into a general managerial committee of three, although each of these three also did considerable religious work.
Andrija je bio zaokupljen rješavanjem stalnih nesporazuma i razmirica između Ivanovih učenika i novijih Isusovih učenika. Ozbiljne bi se situacije javljale svakih nekoliko dana, ali Andrija je, uz pomoć ostalih apostola, uspijevao navesti sukobljene strane da postignu nekakav sporazum, barem privremeno. Isus je odbijao sudjelovati u bilo kojem od tih razgovora, niti je davao bilo kakav savjet o tome kako bi te poteškoće trebalo rješavati. Nijednom nije predložio kako bi apostoli trebali riješiti te složene probleme. Kad bi mu Andrija dolazio s takvim pitanjima, Isus bi uvijek rekao: „Nije mudro da domaćin sudjeluje u obiteljskim razmiricama svojih gostiju; mudar roditelj nikada ne staje ni na jednu stranu u sitnim svađama svoje djece.”
141:3.3 (1589.4)
Andrew was much occupied with the task of adjusting the constantly recurring misunderstandings and disagreements between the disciples of John and the newer disciples of Jesus. Serious situations would arise every few days, but Andrew, with the assistance of his apostolic associates, managed to induce the contending parties to come to some sort of agreement, at least temporarily. Jesus refused to participate in any of these conferences; neither would he give any advice about the proper adjustment of these difficulties. He never once offered a suggestion as to how the apostles should solve these perplexing problems. When Andrew came to Jesus with these questions, he would always say: “It is not wise for the host to participate in the family troubles of his guests; a wise parent never takes sides in the petty quarrels of his own children.”
Učitelj se pokazao vrlo mudrim i savršeno nepristranim u ophođenju sa svojim apostolima i svim svojim učenicima. Isus je uistinu bio vrstan poznavatelj ljudi; snažno je utjecao na svoje bližnje zahvaljujući spoju šarma i snage svoje ličnosti. U njegovu čvrstom životu bez doma osjećao se suptilan zapovjednički utjecaj. Njegov autoritativan način poučavanja, bistra logika, snaga rasuđivanja, pronicljiv uvid, budnost uma, nenadmašna staloženost i uzvišena snošljivost odavali su intelektualnu privlačnost i duhovnu magnetičnost. Bio je jednostavan, muževan, pošten i neustrašiv. Uz sav tjelesni i umni utjecaj koji je zračio iz Učiteljeve prisutnosti, očitovale su se i sve one duhovne odlike njegova bića koje su se počele povezivati s njegovom ličnošću — strpljivost, nježnost, krotkost, blagost i poniznost.
141:3.4 (1589.5)
The Master displayed great wisdom and manifested perfect fairness in all of his dealings with his apostles and with all of his disciples. Jesus was truly a master of men; he exercised great influence over his fellow men because of the combined charm and force of his personality. There was a subtle commanding influence in his rugged, nomadic, and homeless life. There was intellectual attractiveness and spiritual drawing power in his authoritative manner of teaching, in his lucid logic, his strength of reasoning, his sagacious insight, his alertness of mind, his matchless poise, and his sublime tolerance. He was simple, manly, honest, and fearless. With all of this physical and intellectual influence manifest in the Master’s presence, there were also all those spiritual charms of being which have become associated with his personality—patience, tenderness, meekness, gentleness, and humility.
Isus iz Nazareta uistinu je bio snažna i odlučna ličnost; bio je intelektualna moć i duhovna utvrda. Njegova ličnost nije privlačila samo duhovno usmjerene žene među njegovim sljedbenicima, nego i obrazovanog i intelektualnog Nikodema te prekaljenog rimskog satnika koji je bio na straži pod križem i koji je, nakon što je promatrao Učiteljevu smrt, rekao: „Uistinu, ovo je Sin Božji.” Snažni i priprosti galilejski ribari nazivali su ga Učiteljem.
141:3.5 (1589.6)
Jesus of Nazareth was indeed a strong and forceful personality; he was an intellectual power and a spiritual stronghold. His personality not only appealed to the spiritually minded women among his followers, but also to the educated and intellectual Nicodemus and to the hardy Roman soldier, the captain stationed on guard at the cross, who, when he had finished watching the Master die, said, “Truly, this was a Son of God.” And red-blooded, rugged Galilean fishermen called him Master.
Umjetnički prikazi Isusa bili su krajnje nesretni. Takvi prikazi Krista štetno su utjecali na mlade; hramski trgovci teško da bi pobjegli pred Isusom da je bio onakav kakvim su ga vaši umjetnici obično prikazivali. Njegova je muževnost bila dostojanstvena; bio je dobar, ali prirodan. Isus nije glumio blagog, umiljatog, nježnog i dobroćudnog mistika. Njegovo je učenje bilo uzbudljivo i dinamično. On nije samo mislio dobro, nego je uistinu išao među ljude i činio dobro.
141:3.6 (1590.1)
The pictures of Jesus have been most unfortunate. These paintings of the Christ have exerted a deleterious influence on youth; the temple merchants would hardly have fled before Jesus if he had been such a man as your artists usually have depicted. His was a dignified manhood; he was good, but natural. Jesus did not pose as a mild, sweet, gentle, and kindly mystic. His teaching was thrillingly dynamic. He not only meant well, but he went about actually doing good.
Učitelj nikada nije rekao: „Dođite k meni svi vi koji živite u dokolici i sanjarenju.” Ali je mnogo puta rekao: „Dođite k meni svi koji se trudite, i ja ću vas okrijepiti — dati vam duhovnu snagu.” Učiteljev je jaram doista lagan, ali ipak ga on nikada ne nameće; svatko mora uzeti ovaj njegov jaram svojom vlastitom slobodnom voljom.
141:3.7 (1590.2)
The Master never said, “Come to me all you who are indolent and all who are dreamers.” But he did many times say, “Come to me all you who labor, and I will give you rest—spiritual strength.” The Master’s yoke is, indeed, easy, but even so, he never imposes it; every individual must take this yoke of his own free will.
Isus je prikazao pobjedu žrtvovanjem — žrtvovanjem ponosa i sebičnosti. Pokazujući milosrđe, želio je prikazati duhovno oslobođenje od svake kivnosti, pritužbi, ljutnje i žudnje za sebičnom moći i osvetom. A kada je rekao: „Ne odupirite se zlu”, kasnije je objasnio da time nije želio odobriti grijeh niti savjetovati bratstvo s bezakonjem. Naprotiv, namjeravao je poučiti opraštanju, „ne opirati se zlom postupanju prema vlastitoj ličnosti, zloj povredi vlastitog osjećaja osobnog dostojanstva.”
141:3.8 (1590.3)
Jesus portrayed conquest by sacrifice, the sacrifice of pride and selfishness. By showing mercy, he meant to portray spiritual deliverance from all grudges, grievances, anger, and the lust for selfish power and revenge. And when he said, “Resist not evil,” he later explained that he did not mean to condone sin or to counsel fraternity with iniquity. He intended the more to teach forgiveness, to “resist not evil treatment of one’s personality, evil injury to one’s feelings of personal dignity.”
Dok su se zadržavali u Amatusu, Isus je mnogo vremena provodio poučavajući apostole novom poimanju Boga; iznova i iznova naglašavao je da je Bog Otac, a ne veliki i vrhovni knjigovođa kojemu je glavna zadaća unositi štetne zapise protiv svoje zabludjele djece na zemlji, bilježiti grijehe i zlo koji će se upotrijebiti protiv njih kad im kasnije bude sudio kao pravedni Sudac svega stvaranja. Židovi su dugo zamišljali Boga kao kralja nad svime, pa čak i kao Oca naroda, ali nikada prije velik broj smrtnika nije imao predodžbu o Bogu kao Ocu punom ljubavi svakog pojedinca.
141:4.1 (1590.4)
While sojourning at Amathus, Jesus spent much time with the apostles instructing them in the new concept of God; again and again did he impress upon them that God is a Father, not a great and supreme bookkeeper who is chiefly engaged in making damaging entries against his erring children on earth, recordings of sin and evil to be used against them when he subsequently sits in judgment upon them as the just Judge of all creation. The Jews had long conceived of God as a king over all, even as a Father of the nation, but never before had large numbers of mortal men held the idea of God as a loving Father of the individual.
141:4.2 (1590.5)
In answer to Thomas’s question, “Who is this God of the kingdom?” Jesus replied: “God is your Father, and religion—my gospel—is nothing more nor less than the believing recognition of the truth that you are his son. And I am here among you in the flesh to make clear both of these ideas in my life and teachings.”
Isus je također nastojao osloboditi umove svojih apostola od ideje prinošenja životinjskih žrtava kao vjerske dužnosti. Ali ti ljudi, odgojeni u religiji svakodnevnog prinošenja žrtava, sporo su shvaćali što je time mislio. Ipak, Učitelj se nije umarao poučavajući ih. Kad nije uspijevao doprijeti do umova svih apostola jednom usporedbom, ponovio bi svoju poruku i poslužio se drugom vrstom parabole radi njezina razjašnjenja.
141:4.3 (1590.6)
Jesus also sought to free the minds of his apostles from the idea of offering animal sacrifices as a religious duty. But these men, trained in the religion of the daily sacrifice, were slow to comprehend what he meant. Nevertheless, the Master did not grow weary in his teaching. When he failed to reach the minds of all of the apostles by means of one illustration, he would restate his message and employ another type of parable for purposes of illumination.
U isto je vrijeme Isus počeo potpunije poučavati dvanaestoricu o njihovoj misiji „da tješe nevoljne i služe bolesnima.” Učitelj ih je mnogo poučavao o cjelovitom čovjeku — spoju tijela, uma i duha koji zajedno čine pojedinca, muškarca ili ženu. Isus je svojim suradnicima govorio o trima oblicima nevolja s kojima će se susretati te im objasnio kako trebaju služiti svima koji trpe patnje ljudske bolesti. Poučio ih je da prepoznaju:
141:4.4 (1590.7)
At this same time Jesus began to teach the twelve more fully concerning their mission “to comfort the afflicted and minister to the sick.” The Master taught them much about the whole man—the union of body, mind, and spirit to form the individual man or woman. Jesus told his associates about the three forms of affliction they would meet and went on to explain how they should minister to all who suffer the sorrows of human sickness. He taught them to recognize:
Isus je svojim apostolima nekoliko puta objasnio prirodu i ponešto o porijeklu zlih duhova, koje su u to vrijeme zvali i nečistim duhovima. Učitelj je dobro znao razliku između opsjednutosti zlim duhovima i umobolnosti, ali apostoli nisu. Niti je Isusu bilo moguće, imajući na umu njihovo ograničeno poznavanje rane povijesti Urantije, potpuno im razjasniti ovo pitanje. Ali im je više puta rekao, aludirajući na te zle duhove: „Oni više neće mučiti ljude kad uziđem k svom nebeskom Ocu i kad izlijem svoj duh na sve ljude u dane kada će kraljevstvo doći u velikoj moći i duhovnoj slavi.”
141:4.8 (1591.4)
Jesus explained to his apostles on several occasions the nature, and something concerning the origin, of these evil spirits, in that day often also called unclean spirits. The Master well knew the difference between the possession of evil spirits and insanity, but the apostles did not. Neither was it possible, in view of their limited knowledge of the early history of Urantia, for Jesus to undertake to make this matter fully understandable. But he many times said to them, alluding to these evil spirits: “They shall no more molest men when I shall have ascended to my Father in heaven, and after I shall have poured out my spirit upon all flesh in those times when the kingdom will come in great power and spiritual glory.”
Jedan od najznačajnijih večernjih razgovora u Amatusu ticao se rasprave o duhovnom jedinstvu. Jakov Zebedejev upitao je: „Učitelju, kako ćemo naučiti jednako gledati na stvari i time postići veću slogu među sobom?” Kad je Isus čuo ovo pitanje, bio je duboko dirnut u duhu te je odgovorio: „Jakove, Jakove, kada sam vas učio da svi trebate jednako gledati na stvari? Došao sam na svijet kako bih proglasio duhovnu slobodu, kako bi smrtnici mogli živjeti pojedinačne živote u izvornosti i slobodi pred Bogom. Ne želim da se društvena sloga i bratski mir postignu žrtvovanjem slobodne ličnosti i duhovne izvornosti. Ono što zahtijevam od vas, svojih apostola, jest jedinstvo duha — a to možete iskusiti u radosti svojeg ujedinjenog predanja svesrdnom izvršavanju volje moga Oca na nebu. Ne morate jednako gledati na stvari, ni jednako osjećati, pa čak ni jednako misliti da biste bili jednaki u duhu. Duhovno jedinstvo proizlazi iz svijesti da u svakome od vas prebiva i da vama sve više upravlja duhovni dar nebeskog Oca. Vaša apostolska sloga mora proizići iz činjenice da je duhovna nada svakoga od vas istovjetna po svojem porijeklu, prirodi i sudbini.”
141:5.1 (1591.6)
One of the most eventful of all the evening conferences at Amathus was the session having to do with the discussion of spiritual unity. James Zebedee had asked, “Master, how shall we learn to see alike and thereby enjoy more harmony among ourselves?” When Jesus heard this question, he was stirred within his spirit, so much so that he replied: “James, James, when did I teach you that you should all see alike? I have come into the world to proclaim spiritual liberty to the end that mortals may be empowered to live individual lives of originality and freedom before God. I do not desire that social harmony and fraternal peace shall be purchased by the sacrifice of free personality and spiritual originality. What I require of you, my apostles, is spirit unity—and that you can experience in the joy of your united dedication to the wholehearted doing of the will of my Father in heaven. You do not have to see alike or feel alike or even think alike in order spiritually to be alike. Spiritual unity is derived from the consciousness that each of you is indwelt, and increasingly dominated, by the spirit gift of the heavenly Father. Your apostolic harmony must grow out of the fact that the spirit hope of each of you is identical in origin, nature, and destiny.
„Na ovaj način možete iskusiti savršeno jedinstvo svrhe duha i razumijevanja duha koje izrasta iz uzajamne svijesti o istovjetnosti svakog Rajskog duha koji prebiva u svakome od vas; i možete uživati u tom dubokom duhovnom jedinstvu usred najveće raznolikosti vaših pojedinačnih stavova intelektualnog promišljanja, prirođenih osjećaja i društvenog ponašanja. Vaše ličnosti mogu biti osvježavajuće raznovrsne i izrazito različite, a da su u isto vrijeme vaše duhovne prirode i duhovni plodovi božanskog obožavanja i bratske ljubavi tako ujedinjeni da će svi koji promatraju vaše živote zasigurno prepoznati ovaj identitet duha i jedinstvo duše. Oni će prepoznati da ste bili sa mnom i da ste time naučili kako vršiti volju Oca na nebu. Možete postići jedinstvo u služenju Bogu čak i kada tu službu vršite u skladu sa svojim vlastitim izvornim obdarenjima uma, tijela i duše.
141:5.2 (1591.7)
“In this way you may experience a perfected unity of spirit purpose and spirit understanding growing out of the mutual consciousness of the identity of each of your indwelling Paradise spirits; and you may enjoy all of this profound spiritual unity in the very face of the utmost diversity of your individual attitudes of intellectual thinking, temperamental feeling, and social conduct. Your personalities may be refreshingly diverse and markedly different, while your spiritual natures and spirit fruits of divine worship and brotherly love may be so unified that all who behold your lives will of a surety take cognizance of this spirit identity and soul unity; they will recognize that you have been with me and have thereby learned, and acceptably, how to do the will of the Father in heaven. You can achieve the unity of the service of God even while you render such service in accordance with the technique of your own original endowments of mind, body, and soul.
„Vaše jedinstvo duha podrazumijeva dvije stvari koje će se uvijek naći usklađene u životima pojedinačnih vjernika: Prvo, svi imate zajednički motiv za životnu službu; svi vi iznad svega želite vršiti volju Oca na nebu. Drugo, svima vama je zajednička svrha postojanja; svi vi namjeravate pronaći Oca na nebu i time dokazati svemiru da ste postali poput njega.”
141:5.3 (1592.1)
“Your spirit unity implies two things, which always will be found to harmonize in the lives of individual believers: First, you are possessed with a common motive for life service; you all desire above everything to do the will of the Father in heaven. Second, you all have a common goal of existence; you all purpose to find the Father in heaven, thereby proving to the universe that you have become like him.”
Isus se mnogo puta, tijekom poučavanja dvanaestorice, vraćao ovoj temi. Iznova i iznova govorio im je da nije želio da oni koji vjeruju u njega postanu dogmatizirani i standardizirani prema vjerskim tumačenjima čak i dobrih ljudi. Iznova i iznova upozoravao je svoje apostole protiv oblikovanja vjerovanja i uspostavljanja tradicija kao sredstva za usmjeravanje i nadziranje onih koji vjeruju u evanđelje kraljevstva.
141:5.4 (1592.2)
Many times during the training of the twelve Jesus reverted to this theme. Repeatedly he told them it was not his desire that those who believed in him should become dogmatized and standardized in accordance with the religious interpretations of even good men. Again and again he warned his apostles against the formulation of creeds and the establishment of traditions as a means of guiding and controlling believers in the gospel of the kingdom.
Pred kraj posljednjeg tjedna u Amatusu, Šimun Zelot doveo je Isusu nekog Tehermu, Perzijanca koji je poslovao u Damasku. Teherma je čuo za Isusa i došao u Kafarnaum da ga vidi, a kad je ondje doznao da je Isus sa svojim apostolima otišao niz Jordan prema Jeruzalemu, krenuo ga je potražiti. Andrija je povjerio Tehermu Šimunu radi poučavanja. Šimun je na Perzijanca gledao kao na „štovatelja vatre”, iako se Teherma jako potrudio objasniti da je vatra samo vidljivi simbol Čistoga i Svetoga. Nakon razgovora s Isusom, Perzijanac je odlučio ostati nekoliko dana kako bi slušao poučavanje i propovijedanje.
141:6.1 (1592.3)
Near the end of the last week at Amathus, Simon Zelotes brought to Jesus one Teherma, a Persian doing business at Damascus. Teherma had heard of Jesus and had come to Capernaum to see him, and there learning that Jesus had gone with his apostles down the Jordan on the way to Jerusalem, he set out to find him. Andrew had presented Teherma to Simon for instruction. Simon looked upon the Persian as a “fire worshiper,” although Teherma took great pains to explain that fire was only the visible symbol of the Pure and Holy One. After talking with Jesus, the Persian signified his intention of remaining for several days to hear the teaching and listen to the preaching.
Kad su Šimun Zelot i Isus ostali sami, Šimun je upitao Učitelja: „Zašto ga nisam mogao uvjeriti? Zašto mi se toliko opirao, a tebe je tako spremno poslušao?” Isus mu je odgovorio: „Šimune, Šimune, koliko sam vam puta rekao da se morate uzdržati od svih pokušaja da nešto uzmete iz srca onih koji traže spasenje? Koliko često sam vam rekao da se trudite samo nešto unijeti u ove gladne duše? Uvedite ljude u kraljevstvo, i velike i žive istine kraljevstva uskoro će istisnuti svaku ozbiljnu zabludu. Kada smrtnom čovjeku donesete dobru vijest da je Bog njegov Otac, lakše ćete ga uvjeriti da je on uistinu Božji sin. A kad to učinite, donijeli ste svjetlo spasenja onome koji sjedi u tami. Šimune, kad je Sin Čovječji prvi put došao k tebi, je li došao osuđujući Mojsija i proroke i navješćujući novi i bolji životni put? Nije. Nisam došao oduzeti ono što si primio od svojih predaka, nego ti pokazati usavršenu viziju onoga što su tvoji očevi vidjeli samo djelomično. Idi stoga, Šimune, poučavajući i propovijedajući kraljevstvo, a kad nekoga sigurno i čvrsto uvedeš u kraljevstvo, tada je vrijeme — kad ti takav čovjek dođe s pitanjima — da mu preneseš pouke o postupnom napredovanju duše unutar božanskog kraljevstva.”
141:6.2 (1592.4)
When Simon Zelotes and Jesus were alone, Simon asked the Master: “Why is it that I could not persuade him? Why did he so resist me and so readily lend an ear to you?” Jesus answered: “Simon, Simon, how many times have I instructed you to refrain from all efforts to take something out of the hearts of those who seek salvation? How often have I told you to labor only to put something into these hungry souls? Lead men into the kingdom, and the great and living truths of the kingdom will presently drive out all serious error. When you have presented to mortal man the good news that God is his Father, you can the easier persuade him that he is in reality a son of God. And having done that, you have brought the light of salvation to the one who sits in darkness. Simon, when the Son of Man came first to you, did he come denouncing Moses and the prophets and proclaiming a new and better way of life? No. I came not to take away that which you had from your forefathers but to show you the perfected vision of that which your fathers saw only in part. Go then, Simon, teaching and preaching the kingdom, and when you have a man safely and securely within the kingdom, then is the time, when such a one shall come to you with inquiries, to impart instruction having to do with the progressive advancement of the soul within the divine kingdom.”
Te je noći Isus s apostolima razgovarao o novom životu u kraljevstvu. Između ostalog rekao je: „Kad uđete u kraljevstvo, tada se nanovo rodite. Ne možete naučavati duboke istine duha onima koji su rođeni samo od tijela; najprije se pobrinite da se ljudi rode od duha prije nego što ih pokušate poučiti naprednim putovima duha. Ne pokušavajte ljudima pokazivati ljepote hrama dok ih najprije ne uvedete u hram. Predstavite ljude Bogu kao sinove Božje prije nego što im počnete govoriti o učenjima o očinstvu Boga i sinovstvu ljudi. Ne natežite se s ljudima — uvijek budite strpljivi. To nije vaše kraljevstvo; vi ste samo poslanici. Jednostavno idite naprijed i objavljujte: Ovo je kraljevstvo nebesko — Bog je vaš Otac, a vi ste njegovi sinovi; i ova radosna vijest, ako u nju vjerujete svim srcem, jest vaše vječno spasenje.”
141:6.4 (1592.6)
That night Jesus discoursed to the apostles on the new life in the kingdom. He said in part: “When you enter the kingdom, you are reborn. You cannot teach the deep things of the spirit to those who have been born only of the flesh; first see that men are born of the spirit before you seek to instruct them in the advanced ways of the spirit. Do not undertake to show men the beauties of the temple until you have first taken them into the temple. Introduce men to God and as the sons of God before you discourse on the doctrines of the fatherhood of God and the sonship of men. Do not strive with men—always be patient. It is not your kingdom; you are only ambassadors. Simply go forth proclaiming: This is the kingdom of heaven—God is your Father and you are his sons, and this good news, if you wholeheartedly believe it, is your eternal salvation.”
Apostoli su mnogo napredovali tijekom boravka u Amatusu. Ali bili su vrlo razočarani što im Isus nije dao nikakve smjernice o tome kako postupati s Ivanovim učenicima. Čak i u tako važnom pitanju krštenja, sve što im je Isus rekao bilo je: „Ivan je doista krstio vodom, ali kad uđete u kraljevstvo nebesko, bit ćete kršteni Duhom.”
141:6.5 (1593.1)
The apostles made great progress during the sojourn at Amathus. But they were very much disappointed that Jesus would give them no suggestions about dealing with John’s disciples. Even in the important matter of baptism, all that Jesus said was: “John did indeed baptize with water, but when you enter the kingdom of heaven, you shall be baptized with the Spirit.”
Isus, njegovi apostoli i velika skupina sljedbenika krenuli su 26. veljače niz Jordan do gaza blizu Betanije u Pereji, mjesta gdje je Ivan prvi put navijestio dolazak kraljevstva. Isus je sa svojim apostolima ostao ovdje četiri tjedna, poučavajući i propovijedajući, prije nego što su nastavili put prema Jeruzalemu.
141:7.1 (1593.2)
On February 26, Jesus, his apostles, and a large group of followers journeyed down the Jordan to the ford near Bethany in Perea, the place where John first made proclamation of the coming kingdom. Jesus with his apostles remained here, teaching and preaching, for four weeks before they went on up to Jerusalem.
Drugog tjedna boravka u Betaniji s onu stranu Jordana, Isus je poveo Petra, Jakova i Ivana u brežuljke preko rijeke i južno od Jerihona na trodnevni odmor. Učitelj je ovu trojicu poučio mnogim novim i naprednim istinama o kraljevstvu nebeskom. Za potrebe ovog zapisa ponovno ćemo organizirati i svrstati ta učenja na sljedeći način:
141:7.2 (1593.3)
The second week of the sojourn at Bethany beyond Jordan, Jesus took Peter, James, and John into the hills across the river and south of Jericho for a three days’ rest. The Master taught these three many new and advanced truths about the kingdom of heaven. For the purpose of this record we will reorganize and classify these teachings as follows:
Isus je pokušao pojasniti kako želi da njegovi učenici, koji su okusili dobre stvarnosti duha kraljevstva, tako žive u svijetu da ljudi, gledajući njihove živote, postanu svjesni kraljevstva te da ih ta svijest navede da se kod vjernika raspituju o putovima kraljevstva. Svi takvi iskreni tražitelji istine uvijek su radosni čuti radosnu vijest o daru vjere koji osigurava ulazak u kraljevstvo i njegove vječne i božanske stvarnosti duha.
141:7.3 (1593.4)
Jesus endeavored to make clear that he desired his disciples, having tasted of the good spirit realities of the kingdom, so to live in the world that men, by seeing their lives, would become kingdom conscious and hence be led to inquire of believers concerning the ways of the kingdom. All such sincere seekers for the truth are always glad to hear the glad tidings of the faith gift which insures admission to the kingdom with its eternal and divine spirit realities.
Učitelj je želio utisnuti u sve učitelje evanđelja kraljevstva spoznaju da je njihova jedina zadaća otkriti svakom pojedinom čovjeku Boga kao njegova Oca — voditi tog pojedinca do toga da postane svjestan svojeg sinovstva; a zatim predstaviti tog istog čovjeka Bogu kao sina po vjeri. Oba ova bitna otkrivenja ostvarila su se u Isusu. On je doista postao „put, istina i život”. Isusova se religija u potpunosti temeljila na življenju njegova života darivanja na zemlji. Kad je Isus otišao s ovoga svijeta, nije za sobom ostavio nikakve knjige, zakone ni druge oblike ljudske organizacije koji bi utjecali na religiozni život pojedinca.
141:7.4 (1593.5)
The Master sought to impress upon all teachers of the gospel of the kingdom that their only business was to reveal God to the individual man as his Father—to lead this individual man to become son-conscious; then to present this same man to God as his faith son. Both of these essential revelations are accomplished in Jesus. He became, indeed, “the way, the truth, and the life.” The religion of Jesus was wholly based on the living of his bestowal life on earth. When Jesus departed from this world, he left behind no books, laws, or other forms of human organization affecting the religious life of the individual.
Isus je razjasnio da je došao utemeljiti osobne i vječne odnose s ljudima koji će zauvijek imati prvenstvo pred svim drugim ljudskim odnosima. Naglasio je da će se ovo prisno zajedništvo duha proširiti na sve ljude svih dobi i svih društvenih uvjeta među svim narodima. Jedina nagrada koju je ponudio svojoj djeci bila je: u ovom svijetu — duhovna radost i božansko zajedništvo; u sljedećem svijetu — vječni život u napredovanju kroz božanske stvarnosti duha Rajskog Oca.
141:7.5 (1593.6)
Jesus made it plain that he had come to establish personal and eternal relations with men which should forever take precedence over all other human relationships. And he emphasized that this intimate spiritual fellowship was to be extended to all men of all ages and of all social conditions among all peoples. The only reward which he held out for his children was: in this world—spiritual joy and divine communion; in the next world—eternal life in the progress of the divine spirit realities of the Paradise Father.
Isus je stavio izuzetno veliki naglasak na ono što je nazivao dvjema istinama od najveće važnosti u učenjima kraljevstva, a to su: postizanje spasenja vjerom i samo vjerom, povezano s revolucionarnim učenjem o postizanju ljudske slobode kroz iskreno prepoznavanje istine: „Upoznat ćete istinu, i istina će vas osloboditi.” Isus je bio istina očitovana u tijelu i obećao je poslati svoj Duh Istine u srca sve svoje djece nakon svojeg povratka nebeskom Ocu.
141:7.6 (1593.7)
Jesus laid great emphasis upon what he called the two truths of first import in the teachings of the kingdom, and they are: the attainment of salvation by faith, and faith alone, associated with the revolutionary teaching of the attainment of human liberty through the sincere recognition of truth, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus was the truth made manifest in the flesh, and he promised to send his Spirit of Truth into the hearts of all his children after his return to the Father in heaven.
Učitelj je ove apostole poučavao temeljnim istinama za cijelo jedno zemaljsko doba. Oni su često slušali njegova učenja, premda je ono što je govorio zapravo bilo namijenjeno nadahnuću i izgradnji drugih svjetova. On je svojim životom utjelovio nov i izvoran životni plan. S ljudskog gledišta on je uistinu bio Židov, ali je svoj život živio za dobrobit svih svjetova kao smrtnik ovoga svemira.
141:7.7 (1594.1)
The Master was teaching these apostles the essentials of truth for an entire age on earth. They often listened to his teachings when in reality what he said was intended for the inspiration and edification of other worlds. He exemplified a new and original plan of life. From the human standpoint he was indeed a Jew, but he lived his life for all the world as a mortal of the realm.
Kako bi osigurao prepoznavanje svojega Oca u razvoju plana kraljevstva, Isus je objasnio da je namjerno zanemario „velike ljude zemlje”. Svoj je rad započeo sa siromašnima, upravo s onim slojem koji je bio toliko zanemaren od većine evolucijskih religija prijašnjih vremena. Nije prezirao nijednog čovjeka; njegov je plan bio svjetski, čak univerzalan. Bio je toliko odvažan i odlučan u tim objavama da su čak i Petar, Jakov i Ivan bili u iskušenju pomisliti da možda nije bio pri zdravoj pameti.
141:7.8 (1594.2)
To insure the recognition of his Father in the unfolding of the plan of the kingdom, Jesus explained that he had purposely ignored the “great men of earth.” He began his work with the poor, the very class which had been so neglected by most of the evolutionary religions of preceding times. He despised no man; his plan was world-wide, even universal. He was so bold and emphatic in these announcements that even Peter, James, and John were tempted to think he might possibly be beside himself.
Isus je nastojao ovim apostolima blago prenijeti istinu da je došao na ovu misiju darivanja, ne kako bi postavio primjer za nekolicinu zemaljskih stvorenja, već kako bi uspostavio i pokazao mjerilo ljudskog života za sve narode na svim svjetovima kroz cijeli svoj svemir. A to se mjerilo približavalo najvišem savršenstvu, čak konačnoj dobroti Oca Svih. Ali apostoli nisu mogli shvatiti značenje njegovih riječi.
141:7.9 (1594.3)
He sought mildly to impart to these apostles the truth that he had come on this bestowal mission, not to set an example for a few earth creatures, but to establish and demonstrate a standard of human life for all peoples upon all worlds throughout his entire universe. And this standard approached the highest perfection, even the final goodness of the Universal Father. But the apostles could not grasp the meaning of his words.
Objavio je da je došao kao učitelj, kao učitelj poslan s neba da donese duhovnu istinu materijalnom umu. I učinio je upravo to: bio je učitelj, a ne propovjednik. S ljudskog gledišta Petar je bio daleko djelotvorniji propovjednik od Isusa. Isusovo je propovijedanje bilo tako učinkovito više zbog njegove jedinstvene ličnosti nego zbog snažne rječitosti ili emocionalne privlačnosti. Isus je govorio izravno ljudskim dušama. On je bio učitelj čovjekova duha posredstvom uma. On je živio među ljudima.
141:7.10 (1594.4)
He announced that he had come to function as a teacher, a teacher sent from heaven to present spiritual truth to the material mind. And this is exactly what he did; he was a teacher, not a preacher. From the human viewpoint Peter was a much more effective preacher than Jesus. Jesus’ preaching was so effective because of his unique personality, not so much because of compelling oratory or emotional appeal. Jesus spoke directly to men’s souls. He was a teacher of man’s spirit, but through the mind. He lived with men.
Ovom je prilikom Isus natuknuo Petru, Jakovu i Ivanu da je njegov posao na zemlji u nekim pogledima ograničen uputama njegovog “suradnika u visinama,” pritom misleći na upute koje mu je dao njegov Rajski brat Emanuel, prije nego što je započeo svoj život darivanja. Rekao im je da je došao kako bi vršio volju svoga Oca i samo njegovu volju. Kako je Isus imao samo tu jednu životnu svrhu koju je vršio svim svojim srcem, nije ga tjeskobno uznemiravalo zlo na svijetu.
141:7.11 (1594.5)
It was on this occasion that Jesus intimated to Peter, James, and John that his work on earth was in some respects to be limited by the commission of his “associate on high,” referring to the prebestowal instructions of his Paradise brother, Immanuel. He told them that he had come to do his Father’s will and only his Father’s will. Being thus motivated by a wholehearted singleness of purpose, he was not anxiously bothered by the evil in the world.
Apostoli su počeli prepoznavati Isusovu neusiljenu srdačnost. Iako je Učitelj bio vrlo pristupačan, uvijek je živio neovisan o svim ljudskim bićima i iznad njih. Ni u jednom trenutku nije bio pod vlašću ikakvog čisto ljudskog utjecaja niti je ikada podlijegao pogrešivim ljudskim prosudbama. Nije mario za javno mnijenje, a pohvale nisu utjecale na njega. Rijetko bi zastao kako bi ispravio nesporazume ili se uvrijedio zbog pogrešnog prikazivanja. Nikada nije tražio savjet ni od jednog čovjeka; nikada nije tražio da se za njega moli.
141:7.12 (1594.6)
The apostles were beginning to recognize the unaffected friendliness of Jesus. Though the Master was easy of approach, he always lived independent of, and above, all human beings. Not for one moment was he ever dominated by any purely mortal influence or subject to frail human judgment. He paid no attention to public opinion, and he was uninfluenced by praise. He seldom paused to correct misunderstandings or to resent misrepresentation. He never asked any man for advice; he never made requests for prayers.
Iako Petar, Jakov i Ivan nisu mogli shvatiti mnogo toga što im je Isus ovom prilikom rekao, njegove blage riječi ostale su u njihovim srcima te su nakon raspeća i uskrsnuća uvelike obogatile i razveselile njihovu kasniju službu. Nije ni čudo da ovi apostoli nisu u potpunosti shvatili Učiteljeve riječi, jer im je on zapravo govorio o novom dobu.
141:7.15 (1595.1)
Although Peter, James, and John could not understand very much of what Jesus said on this occasion, his gracious words lingered in their hearts, and after the crucifixion and resurrection they came forth greatly to enrich and gladden their subsequent ministry. No wonder these apostles did not fully comprehend the Master’s words, for he was projecting to them the plan of a new age.
Tijekom četverotjednog boravka u Betaniji s onu stranu Jordana, Andrija je nekoliko puta tjedno određivao apostolske parove za odlazak u Jerihon na dan ili dva. Ivan je imao mnogo vjernika u Jerihonu i većina njih prihvatila je naprednija učenja Isusa i njegovih apostola. Tijekom tih posjeta Jerihonu apostoli su počeli određenije provoditi Isusove upute da služe bolesnima; obilazili su svaku kuću u gradu i nastojali utješiti svaku napaćenu osobu.
141:8.1 (1595.2)
Throughout the four weeks’ sojourn at Bethany beyond Jordan, several times each week Andrew would assign apostolic couples to go up to Jericho for a day or two. John had many believers in Jericho, and the majority of them welcomed the more advanced teachings of Jesus and his apostles. On these Jericho visits the apostles began more specifically to carry out Jesus’ instructions to minister to the sick; they visited every house in the city and sought to comfort every afflicted person.
Apostoli su javno djelovali u Jerihonu, ali je njihov rad uglavnom bio tihe i osobne naravi. Sada su otkrili da je radosna vijest kraljevstva bila velika utjeha bolesnima; da je njihova poruka donosila iscjeljenje napaćenima. I upravo je u Jerihonu Isusov nalog dvanaestorici da propovijedaju radosnu vijest kraljevstva i služe napaćenima prvi put u potpunosti proveden u djelo.
141:8.2 (1595.3)
The apostles did some public work in Jericho, but their efforts were chiefly of a more quiet and personal nature. They now made the discovery that the good news of the kingdom was very comforting to the sick; that their message carried healing for the afflicted. And it was in Jericho that Jesus’ commission to the twelve to preach the glad tidings of the kingdom and minister to the afflicted was first fully carried into effect.
Zaustavili su se u Jerihonu na putu prema Jeruzalemu, gdje ih je sustiglo izaslanstvo iz Mezopotamije koje je došlo savjetovati se s Isusom. Apostoli su namjeravali tu provesti samo jedan dan, ali kad su stigli ti tragači za istinom s Istoka, Isus je s njima proveo tri dana, nakon čega su se vratili svojim kućama duž Eufrata, radosni zbog spoznaje novih istina nebeskoga kraljevstva.
141:8.3 (1595.4)
They stopped in Jericho on the way up to Jerusalem and were overtaken by a delegation from Mesopotamia that had come to confer with Jesus. The apostles had planned to spend but a day here, but when these truth seekers from the East arrived, Jesus spent three days with them, and they returned to their various homes along the Euphrates happy in the knowledge of the new truths of the kingdom of heaven.
U ponedjeljak, posljednjeg dana u ožujku, Isus i apostoli započeli su svoj uspon prema Jeruzalemu. Lazar iz Betanije dvaput je sišao do Jordana kako bi vidio Isusa, te je sve bilo uređeno da Učitelj i njegovi apostoli ostanu kod Lazara i njegovih sestara u Betaniji onoliko dugo koliko budu željeli ostati u Jeruzalemu.
141:9.1 (1595.5)
On Monday, the last day of March, Jesus and the apostles began their journey up the hills toward Jerusalem. Lazarus of Bethany had been down to the Jordan twice to see Jesus, and every arrangement had been made for the Master and his apostles to make their headquarters with Lazarus and his sisters at Bethany as long as they might desire to stay in Jerusalem.
Ivanovi učenici ostali su u Betaniji s onu stranu Jordana, poučavajući i krsteći mnoštva, tako da su s Isusom, kada je stigao u Lazarov dom, bili samo dvanaestorica. Ovdje su se Isus i apostoli zadržali pet dana, odmarajući se i obnavljajući snagu prije nego što su nastavili prema Jeruzalemu na Pashu. Bio je to velik događaj u životima Marte i Marije što su Učitelj i njegovi apostoli bili u domu njihova brata, gdje su se mogle brinuti za njihove potrebe.
141:9.2 (1595.6)
The disciples of John remained at Bethany beyond the Jordan, teaching and baptizing the multitudes, so that Jesus was accompanied only by the twelve when he arrived at Lazarus’s home. Here Jesus and the apostles tarried for five days, resting and refreshing themselves before going on to Jerusalem for the Passover. It was a great event in the lives of Martha and Mary to have the Master and his apostles in the home of their brother, where they could minister to their needs.