Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 142 : PASHA U JERUZALEMU
142:0.1 (1596.1)
THE month of April Jesus and the apostles worked in Jerusalem, going out of the city each evening to spend the night at Bethany. Jesus himself spent one or two nights each week in Jerusalem at the home of Flavius, a Greek Jew, where many prominent Jews came in secret to interview him.
Istoga dana kad je stigao u Jeruzalem, Isus je posjetio svoga dugogodišnjeg prijatelja Anu, negdašnjeg velikog svećenika i rođaka Zebedejeve žene Salome. Ana je već bio mnogo čuo o Isusu i njegovim učenjima, ali kad je Isus došao u dom bivšega velikog svećenika, bio je primljen vrlo suzdržano. Kad je Isus osjetio Aninu hladnoću, odmah se oprostio i, odlazeći, rekao: „Strah je čovjekov najveći porobljivač, a ponos njegova najveća slabost. Hoćeš li dopustiti da te te dvije slabosti liše radosti i slobode?” Ali Ana nije odgovorio. Učitelj ga više nije vidio sve do vremena kada je zajedno sa svojim zetom sudio Sinu Čovječjemu.
142:0.2 (1596.2)
The first day in Jerusalem Jesus called upon his friend of former years, Annas, the onetime high priest and relative of Salome, Zebedee’s wife. Annas had been hearing about Jesus and his teachings, and when Jesus called at the high priest’s home, he was received with much reserve. When Jesus perceived Annas’s coldness, he took immediate leave, saying as he departed: “Fear is man’s chief enslaver and pride his great weakness; will you betray yourself into bondage to both of these destroyers of joy and liberty?” But Annas made no reply. The Master did not again see Annas until the time when he sat with his son-in-law in judgment on the Son of Man.
142:1.6 (1596.8)
The multitudes who came to celebrate the Passover heard this teaching of Jesus, and hundreds of them rejoiced in the good news. The chief priests and rulers of the Jews became much concerned about Jesus and his apostles and debated among themselves as to what should be done with them.
Osim poučavanja u hramu i oko hrama, apostoli i drugi vjernici bavili su se mnogim osobnim radom među mnoštvima okupljenima za Pashu. Ti zainteresirani muškarci i žene pronijeli su vijest o Isusovoj poruci s ovog pashalnog slavlja do najudaljenijih krajeva Rimskoga Carstva, kao i na Istok. Bio je to početak širenja evanđelja kraljevstva u vanjski svijet. Isusovo djelovanje više nije bilo ograničeno samo na Palestinu.
142:1.7 (1596.9)
Besides teaching in and about the temple, the apostles and other believers were engaged in doing much personal work among the Passover throngs. These interested men and women carried the news of Jesus’ message from this Passover celebration to the uttermost parts of the Roman Empire and also to the East. This was the beginning of the spread of the gospel of the kingdom to the outside world. No longer was the work of Jesus to be confined to Palestine.
Tijekom pashalnih svetkovina u Jeruzalemu se nalazio neki Jakov, bogati židovski trgovac s Krete, koji je došao k Andriji s molbom da se nasamo susretne s Isusom. Andrija je uredio ovaj tajni susret s Isusom u Flavijevu domu sljedeće večeri. Ovaj čovjek nije mogao shvatiti Učiteljeva učenja te je došao jer je želio podrobnije ispitati o kraljevstvu Božjem. Jakov je rekao Isusu: „Ali, Učitelju, Mojsije i drevni proroci govore nam da je Jahve ljubomoran Bog, Bog velike srdžbe i žestokoga bijesa. Proroci kažu da mrzi one koji čine zlo i da se osvećuje onima koji ne poštuju njegov zakon. Ti i tvoji učenici učite nas da je Bog dobrostiv i suosjećajan Otac koji toliko ljubi sve ljude da bi ih primio u ovo novo kraljevstvo nebesko za koje navješćuješ da je tako blizu.”
142:2.1 (1597.1)
There was in Jerusalem in attendance upon the Passover festivities one Jacob, a wealthy Jewish trader from Crete, and he came to Andrew making request to see Jesus privately. Andrew arranged this secret meeting with Jesus at Flavius’s home the evening of the next day. This man could not comprehend the Master’s teachings, and he came because he desired to inquire more fully about the kingdom of God. Said Jacob to Jesus: “But, Rabbi, Moses and the olden prophets tell us that Yahweh is a jealous God, a God of great wrath and fierce anger. The prophets say he hates evildoers and takes vengeance on those who obey not his law. You and your disciples teach us that God is a kind and compassionate Father who so loves all men that he would welcome them into this new kingdom of heaven, which you proclaim is so near at hand.”
„Jakove, dobro si iznio učenja drevnih proroka koji su poučavali djecu svoje generacije u skladu sa svjetlom svojega vremena. Naš je Rajski Otac nepromjenjiv. Ali pojam njegove naravi proširio se i razvio od Mojsijevih dana, kroz Amosovo vrijeme, pa sve do naraštaja proroka Izaije. A sada sam ja došao u tijelu otkriti Oca u novoj slavi i pokazati njegovu ljubav i milosrđe svim ljudima na svim svjetovima. Kako se evanđelje ovoga kraljevstva bude širilo svijetom sa svojom porukom radosti i dobre volje prema svim ljudima, razvit će se bolji i plemenitiji odnosi među obiteljima svih naroda. Kako vrijeme bude prolazilo, očevi i njihova djeca više će voljeti jedni druge i tako će se razviti bolje razumijevanje ljubavi Oca na nebu prema njegovoj djeci na zemlji. Zapamti, Jakove, da dobar i istinit otac ne voli samo svoju obitelj kao cjelinu — kao obitelj — nego također uistinu voli i s nježnošću se brine za svakog pojedinog člana.”
142:2.2 (1597.2)
When Jacob finished speaking, Jesus replied: “Jacob, you have well stated the teachings of the olden prophets who taught the children of their generation in accordance with the light of their day. Our Father in Paradise is changeless. But the concept of his nature has enlarged and grown from the days of Moses down through the times of Amos and even to the generation of the prophet Isaiah. And now have I come in the flesh to reveal the Father in new glory and to show forth his love and mercy to all men on all worlds. As the gospel of this kingdom shall spread over the world with its message of good cheer and good will to all men, there will grow up improved and better relations among the families of all nations. As time passes, fathers and their children will love each other more, and thus will be brought about a better understanding of the love of the Father in heaven for his children on earth. Remember, Jacob, that a good and true father not only loves his family as a whole—as a family—but he also truly loves and affectionately cares for each individual member.”
Nakon podrobne rasprave o naravi nebeskog Oca, Isus je zastao i rekao: „Ti, Jakove, kao otac mnoge djece, dobro poznaješ istinitost mojih riječi.” Jakov je odgovorio: „Ali, Učitelju, tko ti je rekao da sam otac šestero djece? Kako si to znao o meni?” Učitelj je odgovorio: „Neka bude dovoljno da kažem da Ocu i Sinu sve je poznato, jer oni doista sve vide. Budući da kao zemaljski otac voliš svoju djecu, sada moraš prihvatiti kao stvarnost ljubav nebeskog Oca prema tebi — ne samo prema svoj djeci Abrahamovoj, nego prema tebi, tvojoj pojedinačnoj duši.”
142:2.3 (1597.3)
After considerable discussion of the heavenly Father’s character, Jesus paused to say: “You, Jacob, being a father of many, know well the truth of my words.” And Jacob said: “But, Master, who told you I was the father of six children? How did you know this about me?” And the Master replied: “Suffice it to say that the Father and the Son know all things, for indeed they see all. Loving your children as a father on earth, you must now accept as a reality the love of the heavenly Father for you—not just for all the children of Abraham, but for you, your individual soul.”
Isus je dalje rekao: “Kad su tvoja djeca mala i nezrela i kad ih moraš ukoriti, ona mogu pomisliti da imaju ljutitog i ogorčenog oca. Njihova nezrelost ne može prodrijeti dalje od kazne i razaznati očevu dalekovidnu i odgojnu ljubav koja ih ispravlja. Ali kad ta ista djeca odrastu i postanu zreli muškarci i žene, zar bi bilo mudro da se i dalje drže tih ranijih i pogrešnih predodžbi o svome ocu? Kao odrasli muškarci i žene, oni bi sada trebali prepoznati očevu ljubav u svim tim ranijim odgojnim postupcima. Zar ne bi i čovječanstvo, kako stoljeća budu prolazila, trebalo sve bolje razumijevati istinsku prirodu i ljubazni karakter Oca na nebu? Kakva je korist od uzastopnih naraštaja duhovnog prosvjetljenja ako ustrajete u tome da Boga gledate onako kako su ga vidjeli Mojsije i proroci? Kažem ti, Jakove, pod blistavim svjetlom ovog trenutka trebaš vidjeti Oca onako kako ga nitko od onih koji su živjeli prije tebe nikada nije vidio. I kad ga tako budeš vidio, radovat ćeš se ulasku u kraljevstvo kojim vlada tako milosrdni Otac i nastojat ćeš od sada dopustiti da njegova volja ljubavi upravlja tvojim životom.”
142:2.4 (1597.4)
Then Jesus went on to say: “When your children are very young and immature, and when you must chastise them, they may reflect that their father is angry and filled with resentful wrath. Their immaturity cannot penetrate beyond the punishment to discern the father’s farseeing and corrective affection. But when these same children become grown-up men and women, would it not be folly for them to cling to these earlier and misconceived notions regarding their father? As men and women they should now discern their father’s love in all these early disciplines. And should not mankind, as the centuries pass, come the better to understand the true nature and loving character of the Father in heaven? What profit have you from successive generations of spiritual illumination if you persist in viewing God as Moses and the prophets saw him? I say to you, Jacob, under the bright light of this hour you should see the Father as none of those who have gone before ever beheld him. And thus seeing him, you should rejoice to enter the kingdom wherein such a merciful Father rules, and you should seek to have his will of love dominate your life henceforth.”
Isus je blago prekorio dvanaestoricu, rekavši u biti: „Zar ne poznajete predaje Izraela o rastu i razvoju ideje Jahvea i zar ne poznajete učenja Pisama o nauku o Bogu?“ Potom je Učitelj nastavio poučavati apostole o evoluciji poimanja Božanstva tijekom razvoja židovskog naroda. Skrenuo im je pozornost na sljedeće faze rasta i razvoja ideje o Bogu:
142:3.2 (1598.3)
Jesus mildly upbraided the twelve, in substance saying: Do you not know the traditions of Israel relating to the growth of the idea of Yahweh, and are you ignorant of the teaching of the Scriptures concerning the doctrine of God? And then did the Master proceed to instruct the apostles about the evolution of the concept of Deity throughout the course of the development of the Jewish people. He called attention to the following phases of the growth of the God idea:
1. Jahve — bog sinajskih plemena. To je bio primitivni pojam Božanstva koji je Mojsije uzdigao na višu razinu Gospoda Boga Izraelova. Otac na nebu nikada ne propušta prihvatiti iskreno štovanje svoje djece na zemlji, ma koliko njihov pojam Božanstva bio primitivan ili kojim god imenom simbolizirali njegovu božansku narav.
142:3.3 (1598.4)
1. Yahweh—the god of the Sinai clans. This was the primitive concept of Deity which Moses exalted to the higher level of the Lord God of Israel. The Father in heaven never fails to accept the sincere worship of his children on earth, no matter how crude their concept of Deity or by what name they symbolize his divine nature.
2. Svevišnji. Ovaj pojam Oca na nebu Melkizedek je objavio Abrahamu, a oni koji su kasnije prihvatili ovu uzvišeniju i prošireniju ideju Božanstva pronijeli su je nadaleko iz Salema. Abraham i njegov brat napustili su Ur zbog uspostave štovanja sunca te su prihvatili Melkizedekovo učenje o El Eljonu — Bogu Svevišnjem. Njihov pojam Boga bio je složen, nastao stapanjem njihovih starijih mezopotamskih predodžbi i nauka o Svevišnjem.
142:3.4 (1598.5)
2. The Most High. This concept of the Father in heaven was proclaimed by Melchizedek to Abraham and was carried far from Salem by those who subsequently believed in this enlarged and expanded idea of Deity. Abraham and his brother left Ur because of the establishment of sun worship, and they became believers in Melchizedek’s teaching of El Elyon—the Most High God. Theirs was a composite concept of God, consisting in a blending of their older Mesopotamian ideas and the Most High doctrine.
142:3.5 (1598.6)
3. El Shaddai. During these early days many of the Hebrews worshiped El Shaddai, the Egyptian concept of the God of heaven, which they learned about during their captivity in the land of the Nile. Long after the times of Melchizedek all three of these concepts of God became joined together to form the doctrine of the creator Deity, the Lord God of Israel.
142:3.6 (1598.7)
4. Elohim. From the times of Adam the teaching of the Paradise Trinity has persisted. Do you not recall how the Scriptures begin by asserting that “In the beginning the Gods created the heavens and the earth”? This indicates that when that record was made the Trinity concept of three Gods in one had found lodgment in the religion of our forebears.
142:3.7 (1598.8)
5. The Supreme Yahweh. By the times of Isaiah these beliefs about God had expanded into the concept of a Universal Creator who was simultaneously all-powerful and all-merciful. And this evolving and enlarging concept of God virtually supplanted all previous ideas of Deity in our fathers’ religion.
6. Otac na nebu. A sada Boga poznajemo kao našeg Oca na nebu. Naše učenje pruža religiju u kojoj je vjernik sin Božji. To je radosna vijest evanđelja kraljevstva nebeskog. S Ocem supostoje Sin i Duh, a objava naravi i službe ovih Rajskih Božanstava nastavit će se širiti i postajati sve jasnijom tijekom beskrajnih vjekova vječnog duhovnog napredovanja uzlaznih sinova Božjih. U svakom vremenu i tijekom svih vjekova istinsko štovanje svakog čovjeka — što se tiče njegova osobnog duhovnog napretka — unutarnji duh prepoznaje kao odavanje počasti Ocu na nebu.
142:3.8 (1598.9)
6. The Father in heaven. And now do we know God as our Father in heaven. Our teaching provides a religion wherein the believer is a son of God. That is the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. Coexistent with the Father are the Son and the Spirit, and the revelation of the nature and ministry of these Paradise Deities will continue to enlarge and brighten throughout the endless ages of the eternal spiritual progression of the ascending sons of God. At all times and during all ages the true worship of any human being—as concerns individual spiritual progress—is recognized by the indwelling spirit as homage rendered to the Father in heaven.
Apostoli nikada prije nisu bili toliko zapanjeni kao kada su čuli ovaj prikaz razvoja pojma Boga u svijesti Židova prijašnjih naraštaja; bili su toliko zbunjeni da nisu mogli postaviti nijedno pitanje. Dok su u tišini sjedili pred Isusom, Učitelj je nastavio: „Ove biste istine znali da ste čitali Pisma. Zar niste čitali u Samuelu gdje stoji: ‘I raspali se gnjev Gospodnji na Izraela, te potaknu Davida protiv njih govoreći: Idi, izbroj Izraela i Judu’? To nije bilo neobično, jer su u Samuelovo vrijeme Abrahamovi potomci doista vjerovali da je Jahve stvorio i dobro i zlo. Ali kada je kasniji pisac pripovijedao o tim događajima, nakon što se židovski pojam Božje naravi proširio, nije se usudio pripisati zlo Jahveu; zato je rekao: ‘I ustade Sotona na Izraela te potaknu Davida da izbroji Izraela.’ Zar ne uviđate da takvi zapisi u Pismima jasno pokazuju kako se pojam Božje naravi nastavljao razvijati iz naraštaja u naraštaj?“
142:3.9 (1599.1)
Never before had the apostles been so shocked as they were upon hearing this recounting of the growth of the concept of God in the Jewish minds of previous generations; they were too bewildered to ask questions. As they sat before Jesus in silence, the Master continued: “And you would have known these truths had you read the Scriptures. Have you not read in Samuel where it says: ‘And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, so much so that he moved David against them, saying, go number Israel and Judah’? And this was not strange because in the days of Samuel the children of Abraham really believed that Yahweh created both good and evil. But when a later writer narrated these events, subsequent to the enlargement of the Jewish concept of the nature of God, he did not dare attribute evil to Yahweh; therefore he said: ‘And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel.’ Cannot you discern that such records in the Scriptures clearly show how the concept of the nature of God continued to grow from one generation to another?
„Također biste trebali uočiti razvoj razumijevanja božanskog zakona koji je savršeno usklađen s ovim sve širim pojmovima Božanstva. Kada su sinovi Izraelovi izašli iz Egipta u danima prije proširene objave Jahvea, imali su deset zapovijedi koje su im služile kao zakon sve do vremena kada su se utaborili pred Sinajem. A tih deset zapovijedi bile su:
142:3.10 (1599.2)
“Again should you have discerned the growth of the understanding of divine law in perfect keeping with these enlarging concepts of divinity. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt in the days before the enlarged revelation of Yahweh, they had ten commandments which served as their law right up to the times when they were encamped before Sinai. And these ten commandments were:
„A zatim je, usred grmljavine i munja na Sinaju, Mojsije dao novih deset zapovijedi, za koje ćete svi priznati da su dostojniji izričaji koji prate sve šire pojmove Jahvea i Božanstva. Zar nikada niste primijetili, čitajući ove zapovijedi koje su dvaput zabilježene u Pismima, da se u prvom slučaju izbavljenje iz Egipta navodi kao razlog svetkovanja subote, dok u kasnijem zapisu naprednija vjerska shvaćanja naših predaka zahtijevaju da se to promijeni u priznavanje činjenice stvaranja kao razloga za svetkovanje subote?
142:3.21 (1599.13)
“And then, amidst the thunders and lightnings of Sinai, Moses gave them the new ten commandments, which you will all allow are more worthy utterances to accompany the enlarging Yahweh concepts of Deity. And did you never take notice of these commandments as twice recorded in the Scriptures, that in the first case deliverance from Egypt is assigned as the reason for Sabbath keeping, while in a later record the advancing religious beliefs of our forefathers demanded that this be changed to the recognition of the fact of creation as the reason for Sabbath observance?
„I zatim ćete se sjetiti da su se još jednom — u većem duhovnom prosvjetljenju Izaijina vremena — ovih deset negativnih zapovijedi promijenile u veliki i pozitivan zakon ljubavi, u nalog da se Boga ljubi iznad svega, a svojega bližnjega kao samoga sebe. I upravo taj vrhovni zakon ljubavi prema Bogu i čovjeku također vam proglašavam kao cjelokupnu čovjekovu dužnost.“
142:3.22 (1599.14)
“And then will you remember that once again—in the greater spiritual enlightenment of Isaiah’s day—these ten negative commandments were changed into the great and positive law of love, the injunction to love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself. And it is this supreme law of love for God and for man that I also declare to you as constituting the whole duty of man.”
Grčki Židov Flavije bio je stranac koji je prihvatio vjeru Izraela, ali nije bio ni obrezan ni kršten; a budući da je bio veliki ljubitelj ljepote u umjetnosti i kiparstvu, kuća u kojoj je boravio tijekom svojega boravka u Jeruzalemu bila je prekrasna građevina. Taj je dom bio izvrsno ukrašen neprocjenjivim blagom koje je sakupljao ovdje i ondje tijekom svojih putovanja po svijetu. Kada je prvi put pomislio pozvati Isusa u svoj dom, bojao se da bi se Učitelj mogao uvrijediti zbog pogleda na te takozvane likove. Ali Flavije se ugodno iznenadio kada je Isus ušao u njegov dom i, umjesto da ga prekori zbog tih navodno idolopokloničkih predmeta razasutih po kući, pokazao veliko zanimanje za cijelu zbirku i postavio mnoga pitanja puna poštovanja o svakom predmetu dok ga je Flavije vodio iz sobe u sobu, pokazujući mu sve svoje omiljene kipove.
142:4.1 (1600.2)
Flavius, the Greek Jew, was a proselyte of the gate, having been neither circumcised nor baptized; and since he was a great lover of the beautiful in art and sculpture, the house which he occupied when sojourning in Jerusalem was a beautiful edifice. This home was exquisitely adorned with priceless treasures which he had gathered up here and there on his world travels. When he first thought of inviting Jesus to his home, he feared that the Master might take offense at the sight of these so-called images. But Flavius was agreeably surprised when Jesus entered the home that, instead of rebuking him for having these supposedly idolatrous objects scattered about the house, he manifested great interest in the entire collection and asked many appreciative questions about each object as Flavius escorted him from room to room, showing him all of his favorite statues.
Učitelj je vidio da je njegov domaćin bio zbunjen njegovim prijateljskim odnosom prema umjetnosti; stoga mu je, nakon što su završili pregled cijele zbirke, Isus rekao: „Budući da cijeniš ljepotu stvari koje je stvorio moj Otac i koje su oblikovale umjetničke ruke čovjeka, zašto očekuješ da ćeš biti prekoravan? Budući da je Mojsije nekoć nastojao suzbiti idolopoklonstvo i štovanje lažnih bogova, zašto bi se svi ljudi trebali mrštiti na prikazivanje ljupkosti i ljepote? Kažem ti, Flavije, Mojsijeva djeca nisu ga pravilno razumjela i sada čak od njegovih zabrana prikazivanja stvari na nebu i na zemlji čine lažne bogove. Ali čak i kada bi Mojsije postavio takva ograničenja za pomračene umove onih vremena, što to ima s ovim vremenom, kada se Otac na nebu otkriva kao sveopći Vladar Duha nad svime? I, Flavije, kažem ti da se u dolazećem kraljevstvu više neće poučavati: ‘Ne štuj ovo i ne štuj ono’; više se neće baviti zapovijedima da se uzdržava od ovoga i pazi da se ne čini ono, nego će se svi baviti jednom vrhovnom dužnošću. A ta se čovjekova dužnost izražava u dvije velike povlastice: iskrenom štovanju beskonačnog Stvoritelja, Rajskog Oca, i ljubaznoj službi svojim bližnjima. Ako ljubiš svojega bližnjega kao samoga sebe, tada doista znaš da si sin Božji.“
142:4.2 (1600.3)
The Master saw that his host was bewildered at his friendly attitude toward art; therefore, when they had finished the survey of the entire collection, Jesus said: “Because you appreciate the beauty of things created by my Father and fashioned by the artistic hands of man, why should you expect to be rebuked? Because Moses onetime sought to combat idolatry and the worship of false gods, why should all men frown upon the reproduction of grace and beauty? I say to you, Flavius, Moses’ children have misunderstood him, and now do they make false gods of even his prohibitions of images and the likeness of things in heaven and on earth. But even if Moses taught such restrictions to the darkened minds of those days, what has that to do with this day when the Father in heaven is revealed as the universal Spirit Ruler over all? And, Flavius, I declare that in the coming kingdom they shall no longer teach, ‘Do not worship this and do not worship that’; no longer shall they concern themselves with commands to refrain from this and take care not to do that, but rather shall all be concerned with one supreme duty. And this duty of man is expressed in two great privileges: sincere worship of the infinite Creator, the Paradise Father, and loving service bestowed upon one’s fellow men. If you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you really know that you are a son of God.
„U vremenu kada moj Otac nije bio dobro shvaćen, Mojsije je bio opravdan u svojim nastojanjima da se suprotstavi idolopoklonstvu, ali u nadolazećem vremenu Otac će biti objavljen u životu Sina; i ovo novo otkrivenje Boga zauvijek će učiniti nepotrebnim miješati Oca Stvoritelja s idolima od kamena ili likovima od zlata i srebra. Odsada će razumni ljudi moći uživati u umjetničkom blagu, a da se takvo cijenjenje materijalne ljepote ne miješa sa štovanjem i služenjem Ocu u Raju, Bogu svega i svih bića. “
142:4.3 (1600.4)
“In an age when my Father was not well understood, Moses was justified in his attempts to withstand idolatry, but in the coming age the Father will have been revealed in the life of the Son; and this new revelation of God will make it forever unnecessary to confuse the Creator Father with idols of stone or images of gold and silver. Henceforth, intelligent men may enjoy the treasures of art without confusing such material appreciation of beauty with the worship and service of the Father in Paradise, the God of all things and all beings.”
Flavije je vjerovao svemu čemu ga je Isus poučio. Sutradan je otišao u Betaniju s onu stranu Jordana, gdje su ga krstili Ivanovi učenici. To je učinio zato što Isusovi apostoli još nisu krstili vjernike. Kada se vratio u Jeruzalem, Flavije je priredio veliku gozbu za Isusa i pozvao šezdeset svojih prijatelja. Mnogi od tih gostiju također su postali vjernici poruke o dolazećem kraljevstvu.
142:4.4 (1600.5)
Flavius believed all that Jesus taught him. The next day he went to Bethany beyond the Jordan and was baptized by the disciples of John. And this he did because the apostles of Jesus did not yet baptize believers. When Flavius returned to Jerusalem, he made a great feast for Jesus and invited sixty of his friends. And many of these guests also became believers in the message of the coming kingdom.
Jedan od velikih govora koje je Isus održao u hramu tijekom ovog tjedna Pashe bio je odgovor na pitanje jednoga od njegovih slušatelja, čovjeka iz Damaska. Ovaj je čovjek upitao Isusa: „Ali, Učitelju, kako ćemo sa sigurnošću znati da si poslan od Boga i da doista možemo ući u ovo kraljevstvo za koje ti i tvoji učenici objavljujete da je blizu?“ Isus je odgovorio:
142:5.1 (1601.1)
One of the great sermons which Jesus preached in the temple this Passover week was in answer to a question asked by one of his hearers, a man from Damascus. This man asked Jesus: “But, Rabbi, how shall we know of a certainty that you are sent by God, and that we may truly enter into this kingdom which you and your disciples declare is near at hand?” And Jesus answered:
„Što se tiče moje poruke i učenja mojih učenika, sudite o njima po njihovim plodovima. Ako vam naviještamo istine duha, duh će posvjedočiti u vašim srcima da je naša poruka istinita. Što se tiče kraljevstva i vaše osobne sigurnosti da vas je nebeski Otac već prihvatio, dopustite mi da vas upitam: koji bi otac među vama, ako je požrtvovan i brižan, držao svoje dijete u tjeskobi i neizvjesnosti glede njegova mjesta u obitelji ili sigurnosti njegova položaja u ljubavi očinskoga srca? Zar vi, zemaljski očevi, uživate mučiti svoju djecu neizvjesnošću glede njihova mjesta u trajnoj ljubavi vaših ljudskih srca? Tako ni vaš Otac na nebu ne ostavlja svoju djecu duha u sumnji i neizvjesnosti glede njihova položaja u kraljevstvu. Ako prihvatite Boga kao svoga Oca, tada ste uistinu i u zbilji sinovi Božji. A ako ste sinovi, tada ste sigurni u svom položaju i statusu u svemu što se odnosi na vječno i božansko sinovstvo. Ako vjerujete mojim riječima, time vjerujete Onome koji me poslao, a vjerujući Ocu, učvrstili ste svoj status građana neba. Ako vršite volju Oca na nebu, nikada nećete podbaciti u postizanju vječnoga života napredovanja u božanskom kraljevstvu.
142:5.2 (1601.2)
“As to my message and the teaching of my disciples, you should judge them by their fruits. If we proclaim to you the truths of the spirit, the spirit will witness in your hearts that our message is genuine. Concerning the kingdom and your assurance of acceptance by the heavenly Father, let me ask what father among you who is a worthy and kindhearted father would keep his son in anxiety or suspense regarding his status in the family or his place of security in the affections of his father’s heart? Do you earth fathers take pleasure in torturing your children with uncertainty about their place of abiding love in your human hearts? Neither does your Father in heaven leave his faith children of the spirit in doubtful uncertainty as to their position in the kingdom. If you receive God as your Father, then indeed and in truth are you the sons of God. And if you are sons, then are you secure in the position and standing of all that concerns eternal and divine sonship. If you believe my words, you thereby believe in Him who sent me, and by thus believing in the Father, you have made your status in heavenly citizenship sure. If you do the will of the Father in heaven, you shall never fail in the attainment of the eternal life of progress in the divine kingdom.
142:5.3 (1601.3)
“The Supreme Spirit shall bear witness with your spirits that you are truly the children of God. And if you are the sons of God, then have you been born of the spirit of God; and whosoever has been born of the spirit has in himself the power to overcome all doubt, and this is the victory that overcomes all uncertainty, even your faith.
„Prorok Izaija rekao je, govoreći o ovim vremenima: ‘Kad se na nas izlije duh s visine, mir će biti djelo pravednosti, a plod pravednosti – trajan pokoj i sigurnost.’ A svima koji istinski vjeruju ovom evanđelju bit ću jamac njihova prijema u vječna milosrđa i vječni život kraljevstva moga Oca. Vi, dakle, koji čujete ovu poruku i vjerujete ovom evanđelju kraljevstva, sinovi ste Božji i imate život vječni; a dokaz cijelome svijetu da ste rođeni od Duha jest to što iskreno ljubite jedni druge.”
142:5.4 (1601.4)
“Said the Prophet Isaiah, speaking of these times: ‘When the spirit is poured upon us from on high, then shall the work of righteousness become peace, quietness, and assurance forever.’ And for all who truly believe this gospel, I will become surety for their reception into the eternal mercies and the everlasting life of my Father’s kingdom. You, then, who hear this message and believe this gospel of the kingdom are the sons of God, and you have life everlasting; and the evidence to all the world that you have been born of the spirit is that you sincerely love one another.”
Svjetina je ostala uz Isusa još mnogo sati, postavljajući mu brojna pitanja i pažljivo slušajući njegove utješne odgovore. Čak su se i apostoli, ohrabreni Isusovim učenjem, osmjelili propovijedati evanđelje kraljevstva s još većom snagom i sigurnošću. Ovo iskustvo u Jeruzalemu bilo je veliko nadahnuće za Dvanaestoricu. Bio je to njihov prvi susret s tako golemim mnoštvom i pritom su naučili mnoge vrijedne pouke koje su im poslije bile od velike pomoći u njihovu radu.
142:5.5 (1601.5)
The throng of listeners remained many hours with Jesus, asking him questions and listening attentively to his comforting answers. Even the apostles were emboldened by Jesus’ teaching to preach the gospel of the kingdom with more power and assurance. This experience at Jerusalem was a great inspiration to the twelve. It was their first contact with such enormous crowds, and they learned many valuable lessons which proved of great assistance in their later work.
Jedne je večeri u Flavijevu domu Isusa posjetio Nikodem, bogat i postariji član židovskog Velikog vijeća. Mnogo je slušao o učenjima ovoga Galilejca pa je jednoga poslijepodneva otišao čuti ga kako poučava u hramskim dvorištima. Često je želio dolaziti slušati Isusova učenja, ali se bojao da ga ne prepoznaju ljudi okupljeni oko Isusa, jer su se židovski poglavari već toliko bili suprotstavili Isusu da nijedan član Velikoga vijeća nije želio biti javno povezan s njim. Stoga je Nikodem preko Andrije dogovorio da se nakon što padne mrak nasamo sastane s Isusom. Kad je razgovor započeo, Petar, Jakov i Ivan bili su u Flavijevu vrtu, ali su se poslije povukli u kuću, gdje se razgovor nastavio.
142:6.1 (1601.6)
One evening at the home of Flavius there came to see Jesus one Nicodemus, a wealthy and elderly member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. He had heard much about the teachings of this Galilean, and so he went one afternoon to hear him as he taught in the temple courts. He would have gone often to hear Jesus teach, but he feared to be seen by the people in attendance upon his teaching, for already were the rulers of the Jews so at variance with Jesus that no member of the Sanhedrin would want to be identified in any open manner with him. Accordingly, Nicodemus had arranged with Andrew to see Jesus privately and after nightfall on this particular evening. Peter, James, and John were in Flavius’s garden when the interview began, but later they all went into the house where the discourse continued.
Primajući Nikodema, Isus mu nije iskazivao nikakav poseban obzir; u razgovoru s njim nije pravio nikakve ustupke niti se služio pretjeranim uvjeravanjem. Učitelj nije pokušao odbiti svog potajnog posjetitelja, ali se nije poslužio ni sarkazmom. U svim svojim ophođenjima s tim uglednim posjetiteljem Isus je bio staložen, iskren i dostojanstven. Nikodem nije bio službeni izaslanik Velikoga vijeća; došao je Isusu isključivo zbog svog osobnog i iskrenog zanimanja za Učiteljeva učenja.
142:6.2 (1602.1)
In receiving Nicodemus, Jesus showed no particular deference; in talking with him, there was no compromise or undue persuasiveness. The Master made no attempt to repulse his secretive caller, nor did he employ sarcasm. In all his dealings with the distinguished visitor, Jesus was calm, earnest, and dignified. Nicodemus was not an official delegate of the Sanhedrin; he came to see Jesus wholly because of his personal and sincere interest in the Master’s teachings.
Isus odgovori: „Zaista, zaista, kažem ti, tko se ne rodi od duha, ne može ući u kraljevstvo Božje. Što je rođeno od tijela, tijelo je; a što je rođeno od duha, duh je. Nemoj se čuditi što ti rekoh: treba da se rodiš odozgor. Kad vjetar puše, čuješ šum lišća, ali ne vidiš vjetar — ne znaš ni odakle dolazi ni kamo ide; tako je i sa svakim tko je rođen od duha. Očima tijela možeš vidjeti očitovanja duha, ali sam duh ne možeš uistinu razaznati.”
142:6.5 (1602.4)
Jesus said: “Nevertheless, I declare to you, except a man be born of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. But you should not marvel that I said you must be born from above. When the wind blows, you hear the rustle of the leaves, but you do not see the wind—whence it comes or whither it goes—and so it is with everyone born of the spirit. With the eyes of the flesh you can behold the manifestations of the spirit, but you cannot actually discern the spirit.”
Nikodem odgovori: „Ali ja ne razumijem — kako to može biti?” Isus reče: „Zar je moguće da si ti učitelj u Izraelu, a ipak ne znaš sve ovo? Stoga je dužnost onih koji poznaju stvarnosti duha otkriti ove stvari onima koji razaznaju samo očitovanja materijalnog svijeta. Ali hoćeš li nam vjerovati ako ti govorimo o nebeskim istinama? Imaš li hrabrosti, Nikodeme, vjerovati onome koji je sišao s neba, samome Sinu Čovječjemu?”
142:6.6 (1602.5)
Nicodemus replied: “But I do not understand—how can that be?” Said Jesus: “Can it be that you are a teacher in Israel and yet ignorant of all this? It becomes, then, the duty of those who know about the realities of the spirit to reveal these things to those who discern only the manifestations of the material world. But will you believe us if we tell you of the heavenly truths? Do you have the courage, Nicodemus, to believe in one who has descended from heaven, even the Son of Man?”
Nikodem reče: „Ali kako mogu početi prihvaćati taj duh koji će me preobraziti i pripremiti za ulazak u kraljevstvo?” Isus odgovori: „Duh Oca na nebu već prebiva u tebi. Ako dopustiš da te vodi ovaj duh odozgor, uskoro ćeš početi gledati očima duha, a zatim ćeš svojim svesrdnim izborom da slijediš vodstvo duha biti rođen od duha, jer će jedina svrha tvoga života biti vršiti volju svoga Oca koji je na nebu. I tako, kada spoznaš da si rođen od duha i da se radosno nalaziš u Božjem kraljevstvu, počet ćeš u svom svakodnevnom životu donositi obilne plodove duha.”
142:6.7 (1602.6)
And Nicodemus said: “But how can I begin to lay hold upon this spirit which is to remake me in preparation for entering into the kingdom?” Jesus answered: “Already does the spirit of the Father in heaven indwell you. If you would be led by this spirit from above, very soon would you begin to see with the eyes of the spirit, and then by the wholehearted choice of spirit guidance would you be born of the spirit since your only purpose in living would be to do the will of your Father who is in heaven. And so finding yourself born of the spirit and happily in the kingdom of God, you would begin to bear in your daily life the abundant fruits of the spirit.”
Nikodem je bio potpuno iskren. Bio je duboko impresioniran, ali je otišao zbunjen. Bio je postigao visok stupanj samoostvarenja, samokontrole, pa čak i uzvišenih moralnih odlika. Bio je profinjen, egoističan i altruističan, ali nije znao kako podčiniti svoju volju volji Božanskoga Oca, onako kako je malo dijete spremno podčiniti se vodstvu i usmjeravanju mudroga i brižnog zemaljskog oca te tako uistinu postati sinom Božjim, naprednim baštinikom vječnoga kraljevstva.
142:6.8 (1602.7)
Nicodemus was thoroughly sincere. He was deeply impressed but went away bewildered. Nicodemus was accomplished in self-development, in self-restraint, and even in high moral qualities. He was refined, egoistic, and altruistic; but he did not know how to submit his will to the will of the divine Father as a little child is willing to submit to the guidance and leading of a wise and loving earthly father, thereby becoming in reality a son of God, a progressive heir of the eternal kingdom.
Nikodem je ipak skupio dovoljno vjere da prihvati kraljevstvo. Blago je prosvjedovao kada su njegove kolege iz Velikoga vijeća pokušale osuditi Isusa, a da ga nisu ni saslušale; a poslije je zajedno s Josipom iz Arimateje hrabro priznao svoju vjeru i zatražio Isusovo tijelo upravo onda kada je većina učenika u strahu pobjegla s mjesta Učiteljeve posljednje muke i smrti.
142:6.9 (1603.1)
But Nicodemus did summon faith enough to lay hold of the kingdom. He faintly protested when his colleagues of the Sanhedrin sought to condemn Jesus without a hearing; and with Joseph of Arimathea, he later boldly acknowledged his faith and claimed the body of Jesus, even when most of the disciples had fled in fear from the scenes of their Master’s final suffering and death.
Nakon užurbanog razdoblja poučavanja i osobnog rada tijekom pashalnog tjedna u Jeruzalemu, Isus je sljedeću srijedu proveo odmarajući se u Betaniji sa svojim apostolima. Toga poslijepodneva Toma je postavio pitanje koje je potaknulo dug i poučan odgovor. Rekao je: „Učitelju, onoga dana kada si nas odredio za poslanike kraljevstva, poučio si nas o mnogim stvarima koje se tiču našega osobnog života, ali što ćemo poučavati mnoštvo? Kako će ovi ljudi živjeti kada kraljevstvo bude potpunije uspostavljeno? Hoće li tvoji učenici posjedovati robove? Hoće li tvoji vjernici težiti siromaštvu i odricati se imovine? Hoće li jedino milosrđe prevladavati tako da više neće biti potrebe za zakonom i pravdom?” Isus je s dvanaestoricom proveo cijelo poslijepodne i večer, nakon objeda, raspravljajući o Tominim pitanjima. Za potrebe ovog zapisa donosimo sljedeći sažetak Učiteljevih pouka.
142:7.1 (1603.2)
After the busy period of teaching and personal work of Passover week in Jerusalem, Jesus spent the next Wednesday at Bethany with his apostles, resting. That afternoon, Thomas asked a question which elicited a long and instructive answer. Said Thomas: “Master, on the day we were set apart as ambassadors of the kingdom, you told us many things, instructed us regarding our personal mode of life, but what shall we teach the multitude? How are these people to live after the kingdom more fully comes? Shall your disciples own slaves? Shall your believers court poverty and shun property? Shall mercy alone prevail so that we shall have no more law and justice?” Jesus and the twelve spent all afternoon and all that evening, after supper, discussing Thomas’s questions. For the purposes of this record we present the following summary of the Master’s instruction:
Isus je prije svega nastojao svojim apostolima jasno dati do znanja da je on na zemlji živio jedinstven zemaljski život u tijelu te da su oni, dvanaestorica, bili pozvani sudjelovati u ovom iskustvu darivanja Sina Čovječjega. Kao njegovi suradnici, i oni su morali dijeliti mnoga posebna ograničenja i obveze cijelog tog iskustva darivanja. U njegovim se riječima krio prikriven nagovještaj da je Sin Čovječji bio jedina osoba koja je ikada živjela na zemlji i koja je istodobno mogla gledati u samo srce Boga i u najdublje dubine čovjekove duše.
142:7.2 (1603.3)
Jesus sought first to make plain to his apostles that he himself was on earth living a unique life in the flesh, and that they, the twelve, had been called to participate in this bestowal experience of the Son of Man; and as such coworkers, they, too, must share in many of the special restrictions and obligations of the entire bestowal experience. There was a veiled intimation that the Son of Man was the only person who had ever lived on earth who could simultaneously see into the very heart of God and into the very depths of man’s soul.
Isus je vrlo jasno objasnio da je nebesko kraljevstvo evolucijsko iskustvo, koje započinje ovdje na zemlji i nastavlja napredovati kroz uzastopne životne stupnjeve sve do Raja. Tijekom ove večeri nedvosmisleno je rekao da će se u nekoj budućoj fazi razvoja kraljevstva vratiti na ovaj svijet u duhovnoj moći i božanskoj slavi.
142:7.3 (1603.4)
Very plainly Jesus explained that the kingdom of heaven was an evolutionary experience, beginning here on earth and progressing up through successive life stations to Paradise. In the course of the evening he definitely stated that at some future stage of kingdom development he would revisit this world in spiritual power and divine glory.
Zatim je objasnio da „ideja kraljevstva” nije bila najbolji način prikazivanja čovjekova odnosa s Bogom; da je koristio takve slikovite izraze zato što je židovski narod očekivao kraljevstvo i zato što je Ivan propovijedao o dolazećem kraljevstvu. Isus je rekao: „Ljudi budućih doba bolje će razumjeti evanđelje kraljevstva kada im ono bude predočeno izrazima koji opisuju obiteljski odnos — kada čovjek bude shvatio religiju kao učenje o očinstvu Boga i bratstvu ljudi, o sinovstvu s Bogom.” Učitelj je zatim nadugo govorio o zemaljskoj obitelji kao prikazu nebeske obitelji, ponovno naglašavajući dva temeljna zakona života: prvu zapovijed ljubavi prema ocu, glavi obitelji, i drugu zapovijed uzajamne ljubavi među djecom — ljubiti svoga brata kao samoga sebe. Zatim je objasnio da će se takva kvaliteta bratske ljubavi neizostavno očitovati u nesebičnoj i brižnoj društvenoj službi.
142:7.4 (1603.5)
He next explained that the “kingdom idea” was not the best way to illustrate man’s relation to God; that he employed such figures of speech because the Jewish people were expecting the kingdom, and because John had preached in terms of the coming kingdom. Jesus said: “The people of another age will better understand the gospel of the kingdom when it is presented in terms expressive of the family relationship—when man understands religion as the teaching of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, sonship with God.” Then the Master discoursed at some length on the earthly family as an illustration of the heavenly family, restating the two fundamental laws of living: the first commandment of love for the father, the head of the family, and the second commandment of mutual love among the children, to love your brother as yourself. And then he explained that such a quality of brotherly affection would invariably manifest itself in unselfish and loving social service.
1. Činjenica postojanja. Prirodni odnosi i pojave smrtničkih sličnosti povezani su s obitelji. Djeca nasljeđuju određene roditeljske osobine. Djeca vuku porijeklo od roditelja; postojanje djeteta kao ličnosti ovisi o činu roditelja. Odnos između oca i djeteta urođeno je svojstvo prisutno u cijeloj prirodi i prožima sva živa bića.
142:7.6 (1604.1)
1. The fact of existence. The relationships of nature and the phenomena of mortal likenesses are bound up in the family: Children inherit certain parental traits. The children take origin in the parents; personality existence depends on the act of the parent. The relationship of father and child is inherent in all nature and pervades all living existences.
142:7.10 (1604.5)
5. Companionship and loyalty. The affectionate father holds intimate and loving intercourse with his children. Always is his ear open to their petitions; he is ever ready to share their hardships and assist them over their difficulties. The father is supremely interested in the progressive welfare of his progeny.
Učitelj je satima govorio o primjeni ovih obilježja obiteljskog života na odnos čovjeka, zemaljskog djeteta, prema Bogu, Rajskom Ocu. I zaključio je sljedećim riječima: „Cijeli ovaj odnos sina prema Ocu savršeno poznajem, jer sam već sada postigao sve ono u sinovstvu što vi morate postići u vječnoj budućnosti. Sin Čovječji spreman je uzaći zdesna Ocu, tako da je u meni sada još šire otvoren put kojim svi možete vidjeti Boga i, prije nego što završite svoj veličanstveni napredak, postati savršeni, kao što je savršen vaš Otac na nebu.”
142:7.13 (1604.8)
For hours the Master discussed the application of these features of family life to the relations of man, the earth child, to God, the Paradise Father. And this was his conclusion: “This entire relationship of a son to the Father, I know in perfection, for all that you must attain of sonship in the eternal future I have now already attained. The Son of Man is prepared to ascend to the right hand of the Father, so that in me is the way now open still wider for all of you to see God and, ere you have finished the glorious progression, to become perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Isus je božanski Sin, onaj koji uživa potpuno povjerenje Oca Svih. Bio je s Ocem i potpuno ga je shvaćao. Sada je proživio svoj zemaljski život do potpunog Očeva zadovoljstva, a ovo iskustvo života u smrtnom tijelu omogućilo mu je da potpuno razumije čovjeka. Isus je bio savršenstvo čovjeka; postigao je upravo ono savršenstvo koje su svi istinski vjernici određeni postići u njemu i kroz njega. Isus je čovjeku otkrio Boga savršenstva i u sebi predstavio usavršenog sina svjetova.
142:7.15 (1604.10)
Jesus is a divine Son, one in the Universal Father’s full confidence. He had been with the Father and comprehended him fully. He had now lived his earth life to the full satisfaction of the Father, and this incarnation in the flesh had enabled him fully to comprehend man. Jesus was the perfection of man; he had attained just such perfection as all true believers are destined to attain in him and through him. Jesus revealed a God of perfection to man and presented in himself the perfected son of the realms to God.
Premda je Isus govorio više sati, Tomo još nije bio zadovoljan, nego je rekao: „Ali, Učitelju, često ne vidimo da se Otac na nebu uvijek prema nama odnosi blago i milostivo. Mnogo puta na zemlji podnosimo teške patnje, a naše molitve nisu uvijek uslišene. Gdje ne uspijevamo shvatiti smisao tvojega učenja?”
142:7.16 (1605.1)
Although Jesus discoursed for several hours, Thomas was not yet satisfied, for he said: “But, Master, we do not find that the Father in heaven always deals kindly and mercifully with us. Many times we grievously suffer on earth, and not always are our prayers answered. Where do we fail to grasp the meaning of your teaching?”
Isus je odgovorio: „Tomo, Tomo, kada ćeš konačno steći sposobnost slušanja ušima duha? Kada ćeš konačno shvatiti da je ovo kraljevstvo duhovno kraljevstvo i da je moj Otac također duhovno biće? Zar ne shvaćaš da vas poučavam kao duhovnu djecu u duhu nebeske obitelji, čiji je otac beskonačni i vječni duh? Zar mi ne želiš dopustiti da se poslužim pojmom zemaljske obitelji kao prikazom božanskih odnosa, bez tako doslovne primjene mojih učenja na materijalne prilike? Zar u svojim mislima ne možete odvojiti duhovne stvarnosti kraljevstva od materijalnih, društvenih, gospodarskih i političkih problema ovoga doba? Kad govorim jezikom duha, zašto ustrajete u prevođenju značenja mojih riječi na jezik tijela samo zato što se služim uobičajenim i doslovnim odnosima radi prikazivanja? Djeco moja, preklinjem vas da prestanete primjenjivati učenje duhovnog kraljevstva na svjetovne prilike ropstva, siromaštva, kuća i zemljišta te na materijalne probleme ljudske pravičnosti i pravde. Ove su prolazne stvari briga ljudi ovoga svijeta i, premda na određeni način utječu na sve ljude, vi ste pozvani predstavljati mene u svijetu, kao što ja predstavljam svojega Oca. Vi ste duhovni poslanici duhovnog kraljevstva, posebni predstavnici Oca duha. Do ovog vremena već bi mi trebalo biti moguće poučavati vas kao potpuno zrele ljude duhovnog kraljevstva. Moram li vam se uvijek obraćati samo kao djeci? Zar nikada nećete odrasti u duhovnom shvaćanju? Ipak, volim vas i podnosit ću vas sve do samog kraja našeg zajedništva u tijelu. A i tada moj će duh ići pred vama u sav svijet.”
142:7.17 (1605.2)
Jesus replied: “Thomas, Thomas, how long before you will acquire the ability to listen with the ear of the spirit? How long will it be before you discern that this kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and that my Father is also a spiritual being? Do you not understand that I am teaching you as spiritual children in the spirit family of heaven, of which the fatherhead is an infinite and eternal spirit? Will you not allow me to use the earth family as an illustration of divine relationships without so literally applying my teaching to material affairs? In your minds cannot you separate the spiritual realities of the kingdom from the material, social, economic, and political problems of the age? When I speak the language of the spirit, why do you insist on translating my meaning into the language of the flesh just because I presume to employ commonplace and literal relationships for purposes of illustration? My children, I implore that you cease to apply the teaching of the kingdom of the spirit to the sordid affairs of slavery, poverty, houses, and lands, and to the material problems of human equity and justice. These temporal matters are the concern of the men of this world, and while in a way they affect all men, you have been called to represent me in the world, even as I represent my Father. You are spiritual ambassadors of a spiritual kingdom, special representatives of the spirit Father. By this time it should be possible for me to instruct you as full-grown men of the spirit kingdom. Must I ever address you only as children? Will you never grow up in spirit perception? Nevertheless, I love you and will bear with you, even to the very end of our association in the flesh. And even then shall my spirit go before you into all the world.”
Do kraja travnja protivljenje Isusu među farizejima i saducejima toliko je poraslo da su Učitelj i njegovi apostoli odlučili neko vrijeme napustiti Jeruzalem i otići djelovati na jug, u Betlehem i Hebron. Cijeli su mjesec svibanj proveli u osobnom radu u tim gradovima i među ljudima okolnih sela. Na ovom putovanju nije bilo javnog propovijedanja, nego su samo posjećivali ljude od kuće do kuće. Dok su dio tog vremena apostoli poučavali evanđelje i služili bolesnima, Isus i Abner proveli su neko vrijeme u Engediju, posjećujući nazaritsku zajednicu. Ivan Krstitelj otišao je iz ovoga mjesta, a Abner je bio predvodnik ove skupine. Mnogi su pripadnici nazaritskog bratstva postali vjernici u Isusa, ali većina tih asketa i ekscentričara odbila ga je prihvatiti kao učitelja poslanog s neba, jer nije poučavao post i druge oblike samoodricanja.
142:8.1 (1605.3)
By the end of April the opposition to Jesus among the Pharisees and Sadducees had become so pronounced that the Master and his apostles decided to leave Jerusalem for a while, going south to work in Bethlehem and Hebron. The entire month of May was spent in doing personal work in these cities and among the people of the surrounding villages. No public preaching was done on this trip, only house-to-house visitation. A part of this time, while the apostles taught the gospel and ministered to the sick, Jesus and Abner spent at Engedi, visiting the Nazarite colony. John the Baptist had gone forth from this place, and Abner had been head of this group. Many of the Nazarite brotherhood became believers in Jesus, but the majority of these ascetic and eccentric men refused to accept him as a teacher sent from heaven because he did not teach fasting and other forms of self-denial.
Premda su Isus i apostoli proveli cijeli lipanj u Jeruzalemu ili njegovoj blizini, tijekom ovog razdoblja nisu držali javne propovijedi ni pouke. Uglavnom su živjeli u šatorima koje su podizali u sjenovitom parku ili vrtu, koji je u ono vrijeme bio poznat kao Getsemani. Ovaj je park bio smješten na zapadnoj padini Maslinske gore, nedaleko od potoka Kidrona. Subotnje dane obično su provodili s Lazarom i njegovim sestrama u Betaniji. Isus je samo nekoliko puta ušao unutar jeruzalemskih zidina, dok je velik broj zainteresiranih ljudi dolazio u Getsemani kako bi ga posjetio. Jednog petka navečer Nikodem i Josip iz Arimateje usudili su se otići Isusu, ali su se iz straha vratili čak i nakon što su već stajali pred ulazom u Učiteljev šator. Naravno, nisu bili svjesni da je Isus znao za sve što su poduzeli.
142:8.4 (1605.6)
Although Jesus and the apostles spent the entire month of June in or near Jerusalem, they did no public teaching during this period. They lived for the most part in tents, which they pitched in a shaded park, or garden, known in that day as Gethsemane. This park was situated on the western slope of the Mount of Olives not far from the brook Kidron. The Sabbath weekends they usually spent with Lazarus and his sisters at Bethany. Jesus entered within the walls of Jerusalem only a few times, but a large number of interested inquirers came out to Gethsemane to visit with him. One Friday evening Nicodemus and one Joseph of Arimathea ventured out to see Jesus but turned back through fear even after they were standing before the entrance to the Master’s tent. And, of course, they did not perceive that Jesus knew all about their doings.
Kad su židovski vladari saznali da se Isus vratio u Jeruzalem, pripremili su se da ga uhite; ali kad su vidjeli da nije javno poučavao, zaključili su da se uplašio njihove prijašnje uznemirenosti i odlučili mu dopustiti da nastavi svoja učenja na ovaj privatan način bez daljnjeg ometanja. Tako su se stvari mirno odvijale sve do posljednjih dana lipnja, kada je neki Šimun, pripadnik Velikog vijeća, javno prihvatio Isusova učenja, nakon što je svoj stav prethodno otvoreno iznio pred židovskim vladarima. Odmah je ponovno buknula nova uznemirenost oko Isusova uhićenja i toliko se pojačala da se Učitelj odlučio povući u gradove Samarije i Dekapolisa.
142:8.5 (1605.7)
When the rulers of the Jews learned that Jesus had returned to Jerusalem, they prepared to arrest him; but when they observed that he did no public preaching, they concluded that he had become frightened by their previous agitation and decided to allow him to carry on his teaching in this private manner without further molestation. And thus affairs moved along quietly until the last days of June, when one Simon, a member of the Sanhedrin, publicly espoused the teachings of Jesus, after so declaring himself before the rulers of the Jews. Immediately a new agitation for Jesus’ apprehension sprang up and grew so strong that the Master decided to retire into the cities of Samaria and the Decapolis.