Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 153 : KRIZA U KAFARNAUMU
Paper 153
The Crisis at Capernaum
The Crisis at Capernaum
U PETAK navečer, na dan dolaska u Betsaidu, te u subotu ujutro, apostoli su primijetili da je Isus bio ozbiljno zauzet nekim velikim problemom; bili su svjesni da je Učitelj pridavao neobičnu pozornost nekom pitanju od velike važnosti. Nije doručkovao, a malo je jeo u podne. Cijelo subotnje jutro i večer prije dvanaestorica su se sa svojim suradnicima okupljala u malim grupama oko kuće, u vrtu ili uz more. Sve ih je obuzimala napetost zbog neizvjesnosti i iščekivanje prožeto strepnjom. Isus je malo govorio otkako su napustili Jeruzalem.
153:0.1 (1707.1)
ON FRIDAY evening, the day of their arrival at Bethsaida, and on Sabbath morning, the apostles noticed that Jesus was seriously occupied with some momentous problem; they were cognizant that the Master was giving unusual thought to some important matter. He ate no breakfast and but little at noontide. All of Sabbath morning and the evening before, the twelve and their associates were gathered together in small groups about the house, in the garden, and along the seashore. There was a tension of uncertainty and a suspense of apprehension resting upon all of them. Jesus had said little to them since they left Jerusalem.
Već mjesecima nisu vidjeli Učitelja tako zaokupljenog i nekomunikativnog. Čak je i Šimun Petar bio potišten, ako ne i klonuo duhom. Andrija nije znao što učiniti sa svojim bezvoljnim suradnicima. Natanije je rekao da se nalaze usred „zatišja pred buru“. Tomo je izrazio mišljenje da će se „nešto neobično dogoditi“. Filip je savjetovao Davidu Zebedejevu da „ne pravi planove kako će hraniti i ugostiti mnoštvo dok ne sazna što je Učitelj naumio“. Matija se ponovno silno trudio napuniti riznicu. Jakov i Ivan razgovarali su o predstojećoj propovijedi u sinagogi i mnogo nagađali o tome kakva bi mogla biti i o čemu bi sve govorila. Šimun Revnitelj izrazio je uvjerenje, zapravo nadu, da se „Otac na nebu možda spremao intervenirati na neki neočekivani način radi opravdanja i potpore svoga Sina“, dok se Juda Iškariotski usudio prepustiti se pomisli da je Isus možda bio opterećen žaljenjem „što nije imao dovoljno hrabrosti i odvažnosti dopustiti mnoštvu od pet tisuća da ga proglasi kraljem Židova“.
153:0.2 (1707.2)
Not in months had they seen the Master so preoccupied and uncommunicative. Even Simon Peter was depressed, if not downcast. Andrew was at a loss to know what to do for his dejected associates. Nathaniel said they were in the midst of the “lull before the storm.” Thomas expressed the opinion that “something out of the ordinary is about to happen.” Philip advised David Zebedee to “forget about plans for feeding and lodging the multitude until we know what the Master is thinking about.” Matthew was putting forth renewed efforts to replenish the treasury. James and John talked over the forthcoming sermon in the synagogue and speculated much as to its probable nature and scope. Simon Zelotes expressed the belief, in reality a hope, that “the Father in heaven may be about to intervene in some unexpected manner for the vindication and support of his Son,” while Judas Iscariot dared to indulge the thought that possibly Jesus was oppressed with regrets that “he did not have the courage and daring to permit the five thousand to proclaim him king of the Jews.”
Iz te skupine potištenih i obeshrabrenih sljedbenika Isus je ove prekrasne subote poslijepodne izašao kako bi održao svoju epohalnu propovijed u sinagogi u Kafarnaumu. Jedini vedri pozdrav i izraz dobre želje od njegovih najbližih sljedbenika došao je od jednog od bezazlenih Alfejevih blizanaca koji je, dok je Isus izlazio iz kuće na putu prema sinagogi, veselo pozdravio Isusa i rekao: „Molimo se Ocu da ti pomogne i da možemo imati više ljudi nego ikada prije.“
153:0.3 (1707.3)
It was from among such a group of depressed and disconsolate followers that Jesus went forth on this beautiful Sabbath afternoon to preach his epoch-making sermon in the Capernaum synagogue. The only word of cheerful greeting or well-wishing from any of his immediate followers came from one of the unsuspecting Alpheus twins, who, as Jesus left the house on his way to the synagogue, saluted him cheerily and said: “We pray the Father will help you, and that we may have bigger multitudes than ever.”
Ugledno je mnoštvo dočekalo Isusa u tri sata toga prekrasnog subotnjeg poslijepodneva u novoj sinagogi u Kafarnaumu. Jair je predsjedao i predao Isusu Pisma da ih pročita. Dan prije stigla su iz Jeruzalema pedeset i tri farizeja i saduceja; bilo je prisutno i više od trideset vođa i glavara susjednih sinagoga. Ti su židovski religijski vođe djelovali izravno po nalogu Velikog vijeća u Jeruzalemu i činili pravovjernu prethodnicu koja je došla započeti otvoreni rat protiv Isusa i njegovih sljedbenika. Pokraj tih židovskih vođa, na počasnim mjestima u sinagogi, sjedili su službeni promatrači Heroda Antipe, kojima je bilo naloženo utvrditi istinu o uznemirujućim izvještajima da je narod pokušao proglasiti Isusa kraljem Židova na području njegova brata Filipa.
153:1.1 (1707.4)
A distinguished congregation greeted Jesus at three o’clock on this exquisite Sabbath afternoon in the new Capernaum synagogue. Jairus presided and handed Jesus the Scriptures to read. The day before, fifty-three Pharisees and Sadducees had arrived from Jerusalem; more than thirty of the leaders and rulers of the neighboring synagogues were also present. These Jewish religious leaders were acting directly under orders from the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem, and they constituted the orthodox vanguard which had come to inaugurate open warfare on Jesus and his disciples. Sitting by the side of these Jewish leaders, in the synagogue seats of honor, were the official observers of Herod Antipas, who had been directed to ascertain the truth concerning the disturbing reports that an attempt had been made by the populace to proclaim Jesus the king of the Jews, over in the domains of his brother Philip.
Isus je shvatio da se suočava s neposrednim otvorenim proglašenjem rata od strane svojih sve brojnijih neprijatelja i odlučio je smjelo prijeći u napad. Kada je nahranio pet tisuća ljudi, doveo je u pitanje njihove predodžbe o materijalnom Mesiji; sada je ponovno odlučio otvoreno napasti njihovo shvaćanje židovskog izbavitelja. Ova kriza, koja je započela hranjenjem pet tisuća ljudi, a završila ovom subotnjom poslijepodnevnom propovijedi, označila je vanjski preokret u plimi narodne slave i priznanja. Od tada će se rad kraljevstva sve više usredotočivati na važniju zadaću pridobivanja trajnih duhovnih obraćenika za istinski religiozno bratstvo čovječanstva. Ova propovijed označava prijelomni trenutak u prijelazu iz razdoblja rasprave, polemike i odlučivanja u razdoblje otvorenog rata te konačnog prihvaćanja ili konačnog odbacivanja.
153:1.2 (1708.1)
Jesus comprehended that he faced the immediate declaration of avowed and open warfare by his increasing enemies, and he elected boldly to assume the offensive. At the feeding of the five thousand he had challenged their ideas of the material Messiah; now he chose again openly to attack their concept of the Jewish deliverer. This crisis, which began with the feeding of the five thousand, and which terminated with this Sabbath afternoon sermon, was the outward turning of the tide of popular fame and acclaim. Henceforth, the work of the kingdom was to be increasingly concerned with the more important task of winning lasting spiritual converts for the truly religious brotherhood of mankind. This sermon marks the crisis in the transition from the period of discussion, controversy, and decision to that of open warfare and final acceptance or final rejection.
Učitelj je dobro znao da se mnogi njegovi sljedbenici polako, ali sigurno, pripremaju da ga naposljetku odbace. Isto je tako znao da mnogi njegovi učenici polako, ali sigurno, prolaze kroz obuku uma i discipliniranje duše koje će im omogućiti pobijediti sumnju i hrabro potvrditi svoju potpuno sazrelu vjeru u evanđelje kraljevstva. Isus je u potpunosti razumijevao kako se ljudi polako, kroz opetovana opredjeljivanja između dobra i zla u situacijama koje se neprestano ponavljaju, pripremaju za odluke u kriznim trenucima i za iznenadne činove hrabrog opredjeljivanja. Svoje je odabrane glasnike neprestano izlagao ponovljenim iskustvima razočaranja i pružao im česte i zahtjevne prilike da biraju između ispravnog i pogrešnog načina suočavanja s duhovnim kušnjama. Znao je da se može osloniti na svoje sljedbenike i da će, kada se suoče s konačnom kušnjom, donijeti svoje presudne odluke u skladu s prethodno oblikovanim i uobičajenim stavovima uma i reakcijama duha.
153:1.3 (1708.2)
The Master well knew that many of his followers were slowly but surely preparing their minds finally to reject him. He likewise knew that many of his disciples were slowly but certainly passing through that training of mind and that discipline of soul which would enable them to triumph over doubt and courageously to assert their full-fledged faith in the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus fully understood how men prepare themselves for the decisions of a crisis and the performance of sudden deeds of courageous choosing by the slow process of the reiterated choosing between the recurring situations of good and evil. He subjected his chosen messengers to repeated rehearsals in disappointment and provided them with frequent and testing opportunities for choosing between the right and the wrong way of meeting spiritual trials. He knew he could depend on his followers, when they met the final test, to make their vital decisions in accordance with prior and habitual mental attitudes and spirit reactions.
153:1.4 (1708.3)
This crisis in Jesus’ earth life began with the feeding of the five thousand and ended with this sermon in the synagogue; the crisis in the lives of the apostles began with this sermon in the synagogue and continued for a whole year, ending only with the Master’s trial and crucifixion.
Dok su toga poslijepodneva sjedili u sinagogi, prije nego što će Isus početi govoriti, u mislima svih postojala je samo jedna velika tajna, samo jedno presudno pitanje. I njegovi prijatelji i njegovi neprijatelji razmišljali su samo o jednoj stvari: „Zašto je tako namjerno i djelotvorno preokrenuo plimu narodnog oduševljenja?“ Neposredno prije i neposredno poslije ove propovijedi, sumnje i razočaranja njegovih nezadovoljnih pristaša prerasli su u nesvjesno protivljenje i naposljetku u stvarnu mržnju. Nakon ove propovijedi u sinagogi Juda Iškariotski prvi je put svjesno pomislio da napusti Isusa. No zasad je uspješno svladao sve takve sklonosti.
153:1.5 (1708.4)
As they sat there in the synagogue that afternoon before Jesus began to speak, there was just one great mystery, just one supreme question, in the minds of all. Both his friends and his foes pondered just one thought, and that was: “Why did he himself so deliberately and effectively turn back the tide of popular enthusiasm?” And it was immediately before and immediately after this sermon that the doubts and disappointments of his disgruntled adherents grew into unconscious opposition and eventually turned into actual hatred. It was after this sermon in the synagogue that Judas Iscariot entertained his first conscious thought of deserting. But he did, for the time being, effectively master all such inclinations.
Svi su bili zbunjeni. Isus ih je ostavio zabezeknute i smetene. Nedavno je izveo najveću demonstraciju nadnaravne moći koja je obilježila cijelo njegovo djelovanje. Hranjenje pet tisuća ljudi predstavlja događaj u njegovu zemaljskom životu koji je najviše odgovarao židovskom poimanju očekivanog Mesije. Ali tu je izvanrednu prednost odmah i bez objašnjenja poništio svojim brzim i nedvosmislenim odbijanjem da bude proglašen kraljem.
153:1.6 (1708.5)
Everyone was in a state of perplexity. Jesus had left them dumfounded and confounded. He had recently engaged in the greatest demonstration of supernatural power to characterize his whole career. The feeding of the five thousand was the one event of his earth life which made the greatest appeal to the Jewish concept of the expected Messiah. But this extraordinary advantage was immediately and unexplainedly offset by his prompt and unequivocal refusal to be made king.
153:1.7 (1709.1)
On Friday evening, and again on Sabbath morning, the Jerusalem leaders had labored long and earnestly with Jairus to prevent Jesus’ speaking in the synagogue, but it was of no avail. Jairus’s only reply to all this pleading was: “I have granted this request, and I will not violate my word.”
Isus je započeo propovijed čitanjem odlomka iz Ponovljenog zakona: „To će se obistiniti ako ovaj narod ne posluša riječ Božju, da će ih zasigurno preplaviti prokletstva zbog njihova prijestupa. Gospodin će uzrokovati tvoju propast u rukama tvojih neprijatelja; bit ćete razbacani po svim narodima s kraja na kraj svijeta. Gospodin će vas ostaviti u rukama tuđeg kralja i strane nacije. Postat ćete predmet čuđenja, poslovica i podsmijeha među svim nacijama. Sinove ćeš i kćeri rađati koji će u sužanjstvo odlaziti. Došljak koji bude u sredini tvojoj uzrast će visoko nada te u vlasti, a ti ćeš padati sve niže i niže. Sva će ova prokletstva snalaziti tebe i tvoje potomstvo zauvijek, jer nisi slušao riječ Gospodnju. Zato ćeš biti sluga neprijatelju svome koji će navaliti na tebe. U gladi i žeđi na tvoju će šiju navaljivati jaram od gvožđa. Gospodin će iz daljine, s kraja zemlje, dovesti na te narod, narod kojemu jezika nećeš razumjeti, narod okrutna izgleda koji neće pokazivati mnogo obzira prema tebi. Opsjedat će te u svim gradovima tvojim širom zemlje tvoje dok ne obore visoke i utvrđene zidine u koje se uzdaš; i sva će zemlja pasti u njihove ruke. I tako ćeš jesti plod utrobe svoje, meso sinova svojih i kćeri svojih, za vrijeme ove opsade zbog tjeskobe u koju će te tvoji neprijatelji stjerati.“
153:2.1 (1709.2)
Jesus introduced this sermon by reading from the law as found in Deuteronomy: “But it shall come to pass, if this people will not hearken to the voice of God, that the curses of transgression shall surely overtake them. The Lord shall cause you to be smitten by your enemies; you shall be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. And the Lord shall bring you and the king you have set up over you into the hands of a strange nation. You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations. Your sons and your daughters shall go into captivity. The strangers among you shall rise high in authority while you are brought very low. And these things shall be upon you and your seed forever because you would not hearken to the word of the Lord. Therefore shall you serve your enemies who shall come against you. You shall endure hunger and thirst and wear this alien yoke of iron. The Lord shall bring against you a nation from afar, from the end of the earth, a nation whose tongue you shall not understand, a nation of fierce countenance, a nation which will have little regard for you. And they shall besiege you in all your towns until the high fortified walls wherein you have trusted come down; and all the land shall fall into their hands. And it shall come to pass that you will be driven to eat the fruit of your own bodies, the flesh of your sons and daughters, during this time of siege, because of the straitness wherewith your enemies shall press you.”
A kad je Isus završio s ovim čitanjem, okrenuo se Prorocima i čitao iz Jeremije: „Ako ne poslušate riječi mojih slugu i proroka koje sam vam poslao, postupit ću s ovim domom kao sa Šilom i učinit ću da ovaj grad bude prokletstvo za sve narode na zemlji.“ I svećenici i učitelji slušahu Jeremiju kako izgovara te riječi u domu Gospodnjem. A kad Jeremija izreče sve što mu Gospodin zapovijedi da kaže svemu narodu, zgrabiše ga svećenici i učitelji, govoreći: „Zacijelo ćeš umrijeti!“ I sav se narod skupi oko Jeremije u domu Gospodnjem. A kad su judejski glavari čuli te riječi, počeše suditi Jeremiji. Tada svećenici i učitelji rekoše glavarima i svemu narodu: „Ovaj je čovjek zaslužio smrt, jer je prorokovao protiv svoga grada, a vi ste ga čuli vlastitim ušima.“ Tada Jeremija reče glavarima i svemu narodu: „Gospodin me posla da prorokujem protiv ovoga doma i ovoga grada sve što ste čuli. Popravite, dakle, putove svoje i djela svoja i slušajte glas Gospodina Boga svoga da izbjegnete zlo koje je protiv vas pripremljeno. A što se mene tiče, evo, ja sam u vašim rukama. Učinite sa mnom što vam se čini dobro i pravo u vašim očima. Ali dobro znajte, ako me pogubite, nedužnu ćete krv navući na sebe i na ovaj grad i na njegove stanovnike, jer zaista Gospodin me posla k vama da govorim sve ove riječi u vaše uši.“
153:2.2 (1709.3)
And when Jesus had finished this reading, he turned to the Prophets and read from Jeremiah: “‘If you will not hearken to the words of my servants the prophets whom I have sent you, then will I make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’ And the priests and the teachers heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. And it came to pass that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and teachers laid hold of him, saying, ‘You shall surely die.’ And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. And when the princes of Judah heard these things, they sat in judgment on Jeremiah. Then spoke the priests and the teachers to the princes and to all the people, saying: ‘This man is worthy to die, for he has prophesied against our city, and you have heard him with your own ears.’ Then spoke Jeremiah to all the princes and to all the people: ‘The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words which you have heard. Now, therefore, amend your ways and reform your doings and obey the voice of the Lord your God that you may escape the evil which has been pronounced against you. As for me, behold I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right in your eyes. But know you for certain that, if you put me to death, you shall bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this people, for of a truth the Lord has sent me to speak all these words in your ears.’
„Tada svećenici i učitelji toga doba htjedoše pogubiti Jeremiju, ali suci ne htjedoše pristati, nego ga zbog njegovih riječi upozorenja spustiše užetima u prljavu tamnicu, dok nije potonuo u glib do pazuha. Eto što je ovaj narod učinio s prorokom Jeremijom kad je poslušao Gospodnju zapovijed da upozori svoju braću na njihovu predstojeću političku propast. Danas vas želim pitati: Što će glavari svećenički i vjerski vođe ovoga naroda učiniti s čovjekom koji se usuđuje upozoriti ih na njihovu duhovnu propast? Hoćete li i vi pokušati pogubiti učitelja koji se usuđuje naviještati riječ Gospodnju i koji se ne boji ukazati na to da odbijate hoditi putem svjetlosti koji vodi do ulaza u kraljevstvo nebesko?
153:2.3 (1710.1)
“The priests and teachers of that day sought to kill Jeremiah, but the judges would not consent, albeit, for his words of warning, they did let him down by cords in a filthy dungeon until he sank in mire up to his armpits. That is what this people did to the Prophet Jeremiah when he obeyed the Lord’s command to warn his brethren of their impending political downfall. Today, I desire to ask you: What will the chief priests and religious leaders of this people do with the man who dares to warn them of the day of their spiritual doom? Will you also seek to put to death the teacher who dares to proclaim the word of the Lord, and who fears not to point out wherein you refuse to walk in the way of light which leads to the entrance to the kingdom of heaven?
„Što tražite kao dokaz moje misije na zemlji? Ostavili smo vas neuznemirene na vašim položajima utjecaja i moći dok navješćujemo radosnu vijest siromašnima i odbačenima. Nismo neprijateljski napadali ništa što vi smatrate svetim, nego smo objavili novu slobodu čovjekovoj duši obuzetoj strahom. Došao sam na svijet da otkrijem Oca svojega i uspostavim na zemlji duhovno bratstvo sinova Božjih, kraljevstvo nebesko. A unatoč tome što sam vam toliko puta rekao da moje kraljevstvo nije od ovoga svijeta, ipak je moj Otac podario mnoga očitovanja materijalnih čudesa, uz još uvjerljivije duhovne preobrazbe i preporode.
153:2.4 (1710.2)
“What is it you seek as evidence of my mission on earth? We have left you undisturbed in your positions of influence and power while we preached glad tidings to the poor and the outcast. We have made no hostile attack upon that which you hold in reverence but have rather proclaimed new liberty for man’s fear-ridden soul. I came into the world to reveal my Father and to establish on earth the spiritual brotherhood of the sons of God, the kingdom of heaven. And notwithstanding that I have so many times reminded you that my kingdom is not of this world, still has my Father granted you many manifestations of material wonders in addition to more evidential spiritual transformations and regenerations.
„Koji to novi znak od mene tražite? Kažem vam da već imate dovoljno dokaza da svatko može donijeti svoju odluku. Zaista, zaista, kažem mnogima koji danas sjede ovdje preda mnom: suočeni ste s nužnošću odabira kojim ćete putem ići; a ja vam kažem, kao što je Jošua rekao vašim precima: ‘Odaberite danas komu ćete služiti.’ Mnogi od vas danas stoje pred raskrižjem putova.
153:2.5 (1710.3)
“What new sign is it that you seek at my hands? I declare that you already have sufficient evidence to enable you to make your decision. Verily, verily, I say to many who sit before me this day, you are confronted with the necessity of choosing which way you will go; and I say to you, as Joshua said to your forefathers, ‘choose you this day whom you will serve.’ Today, many of you stand at the parting of the ways.
„Neki su od vas, kad me nakon hranjenja pet tisuća niste mogli naći na drugoj obali, unajmili ribarsku flotu iz Tiberijade, koja se prije tjedan dana tu sklonila od oluje, da krene u potragu za mnom. A radi čega? Ne zbog istine i ispravnosti, niti zato da biste bolje znali služiti i pomagati svojim bližnjima! Ne, nego da biste imali više kruha za koji se niste trudili. Ne da napunite svoje duše riječju života, nego samo da napunite svoje trbuhe kruhom lagodnog života. A dugo su vas učili da će Mesija, kada dođe, svojim čudesima učiniti život ugodnim i lagodnim za svoj izabrani narod. Nije stoga čudno što vi, koji ste tako poučeni, čeznete za kruhom i ribama. Ali kažem vam da takva nije misija Sina Čovječjega. Došao sam proglasiti duhovnu slobodu, učiti vječnu istinu i poticati živu vjeru.
153:2.6 (1710.4)
“Some of you, when you could not find me after the feasting of the multitude on the other side, hired the Tiberias fishing fleet, which a week before had taken shelter near by during a storm, to go in pursuit of me, and what for? Not for truth and righteousness or that you might the better know how to serve and minister to your fellow men! No, but rather that you might have more bread for which you had not labored. It was not to fill your souls with the word of life, but only that you might fill the belly with the bread of ease. And long have you been taught that the Messiah, when he should come, would work those wonders which would make life pleasant and easy for all the chosen people. It is not strange, then, that you who have been thus taught should long for the loaves and the fishes. But I declare to you that such is not the mission of the Son of Man. I have come to proclaim spiritual liberty, teach eternal truth, and foster living faith.
„Braćo moja, ne čeznite za hranom koja propada, nego tražite duhovnu hranu koja hrani sve do vječnoga života; a to je kruh života koji Sin daje svima koji ga žele uzeti i jesti, jer je Otac dao Sinu ovaj život bez mjere. A kad ste me pitali: ‘Što nam je činiti da izvršavamo djela Božja?’, jasno sam vam rekao: ‘Ovo je djelo Božje: vjerovati onomu koga je on poslao.’“
153:2.7 (1710.5)
“My brethren, hanker not after the meat which perishes but rather seek for the spiritual food that nourishes even to eternal life; and this is the bread of life which the Son gives to all who will take it and eat, for the Father has given the Son this life without measure. And when you asked me, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ I plainly told you: ‘This is the work of God, that you believe him whom he has sent.’”
A onda je Isus rekao, pokazujući na lonac s manom koji je služio kao ukras na nadvratniku ove nove sinagoge, ukrašenom motivom grožđa: „Učili ste da su vaši preci u pustinji jeli manu — kruh s neba — ali ja vam kažem da je to bio kruh zemaljski. Mojsije nije vašim ocima dao kruh s neba, ali se Otac moj sada sprema vama dati pravi kruh života. Kruh s neba je ono što silazi od Boga i što daje vječni život ljudima ovoga svijeta. I kad mi kažete: Daj nam taj živi kruh, ja vam odgovaram: ‘Ja sam taj kruh života.’ Tko dolazi k meni, neće ogladnjeti, a tko meni vjeruje, neće nikada ožednjeti. Vidjeli ste me, živjeli ste sa mnom i promatrali moja djela, a ne vjerujete da sam došao od Oca. No, onima koji vjeruju kažem — ne bojte se. Svi koje Otac vodi doći će k meni, a tko dođe k meni, ni u kojem slučaju neće biti odbačen.
153:2.8 (1710.6)
And then said Jesus, pointing up to the device of a pot of manna which decorated the lintel of this new synagogue, and which was embellished with grape clusters: “You have thought that your forefathers in the wilderness ate manna—the bread of heaven—but I say to you that this was the bread of earth. While Moses did not give your fathers bread from heaven, my Father now stands ready to give you the true bread of life. The bread of heaven is that which comes down from God and gives eternal life to the men of the world. And when you say to me, Give us this living bread, I will answer: I am this bread of life. He who comes to me shall not hunger, while he who believes me shall never thirst. You have seen me, lived with me, and beheld my works, yet you believe not that I came forth from the Father. But to those who do believe—fear not. All those led of the Father shall come to me, and he who comes to me shall in nowise be cast out.
A sada vam objavljujem, jednom i zauvijek, da sam došao na zemlju, ne da vršim svoju volju, nego volju Onoga koji me posla. A konačna volja Onoga koji me posla jest da nikoga od onih koje mi dade ne izgubim. Da, ovo je volja Oca: da svaki koji vidi Sina i vjeruje u njega dobije život vječni. Još jučer sam kruhom hranio vaša tijela; danas nudim kruh života vašim gladnim dušama. Hoćete li sada prihvatiti ovaj kruh duha onako kako ste tada tako rado jeli kruh ovoga svijeta?“
153:2.9 (1711.1)
“And now let me declare to you, once and for all time, that I have come down upon the earth, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the final will of Him who sent me, that of all those he has given me I should not lose one. And this is the will of the Father: That every one who beholds the Son and who believes him shall have eternal life. Only yesterday did I feed you with bread for your bodies; today I offer you the bread of life for your hungry souls. Will you now take the bread of the spirit as you then so willingly ate the bread of this world?”
Kad je Isus na trenutak zastao, prelazeći pogledom preko okupljenih, jedan je od učitelja iz Jeruzalema (član Velikog vijeća) ustao i upitao: „Jesam li dobro razumio da kažeš da si kruh koji silazi s neba, a da mana koju je Mojsije u pustinji dao ocima našim nije bila takva?“ A Isus je odgovorio farizeju: „To si pravilno razumio.“ Tada je rekao farizej: „A zar nisi ti Isus iz Nazareta, sin Josipa, stolara? Zar mnogi od nas ne poznaju tvoga oca i majku, kao i tvoju braću i sestre? Kako se onda možeš ovdje pojaviti u Božjoj kući i izjaviti da si sišao s neba?“
153:2.10 (1711.2)
As Jesus paused for a moment to look over the congregation, one of the teachers from Jerusalem (a member of the Sanhedrin) rose up and asked: “Do I understand you to say that you are the bread which comes down from heaven, and that the manna which Moses gave to our fathers in the wilderness did not?” And Jesus answered the Pharisee, “You understood aright.” Then said the Pharisee: “But are you not Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph, the carpenter? Are not your father and mother, as well as your brothers and sisters, well known to many of us? How then is it that you appear here in God’s house and declare that you have come down from heaven?”
U tom je trenutku bilo mnogo mrmljanja u sinagogi i počeo se stvarati takav metež da je Isus ustao i rekao: „Budimo strpljivi; istina nikad ne pati od poštenog preispitivanja. Ja jesam sve što kažete, ali sam i više od toga. Otac i ja jedno smo; Sin čini samo ono čemu ga je Otac poučio, a sve one koji su dati Sinu od Oca, Sin će primiti k sebi. Čitali ste gdje je napisano u Prorocima: ‘Svi ćete biti poučeni od Boga’, te da će ‘oni koje Otac poučava čuti i njegova Sina’. Svaki koji se podvrgne poučavanju Očeva duha koji prebiva u njemu na kraju dolazi k meni. Nitko nije vidio Oca, ali Očev duh živi u čovjeku. Sin koji je sišao s neba već je zasigurno vidio Oca. Oni koji istinski vjeruju u ovoga Sina već imaju vječni život.
153:2.11 (1711.3)
By this time there was much murmuring in the synagogue, and such a tumult was threatened that Jesus stood up and said: “Let us be patient; the truth never suffers from honest examination. I am all that you say but more. The Father and I are one; the Son does only that which the Father teaches him, while all those who are given to the Son by the Father, the Son will receive to himself. You have read where it is written in the Prophets, ‘You shall all be taught by God,’ and that ‘Those whom the Father teaches will hear also his Son.’ Every one who yields to the teaching of the Father’s indwelling spirit will eventually come to me. Not that any man has seen the Father, but the Father’s spirit does live within man. And the Son who came down from heaven, he has surely seen the Father. And those who truly believe this Son already have eternal life.
„Ja sam taj kruh života. Očevi vaši jedoše manu u pustinji i pomriješe. Ali ovaj kruh koji silazi od Boga, ako ga čovjek pojede, nikada ne umire u duhu. Ponavljam, ja sam taj živi kruh i svaka duša koja spozna ovu ujedinjenu narav Boga i čovjeka živjet će zauvijek. A ovaj kruh života koji dajem svima koji ga hoće primiti jest moja vlastita živa i sjedinjena narav. Otac je u Sinu i Sin je jedno s Ocem — to je moje životvorno otkrivenje svijetu i moj dar spasenja svim narodima.“
153:2.12 (1711.4)
“I am this bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead. But this bread which comes down from God, if a man eats thereof, he shall never die in spirit. I repeat, I am this living bread, and every soul who attains the realization of this united nature of God and man shall live forever. And this bread of life which I give to all who will receive is my own living and combined nature. The Father in the Son and the Son one with the Father—that is my life-giving revelation to the world and my saving gift to all nations.”
Kad je Isus završio s govorom, upravitelj sinagoge otpustio je okupljene, ali oni nisu htjeli otići. Gurali su se oko Isusa kako bi mu postavili nova pitanja, dok su drugi mrmljali i sporili se među sobom. Takvo je stanje potrajalo više od tri sata. Bilo je već dobro prošlo sedam sati prije nego što se mnoštvo konačno razišlo.
153:2.13 (1711.5)
When Jesus had finished speaking, the ruler of the synagogue dismissed the congregation, but they would not depart. They crowded up around Jesus to ask more questions while others murmured and disputed among themselves. And this state of affairs continued for more than three hours. It was well past seven o’clock before the audience finally dispersed.
Jedan od gostujućih farizeja, popevši se na svijećnjak, glasno je upitao: „Kažeš nam da si kruh života. Kako nam možeš dati svoje tijelo da jedemo ili svoju krv da pijemo? Od kakve je koristi tvoj nauk ako se ne može izvršiti?“ A Isus je odgovorio na to pitanje, rekavši: „Nisam vas učio da je moje tijelo kruh života, niti da je moja krv voda života. Nego sam vam rekao da je moj život u tijelu darivanje kruha s neba. Činjenica da se Riječ Božja podarila u tijelu i da je Sin Čovječji došao podvrgnut Božjoj volji predstavlja iskustvenu stvarnost koja odgovara božanskoj hrani. Ne možete jesti moje tijelo niti piti moju krv, ali možete postati jedno sa mnom u duhu, kao što sam ja jedno u duhu s Ocem. Možete se hraniti vječnom Riječju Božjom, koja je doista kruh života i koja vam je podarena u obličju smrtnog tijela; a u svojoj duši možete se napojiti božanskim duhom, koji je zaista voda života. Otac me je poslao na svijet da vam pokažem kako on želi prebivati u svim ljudima i usmjeravati ih; a ja sam tako živio ovaj život u tijelu da nadahnem sve ljude da neprestano nastoje spoznati i vršiti volju nebeskog Oca koji prebiva u njima.“
153:3.2 (1712.2)
One of the visiting Pharisees, mounting a lampstand, shouted out this question: “You tell us that you are the bread of life. How can you give us your flesh to eat or your blood to drink? What avail is your teaching if it cannot be carried out?” And Jesus answered this question, saying: “I did not teach you that my flesh is the bread of life nor that my blood is the water thereof. But I did say that my life in the flesh is a bestowal of the bread of heaven. The fact of the Word of God bestowed in the flesh and the phenomenon of the Son of Man subject to the will of God, constitute a reality of experience which is equivalent to the divine sustenance. You cannot eat my flesh nor can you drink my blood, but you can become one in spirit with me even as I am one in spirit with the Father. You can be nourished by the eternal word of God, which is indeed the bread of life, and which has been bestowed in the likeness of mortal flesh; and you can be watered in soul by the divine spirit, which is truly the water of life. The Father has sent me into the world to show how he desires to indwell and direct all men; and I have so lived this life in the flesh as to inspire all men likewise ever to seek to know and do the will of the indwelling heavenly Father.”
Tada je jedan od jeruzalemskih špijuna koji je pratio Isusa i njegove apostole rekao: „Mi smo primijetili da ni ti ni tvoji apostoli ne perete ruke kako treba prije jela kruha. Dobro znate da je takva praksa jedenja nečistim i neopranim rukama kršenje zakona starješina. Ni svoje čaše i posuđe ne perete kako treba. Zašto pokazujete takvo nepoštivanje prema tradicijama otaca i zakonima naših starješina?“ A kad je Isus to čuo, odgovorio je: „A zašto vi kršite Božje zapovijedi držeći se zakona svoje vlastite tradicije? Zar vam Božja zapovijed ne kaže: ‘Poštuj oca i majku’ i ne nalaže vam da s njima, ako je potrebno, podijelite svoja dobra; a vi donosite odredbu svoje tradicije koja dopušta neposlušnoj djeci da kažu kako je novac kojim bi mogli pomoći roditeljima ‘dar Bogu’. Zakon starješina tako oslobađa ovu lukavu djecu njihove odgovornosti, premda ta djeca poslije koriste sav taj novac za vlastitu udobnost. Zašto na taj način poništavate zapovijed svojom vlastitom tradicijom? Pa zar nije Izaija dobro prorokovao o vama, licemjerima, govoreći: ‘Ovaj me narod usnama časti, a srce mu je daleko od mene. Uzalud me štuju, naučavajući kao svoje nauke ljudske uredbe.’
153:3.3 (1712.3)
Then one of the Jerusalem spies who had been observing Jesus and his apostles, said: “We notice that neither you nor your apostles wash your hands properly before you eat bread. You must well know that such a practice as eating with defiled and unwashed hands is a transgression of the law of the elders. Neither do you properly wash your drinking cups and eating vessels. Why is it that you show such disrespect for the traditions of the fathers and the laws of our elders?” And when Jesus heard him speak, he answered: “Why is it that you transgress the commandments of God by the laws of your tradition? The commandment says, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and directs that you share with them your substance if necessary; but you enact a law of tradition which permits undutiful children to say that the money wherewith the parents might have been assisted has been ‘given to God.’ The law of the elders thus relieves such crafty children of their responsibility, notwithstanding that the children subsequently use all such monies for their own comfort. Why is it that you in this way make void the commandment by your own tradition? Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, saying: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.’
153:3.4 (1712.4)
“You can see how it is that you desert the commandment while you hold fast to the tradition of men. Altogether willing are you to reject the word of God while you maintain your own traditions. And in many other ways do you dare to set up your own teachings above the law and the prophets.”
Isus je zatim uputio svoje riječi svima. Rekao je: „Ali poslušajte me svi. Nije ono što ulazi u usta ono što može duhovno onečistiti čovjeka, nego ono što izlazi iz usta i iz srca.“ No, čak ni apostoli nisu u potpunosti shvatili značenje njegovih riječi, jer je Šimun Petar upitao: „Da se neki od tvojih slušatelja ne bi nepotrebno uvrijedili, možeš li nam objasniti značenje tih riječi?“ Onda je Isus rekao Petru: „Zar ni vi to ne razumijete? Zar ne znate da će se iščupati svaka sadnica koju nije posadio Otac moj nebeski? Okrenimo sada svoju pozornost na one koji žele znati istinu. Ne možete natjerati ljude da vole istinu. Mnogi od ovih učitelja su slijepi vođe. A znate da će, ako slijepac slijepca vodi, obojica pasti u jamu. Ali slušajte dok vam kazujem istinu o stvarima koje moralno kaljaju i duhovno onečišćuju čovjeka. Kažem vam da čovjeka ne onečišćuje ono što ulazi na usta ili što kroz oči i uši dopire do uma. Čovjeka može oskvrnuti samo zlo koje potječe iz njegova srca i koje se izražava u riječima i djelima takvih bezbožnika. Zar ne znate da iz srca dolaze zle misli, zle nakane ubojstva, krađe i bluda, kao i ljubomora, ponos, ljutnja, osveta, pogrdne riječi i lažno svjedočenje? Samo takve stvari onečišćuju čovjeka, a ne to što jede kruh a da nije ceremonijalno oprao ruke.“
153:3.5 (1712.5)
Jesus then directed his remarks to all present. He said: “But hearken to me, all of you. It is not that which enters into the mouth that spiritually defiles the man, but rather that which proceeds out of the mouth and from the heart.” But even the apostles failed fully to grasp the meaning of his words, for Simon Peter also asked him: “Lest some of your hearers be unnecessarily offended, would you explain to us the meaning of these words?” And then said Jesus to Peter: “Are you also hard of understanding? Know you not that every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up? Turn now your attention to those who would know the truth. You cannot compel men to love the truth. Many of these teachers are blind guides. And you know that, if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit. But hearken while I tell you the truth concerning those things which morally defile and spiritually contaminate men. I declare it is not that which enters the body by the mouth or gains access to the mind through the eyes and ears, that defiles the man. Man is only defiled by that evil which may originate within the heart, and which finds expression in the words and deeds of such unholy persons. Do you not know it is from the heart that there come forth evil thoughts, wicked projects of murder, theft, and adulteries, together with jealousy, pride, anger, revenge, railings, and false witness? And it is just such things that defile men, and not that they eat bread with ceremonially unclean hands.”
Farizejski povjerenici jeruzalemskog Velikog vijeća sada su bili gotovo uvjereni da Isus mora biti uhićen pod optužbom za bogohuljenje ili zbog kršenja svetog zakona Židova; upravo su ga zato svim silama nastojali uvući u raspravu o nekim tradicijama njihovih starješina, odnosno takozvanim usmenim zakonima njihova naroda, i navesti ga da ih možda napadne. Bez obzira na to koliko bi malo vode imali, ovi Židovi, tradicionalno zarobljeni tim običajima, nikada nisu propuštali obaviti propisano ceremonijalno pranje ruku prije svakog obroka. Živjeli su u uvjerenju da je „bolje umrijeti nego prekršiti zapovijedi starješina“. Uhode su postavile ovo pitanje jer su čule da je Isus rekao kako je „spasenje stvar čistog srca, a ne čistih ruku“. No, takva se vjerovanja teško mogu iskorijeniti nakon što postanu dijelom religije. Čak se i mnogo godina poslije tih događaja apostol Petar još uvijek bojao prekršiti mnoge od tih tradicija o čistom i nečistom, a svojega se ropskog straha konačno oslobodio zahvaljujući jednom nesvakidašnjem i živopisnom snu. Sve se to može bolje razumjeti ako imamo na umu da su ti Židovi jedenje neopranim rukama smatrali jednako odvratnim kao općenje s bludnicom, a oboje je bilo kažnjivo izopćenjem.
153:3.6 (1713.1)
The Pharisaic commissioners of the Jerusalem Sanhedrin were now almost convinced that Jesus must be apprehended on a charge of blasphemy or on one of flouting the sacred law of the Jews; wherefore their efforts to involve him in the discussion of, and possible attack upon, some of the traditions of the elders, or so-called oral laws of the nation. No matter how scarce water might be, these traditionally enslaved Jews would never fail to go through with the required ceremonial washing of the hands before every meal. It was their belief that “it is better to die than to transgress the commandments of the elders.” The spies asked this question because it had been reported that Jesus had said, “Salvation is a matter of clean hearts rather than of clean hands.” But such beliefs, when they once become a part of one’s religion, are hard to get away from. Even many years after this day the Apostle Peter was still held in the bondage of fear to many of these traditions about things clean and unclean, only being finally delivered by experiencing an extraordinary and vivid dream. All of this can the better be understood when it is recalled that these Jews looked upon eating with unwashed hands in the same light as commerce with a harlot, and both were equally punishable by excommunication.
Tako je Učitelj odlučio raspraviti i razotkriti ludost cijeloga rabinskog sustava pravila i propisa, sadržanog u usmenom zakonu — tradicijama njihovih starješina — koje su među Židovima smatrane svetijima i obvezujućijima čak i od učenja svetih Pisama. Isus je govorio s manje suzdržanosti, znajući da je došao čas kada više nije mogao ništa učiniti kako bi spriječio otvoreno pogoršanje odnosa s tim vjerskim vođama.
153:3.7 (1713.2)
Thus did the Master elect to discuss and expose the folly of the whole rabbinic system of rules and regulations which was represented by the oral law—the traditions of the elders, all of which were regarded as more sacred and more binding upon the Jews than even the teachings of the Scriptures. And Jesus spoke out with less reserve because he knew the hour had come when he could do nothing more to prevent an open rupture of relations with these religious leaders.
Usred razgovora koji su uslijedili nakon ovog skupa, jedan je farizej iz Jeruzalema doveo pred Isusa uznemirenog mladića kojim je vladao neobuzdan i buntovan duh. Vodeći tog pomahnitalog mladića pred Isusa, rekao je: „Što možeš učiniti s ovakvom nevoljom? Možeš li iz njega izagnati đavle?“ A kad je Učitelj pogledao mladića, bio je ganut samilošću pa mu je kimnuo da mu priđe, uzeo ga za ruku i rekao: „Znaš tko sam; izađi iz njega. A jednom od svojih odanih drugova zapovijedam da se pobrine da se više ne vratiš.“ I mladić je odmah došao k sebi i vratio se u normalno stanje. Ovo je bio prvi slučaj u kojem je Isus doista izagnao „zlog duha“ iz ljudskog bića. Svi prethodni slučajevi bili su samo navodni slučajevi opsjednutosti đavlom; ali ovo je bio pravi slučaj opsjednutosti zlim duhom, kakvi su se ponekad događali u ono vrijeme pa sve do dana Pedesetnice, kada je Učiteljev duh izliven na sve ljude, čime je zauvijek onemogućeno da se ta nekolicina nebeskih pobunjenika na takav način okoristi određenim nestabilnim tipovima ljudskih bića.
153:4.1 (1713.3)
In the midst of the discussions of this after meeting, one of the Pharisees from Jerusalem brought to Jesus a distraught youth who was possessed of an unruly and rebellious spirit. Leading this demented lad up to Jesus, he said: “What can you do for such affliction as this? Can you cast out devils?” And when the Master looked upon the youth, he was moved with compassion and, beckoning for the lad to come to him, took him by the hand and said: “You know who I am; come out of him; and I charge one of your loyal fellows to see that you do not return.” And immediately the lad was normal and in his right mind. And this is the first case where Jesus really cast an “evil spirit” out of a human being. All of the previous cases were only supposed possession of the devil; but this was a genuine case of demoniac possession, even such as sometimes occurred in those days and right up to the day of Pentecost, when the Master’s spirit was poured out upon all flesh, making it forever impossible for these few celestial rebels to take such advantage of certain unstable types of human beings.
Dok su ljudi bili u čudu, jedan je farizej ustao i optužio Isusa da je mogao tako činiti jer je bio u savezu sa zlim duhovima; rekao je da je svojim izborom riječi pri izgonu ovog zlog duha sam priznao da su se međusobno poznavali. Nadalje je naveo da su religiozni učitelji i vođe Jeruzalema odlučili da Isus sva takozvana čuda čini silom Belzebula, poglavice zlih duhova. Farizej je rekao: „Držite se podalje od ovog čovjeka; on je u savezništvu sa Sotonom.“
153:4.2 (1714.1)
When the people marveled, one of the Pharisees stood up and charged that Jesus could do these things because he was in league with devils; that he admitted in the language which he employed in casting out this devil that they were known to each other; and he went on to state that the religious teachers and leaders at Jerusalem had decided that Jesus did all his so-called miracles by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Said the Pharisee: “Have nothing to do with this man; he is in partnership with Satan.”
Tada je rekao Isus: „Kako može Sotona izgoniti Sotonu? Svako kraljevstvo, ako je samo u sebi razdijeljeno, ne može opstati; a i kuća, ako se sama u sebi razdijeli, brzo dolazi do propasti. Može li grad izdržati opsadu ako nije ujedinjen? Ako dakle Sotona izgoni Sotonu, on je u sebi podijeljen; kako će opstati kraljevstvo njegovo? A znate da nitko ne može ući u kuću jakoga i oplijeniti mu pokućstvo, osim ako dođe jači od njega da ga svlada i sveže. Ako ja snagom Belzebula izgonim zle duhove, kojom ih snagom vaši sinovi izgone? Zato će vam oni biti suci. Ali ako ja po duhu Božjem izgonim đavle, onda je kraljevstvo Božje doista došlo k vama. Da niste bili zaslijepljeni predrasudama i upravljani strahom i ponosom, lako biste uočili da među vama stoji onaj koji je veći od đavla. Onaj tko nije sa mnom, taj je protiv mene, dok se onaj koji se sa mnom ne sabire, po strani rasipa. Dopustite mi da izreknem ozbiljno upozorenje vama koji s predumišljajem, otvorenih očiju i zle namjere svjesno pripisujete Božja djela zlim duhovima! Zaista, zaista, kažem vam, svi će vaši grijesi biti oprošteni, čak i sva vaša bogohuljenja, ali tko huli promišljeno i s opakom namjerom protiv Boga, taj nikada neće zadobiti oproštenje. Budući da takvi uporni zlotvori nikada neće tražiti niti primiti oproštenje, oni su krivi za grijeh vječnog odbijanja božanskog oprosta.
153:4.3 (1714.2)
Then said Jesus: “How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand; if a house be divided against itself, it is soon brought to desolation. Can a city withstand a siege if it is not united? If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? But you should know that no one can enter into the house of a strong man and despoil his goods except he first overpower and bind that strong man. And so, if I by the power of Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I, by the spirit of God, cast out devils, then has the kingdom of God truly come upon you. If you were not blinded by prejudice and misled by fear and pride, you would easily perceive that one who is greater than devils stands in your midst. You compel me to declare that he who is not with me is against me, while he who gathers not with me scatters abroad. Let me utter a solemn warning to you who would presume, with your eyes open and with premeditated malice, knowingly to ascribe the works of God to the doings of devils! Verily, verily, I say to you, all your sins shall be forgiven, even all of your blasphemies, but whosoever shall blaspheme against God with deliberation and wicked intention shall never obtain forgiveness. Since such persistent workers of iniquity will never seek nor receive forgiveness, they are guilty of the sin of eternally rejecting divine forgiveness.
„Mnogi su od vas danas došli na raskrižje; započeli ste proces neizbježnog izbora između volje Oca i samoizabranih putova tame. I kako sada budete izabrali, tako ćete na kraju i biti. Morate ili učiniti stablo dobrim i njegov plod dobrim, ili će stablo postati iskvareno, a plod mu truo. Kažem vam da se u vječnom kraljevstvu Oca mojega stablo poznaje po njegovim plodovima. No, neki su od vas kao guje; kako možete, ako ste već izabrali zlo, donositi dobre plodove? Uostalom, vaša usta govore iz obilja zla u vašim srcima.“
153:4.4 (1714.3)
“Many of you have this day come to the parting of the ways; you have come to a beginning of the making of the inevitable choice between the will of the Father and the self-chosen ways of darkness. And as you now choose, so shall you eventually be. You must either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else will the tree become corrupt and its fruit corrupt. I declare that in my Father’s eternal kingdom the tree is known by its fruits. But some of you who are as vipers, how can you, having already chosen evil, bring forth good fruits? After all, out of the abundance of the evil in your hearts your mouths speak.”
Tada je ustao još jedan farizej i rekao: „Učitelju, htjeli bismo da nam daš unaprijed određeni znak za koji ćemo se složiti da potvrđuje tvoj autoritet i tvoje pravo poučavanja. Hoćeš li pristati na takav dogovor?“ A kad je Isus to čuo, rekao je: „Ovaj nevjerni naraštaj koji traži znak traži znamenje, ali nikakav vam znak neće biti dan osim onoga koji već imate i onoga što ćete vidjeti kada Sin Čovječji ode od vas.“
153:4.5 (1714.4)
Then stood up another Pharisee, who said: “Teacher, we would have you give us a predetermined sign which we will agree upon as establishing your authority and right to teach. Will you agree to such an arrangement?” And when Jesus heard this, he said: “This faithless and sign-seeking generation seeks a token, but no sign shall be given you other than that which you already have, and that which you shall see when the Son of Man departs from among you.”
153:4.6 (1714.5)
And when he had finished speaking, his apostles surrounded him and led him from the synagogue. In silence they journeyed home with him to Bethsaida. They were all amazed and somewhat terror-stricken by the sudden change in the Master’s teaching tactics. They were wholly unaccustomed to seeing him perform in such a militant manner.
Isus je mnogo puta razbio u paramparčad nade svojih apostola i u više navrata slomio njihova najdraža očekivanja, ali nijedno razdoblje razočaranja ni razdoblje tuge nikada se nisu mogli usporediti s onim što ih je sada preplavilo. S njihovom se potištenošću također pomiješao pravi strah za osobnu sigurnost. Svi su bili iznenađeni naglošću i potpunošću napuštanja Učitelja od strane mnoštva. Također su bili pomalo uplašeni i uznemireni neočekivanom hrabrošću i čvrstom odlučnošću farizeja koji su došli iz Jeruzalema. Ali iznad svega bili su zbunjeni Isusovom iznenadnom promjenom taktike. U normalnim okolnostima pozdravili bi pojavu takvog borbenijeg stava, ali budući da je došao zajedno s toliko toga neočekivanog, posve ih je zatekao.
153:5.1 (1715.1)
Time and again had Jesus dashed to pieces the hopes of his apostles, repeatedly had he crushed their fondest expectations, but no time of disappointment or season of sorrow had ever equaled that which now overtook them. And, too, there was now admixed with their depression a real fear for their safety. They were all surprisingly startled by the suddenness and completeness of the desertion of the populace. They were also somewhat frightened and disconcerted by the unexpected boldness and assertive determination exhibited by the Pharisees who had come down from Jerusalem. But most of all they were bewildered by Jesus’ sudden change of tactics. Under ordinary circumstances they would have welcomed the appearance of this more militant attitude, but coming as it did, along with so much that was unexpected, it startled them.
A sada, povrh svih tih briga, kad su stigli kući, Isus je odbio jesti. Satima se povukao u jednu od gornjih soba. Bilo je gotovo ponoć kada se Joab, vođa evangelista, vratio s vijestima da je otprilike trećina njegovih suradnika napustila Isusovo djelo. Tijekom cijele večeri dolazili su i odlazili vjerni učenici, donoseći izvješća da je u Kafarnaumu došlo do općeg preokreta u raspoloženju prema Učitelju. Čelnici iz Jeruzalema nisu oklijevali poticati to nezadovoljstvo i na svaki mogući način nastojali su promicati pokret udaljavanja od Isusa i njegovih učenja. Tijekom tih mučnih sati dvanaest žena sastalo se na vijećanje u Petrovoj kući. Bile su silno uznemirene, ali nijedna nije napustila Isusovo djelo.
153:5.2 (1715.2)
And now, on top of all of these worries, when they reached home, Jesus refused to eat. For hours he isolated himself in one of the upper rooms. It was almost midnight when Joab, the leader of the evangelists, returned and reported that about one third of his associates had deserted the cause. All through the evening loyal disciples had come and gone, reporting that the revulsion of feeling toward the Master was general in Capernaum. The leaders from Jerusalem were not slow to feed this feeling of disaffection and in every way possible to seek to promote the movement away from Jesus and his teachings. During these trying hours the twelve women were in session over at Peter’s house. They were tremendously upset, but none of them deserted.
Nešto poslije ponoći Isus je sišao iz gornje sobe i stao među dvanaestoricu i njihove suradnike, kojih je ukupno bilo oko trideset. Rekao je: „Shvaćam da vas ovo prosijavanje kraljevstva uznemiruje, ali ono je neizbježno. Ipak, nakon svega poučavanja koje ste primili, imate li ikakva opravdanog razloga da se spotičete o moje riječi? Zašto ste tako puni straha i zaprepaštenja kada vidite kako se kraljevstvo oslobađa tih mlakih mnoštava i tih neodlučnih učenika? Zašto tugujete kada sviće novi dan u kojem će duhovna učenja kraljevstva nebeskog zasjati novom slavom? Ako vam je teško izdržati ovu kušnju, što ćete onda učiniti kada se Sin Čovječji bude morao vratiti Ocu? Kako ćete se i kada pripremiti za vrijeme kada uzađem na mjesto s kojega sam došao na ovaj svijet?“
153:5.3 (1715.3)
It was a little after midnight when Jesus came down from the upper chamber and stood among the twelve and their associates, numbering about thirty in all. He said: “I recognize that this sifting of the kingdom distresses you, but it is unavoidable. Still, after all the training you have had, was there any good reason why you should stumble at my words? Why is it that you are filled with fear and consternation when you see the kingdom being divested of these lukewarm multitudes and these halfhearted disciples? Why do you grieve when the new day is dawning for the shining forth in new glory of the spiritual teachings of the kingdom of heaven? If you find it difficult to endure this test, what, then, will you do when the Son of Man must return to the Father? When and how will you prepare yourselves for the time when I ascend to the place whence I came to this world?
„Dragi moji, morate se sjetiti da je duh taj koji oživljava; tijelo i sve što se odnosi na njega od male je koristi. Riječi koje sam vam rekao jesu duh i život. Budite dobrog raspoloženja! Nisam vas napustio. Mnogi će se zbog otvorenosti riječi kojima se služimo ovih dana sablazniti. Već ste čuli da su se mnogi moji učenici povukli; više ne idu sa mnom. Od početka sam znao da će ovi mlitavi vjernici otpasti putem. Nisam li izabrao vas dvanaestoricu i odvojio vas od svih drugih kao poslanike kraljevstva? A sada, u ovakvom trenutku, zar ćete i vi otići? Neka svaki od vas pogleda svoju vjeru, jer je jedan od vas u velikoj opasnosti.“ A kad je Isus završio s govorom, Šimun Petar je rekao: „Da, Učitelju, mi smo tužni i zbunjeni, ali te nikada nećemo napustiti. Ti si nas učio riječima vječnoga života. Vjerovali smo u tebe i sve ovo vrijeme išli za tobom. Nećemo se okrenuti, jer znamo da si poslan od Boga.“ Kad je Petar prestao govoriti, svi su jednodušno kimnuli u znak odobravanja njegova obećanja odanosti.
153:5.4 (1715.4)
“My beloved, you must remember that it is the spirit that quickens; the flesh and all that pertains thereto is of little profit. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Be of good cheer! I have not deserted you. Many shall be offended by the plain speaking of these days. Already you have heard that many of my disciples have turned back; they walk no more with me. From the beginning I knew that these halfhearted believers would fall out by the way. Did I not choose you twelve men and set you apart as ambassadors of the kingdom? And now at such a time as this would you also desert? Let each of you look to his own faith, for one of you stands in grave danger.” And when Jesus had finished speaking, Simon Peter said: “Yes, Lord, we are sad and perplexed, but we will never forsake you. You have taught us the words of eternal life. We have believed in you and followed with you all this time. We will not turn back, for we know that you are sent by God.” And as Peter ceased speaking, they all with one accord nodded their approval of his pledge of loyalty.