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==CHAPTER 16==

==CHAPTER 16==

It was the habit of Jesus two evenings each week to hold special converse with individuals who desired to talk with him, in a certain secluded and sheltered corner of the Zebedee garden. At one of these evening conversations in private Thomas asked the Master this question:  

It was the habit of Jesus two evenings each week to hold special converse with individuals who desired to talk with him, in a certain secluded and sheltered corner of the Zebedee garden. At one of these evening conversations in private Thomas asked the Master this question:  

*"Why is it necessary for men to be born of the spirit in order to enter the kingdom? Is rebirth necessary to escape the control of the evil one? Master, what is evil?"

*"Why is it necessary for men to be born of the spirit in order to enter the kingdom? Is rebirth necessary to escape the control of the evil one? <u>Master, what is '''evil'''?"</u>

When Jesus heard these questions, he said to Thomas:  

When Jesus heard these questions, he said to Thomas:  

   

   

   

   

====The Purpose of Affliction====  

====[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_148#148:5._THE_PURPOSE_OF_AFFLICTION The Purpose of Affliction]====  

   

   

At another of these private interviews in the garden Nathaniel asked Jesus:  

At another of these private interviews in the garden Nathaniel asked Jesus:  

*"Master, though I am beginning to understand why you refuse to practice healing indiscriminately, I am still at a loss to understand why the loving Father in heaven permits so many of his children on earth to suffer so many afflictions."  

*<u>"Master, though I am beginning to understand why you refuse to practice healing indiscriminately, I am still at a loss to understand why the loving Father in heaven permits so many of his children on earth to '''suffer''' so many afflictions."</u>

The Master answered Nathaniel, saying:

The Master answered Nathaniel, saying:

====The Misunderstanding of Suffering -- Discourse on Job====  

====The Misunderstanding of Suffering -- Discourse on Job====  

   

   

It was this same evening at Bethsaida that John also asked Jesus why so many apparently innocent people suffered from so many diseases and experienced so many afflictions.

It was this same evening at Bethsaida that John also asked Jesus:

*<u>"Why do so many apparently innocent people '''suffer''' from so many diseases and experience so many afflictions?"</u>

In answering John's questions, among many other things, the Master said:

In answering John's questions, among many other things, the Master said:

John pondered these sayings in his heart for many days. His entire afterlife was markedly changed as a result of this conversation with the Master in the garden, and he did much, in later times, to cause the other apostles to change their viewpoints regarding the source, nature, and purpose of commonplace human afflictions. But John never spoke of this conference until after the Master had departed.

John pondered these sayings in his heart for many days. His entire afterlife was markedly changed as a result of this conversation with the Master in the garden, and he did much, in later times, to cause the other apostles to change their viewpoints regarding the source, nature, and purpose of commonplace human afflictions. But John never spoke of this conference until after the Master had departed.

====The Man with the Withered Hand====  

====The Man with the Withered Hand====