Changes

==177:1. ONE DAY ALONE WITH GOD==

==177:1. ONE DAY ALONE WITH GOD==

177:1.1 As Jesus was about to take the lunch basket from John's hand, the young man ventured to say: " But, Master, you may set the basket down while you turn aside to pray and go on without it. Besides, if I should go along to carry the lunch, you would be more free to worship, and I will surely be silent. I will ask no questions and will stay by the basket when you go apart by yourself to pray. "

177:1.1 As [[Jesus]] was about to take the lunch basket from [[John Mark|John]]'s hand, the [[young man]] ventured to say: " But, Master, you may set the basket down while you turn aside to [[pray]] and go on without it. Besides, if I should go along to carry the lunch, you would be more [[free]] to [[worship]], and I will surely be [[silent]]. I will ask no [[questions]] and will stay by the basket when you go apart by yourself to [[pray]]. "

177:1.2 While making this speech, the temerity of which astonished some of the near-by listeners, John had made bold to hold on to the basket. There they stood, both John and Jesus holding the basket. Presently the Master let go and, looking down on the lad, said: " Since with all your heart you crave to go with me, it shall not be denied you. We will go off by ourselves and have a good visit. You may ask me any question that arises in your heart, and we will comfort and console each other. You may start out carrying the lunch, and when you grow weary, I will help you. Follow on with me. "

177:1.2 While making this [[speech]], the temerity of which [[astonished]] some of the near-by [[listeners]], [[John Mark|John]] had made [[bold]] to hold on to the basket. There they stood, both [[John Mark|John]] and [[Jesus]] holding the basket. Presently [[the Master]] let go and, looking down on the lad, said: " Since with all your [[heart]] you crave to go with me, it shall not be denied you. We will go off by ourselves and have a [[good]] [[visit]]. You may ask me any [[question]] that arises in your [[heart]], and we will [[comfort]] and console each other. You may start out carrying the lunch, and when you grow weary, I will help you. Follow on with me. "

177:1.3 Jesus did not return to the camp that evening until after sunset. The Master spent this last day of quiet on earth visiting with this truth-hungry youth and talking with his Paradise Father. This event has become known on high as " the day which a young man spent with God in the hills. " Forever this occasion exemplifies the willingness of the Creator to fellowship the creature. Even a youth, if the desire of the heart is really supreme, can command the attention and enjoy the loving companionship of the God of a universe, actually experience the unforgettable ecstasy of being alone with God in the hills, and for a whole day. And such was the unique experience of John Mark on this Wednesday in the hills of Judea.

177:1.3 [[Jesus]] did not return to the camp that evening until after [[Twilight|sunset]]. [[The Master]] spent this last day of [[quiet]] on [[earth]] [[visiting]] with this [[truth]]-[[hungry]] [[youth]] and talking with his [[Paradise Father]]. This [[event]] has become known on high as " the day which a [[young man]] spent with [[God]] in the hills. " Forever this occasion exemplifies the willingness of the [[Creator]] to [[fellowship]] the [[creature]]. Even a [[youth]], if the [[desire]] of the [[heart]] is really [[supreme]], can command the [[attention]] and [[enjoy]] the loving [[companionship]] of the [[God]] of a [[universe]], actually [[experience]] the unforgettable [[ecstasy]] of being [[alone]] with [[God]] in the hills, and for a whole day. And such was the [[unique]] [[experience]] of [[John Mark]] on this Wednesday in the hills of [[Judea]].

177:1.4 Jesus visited much with John, talking freely about the affairs of this world and the next. John told Jesus how much he regretted that he had not been old enough to be one of the apostles and expressed his great appreciation that he had been permitted to follow on with them since their first preaching at the Jordan ford near Jericho, except for the trip to Phoenicia. Jesus warned the lad not to become discouraged by impending events and assured him he would live to become a mighty messenger of the kingdom.

177:1.4 [[Jesus]] visited much with [[John Mark|John]], talking [[free]]ly about the affairs of this world and the next. [[John Mark|John]] told [[Jesus]] how much he [[regretted]] that he had not been old enough to be one of [[the apostles]] and [[expressed]] his great [[appreciation]] that he had been [[permitted]] to follow on with them since their first preaching at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethabara Jordan ford] near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho Jericho], except for the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_155#155:4._ON_THE_WAY_TO_PHOENICIA trip to Phoenicia]. [[Jesus]] [[warned]] the lad not to become [[discouraged]] by impending [[events]] and [[assured]] him he would live to become a mighty [[messenger]] of [[the kingdom]].

177:1.5 John Mark was thrilled by the memory of this day with Jesus in the hills, but he never forgot the Master's final admonition, spoken just as they were about to return to the Gethsemane camp, when he said: " Well, John, we have had a good visit, a real day of rest, but see to it that you tell no man the things which I told you. " And John Mark never did reveal anything that transpired on this day which he spent with Jesus in the hills.

177:1.5 [[John Mark]] was thrilled by the [[memory]] of this day with [[Jesus]] in the hills, but he never [[forgot]] [[the Master]]'s final [[admonition]], [[spoken]] just as they were about to return to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gethsemane Gethsemane] camp, when he said: " Well, [[John Mark|John]], we have had a good [[visit]], a real day of [[rest]], but see to it that you tell no man the things which I told you. " And [[John Mark]] never did [[reveal]] anything that transpired on this day which he spent with [[Jesus]] in the hills.

177:1.6 Throughout the few remaining hours of Jesus' earth life John Mark never permitted the Master for long to get out of his sight. Always was the lad in hiding near by; he slept only when Jesus slept.

177:1.6 Throughout the few remaining hours of [[Jesus]]' [[earth]] life [[John Mark]] never [[permitted]] [[the Master]] for long to get out of his [[sight]]. Always was the [[Youth|lad]] in hiding near by; he [[slept]] only when [[Jesus]] slept.

==177:2. EARLY HOME LIFE==

==177:2. EARLY HOME LIFE==