Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]

153:1.1 A distinguished congregation greeted [[Jesus]] at three o'clock on this exquisite [[Sabbath]] afternoon in the new [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capernaum 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 [[neighbor]]ing [[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 [[Spies|observers]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas], who had been directed to ascertain the [[truth]] concerning the disturbing reports that an attempt had been made by the [[Public|populace]] to [[proclaim]] [[Jesus]] the [[king]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], over in the [[domains]] of his brother [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_the_Tetrarch Philip].

153:1.1 A distinguished congregation greeted [[Jesus]] at three o'clock on this exquisite [[Sabbath]] afternoon in the new [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capernaum 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 [[neighbor]]ing [[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 [[Spies|observers]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas], who had been directed to ascertain the [[truth]] concerning the disturbing reports that an attempt had been made by the [[Public|populace]] to [[proclaim]] [[Jesus]] the [[king]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], over in the [[domains]] of his brother [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_the_Tetrarch Philip].

153:1.2 [[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 [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_152#152:2._FEEDING_THE_FIVE_THOUSAND 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Jewish deliverer]. This [[crisis]], which began with the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_152#152:2._FEEDING_THE_FIVE_THOUSAND 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]].

153:1.2 [[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 [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_152#152:2._FEEDING_THE_FIVE_THOUSAND 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Jewish deliverer]. This [[crisis]], which began with the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_152#152:2._FEEDING_THE_FIVE_THOUSAND 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]].

153:1.3 [[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 [[rehearsal]]s 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]].

153:1.3 [[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 [[rehearsal]]s 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]].

153:1.5 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.

153:1.5 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.

153:1.6 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 [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_152#152:2._FEEDING_THE_FIVE_THOUSAND feeding of the five thousand] was the one [[event]] of his [[earth]] life which made the greatest [[appeal]] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism 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]].

153:1.6 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 [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_152#152:2._FEEDING_THE_FIVE_THOUSAND feeding of the five thousand] was the one [[event]] of his [[earth]] life which made the greatest [[appeal]] to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism 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 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' only reply to all this pleading was: " I have granted this request, and I will not [[violate]] my [[word]]. "

153:1.7 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' only reply to all this pleading was: " I have granted this request, and I will not [[violate]] my [[word]]. "