Changes

*"I cannot understand him. I cannot figure out what it all means."  

*"I cannot understand him. I cannot figure out what it all means."  

Throughout these four months these seven believers were getting acquainted with Jesus. They were getting used to the idea of living with this God-man. Though they called him Rabbi, they were learning not to be afraid of him. Jesus possessed that matchless grace of personality that enabled him so to live among them that they were not dismayed by his divinity. They found it really easy to be "friends with God," God incarnate in the likeness of mortal flesh. This time of waiting severely tested the entire group of believers. Nothing, absolutely nothing, miraculous happened. Day by day they went about their ordinary work, while night after night they sat at Jesus' feet. And they were held together by his matchless personality and by the gracious words which he spoke to them evening upon evening.  

Throughout these four months these seven believers were getting acquainted with Jesus. They were getting used to the idea of living with this God-man. Though they called him Rabbi, they were learning not to be afraid of him. Jesus possessed that matchless grace of personality that enabled him so to live among them that they were not dismayed by his divinity. They found it really easy to be "friends with God," God incarnate in the likeness of mortal flesh. This '''time of waiting''' severely tested the entire group of believers. Nothing, absolutely nothing, miraculous happened. Day by day they went about their ordinary work, while night after night they sat at Jesus' feet. And they were held together by his matchless personality and by the gracious words which he spoke to them evening upon evening.  

This period of waiting and teaching was especially hard on Simon Peter. He repeatedly sought to persuade Jesus to launch forth with the preaching of the kingdom in Galilee while John continued to preach in Judea. But Jesus' reply to Peter ever was:

This '''period of waiting and teaching''' was especially hard on Simon Peter. He '''repeatedly''' sought to persuade Jesus to launch forth with the preaching of the kingdom in Galilee while John continued to preach in Judea.  

In this time of waiting Jesus endeavored to teach his associates what their attitude should be toward the various religious groups and the political parties of Palestine.  

 

In this '''time of waiting''' Jesus endeavored to teach his associates what their attitude should be toward the various religious groups and the political parties of Palestine.  

Jesus' words always were:

Jesus' words always were:

*"We are seeking to win all of them, but we are not of any of them."  

*"'''We are seeking to win all of them, but we are not of any of them'''."  

He unfailingly impressed upon his associates that they must "Show forth love, compassion, and sympathy." He taught his followers that the kingdom of heaven was a spiritual experience having to do with the enthronement of God in the hearts of men.  

He unfailingly impressed upon his associates that they must "'''Show forth love, compassion, and sympathy'''." He taught his followers that the kingdom of heaven was a spiritual experience having to do with the enthronement of God in the hearts of men.  

As they thus tarried before embarking on their active public preaching, Jesus and the seven spent two evenings each week at the synagogue in the study of the Hebrew scriptures.   

As they thus tarried before embarking on their active public preaching, Jesus and the seven spent two evenings each week at the synagogue in the study of the Hebrew scriptures.