PAPER 164
AT THE FEAST OF DEDICATION
164:0.1
AS THE camp at Pella was being established, Jesus, taking
with him Nathaniel and Thomas, secretly went up to Jerusalem
to attend the feast of the dedication. Not until they passed
over the Jordan at the Bethany ford, did the two apostles
become aware that their Master was going on to Jerusalem.
When they perceived that he really intended to be present at
the feast of dedication, they remonstrated with him most
earnestly, and using every sort of argument, they sought to
dissuade him. But their efforts were of no avail; Jesus was
determined to visit Jerusalem. To all their entreaties and
to all their warnings emphasizing the folly and danger of
placing himself in the hands of the Sanhedrin, he would
reply only, "I would give these teachers in Israel another
opportunity to see the light, before my hour comes."
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On they went toward Jerusalem, the two apostles continuing
to express their feelings of fear and to voice their doubts
about the wisdom of such an apparently presumptuous
undertaking. They reached Jericho about half past four and
prepared to lodge there for the night.
1. STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
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That evening a considerable company gathered about Jesus and
the two apostles to ask questions, many of which the
apostles answered, while others the Master discussed. In the
course of the evening a certain lawyer, seeking to entangle
Jesus in a compromising disputation, said: "Teacher, I would
like to ask you just what I should do to inherit eternal
life?" Jesus answered, "What is written in the law and the
prophets; how do you read the Scriptures?" The lawyer,
knowing the teachings of both Jesus and the Pharisees,
answered: "To love the Lord God with all your heart, soul,
mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself." Then
said Jesus: "You have answered right; this, if you really
do, will lead to life everlasting."
164:1.2
But the lawyer was not wholly sincere in asking this
question, and desiring to justify himself while also hoping
to embarrass Jesus, he ventured to ask still another
question. Drawing a little closer to the Master, he said,
"But, Teacher, I should like you to tell me just who is my
neighbor?" The lawyer asked this question hoping to entrap
Jesus into making some statement that would contravene the
Jewish law which defined one's neighbor as "the children of
one's people." The Jews looked upon all others as "gentile
dogs." This lawyer was somewhat familiar with Jesus'
teachings and therefore well knew that the Master thought
differently; thus he hoped to lead him into saying something
which could be construed as an attack upon the sacred law.
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But Jesus discerned the lawyer's motive, and instead of
falling into the trap, he proceeded to tell his hearers a
story, a story which would be fully appreciated by any
Jericho audience. Said Jesus: "A certain man was going down
from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of
cruel brigands, who robbed him, stripped him and beat him,
and departing, left him half dead. Very soon, by chance, a
certain priest was going down that way, and when he came
upon the wounded man, seeing his sorry plight, he passed by
on the other side of the road. And in like manner a Levite
also, when he came along and saw the man, passed by on the
other side. Now, about this time, a certain Samaritan, as he
journeyed down to Jericho, came across this wounded man; and
when he saw how he had been robbed and beaten, he was moved
with compassion, and going over to him, he bound up his
wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and setting the man upon
his own beast, brought him here to the inn and took care of
him. And on the morrow he took out some money and, giving it
to the host, said: `Take good care of my friend, and if the
expense is more, when I come back again, I will repay you.'
Now let me ask you: Which of these three turned out to be
the neighbor of him who fell among the robbers?" And when
the lawyer perceived that he had fallen into his own snare,
he answered, "He who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said,
"Go and do likewise."
164:1.4
The lawyer answered, "He who showed mercy," that he might
refrain from even speaking that odious word, Samaritan. The
lawyer was forced to give the very answer to the question,
"Who is my neighbor?" which Jesus wished given, and which,
if Jesus had so stated, would have directly involved him in
the charge of heresy. Jesus not only confounded the
dishonest lawyer, but he told his hearers a story which was
at the same time a beautiful admonition to all his followers
and a stunning rebuke to all Jews regarding their attitude
toward the Samaritans. And this story has continued to
promote brotherly love among all who have subsequently
believed the gospel of Jesus.
2. AT JERUSALEM
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Jesus had attended the feast of tabernacles that he might
proclaim the gospel to the pilgrims from all parts of the
empire; he now went up to the feast of the dedication for
just one purpose: to give the Sanhedrin and the Jewish
leaders another chance to see the light. The principal event
of these few days in Jerusalem occurred on Friday night at
the home of Nicodemus. Here were gathered together some
twenty-five Jewish leaders who believed Jesus' teaching.
Among this group were fourteen men who were then, or had
recently been, members of the Sanhedrin. This meeting was
attended by Eber, Matadormus, and Joseph of Arimathea.
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On this occasion Jesus' hearers were all learned men, and
both they and his two apostles were amazed at the breadth
and depth of the remarks which the Master made to this
distinguished group. Not since the times when he had taught
in Alexandria, Rome, and in the islands of the
Mediterranean, had he exhibited such learning and shown such
a grasp of the affairs of men, both secular and religious.
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When this little meeting broke up, all went away mystified
by the Master's personality, charmed by his gracious manner,
and in love with the man. They had sought to advise Jesus
concerning his desire to win the remaining members of the
Sanhedrin. The Master listened attentively, but silently, to
all their proposals. He well knew none of their plans would
work. He surmised that the majority of the Jewish leaders
never would accept the gospel of the kingdom; nevertheless,
he gave them all this one more chance to choose. But when he
went forth that night, with Nathaniel and Thomas, to lodge
on the Mount of Olives, he had not yet decided upon the
method he would pursue in bringing his work once more to the
notice of the Sanhedrin.
164:2.4
That night Nathaniel and Thomas slept little; they were too
much amazed by what they had heard at Nicodemus's house.
They thought much over the final remark of Jesus regarding
the offer of the former and present members of the Sanhedrin
to go with him before the seventy. The Master said: "No, my
brethren, it would be to no purpose. You would multiply the
wrath to be visited upon your own heads, but you would not
in the least mitigate the hatred which they bear me. Go,
each of you, about the Father's business as the spirit leads
you while I once more bring the kingdom to their notice in
the manner which my Father may direct."
3. HEALING THE BLIND BEGGAR
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The next morning the three went over to Martha's home at
Bethany for breakfast and then went immediately into
Jerusalem. This Sabbath morning, as Jesus and his two
apostles drew near the temple, they encountered a well-known
beggar, a man who had been born blind, sitting at his usual
place. Although these mendicants did not solicit or receive
alms on the Sabbath day, they were permitted thus to sit in
their usual places. Jesus paused and looked upon the beggar.
As he gazed upon this man who had been born blind, the idea
came into his mind as to how he would once more bring his
mission on earth to the notice of the Sanhedrin and the
other Jewish leaders and religious teachers.
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As the Master stood there before the blind man, engrossed in
deep thought, Nathaniel, pondering the possible cause of
this man's blindness, asked: "Master, who did sin, this man
or his parents, that he should be born blind?"
164:3.3
The rabbis taught that all such cases of blindness from
birth were caused by sin. Not only were children conceived
and born in sin, but a child could be born blind as a
punishment for some specific sin committed by its father.
They even taught that a child itself might sin before it was
born into the world. They also taught that such defects
could be caused by some sin or other indulgence of the
mother while carrying the child.
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There was, throughout all these regions, a lingering belief
in reincarnation. The older Jewish teachers, together with
Plato, Philo, and many of the Essenes, tolerated the theory
that men may reap in one incarnation what they have sown in
a previous existence; thus in one life they were believed to
be expiating the sins committed in preceding lives. The
Master found it difficult to make men believe that their
souls had not had previous existences.
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However, inconsistent as it seems, while such blindness was
supposed to be the result of sin, the Jews held that it was
meritorious in a high degree to give alms to these blind
beggars. It was the custom of these blind men constantly to
chant to the passers-by, "O tenderhearted, gain merit by
assisting the blind."
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Jesus entered into the discussion of this case with
Nathaniel and Thomas, not only because he had already
decided to use this blind man as the means of that day
bringing his mission once more prominently to the notice of
the Jewish leaders, but also because he always encouraged
his apostles to seek for the true causes of all phenomena,
natural or spiritual. He had often warned them to avoid the
common tendency to assign spiritual causes to commonplace
physical events.
164:3.7
Jesus decided to use this beggar in his plans for that day's
work, but before doing anything for the blind man, Josiah by
name, he proceeded to answer Nathaniel's question. Said the
Master: "Neither did this man sin nor his parents that the
works of God might be manifest in him. This blindness has
come upon him in the natural course of events, but we must
now do the works of Him who sent me, while it is still day,
for the night will certainly come when it will be impossible
to do the work we are about to perform. When I am in the
world, I am the light of the world, but in only a little
while I will not be with you."
164:3.8
When Jesus had spoken, he said to Nathaniel and Thomas: "Let
us create the sight of this blind man on this Sabbath day
that the scribes and Pharisees may have the full occasion
which they seek for accusing the Son of Man." Then, stooping
over, he spat on the ground and mixed the clay with the
spittle, and speaking of all this so that the blind man
could hear, he went up to Josiah and put the clay over his
sightless eyes, saying: "Go, my son, wash away this clay in
the pool of Siloam, and immediately you shall receive your
sight." And when Josiah had so washed in the pool of Siloam,
he returned to his friends and family, seeing.
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Having always been a beggar, he knew nothing else; so, when
the first excitement of the creation of his sight had
passed, he returned to his usual place of alms-seeking. His
friends, neighbors, and all who had known him aforetime,
when they observed that he could see, all said, "Is this not
Josiah the blind beggar?" Some said it was he, while others
said, "No, it is one like him, but this man can see." But
when they asked the man himself, he answered, "I am he."
164:3.10
When they began to inquire of him how he was able to see, he
answered them: "A man called Jesus came by this way, and
when talking about me with his friends, he made clay with
spittle, anointed my eyes, and directed that I should go and
wash in the pool of Siloam. I did what this man told me, and
immediately I received my sight. And that is only a few
hours ago. I do not yet know the meaning of much that I
see." And when the people who began to gather about him
asked where they could find the strange man who had healed
him, Josiah could answer only that he did not know.
164:3.11
This is one of the strangest of all the Master's miracles.
This man did not ask for healing. He did not know that the
Jesus who had directed him to wash at Siloam, and who had
promised him vision, was the prophet of Galilee who had
preached in Jerusalem during the feast of tabernacles. This
man had little faith that he would receive his sight, but
the people of that day had great faith in the efficacy of
the spittle of a great or holy man; and from Jesus'
conversation with Nathaniel and Thomas, Josiah had concluded
that his would-be benefactor was a great man, a learned
teacher or a holy prophet; accordingly he did as Jesus
directed him.
164:3.12
Jesus made use of the clay and the spittle and directed him
to wash in the symbolic pool of Siloam for three reasons:
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1. This was not a miracle response to the individual's
faith. This was a wonder which Jesus chose to perform for a
purpose of his own, but which he so arranged that this man
might derive lasting benefit therefrom.
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2. As the blind man had not asked for healing, and since the
faith he had was slight, these material acts were suggested
for the purpose of encouraging him. He did believe in the
superstition of the efficacy of spittle, and he knew the
pool of Siloam was a semisacred place. But he would hardly
have gone there had it not been necessary to wash away the
clay of his anointing. There was just enough ceremony about
the transaction to induce him to act.
164:3.15
3. But Jesus had a third reason for resorting to these
material means in connection with this unique transaction:
This was a miracle wrought purely in obedience to his own
choosing, and thereby he desired to teach his followers of
that day and all subsequent ages to refrain from despising
or neglecting material means in the healing of the sick. He
wanted to teach them that they must cease to regard miracles
as the only method of curing human diseases.
164:3.16
Jesus gave this man his sight by miraculous working, on this
Sabbath morning and in Jerusalem near the temple, for the
prime purpose of making this act an open challenge to the
Sanhedrin and all the Jewish teachers and religious leaders.
This was his way of proclaiming an open break with the
Pharisees. He was always positive in everything he did. And
it was for the purpose of bringing these matters before the
Sanhedrin that Jesus brought his two apostles to this man
early in the afternoon of this Sabbath day and deliberately
provoked those discussions which compelled the Pharisees to
take notice of the miracle.
4. JOSIAH BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
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By midafternoon the healing of Josiah had raised such a
discussion around the temple that the leaders of the
Sanhedrin decided to convene the council in its usual temple
meeting place. And they did this in violation of a standing
rule which forbade the meeting of the Sanhedrin on the
Sabbath day. Jesus knew that Sabbath breaking would be one
of the chief charges to be brought against him when the
final test came, and he desired to be brought before the
Sanhedrin for adjudication of the charge of having healed a
blind man on the Sabbath day, when the very session of the
high Jewish court sitting in judgment on him for this act of
mercy would be deliberating on these matters on the Sabbath
day and in direct violation of their own self-imposed laws.
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But they did not call Jesus before them; they feared to.
Instead, they sent forthwith for Josiah. After some
preliminary questioning, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin
(about fifty members being present) directed Josiah to tell
them what had happened to him. Since his healing that
morning Josiah had learned from Thomas, Nathaniel, and
others that the Pharisees were angry about his healing on
the Sabbath, and that they were likely to make trouble for
all concerned; but Josiah did not yet perceive that Jesus
was he who was called the Deliverer. So, when the Pharisees
questioned him, he said: "This man came along, put clay upon
my eyes, told me to go wash in Siloam, and I do now see."
164:4.3
One of the older Pharisees, after making a lengthy speech,
said: "This man cannot be from God because you can see that
he does not observe the Sabbath. He violates the law, first,
in making the clay, then, in sending this beggar to wash in
Siloam on the Sabbath day. Such a man cannot be a teacher
sent from God."
164:4.4
Then one of the younger men who secretly believed in Jesus,
said: "If this man is not sent by God, how can he do these
things? We know that one who is a common sinner cannot
perform such miracles. We all know this beggar and that he
was born blind; now he sees. Will you still say that this
prophet does all these wonders by the power of the prince of
devils?" And for every Pharisee who dared to accuse and
denounce Jesus one would arise to ask entangling and
embarrassing questions, so that a serious division arose
among them. The presiding officer saw whither they were
drifting, and in order to allay the discussion, he prepared
further to question the man himself. Turning to Josiah, he
said: "What do you have to say about this man, this Jesus,
whom you claim opened your eyes?" And Josiah answered, "I
think he is a prophet."
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The leaders were greatly troubled and, knowing not what else
to do, decided to send for Josiah's parents to learn whether
he had actually been born blind. They were loath to believe
that the beggar had been healed.
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It was well known about Jerusalem, not only that Jesus was
denied entrance into all synagogues, but that all who
believed in his teaching were likewise cast out of the
synagogue, excommunicated from the congregation of Israel;
and this meant denial of all rights and privileges of every
sort throughout all Jewry except the right to buy the
necessaries of life.
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When, therefore, Josiah's parents, poor and fear-burdened
souls, appeared before the august Sanhedrin, they were
afraid to speak freely. Said the spokesman of the court: "Is
this your son? and do we understand aright that he was born
blind? If this is true, how is it that he can now see?" And
then Josiah's father, seconded by his mother, answered: "We
know that this is our son, and that he was born blind, but
how it is that he has come to see, or who it was that opened
his eyes, we know not. Ask him; he is of age; let him speak
for himself."
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They now called Josiah up before them a second time. They
were not getting along well with their scheme of holding a
formal trial, and some were beginning to feel strange about
doing this on the Sabbath; accordingly, when they recalled
Josiah, they attempted to ensnare him by a different mode of
attack. The officer of the court spoke to the former blind
man, saying: "Why do you not give God the glory for this?
why do you not tell us the whole truth about what happened?
We all know that this man is a sinner. Why do you refuse to
discern the truth? You know that both you and this man stand
convicted of Sabbath breaking. Will you not atone for your
sin by acknowledging God as your healer, if you still claim
that your eyes have this day been opened?"
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But Josiah was neither dumb nor lacking in humor; so he
replied to the officer of the court: "Whether this man is a
sinner, I know not; but one thing I do know -- that, whereas
I was blind, now I see." And since they could not entrap
Josiah, they sought further to question him, asking: "Just
how did he open your eyes? what did he actually do to you?
what did he say to you? did he ask you to believe in him?"
164:4.10
Josiah replied, somewhat impatiently: "I have told you
exactly how it all happened, and if you did not believe my
testimony, why would you hear it again? Would you by any
chance also become his disciples?" When Josiah had thus
spoken, the Sanhedrin broke up in confusion, almost
violence, for the leaders rushed upon Josiah, angrily
exclaiming: "You may talk about being this man's disciple,
but we are disciples of Moses, and we are the teachers of
the laws of God. We know that God spoke through Moses, but
as for this man Jesus, we know not whence he is."
164:4.11
Then Josiah, standing upon a stool, shouted abroad to all
who could hear, saying: "Hearken, you who claim to be the
teachers of all Israel, while I declare to you that herein
is a great marvel since you confess that you know not whence
this man is, and yet you know of a certainty, from the
testimony which you have heard, that he opened my eyes. We
all know that God does not perform such works for the
ungodly; that God would do such a thing only at the request
of a true worshiper -- for one who is holy and righteous.
You know that not since the beginning of the world have you
ever heard of the opening of the eyes of one who was born
blind. Look, then, all of you, upon me and realize what has
been done this day in Jerusalem! I tell you, if this man
were not from God, he could not do this." And as the
Sanhedrists departed in anger and confusion, they shouted to
him: "You were altogether born in sin, and do you now
presume to teach us? Maybe you were not really born blind,
and even if your eyes were opened on the Sabbath day, this
was done by the power of the prince of devils." And they
went at once to the synagogue to cast out Josiah.
164:4.12
Josiah entered this trial with meager ideas about Jesus and
the nature of his healing. Most of the daring testimony
which he so cleverly and courageously bore before this
supreme tribunal of all Israel developed in his mind as the
trial proceeded along such unfair and unjust lines.
5. TEACHING IN SOLOMON'S PORCH
164:5.1
All of the time this Sabbath-breaking session of the
Sanhedrin was in progress in one of the temple chambers,
Jesus was walking about near at hand, teaching the people in
Solomon's Porch, hoping that he would be summoned before the
Sanhedrin where he could tell them the good news of the
liberty and joy of divine sonship in the kingdom of God. But
they were afraid to send for him. They were always
disconcerted by these sudden and public appearances of Jesus
in Jerusalem. The very occasion they had so ardently sought,
Jesus now gave them, but they feared to bring him before the
Sanhedrin even as a witness, and even more they feared to
arrest him.
164:5.2
This was midwinter in Jerusalem, and the people sought the
partial shelter of Solomon's Porch; and as Jesus lingered,
the crowds asked him many questions, and he taught them for
more than two hours. Some of the Jewish teachers sought to
entrap him by publicly asking him: "How long will you hold
us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, why do you not
plainly tell us?" Said Jesus: "I have told you about myself
and my Father many times, but you will not believe me. Can
you not see that the works I do in my Father's name bear
witness for me? But many of you believe not because you
belong not to my fold. The teacher of truth attracts only
those who hunger for the truth and who thirst for
righteousness. My sheep hear my voice and I know them and
they follow me. And to all who follow my teaching I give
eternal life; they shall never perish, and no one shall
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given me
these children, is greater than all, so that no one is able
to pluck them out of my Father's hand. The Father and I are
one." Some of the unbelieving Jews rushed over to where they
were still building the temple to pick up stones to cast at
Jesus, but the believers restrained them.
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Jesus continued his teaching: "Many loving works have I
shown you from the Father, so that now would I inquire for
which one of these good works do you think to stone me?" And
then answered one of the Pharisees: "For no good work would
we stone you but for blasphemy, inasmuch as you, being a
man, dare to make yourself equal with God." And Jesus
answered: "You charge the Son of Man with blasphemy because
you refused to believe me when I declared to you that I was
sent by God. If I do not the works of God, believe me not,
but if I do the works of God, even though you believe not in
me, I should think you would believe the works. But that you
may be certain of what I proclaim, let me again assert that
the Father is in me and I in the Father, and that, as the
Father dwells in me, so will I dwell in every one who
believes this gospel." And when the people heard these
words, many of them rushed out to lay hands upon the stones
to cast at him, but he passed out through the temple
precincts; and meeting Nathaniel and Thomas, who had been in
attendance upon the session of the Sanhedrin, he waited with
them near the temple until Josiah came from the council
chamber.
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Jesus and the two apostles did not go in search of Josiah at
his home until they heard he had been cast out of the
synagogue. When they came to his house, Thomas called him
out in the yard, and Jesus, speaking to him, said: "Josiah,
do you believe in the Son of God?" And Josiah answered,
"Tell me who he is that I may believe in him." And Jesus
said: "You have both seen and heard him, and it is he who
now speaks to you." And Josiah said, "Lord, I believe," and
falling down, he worshiped.
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When Josiah learned that he had been cast out of the
synagogue, he was at first greatly downcast, but he was much
encouraged when Jesus directed that he should immediately
prepare to go with them to the camp at Pella. This
simple-minded man of Jerusalem had indeed been cast out of a
Jewish synagogue, but behold the Creator of a universe
leading him forth to become associated with the spiritual
nobility of that day and generation.
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And now Jesus left Jerusalem, not again to return until near
the time when he prepared to leave this world. With the two
apostles and Josiah the Master went back to Pella. And
Josiah proved to be one of the recipients of the Master's
miraculous ministry who turned out fruitfully, for he became
a lifelong preacher of the gospel of the kingdom.
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