CHAPTER SEVEN.

FAREWELL TO GALILEE AND PUBLIC PROCLAMATION OF MESSIAHSHIP.

AFTER the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus

had attended in October he returned to

Galilee. The Feast of Dedication would come in December and the great Feast of the Passover in the following April.

As the days of his earthly life were drawing to a close, he felt an increasing longing to be in Jerusalem. He did not go there directly, but by way of northern Samaria and Peraea, the country that lay to the East of the Jordan Valley.

Hitherto he had left his followers to discern his Messiahship for themselves, but now it must be asserted openly. If he was to be finally re

Matthew 8: 19-22; Luke 9: 51-62; 10: 1-II.

jected he felt that it should be done publicly by the chief priests acting for the nation.

The character of his teachings had repelled the larger part of the multitudes that had flocked to him during the earlier months of his ministry. His words had indeed proven to be a test by which the thoughts of men's hearts had been revealed. They wanted a king who would restore their nation to its old time prestige. He proclaimed their nearness to a Kingdom of Love and called them to repentance. His works were mighty and his teachings were sublime, but he himself was humble and kindly and unselfish. He was not the kind of a Messiah the people wanted; and so the words of the prophet came true.

"He was dispised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief."

A

T this time Jesus appointed seventy of his

disciples to go out by twos into every village and town where he intended later on to come himself. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. I want you to pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his fields.

"I send you forth as lambs into the midst of wolves, but go your different ways without fear. Carry no purse, no bag, no extra shoes even, and do not stop to gossip by the way. Whenever you go into a house, say, 'Peace be to this house.' If they welcome you, your benediction will be acceptable. If you are conscious of no response of welcome, do not remain, but go elsewhere. When you find a welcome, remain there; do not go from house to house. Eat whatever is set before you, for the laborer is worthy of his support; but do not ask for special attentions. Heal the sick in the house and village where you are welcome, and say to them, "The Spiritual Realm is very near to you.'

"If you enter a town where you are not welcome, go into the principal streets and proclaim, 'Not even the dust of your streets do we take away with us. We come to tell you of the Spiritual Realm. You do not welcome us, but know this, the Spiritual Realm has come very near. He that listens to you, is listening to me. He that rejects you is rejecting me; and he that rejects me has rejected him that sent me."

As they approached Samaria these messengers went ahead to make ready for his coming. They created great excitement and interest. Wherever Jesus came great multitudes were waiting to see and hear him and they followed him from place to place. He taught these multitudes as was his habit and healed the sick.

When it became known that he was on his way to Jerusalem the Samaritans were unwilling that he should pass through their country. When his disciples James and John saw their attitude they suggested to Jesus that he call down fire from heaven to consume them, but Jesus rebuked his disciples and led them by another way.

AS they passed along a scribe said to Jesus,

"Master, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no where to lay his head."

Another man said, "Let me first return and bury my father." But Jesus said, "Let those that belong to the realm of death, bury their own dead; but as for you, go and preach everywhere the Good News of the Spiritual Realm."

Still another said, "I will follow you, Master, only let me first return home and bid them farewell." But Jesus said to him, "No man having put his hand to the plow and then looking back, is fit for the Spiritual Realm."

Jesus turned to the great multitude that followed him and said: "A man can not be my disciple unless he is so fixed in his devotion that it is just as though, in contrast, he hated his father and mother and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life. One can not be

Luke 14: 25-35.