Kapitel 153		Paper 153
Krisen I Kapernaum		The Crisis at Capernaum
153:0.1 (1707.1) FREDAG aften, den dag de ankom til Betsaida, og sabbatsmorgen bemærkede apostlene, at Jesus var alvorligt optaget af et betydningsfuldt problem; de var klar over, at Mesteren tænkte usædvanligt meget på en vigtig sag. Han spiste ingen morgenmad og kun lidt ved middagstid. Hele sabbatsmorgenen og aftenen før var de tolv og deres medarbejdere samlet i små grupper omkring huset, i haven og langs kysten. Der hvilede en anspændthed af usikkerhed og en spænding af ængstelse over dem alle. Jesus havde ikke sagt meget til dem, siden de forlod Jerusalem.		153:0.1 (1707.1) ON FRIDAY evening, the day of their arrival at Bethsaida, and on Sabbath morning, the apostles noticed that Jesus was seriously occupied with some momentous problem; they were cognizant that the Master was giving unusual thought to some important matter. He ate no breakfast and but little at noontide. All of Sabbath morning and the evening before, the twelve and their associates were gathered together in small groups about the house, in the garden, and along the seashore. There was a tension of uncertainty and a suspense of apprehension resting upon all of them. Jesus had said little to them since they left Jerusalem.
153:0.2 (1707.2) Ikke i månedsvis havde de set Mesteren så fordybet i tanker og så lidt meddelsom. Selv Simon Peter var deprimeret, for ikke at sige nedtrykt. Andreas vidste ikke, hvad han skulle gøre for sine nedslåede medarbejdere. Nataniel sagde, at de befandt sig midt i “stilheden før stormen.” Thomas gav udtryk for, at “noget ud over det sædvanlige er ved at ske.” Filip rådede David Zebedæus til at “glemme alt om planer for at bespise og indlogere mængden, indtil vi ved, hvad Mesteren tænker på.” Mattæus gjorde en fornyet indsats for at fylde statskassen op. James og Johannes talte om den forestående prædiken i synagogen og spekulerede meget over dens sandsynlige natur og omfang. Simon Zelotes udtrykte den tro, i virkeligheden et håb, at “Faderen i himlen måske er ved at gribe ind på en eller anden uventet måde for at retfærdiggøre og støtte sin Søn,” mens Judas Iskariot vovede at hengive sig til tanken om, at Jesus muligvis var tynget af fortrydelse over, at “han ikke havde mod og dristighed til at tillade de fem tusind at udråbe ham til jødernes konge.”		153:0.2 (1707.2) Not in months had they seen the Master so preoccupied and uncommunicative. Even Simon Peter was depressed, if not downcast. Andrew was at a loss to know what to do for his dejected associates. Nathaniel said they were in the midst of the “lull before the storm.” Thomas expressed the opinion that “something out of the ordinary is about to happen.” Philip advised David Zebedee to “forget about plans for feeding and lodging the multitude until we know what the Master is thinking about.” Matthew was putting forth renewed efforts to replenish the treasury. James and John talked over the forthcoming sermon in the synagogue and speculated much as to its probable nature and scope. Simon Zelotes expressed the belief, in reality a hope, that “the Father in heaven may be about to intervene in some unexpected manner for the vindication and support of his Son,” while Judas Iscariot dared to indulge the thought that possibly Jesus was oppressed with regrets that “he did not have the courage and daring to permit the five thousand to proclaim him king of the Jews.”
153:0.3 (1707.3) Det var blandt en sådan gruppe af deprimerede og trøstesløse tilhængere, at Jesus denne smukke sabbatseftermiddag gik ud for at holde sin epokegørende prædiken i synagogen i Kapernaum. Det eneste ord med en munter hilsen eller et godt ønske fra nogen af hans nærmeste tilhængere kom fra en af de intetanende Alpheus-tvillinger, som, da Jesus forlod huset på vej til synagogen, hilste muntert på ham og sagde: “Vi beder til, at Faderen vil hjælpe dig, og at vi må få større skarer end nogensinde.”		153:0.3 (1707.3) It was from among such a group of depressed and disconsolate followers that Jesus went forth on this beautiful Sabbath afternoon to preach his epoch-making sermon in the Capernaum synagogue. The only word of cheerful greeting or well-wishing from any of his immediate followers came from one of the unsuspecting Alpheus twins, who, as Jesus left the house on his way to the synagogue, saluted him cheerily and said: “We pray the Father will help you, and that we may have bigger multitudes than ever.”
1. Scenen gøres klar ^top		1. The Setting of the Stage ^top
153:1.1 (1707.4) En fornem menighed tog imod Jesus kl. 15 på denne udsøgte sabbatseftermiddag i den nye synagoge i Kapernaum. Jairus var formand og rakte Jesus skrifterne, som han skulle læse. Dagen før var 53 farisæere og saddukæere ankommet fra Jerusalem; mere end tredive af lederne og magthaverne fra nabosynagogerne var også til stede. Disse jødiske religiøse ledere handlede direkte efter ordre fra det jødiske Sanhedrin i Jerusalem, og de udgjorde den ortodokse fortrop, som var kommet for at indlede en åben krig mod Jesus og hans disciple. Ved siden af disse jødiske ledere, på ærespladserne i synagogen, sad Herodes Antipas’ officielle observatører, som havde fået til opgave at finde ud af sandheden om de foruroligende rapporter om, at befolkningen havde forsøgt at udråbe Jesus til jødernes konge ovre i hans bror Filips domæne.		153:1.1 (1707.4) A distinguished congregation greeted Jesus at three o’clock on this exquisite Sabbath afternoon in the new 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 neighboring 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 observers of Herod Antipas, who had been directed to ascertain the truth concerning the disturbing reports that an attempt had been made by the populace to proclaim Jesus the king of the Jews, over in the domains of his brother Philip.
153:1.2 (1708.1) Jesus forstod, at han stod over for en umiddelbar erklæring om åbenlys krigsførelse fra sine voksende fjender, og han valgte modigt at gå i offensiven. Ved bespisningen af de fem tusinde havde han udfordret deres forestillinger om den materielle Messias; nu valgte han igen åbent at angribe deres forestilling om den jødiske befrier. Denne krise, som begyndte med bespisningen af de fem tusinde, og som sluttede med denne sabbat-eftermiddagsprædiken, var den ydre vending i tidevandet af folkelig berømmelse og anerkendelse. Fra nu af skulle rigets arbejde i stigende grad dreje sig om den vigtigere opgave at vinde varige åndelige konvertitter til menneskehedens ægte religiøse broderskab. Denne prædiken markerer krisen i overgangen fra en periode med diskussion, kontrovers og beslutning til en periode med åben krig og endelig accept eller endelig afvisning.		153:1.2 (1708.1) 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 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 Jewish deliverer. This crisis, which began with the 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 (1708.2) Mesteren vidste godt, at mange af hans tilhængere langsomt, men sikkert var ved at forberede deres sind på endeligt at afvise ham. Han vidste også, at mange af hans disciple langsomt, men sikkert gennemgik den træning af sindet og den disciplin af sjælen, som ville gøre dem i stand til at sejre over tvivlen og modigt hævde deres fulde tro på evangeliet om riget. Jesus forstod fuldt ud, hvordan mennesker forbereder sig til at træffe beslutninger i en krise og udføre pludselige modige handlinger ved hjælp af den langsomme proces med at vælge mellem de tilbagevendende situationer med godt og ondt. Han udsatte sine udvalgte budbringere for gentagne øvelser i skuffelse og gav dem hyppige og prøvende muligheder for at vælge mellem den rigtige og den forkerte måde at møde åndelige prøvelser på. Han vidste, at han kunne stole på, at hans tilhængere, når de mødte den endelige prøve, ville træffe deres afgørende beslutninger i overensstemmelse med tidligere og sædvanlige mentale holdninger og åndelige reaktioner.		153:1.3 (1708.2) 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 rehearsals 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.
153:1.4 (1708.3) Denne krise i Jesu liv på jorden begyndte med bespisningen af de fem tusinde og sluttede med denne prædiken i synagogen; krisen i apostlenes liv begyndte med denne prædiken i synagogen og fortsatte i et helt år og sluttede først med Mesterens retssag og korsfæstelse.		153:1.4 (1708.3) This crisis in Jesus’ earth life began with the feeding of the five thousand and ended with this sermon in the synagogue; the crisis in the lives of the apostles began with this sermon in the synagogue and continued for a whole year, ending only with the Master’s trial and crucifixion.
153:1.5 (1708.4) Som de sad der i synagogen den eftermiddag, før Jesus begyndte at tale, var der kun ét stort mysterium, kun ét stort spørgsmål, som alle tænkte på. Både hans venner og hans fjender grublede over én tanke, og det var: “Hvorfor vendte han selv så bevidst og effektivt strømmen af folkelig begejstring?” Og det var umiddelbart før og umiddelbart efter denne prædiken, at tvivlen og skuffelserne hos hans utilfredse tilhængere voksede til ubevidst modstand og til sidst blev til egentligt had. Det var efter denne prædiken i synagogen, at Judas Iskariot fik sin første bevidste tanke om at desertere. Men han fik indtil videre effektivt styr på alle sådanne tilbøjeligheder.		153:1.5 (1708.4) 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 (1708.5) Alle var i en tilstand af rådvildhed. Jesus havde efterladt dem forbløffede og forvirrede. Han havde for nylig været involveret i den største demonstration af overnaturlig kraft, som kendetegnede hele hans karriere. Bespisningen af de fem tusinde var den begivenhed i hans jordiske liv, som appellerede mest til den jødiske opfattelse af den forventede Messias. Men denne ekstraordinære fordel blev øjeblikkeligt og uforklarligt opvejet af hans hurtige og utvetydige afvisning af at blive gjort til konge.		153:1.6 (1708.5) 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 feeding of the five thousand was the one event of his earth life which made the greatest appeal to the 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 (1709.1) Fredag aften og igen sabbatsmorgen havde lederne i Jerusalem arbejdet længe og ihærdigt sammen med Jairus for at forhindre Jesus i at tale i synagogen, men det var forgæves. Jairus’ eneste svar på alle disse bønner var: “Jeg har imødekommet denne anmodning, og jeg vil ikke bryde mit ord.”		153:1.7 (1709.1) 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’s only reply to all this pleading was: “I have granted this request, and I will not violate my word.”
2. Den epokegørende prædiken ^top		2. The Epochal Sermon ^top
153:2.1 (1709.2) Jesus indledte denne prædiken med at læse op fra loven, som den findes i Femte Mosebog: “Men det skal ske, at hvis dette folk ikke hører på Guds røst, så skal overtrædelsens forbandelser overgå dem. Herren skal lade jer blive slået af jeres fjender, og I skal blive flyttet til alle jordens riger. Og Herren skal bringe dig og den konge, du har indsat over dig, i hænderne på en fremmed nation. Du skal blive til forundring, et ordsprog og et rygte blandt alle folkeslag. Dine sønner og dine døtre skal gå i fangenskab. De fremmede blandt jer skal stige højt i autoritet, mens I bliver bragt meget lavt. Og disse ting skal ramme dig og din slægt til evig tid, fordi du ikke ville høre på Herrens ord. Derfor skal I tjene jeres fjender, som kommer imod jer. I skal udholde sult og tørst og bære dette fremmede åg af jern. Herren skal føre et folk imod jer langt borte fra, fra jordens ende, et folk, hvis sprog I ikke skal forstå, et folk med et voldsomt ansigt, et folk, der ikke vil tage hensyn til jer. Og de skal belejre dig i alle dine byer, indtil de høje fæstningsmure, som du har stolet på, falder ned; og hele landet skal falde i deres hænder. Og det skal ske, at I vil blive drevet til at spise frugten af jeres egne kroppe, kødet af jeres sønner og døtre, under denne belejringstid, på grund af den trængsel, hvormed jeres fjender vil presse jer”		153:2.1 (1709.2) Jesus introduced this sermon by reading from the law as found in Deuteronomy: “But it shall come to pass, if this people will not hearken to the voice of God, that the curses of transgression shall surely overtake them. The Lord shall cause you to be smitten by your enemies; you shall be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. And the Lord shall bring you and the king you have set up over you into the hands of a strange nation. You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations. Your sons and your daughters shall go into captivity. The strangers among you shall rise high in authority while you are brought very low. And these things shall be upon you and your seed forever because you would not hearken to the word of the Lord. Therefore shall you serve your enemies who shall come against you. You shall endure hunger and thirst and wear this alien yoke of iron. The Lord shall bring against you a nation from afar, from the end of the earth, a nation whose tongue you shall not understand, a nation of fierce countenance, a nation which will have little regard for you. And they shall besiege you in all your towns until the high fortified walls wherein you have trusted come down; and all the land shall fall into their hands. And it shall come to pass that you will be driven to eat the fruit of your own bodies, the flesh of your sons and daughters, during this time of siege, because of the straitness wherewith your enemies shall press you.”
153:2.2 (1709.3) Og da Jesus var færdig med denne læsning, vendte han sig mod profeterne og læste fra Jeremias: “‘Hvis I ikke hører på mine tjenere, profeterne, som jeg har sendt jer, så vil jeg gøre dette hus til Shilo, og jeg vil gøre denne by til en forbandelse for alle jordens folkeslag.’ Og præsterne og lærerne hørte Jeremias tale disse ord i Herrens hus. Og det skete, at da Jeremias var færdig med at tale alt det, Herren havde befalet ham at tale til hele folket, greb præsterne og lærerne fat i ham og sagde: ‘Du skal visselig dø.’ Og hele folket stimlede sammen om Jeremias i Herrens hus. Og da Judas fyrster hørte dette, satte de sig til doms over Jeremias. Da talte præsterne og lærerne til fyrsterne og til hele folket og sagde: ‘Denne mand er værdig til at dø, for han har profeteret mod vores by, og I har hørt ham med jeres egne ører.’ Da talte Jeremias til alle fyrsterne og til hele folket: ‘Herren har sendt mig for at profetere mod dette hus og mod denne by med alle de ord, som I har hørt. Derfor skal I nu ændre jeres veje og gøre jeres gerninger bedre og adlyde Herren jeres Guds røst, så I kan undslippe det onde, der er blevet udtalt over jer. Hvad mig angår, se, jeg er i jeres hænder. Gør med mig, hvad der forekommer jer godt og rigtigt. Men I skal vide, at hvis I slår mig ihjel, vil I bringe uskyldigt blod over jer selv og over dette folk, for det er sandt, at Herren har sendt mig for at tale alle disse ord i jeres ører.’		153:2.2 (1709.3) And when Jesus had finished this reading, he turned to the Prophets and read from Jeremiah: “‘If you will not hearken to the words of my servants the prophets whom I have sent you, then will I make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’ And the priests and the teachers heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. And it came to pass that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and teachers laid hold of him, saying, ‘You shall surely die.’ And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. And when the princes of Judah heard these things, they sat in judgment on Jeremiah. Then spoke the priests and the teachers to the princes and to all the people, saying: ‘This man is worthy to die, for he has prophesied against our city, and you have heard him with your own ears.’ Then spoke Jeremiah to all the princes and to all the people: ‘The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words which you have heard. Now, therefore, amend your ways and reform your doings and obey the voice of the Lord your God that you may escape the evil which has been pronounced against you. As for me, behold I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right in your eyes. But know you for certain that, if you put me to death, you shall bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this people, for of a truth the Lord has sent me to speak all these words in your ears.’
153:2.3 (1710.1) “Datidens præster og lærere forsøgte at dræbe Jeremias, men dommerne ville ikke gå med til det, selv om de for hans advarende ord lod ham hænge i snore i et beskidt fangehul, indtil han sank i mudder op til armhulerne. Det er, hvad dette folk gjorde ved profeten Jeremias, da han adlød Herrens befaling om at advare sine brødre om deres forestående politiske undergang. I dag ønsker jeg at spørge dig: Hvad vil dette folks ypperstepræster og religiøse ledere gøre med den mand, der vover at advare dem om deres åndelige undergang? Vil I også forsøge at slå den lærer ihjel, som vover at forkynde Herrens ord, og som ikke frygter at påpege, hvor I nægter at vandre på lysets vej, som fører til indgangen til Himmeriget?		153:2.3 (1710.1) “The priests and teachers of that day sought to kill Jeremiah, but the judges would not consent, albeit, for his words of warning, they did let him down by cords in a filthy dungeon until he sank in mire up to his armpits. That is what this people did to the Prophet Jeremiah when he obeyed the Lord’s command to warn his brethren of their impending political downfall. Today, I desire to ask you: What will the chief priests and religious leaders of this people do with the man who dares to warn them of the day of their spiritual doom? Will you also seek to put to death the teacher who dares to proclaim the word of the Lord, and who fears not to point out wherein you refuse to walk in the way of light which leads to the entrance to the kingdom of heaven?
153:2.4 (1710.2) “Hvad er det, du søger som bevis på min mission på jorden? Vi har ladet jer være uforstyrrede i jeres positioner med indflydelse og magt, mens vi har forkyndt det glade budskab til de fattige og udstødte. Vi har ikke foretaget noget fjendtligt angreb på det, som I holder i ære, men har snarere proklameret ny frihed for menneskets frygtsomme sjæl. Jeg kom til verden for at åbenbare min Fader og for på jorden at etablere det åndelige broderskab mellem Guds sønner, Himmeriget. Og på trods af, at jeg så mange gange har mindet jer om, at mit rige ikke er af denne verden, har min Far alligevel givet jer mange manifestationer af materielle vidundere foruden mere beviselige åndelige forvandlinger og fornyelser.		153:2.4 (1710.2) “What is it you seek as evidence of my mission on earth? We have left you undisturbed in your positions of influence and power while we preached glad tidings to the poor and the outcast. We have made no hostile attack upon that which you hold in reverence but have rather proclaimed new liberty for man’s fear-ridden soul. I came into the world to reveal my Father and to establish on earth the spiritual brotherhood of the sons of God, the kingdom of heaven. And notwithstanding that I have so many times reminded you that my kingdom is not of this world, still has my Father granted you many manifestations of material wonders in addition to more evidential spiritual transformations and regenerations.
153:2.5 (1710.3) “Hvilket nyt tegn er det, du søger i mine hænder? Jeg erklærer, at I allerede har tilstrækkelige beviser til at kunne træffe jeres beslutning. Sandelig, sandelig, jeg siger til mange, der sidder foran mig i dag, at I står over for nødvendigheden af at vælge, hvilken vej I vil gå; og jeg siger til jer, som Josva sagde til jeres forfædre: ‘Vælg i dag, hvem I vil tjene.’ I dag står mange af jer ved skillevejen.		153:2.5 (1710.3) “What new sign is it that you seek at my hands? I declare that you already have sufficient evidence to enable you to make your decision. Verily, verily, I say to many who sit before me this day, you are confronted with the necessity of choosing which way you will go; and I say to you, as Joshua said to your forefathers, ‘choose you this day whom you will serve.’ Today, many of you stand at the parting of the ways.
153:2.6 (1710.4) “Da nogle af jer ikke kunne finde mig efter festlighederne på den anden side, hyrede I fiskerflåden fra Tiberias, som en uge tidligere havde søgt ly i nærheden under en storm, til at forfølge mig, og hvorfor? Ikke for sandhedens og retfærdighedens skyld, eller for at du bedre skulle vide, hvordan du skulle tjene og hjælpe dine medmennesker! Nej, men snarere for at I kunne få mere brød, som I ikke havde arbejdet for. Det var ikke for at fylde jeres sjæle med livets ord, men kun for at fylde jeres maver med lethedens brød. Og længe har I fået at vide, at Messias, når han kom, ville gøre de undere, som ville gøre livet behageligt og let for hele det udvalgte folk. Det er derfor ikke mærkeligt, at I, der er blevet undervist således, længes efter brødene og fiskene. Men jeg erklærer jer, at det ikke er Menneskesønnens mission. Jeg er kommet for at forkynde åndelig frihed, undervise i evig sandhed og fremme levende tro.		153:2.6 (1710.4) “Some of you, when you could not find me after the feasting of the multitude on the other side, hired the Tiberias fishing fleet, which a week before had taken shelter near by during a storm, to go in pursuit of me, and what for? Not for truth and righteousness or that you might the better know how to serve and minister to your fellow men! No, but rather that you might have more bread for which you had not labored. It was not to fill your souls with the word of life, but only that you might fill the belly with the bread of ease. And long have you been taught that the Messiah, when he should come, would work those wonders which would make life pleasant and easy for all the chosen people. It is not strange, then, that you who have been thus taught should long for the loaves and the fishes. But I declare to you that such is not the mission of the Son of Man. I have come to proclaim spiritual liberty, teach eternal truth, and foster living faith.
153:2.7 (1710.5) “Mine brødre, stræb ikke efter det kød, der forgår, men søg snarere den åndelige føde, der nærer selv til evigt liv; og dette er livets brød, som Sønnen giver til alle, der vil tage det og spise, for Faderen har givet Sønnen dette liv uden mål. Og da I spurgte mig: ‘Hvad skal vi gøre for at udføre Guds gerninger?’ sagde jeg det klart til jer: ‘Dette er Guds værk, at I tror på ham, som han har sendt.’”		153:2.7 (1710.5) “My brethren, hanker not after the meat which perishes but rather seek for the spiritual food that nourishes even to eternal life; and this is the bread of life which the Son gives to all who will take it and eat, for the Father has given the Son this life without measure. And when you asked me, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ I plainly told you: ‘This is the work of God, that you believe him whom he has sent.’”
153:2.8 (1710.6) Og så sagde Jesus og pegede op på en krukke med manna, som prydede overliggeren i den nye synagoge, og som var pyntet med drueklaser: “I har troet, at jeres forfædre i ørkenen spiste manna—himlens brød—men jeg siger jer, at dette var jordens brød. Mens Moses ikke gav jeres fædre brød fra himlen, står min far nu klar til at give jer livets sande brød. Himlens brød er det, der kommer ned fra Gud og giver evigt liv til verdens mennesker. Og når I siger til mig: Giv os dette levende brød, vil jeg svare: Jeg er dette livets brød. Den, der kommer til mig, skal ikke sulte, og den, der tror på mig, skal aldrig tørste. I har set mig, levet med mig og set mine gerninger, og dog tror I ikke, at jeg er udgået fra Faderen. Men de, der tror—skal ikke frygte. Alle, der ledes af Faderen, skal komme til mig, og den, der kommer til mig, skal aldrig blive udstødt.		153:2.8 (1710.6) And then said Jesus, pointing up to the device of a pot of manna which decorated the lintel of this new synagogue, and which was embellished with grape clusters: “You have thought that your forefathers in the wilderness ate manna—the bread of heaven—but I say to you that this was the bread of earth. While Moses did not give your fathers bread from heaven, my Father now stands ready to give you the true bread of life. The bread of heaven is that which comes down from God and gives eternal life to the men of the world. And when you say to me, Give us this living bread, I will answer: I am this bread of life. He who comes to me shall not hunger, while he who believes me shall never thirst. You have seen me, lived with me, and beheld my works, yet you believe not that I came forth from the Father. But to those who do believe—fear not. All those led of the Father shall come to me, and he who comes to me shall in nowise be cast out.
153:2.9 (1711.1) “Og lad mig nu én gang for alle erklære for jer, at jeg er kommet ned på jorden, ikke for at gøre min egen vilje, men hans vilje, som har sendt mig. Og dette er den endelige vilje fra ham, der har sendt mig, at jeg ikke skal miste én af alle dem, han har givet mig. Og dette er Faderens vilje: At enhver, som ser Sønnen, og som tror på ham, skal have evigt liv. Så sent som i går gav jeg jer brød til jeres kroppe; i dag tilbyder jeg jer livets brød til jeres sultne sjæle. Vil I nu tage imod åndens brød, som I dengang så villigt spiste denne verdens brød?”		153:2.9 (1711.1) “And now let me declare to you, once and for all time, that I have come down upon the earth, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the final will of Him who sent me, that of all those he has given me I should not lose one. And this is the will of the Father: That every one who beholds the Son and who believes him shall have eternal life. Only yesterday did I feed you with bread for your bodies; today I offer you the bread of life for your hungry souls. Will you now take the bread of the spirit as you then so willingly ate the bread of this world?”
153:2.10 (1711.2) Da Jesus holdt en kort pause for at se ud over menigheden, rejste en af lærerne fra Jerusalem (et medlem af sanhedrinen) sig op og spurgte: “Forstår jeg dig sådan, at du siger, at du er det brød, der kommer ned fra himlen, og at den manna, som Moses gav vore fædre i ørkenen, ikke gjorde det?” Og Jesus svarede farisæeren: “Du har forstået det rigtigt.” Så sagde farisæeren: “Men er du ikke Jesus fra Nazaret, søn af tømreren Josef? Er din far og mor og dine brødre og søstre ikke velkendte for mange af os? Hvordan kan det så være, at du står her i Guds hus og siger, at du er kommet ned fra himlen?”		153:2.10 (1711.2) As Jesus paused for a moment to look over the congregation, one of the teachers from Jerusalem (a member of the Sanhedrin) rose up and asked: “Do I understand you to say that you are the bread which comes down from heaven, and that the manna which Moses gave to our fathers in the wilderness did not?” And Jesus answered the Pharisee, “You understood aright.” Then said the Pharisee: “But are you not Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph, the carpenter? Are not your father and mother, as well as your brothers and sisters, well known to many of us? How then is it that you appear here in God’s house and declare that you have come down from heaven?”
153:2.11 (1711.3) På dette tidspunkt var der megen murren i synagogen, og der var fare for en sådan tumult, at Jesus rejste sig og sagde: “Lad os være tålmodige; sandheden lider aldrig under en ærlig undersøgelse. Jeg er alt, hvad I siger, og mere til. Faderen og jeg er ét; Sønnen gør kun det, som Faderen lærer ham, mens alle dem, der gives til Sønnen af Faderen, vil Sønnen modtage til sig selv. I har læst, hvor der står skrevet i profeterne: ‘I skal alle undervises af Gud,’ og at ‘de, som Faderen underviser, vil også høre hans Søn.’ Enhver, der giver efter for undervisningen fra Faderens indre ånd, vil til sidst komme til mig. Ikke at noget menneske har set Faderen, men Faderens ånd lever i mennesket. Og Sønnen, som kom ned fra himlen, han har helt sikkert set Faderen. Og de, der virkelig tror på denne Søn, har allerede evigt liv.		153:2.11 (1711.3) By this time there was much murmuring in the synagogue, and such a tumult was threatened that Jesus stood up and said: “Let us be patient; the truth never suffers from honest examination. I am all that you say but more. The Father and I are one; the Son does only that which the Father teaches him, while all those who are given to the Son by the Father, the Son will receive to himself. You have read where it is written in the Prophets, ‘You shall all be taught by God,’ and that ‘Those whom the Father teaches will hear also his Son.’ Every one who yields to the teaching of the Father’s indwelling spirit will eventually come to me. Not that any man has seen the Father, but the Father’s spirit does live within man. And the Son who came down from heaven, he has surely seen the Father. And those who truly believe this Son already have eternal life.
153:2.12 (1711.4) “Jeg er dette livets brød. Jeres fædre spiste manna i ørkenen og er døde. Men dette brød, som kommer ned fra Gud, hvis en mand spiser det, skal han aldrig dø i ånden. Jeg gentager: Jeg er dette levende brød, og enhver sjæl, der opnår erkendelsen af denne forenede natur af Gud og menneske, skal leve evigt. Og dette livets brød, som jeg giver til alle, der vil tage imod, er min egen levende og forenede natur. Faderen i Sønnen og Sønnen ét med Faderen—det er min livgivende åbenbaring til verden og min frelsende gave til alle nationer.”		153:2.12 (1711.4) “I am this bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead. But this bread which comes down from God, if a man eats thereof, he shall never die in spirit. I repeat, I am this living bread, and every soul who attains the realization of this united nature of God and man shall live forever. And this bread of life which I give to all who will receive is my own living and combined nature. The Father in the Son and the Son one with the Father—that is my life-giving revelation to the world and my saving gift to all nations.”
153:2.13 (1711.5) Da Jesus var færdig med at tale, lod synagogeforstanderen menigheden gå, men de ville ikke forlade stedet. De stimlede sammen omkring Jesus for at stille flere spørgsmål, mens andre mumlede og skændtes indbyrdes. Og sådan fortsatte det i mere end tre timer. Klokken var langt over syv, før publikum endelig spredtes.		153:2.13 (1711.5) When Jesus had finished speaking, the ruler of the synagogue dismissed the congregation, but they would not depart. They crowded up around Jesus to ask more questions while others murmured and disputed among themselves. And this state of affairs continued for more than three hours. It was well past seven o’clock before the audience finally dispersed.
3. Mødet bagefter ^top		3. The After Meeting ^top
153:3.1 (1712.1) Der blev stillet mange spørgsmål til Jesus under dette efterfølgende møde. Nogle blev stillet af hans rådvilde disciple, men flere blev stillet af hånlige ikke-troende, som kun forsøgte at gøre ham forlegen og fange ham.		153:3.1 (1712.1) Many were the questions asked Jesus during this after meeting. Some were asked by his perplexed disciples, but more were asked by caviling unbelievers who sought only to embarrass and entrap him.
153:3.2 (1712.2) En af de besøgende farisæere, som stod på en lysestage, råbte dette spørgsmål: “Du siger til os, at du er livets brød. Hvordan kan du give os dit kød at spise eller dit blod at drikke? Hvad nytter din lære, hvis den ikke kan føres ud i livet?” Og Jesus svarede på dette spørgsmål og sagde: “Jeg har ikke lært jer, at mit kød er livets brød, eller at mit blod er dets vand. Men jeg sagde, at mit liv i kødet er en skænkelse af det himmelske brød. Det faktum, at Guds ord er overdraget i kødet, og fænomenet Menneskesønnen, der er underlagt Guds vilje, udgør en erfaringsvirkelighed, der svarer til den guddommelige næring. I kan ikke spise mit kød eller drikke mit blod, men I kan blive ét i ånden med mig, ligesom jeg er ét i ånden med Faderen. I kan blive næret af Guds evige ord, som i sandhed er livets brød, og som er blevet skænket i dødeligt køds skikkelse; og I kan blive vandet i sjælen af den guddommelige ånd, som i sandhed er livets vand. Faderen har sendt mig til verden for at vise, hvordan han ønsker at bo i og lede alle mennesker; og jeg har levet dette liv i kødet for at inspirere alle mennesker til altid at søge at kende og gøre den iboende himmelske Faders vilje.”		153:3.2 (1712.2) One of the visiting Pharisees, mounting a lampstand, shouted out this question: “You tell us that you are the bread of life. How can you give us your flesh to eat or your blood to drink? What avail is your teaching if it cannot be carried out?” And Jesus answered this question, saying: “I did not teach you that my flesh is the bread of life nor that my blood is the water thereof. But I did say that my life in the flesh is a bestowal of the bread of heaven. The fact of the Word of God bestowed in the flesh and the phenomenon of the Son of Man subject to the will of God, constitute a reality of experience which is equivalent to the divine sustenance. You cannot eat my flesh nor can you drink my blood, but you can become one in spirit with me even as I am one in spirit with the Father. You can be nourished by the eternal word of God, which is indeed the bread of life, and which has been bestowed in the likeness of mortal flesh; and you can be watered in soul by the divine spirit, which is truly the water of life. The Father has sent me into the world to show how he desires to indwell and direct all men; and I have so lived this life in the flesh as to inspire all men likewise ever to seek to know and do the will of the indwelling heavenly Father.”
153:3.3 (1712.3) Så sagde en af spionerne fra Jerusalem, som havde observeret Jesus og hans apostle: “Vi bemærker, at hverken du eller dine apostle vasker jeres hænder ordentligt, før I spiser brød. I må vide, at en sådan praksis som at spise med urene og uvaskede hænder er en overtrædelse af de ældstes lov. I vasker heller ikke jeres drikkebægre og spisekar ordentligt. Hvorfor er det, at I viser en sådan mangel på respekt for fædrenes traditioner og de ældstes love?” Og da Jesus hørte ham tale, svarede han: “Hvorfor er det, at I overtræder Guds bud med jeres traditioners love? Buddet siger: ‘Ær din far og din mor,’ og at du skal dele dine ejendele med dem, hvis det er nødvendigt; men I vedtager en traditionslov, som tillader pligtopfyldende børn at sige, at de penge, som forældrene kunne have fået hjælp med, er blevet ‘givet til Gud.’ De ældres lov fritager således sådanne snu børn for deres ansvar, uanset at børnene efterfølgende bruger alle disse penge til deres egen komfort. Hvorfor er det, at I på denne måde gør buddet ugyldigt ved jeres egen tradition? Esajas profeterede om jer hyklere og sagde: ‘Dette folk ærer mig med deres læber, men deres hjerte er langt fra mig. Forgæves tilbeder de mig, idet de lærer menneskers forskrifter som deres læresætninger.’		153:3.3 (1712.3) Then one of the Jerusalem spies who had been observing Jesus and his apostles, said: “We notice that neither you nor your apostles wash your hands properly before you eat bread. You must well know that such a practice as eating with defiled and unwashed hands is a transgression of the law of the elders. Neither do you properly wash your drinking cups and eating vessels. Why is it that you show such disrespect for the traditions of the fathers and the laws of our elders?” And when Jesus heard him speak, he answered: “Why is it that you transgress the commandments of God by the laws of your tradition? The commandment says, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and directs that you share with them your substance if necessary; but you enact a law of tradition which permits undutiful children to say that the money wherewith the parents might have been assisted has been ‘given to God.’ The law of the elders thus relieves such crafty children of their responsibility, notwithstanding that the children subsequently use all such monies for their own comfort. Why is it that you in this way make void the commandment by your own tradition? Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, saying: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.’
153:3.4 (1712.4) “Du kan se, hvordan det er, at du svigter buddet, mens du holder fast i menneskers tradition. I er i det hele taget villige til at forkaste Guds ord, mens I fastholder jeres egne traditioner. Og på mange andre måder vover I at sætte jeres egen lære over loven og profeterne.”		153:3.4 (1712.4) “You can see how it is that you desert the commandment while you hold fast to the tradition of men. Altogether willing are you to reject the word of God while you maintain your own traditions. And in many other ways do you dare to set up your own teachings above the law and the prophets.”
153:3.5 (1712.5) Jesus rettede derefter sine bemærkninger til alle de tilstedeværende. Han sagde: “Men hør på mig, alle sammen. Det er ikke det, der kommer ind i munden, der gør mennesket åndeligt urent, men derimod det, der kommer ud af munden og fra hjertet.” Men selv apostlene forstod ikke helt betydningen af hans ord, for Simon Peter spurgte ham også: “For at nogle af dine tilhørere ikke skal blive unødigt fornærmede, vil du så forklare os betydningen af disse ord?” Og så sagde Jesus til Peter: “Har du også svært ved at forstå? Ved du ikke, at enhver plante, som min himmelske Fader ikke har plantet, skal rykkes op med rode? Vend nu din opmærksomhed mod dem, der vil kende sandheden. Du kan ikke tvinge mennesker til at elske sandheden. Mange af disse lærere er blinde vejvisere. Og I ved, at hvis de blinde leder de blinde, falder de begge ned i afgrunden. Men hør efter, mens jeg fortæller jer sandheden om de ting, der moralsk besudler og åndeligt forurener mennesker. Jeg erklærer, at det ikke er det, der kommer ind i kroppen gennem munden eller får adgang til sindet gennem øjne og ører, der besudler mennesket. Mennesket bliver kun besmittet af det onde, som kan stamme fra hjertet, og som kommer til udtryk i sådanne uhellige personers ord og gerninger. Ved du ikke, at det er fra hjertet, at der kommer onde tanker, onde planer om mord, tyveri og ægteskabsbrud, sammen med jalousi, stolthed, vrede, hævn, skældsord og falsk vidnesbyrd? Og det er netop sådanne ting, der gør mennesker urene, og ikke at de spiser brød med ceremonielt urene hænder.”		153:3.5 (1712.5) Jesus then directed his remarks to all present. He said: “But hearken to me, all of you. It is not that which enters into the mouth that spiritually defiles the man, but rather that which proceeds out of the mouth and from the heart.” But even the apostles failed fully to grasp the meaning of his words, for Simon Peter also asked him: “Lest some of your hearers be unnecessarily offended, would you explain to us the meaning of these words?” And then said Jesus to Peter: “Are you also hard of understanding? Know you not that every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up? Turn now your attention to those who would know the truth. You cannot compel men to love the truth. Many of these teachers are blind guides. And you know that, if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit. But hearken while I tell you the truth concerning those things which morally defile and spiritually contaminate men. I declare it is not that which enters the body by the mouth or gains access to the mind through the eyes and ears, that defiles the man. Man is only defiled by that evil which may originate within the heart, and which finds expression in the words and deeds of such unholy persons. Do you not know it is from the heart that there come forth evil thoughts, wicked projects of murder, theft, and adulteries, together with jealousy, pride, anger, revenge, railings, and false witness? And it is just such things that defile men, and not that they eat bread with ceremonially unclean hands.”
153:3.6 (1713.1) De farisæiske kommissærer i Jerusalems Sanhedrin var nu næsten overbeviste om, at Jesus måtte anholdes for blasfemi eller for at have overtrådt jødernes hellige love, og derfor forsøgte de at inddrage ham i diskussionen om og et muligt angreb på nogle af de ældres traditioner eller nationens såkaldte mundtlige love. Uanset hvor lidt vand, der måtte være, ville disse traditionelt slavebundne jøder aldrig undlade at gennemføre den påkrævede ceremonielle vask af hænderne før hvert måltid. Det var deres overbevisning, at “det er bedre at dø end at overtræde de ældstes bud.” Spionerne stillede dette spørgsmål, fordi det var blevet rapporteret, at Jesus havde sagt: “Frelse er et spørgsmål om rene hjerter snarere end om rene hænder.” Men sådanne overbevisninger, når de først er blevet en del af ens religion, er svære at komme væk fra. Selv mange år efter denne dag var apostlen Peter stadig bundet af frygt til mange af disse traditioner om rent og urent, og han blev først endelig befriet, da han oplevede en ekstraordinær og levende drøm. Alt dette kan bedre forstås, når man husker, at disse jøder så på det at spise med uvaskede hænder i samme lys som at handle med en skøge, og begge dele blev straffet med ekskommunikation.		153:3.6 (1713.1) The Pharisaic commissioners of the Jerusalem Sanhedrin were now almost convinced that Jesus must be apprehended on a charge of blasphemy or on one of flouting the sacred law of the Jews; wherefore their efforts to involve him in the discussion of, and possible attack upon, some of the traditions of the elders, or so-called oral laws of the nation. No matter how scarce water might be, these traditionally enslaved Jews would never fail to go through with the required ceremonial washing of the hands before every meal. It was their belief that “it is better to die than to transgress the commandments of the elders.” The spies asked this question because it had been reported that Jesus had said, “Salvation is a matter of clean hearts rather than of clean hands.” But such beliefs, when they once become a part of one’s religion, are hard to get away from. Even many years after this day the Apostle Peter was still held in the bondage of fear to many of these traditions about things clean and unclean, only being finally delivered by experiencing an extraordinary and vivid dream. All of this can the better be understood when it is recalled that these Jews looked upon eating with unwashed hands in the same light as commerce with a harlot, and both were equally punishable by excommunication.
153:3.7 (1713.2) Således valgte Mesteren at diskutere og afsløre tåbeligheden i hele det rabbinske system af regler og forordninger, som var repræsenteret af den mundtlige lov—de ældres traditioner, som alle blev betragtet som mere hellige og mere bindende for jøderne end selv Skriftens lære. Og Jesus talte med mindre forbehold, fordi han vidste, at timen var kommet, hvor han ikke kunne gøre mere for at forhindre et åbent brud i forholdet til disse religiøse ledere.		153:3.7 (1713.2) Thus did the Master elect to discuss and expose the folly of the whole rabbinic system of rules and regulations which was represented by the oral law—the traditions of the elders, all of which were regarded as more sacred and more binding upon the Jews than even the teachings of the Scriptures. And Jesus spoke out with less reserve because he knew the hour had come when he could do nothing more to prevent an open rupture of relations with these religious leaders.
4. De sidste ord i synagogen ^top		4. Last Words in the Synagogue ^top
153:4.1 (1713.3) Midt i diskussionerne på dette eftermøde bragte en af farisæerne fra Jerusalem en fortvivlet ung mand til Jesus, som var besat af en uregerlig og oprørsk ånd. Han førte denne demente dreng hen til Jesus og sagde: “Hvad kan du gøre for sådan en lidelse som denne? Kan du uddrive djævle?” Og da Mesteren så på den unge, blev han bevæget af medlidenhed, og da han vinkede drengen hen til sig, tog han ham i hånden og sagde: “Du ved, hvem jeg er; kom ud af ham; og jeg pålægger en af dine loyale kammerater at sørge for, at du ikke vender tilbage.” Og straks var drengen normal og ved sine fulde fem. Og dette er det første tilfælde, hvor Jesus virkelig driver en “ond ånd” ud af et menneske. Alle de tidligere tilfælde var kun formodet besættelse af djævelen; men dette var et ægte tilfælde af dæmonisk besættelse, endda sådan som det undertiden forekom i de dage og lige op til pinsedagen, da Mesterens ånd blev udgydt over alt kød, hvilket gjorde det for evigt umuligt for disse få himmelske oprørere at drage sådan fordel af visse ustabile typer af mennesker.		153:4.1 (1713.3) In the midst of the discussions of this after meeting, one of the Pharisees from Jerusalem brought to Jesus a distraught youth who was possessed of an unruly and rebellious spirit. Leading this demented lad up to Jesus, he said: “What can you do for such affliction as this? Can you cast out devils?” And when the Master looked upon the youth, he was moved with compassion and, beckoning for the lad to come to him, took him by the hand and said: “You know who I am; come out of him; and I charge one of your loyal fellows to see that you do not return.” And immediately the lad was normal and in his right mind. And this is the first case where Jesus really cast an “evil spirit” out of a human being. All of the previous cases were only supposed possession of the devil; but this was a genuine case of demoniac possession, even such as sometimes occurred in those days and right up to the day of Pentecost, when the Master’s spirit was poured out upon all flesh, making it forever impossible for these few celestial rebels to take such advantage of certain unstable types of human beings.
153:4.2 (1714.1) Da folk undrede sig, rejste en af farisæerne sig og anklagede Jesus for at kunne gøre disse ting, fordi han var i ledtog med djævle; at han indrømmede i det sprog, han brugte, da han uddrev denne djævel, at de kendte hinanden; og han fortsatte med at sige, at de religiøse lærere og ledere i Jerusalem havde besluttet, at Jesus gjorde alle sine såkaldte mirakler ved hjælp af Beelzebub, djævlenes fyrste. Sagde farisæeren: “Hav intet at gøre med denne mand; han er i ledtog med Satan.”		153:4.2 (1714.1) When the people marveled, one of the Pharisees stood up and charged that Jesus could do these things because he was in league with devils; that he admitted in the language which he employed in casting out this devil that they were known to each other; and he went on to state that the religious teachers and leaders at Jerusalem had decided that Jesus did all his so-called miracles by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Said the Pharisee: “Have nothing to do with this man; he is in partnership with Satan.”
153:4.3 (1714.2) Da sagde Jesus: “Hvordan kan Satan uddrive Satan? Et rige, der er splittet imod sig selv, kan ikke bestå; hvis et hus er splittet imod sig selv, bliver det snart lagt øde. Kan en by modstå en belejring, hvis den ikke er forenet? Hvis Satan uddriver Satan, er han splittet mod sig selv; hvordan skal hans rige så bestå? Men du skal vide, at ingen kan gå ind i en stærk mands hus og plyndre hans ejendele, medmindre han først overmander og binder den stærke mand. Og hvis jeg ved Beelzebubs kraft uddriver djævle, hvem uddriver dem så ved jeres sønner? Derfor skal de være jeres dommere. Men hvis jeg ved Guds ånd uddriver djævle, så er Guds rige virkelig kommet over jer. Hvis I ikke var forblændede af fordomme og vildledte af frygt og stolthed, ville I let kunne se, at en, der er større end djævle, står midt iblandt jer. I tvinger mig til at erklære, at den, der ikke er med mig, er imod mig, mens den, der ikke samles med mig, spredes for alle vinde. Lad mig udtale en højtidelig advarsel til jer, der med åbne øjne og med overlagt ondskab formaster jer til bevidst at tilskrive Guds gerninger til djævlenes gerninger! Sandelig, sandelig siger jeg jer: Alle jeres synder skal blive tilgivet, selv alle jeres bespottelser, men den, der spotter Gud med overlæg og onde hensigter, skal aldrig opnå tilgivelse. Eftersom sådanne vedholdende syndere aldrig vil søge eller modtage tilgivelse, er de skyldige i den synd, at de for evigt afviser guddommelig tilgivelse.		153:4.3 (1714.2) Then said Jesus: “How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand; if a house be divided against itself, it is soon brought to desolation. Can a city withstand a siege if it is not united? If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? But you should know that no one can enter into the house of a strong man and despoil his goods except he first overpower and bind that strong man. And so, if I by the power of Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I, by the spirit of God, cast out devils, then has the kingdom of God truly come upon you. If you were not blinded by prejudice and misled by fear and pride, you would easily perceive that one who is greater than devils stands in your midst. You compel me to declare that he who is not with me is against me, while he who gathers not with me scatters abroad. Let me utter a solemn warning to you who would presume, with your eyes open and with premeditated malice, knowingly to ascribe the works of God to the doings of devils! Verily, verily, I say to you, all your sins shall be forgiven, even all of your blasphemies, but whosoever shall blaspheme against God with deliberation and wicked intention shall never obtain forgiveness. Since such persistent workers of iniquity will never seek nor receive forgiveness, they are guilty of the sin of eternally rejecting divine forgiveness.
153:4.4 (1714.3) “Mange af jer er i dag kommet til skillevejen; I er kommet til begyndelsen af det uundgåelige valg mellem Faderens vilje og mørkets selvvalgte veje. Og som du nu vælger, sådan skal du til sidst blive. I må enten gøre træet godt og dets frugt god, eller også vil træet blive korrupt og dets frugt korrupt. Jeg erklærer, at i min Faders evige rige kendes træet på sine frugter. Men nogle af jer, der er som hugorme, hvordan kan I, når I allerede har valgt det onde, frembringe gode frugter? Når alt kommer til alt, taler jeres munde ud af overfloden af det onde i jeres hjerter.”		153:4.4 (1714.3) “Many of you have this day come to the parting of the ways; you have come to a beginning of the making of the inevitable choice between the will of the Father and the self-chosen ways of darkness. And as you now choose, so shall you eventually be. You must either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else will the tree become corrupt and its fruit corrupt. I declare that in my Father’s eternal kingdom the tree is known by its fruits. But some of you who are as vipers, how can you, having already chosen evil, bring forth good fruits? After all, out of the abundance of the evil in your hearts your mouths speak.”
153:4.5 (1714.4) Så rejste der sig en anden farisæer, som sagde: “Mester, vi vil gerne have, at du giver os et forudbestemt tegn, som vi kan blive enige om som bevis på din autoritet og ret til at undervise. Vil du gå med til en sådan ordning?” Og da Jesus hørte dette, sagde han: “Denne troløse og tegnsøgende generation søger et tegn, men der skal ikke gives jer noget andet tegn end det, I allerede har, og det, I skal se, når Menneskesønnen går bort fra jer.”		153:4.5 (1714.4) Then stood up another Pharisee, who said: “Teacher, we would have you give us a predetermined sign which we will agree upon as establishing your authority and right to teach. Will you agree to such an arrangement?” And when Jesus heard this, he said: “This faithless and sign-seeking generation seeks a token, but no sign shall be given you other than that which you already have, and that which you shall see when the Son of Man departs from among you.”
153:4.6 (1714.5) Og da han var færdig med at tale, omringede hans apostle ham og førte ham ud af synagogen. I stilhed gik de med ham hjem til Betsaida. De var alle forbløffede og noget forskrækkede over den pludselige ændring i Mesterens undervisningstaktik. De var slet ikke vant til at se ham optræde på en så militant måde.		153:4.6 (1714.5) And when he had finished speaking, his apostles surrounded him and led him from the synagogue. In silence they journeyed home with him to Bethsaida. They were all amazed and somewhat terror-stricken by the sudden change in the Master’s teaching tactics. They were wholly unaccustomed to seeing him perform in such a militant manner.
5. Lørdag aften ^top		5. The Saturday Evening ^top
153:5.1 (1715.1) Gang på gang havde Jesus slået sine apostles håb i stykker, gentagne gange havde han knust deres mest håbefulde forventninger, men ingen tid med skuffelse eller sorg havde nogensinde overgået den, der nu overgik dem. Og nu var der også en reel frygt for deres sikkerhed blandet med deres depression. De var alle overraskende forskrækkede over den pludselige og fuldstændige desertering fra befolkningen. De var også noget skræmte og forvirrede over den uventede dristighed og selvsikre beslutsomhed, som farisæerne, der var kommet ned fra Jerusalem, udviste. Men mest af alt var de forvirrede over Jesu pludselige ændring af taktik. Under normale omstændigheder ville de have hilst denne mere militante holdning velkommen, men da den kom sammen med så meget andet, der var uventet, blev de forskrækkede.		153:5.1 (1715.1) Time and again had Jesus dashed to pieces the hopes of his apostles, repeatedly had he crushed their fondest expectations, but no time of disappointment or season of sorrow had ever equaled that which now overtook them. And, too, there was now admixed with their depression a real fear for their safety. They were all surprisingly startled by the suddenness and completeness of the desertion of the populace. They were also somewhat frightened and disconcerted by the unexpected boldness and assertive determination exhibited by the Pharisees who had come down from Jerusalem. But most of all they were bewildered by Jesus’ sudden change of tactics. Under ordinary circumstances they would have welcomed the appearance of this more militant attitude, but coming as it did, along with so much that was unexpected, it startled them.
153:5.2 (1715.2) Og nu, oven i alle disse bekymringer, da de nåede hjem, nægtede Jesus at spise. I timevis isolerede han sig i et af de øverste rum. Det var næsten midnat, da Joab, lederen af evangelisterne, vendte tilbage og rapporterede, at omkring en tredjedel af hans medarbejdere havde forladt sagen. Hele aftenen var loyale disciple kommet og gået og havde rapporteret, at afskyen for Mesteren var generel i Kapernaum. Lederne fra Jerusalem var ikke sene til at fodre denne følelse af utilfredshed og på alle mulige måder forsøge at fremme bevægelsen væk fra Jesus og hans lære. I disse svære timer holdt de tolv kvinder møde ovre i Peters hus. De var meget oprørte, men ingen af dem deserterede.		153:5.2 (1715.2) And now, on top of all of these worries, when they reached home, Jesus refused to eat. For hours he isolated himself in one of the upper rooms. It was almost midnight when Joab, the leader of the evangelists, returned and reported that about one third of his associates had deserted the cause. All through the evening loyal disciples had come and gone, reporting that the revulsion of feeling toward the Master was general in Capernaum. The leaders from Jerusalem were not slow to feed this feeling of disaffection and in every way possible to seek to promote the movement away from Jesus and his teachings. During these trying hours the twelve women were in session over at Peter’s house. They were tremendously upset, but none of them deserted.
153:5.3 (1715.3) Det var lidt over midnat, da Jesus kom ned fra det øverste kammer og stillede sig blandt de tolv og deres medarbejdere, omkring tredive i alt. Han sagde: “Jeg ved godt, at denne sortering af riget bekymrer jer, men den er uundgåelig. Men efter al den træning, I har fået, var der så nogen god grund til, at I skulle snuble over mine ord? Hvorfor fyldes I med frygt og bestyrtelse, når I ser riget blive tømt for disse lunkne skarer og disse halvhjertede disciple? Hvorfor sørger du, når den nye dag gryr, hvor himmelrigets åndelige lære skinner frem i ny herlighed? Hvis I finder det vanskeligt at udholde denne prøve, hvad vil I så gøre, når Menneskesønnen skal vende tilbage til Faderen? Hvornår og hvordan vil I forberede jer på den tid, hvor jeg stiger op til det sted, hvorfra jeg kom til denne verden?		153:5.3 (1715.3) It was a little after midnight when Jesus came down from the upper chamber and stood among the twelve and their associates, numbering about thirty in all. He said: “I recognize that this sifting of the kingdom distresses you, but it is unavoidable. Still, after all the training you have had, was there any good reason why you should stumble at my words? Why is it that you are filled with fear and consternation when you see the kingdom being divested of these lukewarm multitudes and these halfhearted disciples? Why do you grieve when the new day is dawning for the shining forth in new glory of the spiritual teachings of the kingdom of heaven? If you find it difficult to endure this test, what, then, will you do when the Son of Man must return to the Father? When and how will you prepare yourselves for the time when I ascend to the place whence I came to this world?
153:5.4 (1715.4) “Mine elskede, I skal huske, at det er ånden, der gør levende; kødet og alt, hvad dertil hører, er til ringe nytte. De ord, jeg har talt til jer, er ånd og liv. Vær ved godt mod! Jeg har ikke forladt jer. Mange vil blive fornærmede over den klare tale i disse dage. I har allerede hørt, at mange af mine disciple har vendt om; de vandrer ikke længere med mig. Fra begyndelsen vidste jeg, at disse halvhjertede troende ville falde fra på vejen. Valgte jeg ikke jer tolv mænd og satte jer til at være ambassadører for riget? Og nu, på et tidspunkt som dette, vil I også desertere? Lad hver af jer se på sin egen tro, for en af jer står i stor fare.” Og da Jesus var færdig med at tale, sagde Simon Peter: “Ja, Herre, vi er triste og forvirrede, men vi vil aldrig forlade dig. Du har lært os det evige livs ord. Vi har troet på dig og fulgt dig i al denne tid. Vi vil ikke vende om, for vi ved, at du er sendt af Gud.” Og da Peter holdt op med at tale, nikkede de alle sammen samstemmende til hans løfte om loyalitet.		153:5.4 (1715.4) “My beloved, you must remember that it is the spirit that quickens; the flesh and all that pertains thereto is of little profit. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Be of good cheer! I have not deserted you. Many shall be offended by the plain speaking of these days. Already you have heard that many of my disciples have turned back; they walk no more with me. From the beginning I knew that these halfhearted believers would fall out by the way. Did I not choose you twelve men and set you apart as ambassadors of the kingdom? And now at such a time as this would you also desert? Let each of you look to his own faith, for one of you stands in grave danger.” And when Jesus had finished speaking, Simon Peter said: “Yes, Lord, we are sad and perplexed, but we will never forsake you. You have taught us the words of eternal life. We have believed in you and followed with you all this time. We will not turn back, for we know that you are sent by God.” And as Peter ceased speaking, they all with one accord nodded their approval of his pledge of loyalty.
153:5.5 (1716.1) Så sagde Jesus: “Gå hen og hvil jer, for vi står overfor travle tider; aktive dage er lige foran os.”		153:5.5 (1716.1) Then said Jesus: “Go to your rest, for busy times are upon us; active days are just ahead.”