Kapitel 172		Paper 172
Rejsen Ind Til Jerusalem		Going into Jerusalem
172:0.1 (1878.1) JESUS og apostlene ankom til Betania kort efter klokken fire fredag eftermiddag, den 31. marts i år 30 e.Kr. Lazarus, hans søstre og deres venner ventede dem, og fordi så mange mennesker kom hver dag for at tale med Lazarus om hans opstandelse blev Jesus informeret om, at planlægningen var gjort for ham til at bo hos en tilstødende nabo troende, Simon, den førende borger i den lille landsby efter dødsfaldet af Lazarus far.		172:0.1 (1878.1) JESUS and the apostles arrived at Bethany shortly after four o’clock on Friday afternoon, March 31, a.d. 30. Lazarus, his sisters, and their friends were expecting them; and since so many people came every day to talk with Lazarus about his resurrection, Jesus was informed that arrangements had been made for him to stay with a neighboring believer, one Simon, the leading citizen of the little village since the death of Lazarus’s father.
172:0.2 (1878.2) Den aften, modtog Jesus mange besøgende, og landsbyboerne i Betania og Betfage gjorde deres bedste for at få ham til at føle sig velkommen. Selvom mange mente, at Jesus, nu som en direkte udfordring mod det jødiske råds dødsdom, ville gå ind i Jerusalem for at udråbe sig selv til jødernes konge, så forstod familien i Betania - Lazarus, Marta og Maria - bedre end andre, at Jesus ikke var sådan en konge. De havde en vag fornemmelse af, at dette kunne være hans sidste besøg i Jerusalem og Betania.		172:0.2 (1878.2) That evening, Jesus received many visitors, and the common folks of Bethany and Bethpage did their best to make him feel welcome. Although many thought Jesus was now going into Jerusalem, in utter defiance of the Sanhedrin’s decree of death, to proclaim himself king of the Jews, the Bethany family—Lazarus, Martha, and Mary—more fully realized that the Master was not that kind of a king; they dimly felt that this might be his last visit to Jerusalem and Bethany.
172:0.3 (1878.3) Ypperstepræsterne var informeret om, at Jesus tilbragte natten i Betania, men de syntes, det var bedst ikke at forsøge at gribe ham blandt hans venner; de besluttede at vente, indtil han kom ind i Jerusalem. Jesus vidste alt om dette, men han var majestætisk rolig. Hans venner havde aldrig set ham mere sammensat og rar. Selv apostlene var overrasket over, at han var så ubekymret når jødernes råd havde opfordret alle jøder til at overdrage ham i deres hænder. Mens Mesteren sov den nat, overvågede apostlene to og to over ham, og mange af dem var udstyret med sværd. Tidligt næste morgen blev de vækket af hundredvis af pilgrimme, der kom ud fra Jerusalem, selv på sabbatsdagen, for at se Jesus og Lazarus, hvem han havde oprejst fra de døde.		172:0.3 (1878.3) The chief priests were informed that Jesus lodged at Bethany, but they thought best not to attempt to seize him among his friends; they decided to await his coming on into Jerusalem. Jesus knew about all this, but he was majestically calm; his friends had never seen him more composed and congenial; even the apostles were astounded that he should be so unconcerned when the Sanhedrin had called upon all Jewry to deliver him into their hands. While the Master slept that night, the apostles watched over him by twos, and many of them were girded with swords. Early the next morning they were awakened by hundreds of pilgrims who came out from Jerusalem, even on the Sabbath day, to see Jesus and Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
1. Sabbatten i betania ^top		1. Sabbath at Bethany ^top
172:1.1 (1878.4) Pilgrimmene udenfor Judæa samt de jødiske myndigheder, havde alle spurgt: "Hvad tror du? Vil Jesus komme op til højtiden?"Derfor da folk hørte, at Jesus var i Betania, blev de glade, men ypperstepræsterne og farisæerne var noget forvirret. De var glade for at have ham indenfor deres forvaltningsområde, men de var lidt bekymret over hans dristighed; de huskede, at Lazarus ved hans tidligere besøg i Betania var blevet oprejst fra de døde, og Lazarus var ved at blive et stort problem for Jesu fjender.		172:1.1 (1878.4) Pilgrims from outside of Judea, as well as the Jewish authorities, had all been asking: “What do you think? will Jesus come up to the feast?” Therefore, when the people heard that Jesus was at Bethany, they were glad, but the chief priests and Pharisees were somewhat perplexed. They were pleased to have him under their jurisdiction, but they were a trifle disconcerted by his boldness; they remembered that on his previous visit to Bethany, Lazarus had been raised from the dead, and Lazarus was becoming a big problem to the enemies of Jesus.
172:1.2 (1878.5) Seks dage før påske, om aftenen efter sabbatten, samledes hele Betania og Betfage for at fejre ankomsten af Jesus ved et offentlig festmåltid i Simons hjem. Aftensmaden var til ære for både Jesus og Lazarus; det blev tilbudt i strid med jødernes råd. Marta instruerede serveringen af maden. Hendes søster Maria var blandt de kvindelige tilskuere da det var mod jødernes sædvane for en kvinde at sidde til bordet ved et offentligt festmåltid. Det jødiske råds agenter var også til stede, men de frygtede for at pågribe Jesus midt iblandt hans venner.		172:1.2 (1878.5) Six days before the Passover, on the evening after the Sabbath, all Bethany and Bethpage joined in celebrating the arrival of Jesus by a public banquet at the home of Simon. This supper was in honor of both Jesus and Lazarus; it was tendered in defiance of the Sanhedrin. Martha directed the serving of the food; her sister Mary was among the women onlookers as it was against the custom of the Jews for a woman to sit at a public banquet. The agents of the Sanhedrin were present, but they feared to apprehend Jesus in the midst of his friends.
172:1.3 (1879.1) Jesus talte med Simon om Josva fra oldtiden, som var hans navnebror, og forklarede, hvordan Josva og israelitterne var kommet op til Jerusalem gennem Jeriko. Da Jesu kommenterede legenden om hvordan Jerikos mure kollapsede, sagde han: "Jeg er ikke bekymret om sådanne vægge af mursten og sten, men jeg vil gerne få væggene af fordomme, selvretfærdighed og had til at smuldre for denne prædiken af Faderens kærlighed til alle mennesker."		172:1.3 (1879.1) Jesus talked with Simon about Joshua of old, whose namesake he was, and recited how Joshua and the Israelites had come up to Jerusalem through Jericho. In commenting on the legend of the walls of Jericho falling down, Jesus said: “I am not concerned with such walls of brick and stone; but I would cause the walls of prejudice, self-righteousness, and hate to crumble before this preaching of the Father’s love for all men.”
172:1.4 (1879.2) Festmåltidet forløb i en munter og normal måde, bortset fra at alle apostlene var usædvanlig alvorlige. Jesus var usædvanligt munter og havde leget med børnene, indtil han gik til bords.		172:1.4 (1879.2) The banquet went along in a very cheerful and normal manner except that all the apostles were unusually sober. Jesus was exceptionally cheerful and had been playing with the children up to the time of coming to the table.
172:1.5 (1879.3) Intet usædvanligt skete indtil nær slutningen af festen, da Lazarus søster Maria trådte frem fra gruppen af kvindelige tilskuere, gik op til Jesus, hvor han lå tilbagelænet som æresgæst og åbnede et stort alabasterkrus af meget sjælden og dyrebar salve. Da hun havde salvet Mesterens hoved, begyndte hun at hælde det på hans fødder, samtidig som hun tog sit hår ned og tørrede dem med det. Hele huset var fyldt med duften af salven, og alle til stede blev overrasket over, hvad Maria havde gjort. Lazarus sagde ikke noget, men da nogle af menneskerne mumlede, viste deres indignation over, at en så dyr salve blev brugt på denne måde, gik Judas Iskariot over til hvor Andreas lå tilbagelænet og sagde: "Hvorfor blev denne salve ikke solgt og pengene fordelt til de fattige? Du bør tale med Mesteren, så han kan irettesættelse et sådant sløseri."		172:1.5 (1879.3) Nothing out of the ordinary happened until near the close of the feasting when Mary the sister of Lazarus stepped forward from among the group of women onlookers and, going up to where Jesus reclined as the guest of honor, proceeded to open a large alabaster cruse of very rare and costly ointment; and after anointing the Master’s head, she began to pour it upon his feet as she took down her hair and wiped them with it. The whole house became filled with the odor of the ointment, and everybody present was amazed at what Mary had done. Lazarus said nothing, but when some of the people murmured, showing indignation that so costly an ointment should be thus used, Judas Iscariot stepped over to where Andrew reclined and said: “Why was this ointment not sold and the money bestowed to feed the poor? You should speak to the Master that he rebuke such waste.”
172:1.6 (1879.4) Jesus vidste, hvad de tænkte og hørte, hvad de sagde, lagde sin hånd på Marias hoved da hun knælede ved hans side, og sagde med et venligt udtryk i ansigtet: "Lad hende være, hver eneste af jer. Hvorfor har du problemer med hende om dette, når i se, at hun i sit hjerte har gjort en god gerning? Til jer, der knurrer og siger, at denne salve skulle have været solgt og pengene givet til de fattige, vil jeg sige, at de fattige har I altid hos jer, så I til enhver tid det forekommer hensigtsmæssigt, kan hjælpe dem; men jeg er ikke altid med jer, for jeg går snart til min Fader. Denne kvinde har længe gemt denne salve til begravelsen af min krop, og nu, da hun troede, det var godt at gøre denne salvelse i forventning om min død, må hun ikke nægtes en sådan tilfredshed. Når Maria gør dette, har hun irettesat jer alle i, at ved denne handling, røber hun troen på det, jeg har sagt om min død og himmelfart til min Fader i himlen. Denne kvinde skal ikke irettesættes for det, hun har gjort i aften; snarere skal jeg sige jer, at uanset hvor i verden, hvor man i de kommende tider prædiker evangeliet, vil man berette om, hvad hun gjorde og huske hende."		172:1.6 (1879.4) Jesus, knowing what they thought and hearing what they said, put his hand upon Mary’s head as she knelt by his side and, with a kindly expression upon his face, said: “Let her alone, every one of you. Why do you trouble her about this, seeing that she has done a good thing in her heart? To you who murmur and say that this ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor, let me say that you have the poor always with you so that you may minister to them at any time it seems good to you; but I shall not always be with you; I go soon to my Father. This woman has long saved this ointment for my body at its burial, and now that it has seemed good to her to make this anointing in anticipation of my death, she shall not be denied such satisfaction. In the doing of this, Mary has reproved all of you in that by this act she evinces faith in what I have said about my death and ascension to my Father in heaven. This woman shall not be reproved for that which she has this night done; rather do I say to you that in the ages to come, wherever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of in memory of her.”
172:1.7 (1879.5) Det var på grund af denne irettesættelse, hvilken Judas Iskariot tog som en personlig bebrejdelse, at han endelig besluttede at søge hævn for sine sårede følelser. Mange gange, havde han i sin underbevidsthed underholdt sådanne idéer, men nu vovede han at tænke sådanne onde tanker i hans åbne og bevidste sind. Mange andre opfordrede ham i denne holdning, da omkostningerne ved denne salve svarede til en mands løn i et år - nok til at give brød til fem tusinde personer. Men Maria elskede Jesus; hun havde anskaffet denne dyrebare salve for at balsamere hans krop, for hun troede hans ord, når han advaret dem om, at han skulle dø, og det kunne ikke nægtes hende, hvis hun havde ændret mening og valgte at skænke denne offergave til Mesteren mens han stadig var i live.		172:1.7 (1879.5) It was because of this rebuke, which he took as a personal reproof, that Judas Iscariot finally made up his mind to seek revenge for his hurt feelings. Many times had he entertained such ideas subconsciously, but now he dared to think such wicked thoughts in his open and conscious mind. And many others encouraged him in this attitude since the cost of this ointment was a sum equal to the earnings of one man for one year—enough to provide bread for five thousand persons. But Mary loved Jesus; she had provided this precious ointment with which to embalm his body in death, for she believed his words when he forewarned them that he must die, and it was not to be denied her if she changed her mind and chose to bestow this offering upon the Master while he yet lived.
172:1.8 (1879.6) Både Lazarus og Marta vidste, at Maria længe havde sparet penge til at købe denne krukke med lavendelolie, og de gav deres hjertelige samtykke til at hun gjorde som hendes hjerte ønskede i sådan en sag, for de var velstillet og kunne let bekoste en sådan offergave.		172:1.8 (1879.6) Both Lazarus and Martha knew that Mary had long saved the money wherewith to buy this cruse of spikenard, and they heartily approved of her doing as her heart desired in such a matter, for they were well-to-do and could easily afford to make such an offering.
172:1.9 (1880.1) Da ypperstepræsterne hørte om denne middag for Jesus og Lazarus i Betania, begyndte de at rådføre sig indbyrdes om, hvad der skulle ske med Lazarus, og snart besluttede de, at Lazarus også skulle dø. De konkluderede med rette, at det ville være nytteløst at slå Jesus ihjel hvis de tillod Lazarus, hvem han havde oprejst fra de døde, at fortsætte med at leve.		172:1.9 (1880.1) When the chief priests heard of this dinner in Bethany for Jesus and Lazarus, they began to take counsel among themselves as to what should be done with Lazarus. And presently they decided that Lazarus must also die. They rightly concluded that it would be useless to put Jesus to death if they permitted Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead, to live.
2. Søndagmorgen med apostlerne ^top		2. Sunday Morning with the Apostles ^top
172:2.1 (1880.2) Denne søndag morgen kaldte Mesteren sine tolv apostle omkring sig i Simons smukke have og gav dem deres sidste instrukser inden de gik ind i Jerusalem. Han fortalte dem, at han sandsynligvis ville give mange taler og undervise i mange erfaringer før han vendte tilbage til Faderen, men rådede apostlene til at afstå fra alle offentlige aktiviteter i løbet af dette påskeophold i Jerusalem. Han instruerede dem til at forblive i nærheden af ham, og at "våge og bede". Jesus vidste, at mange af hans apostle og umiddelbare tilhængere endda bar sværd skjulte under deres klæder, men han nævnte ikke noget om det.		172:2.1 (1880.2) On this Sunday morning, in Simon’s beautiful garden, the Master called his twelve apostles around him and gave them their final instructions preparatory to entering Jerusalem. He told them that he would probably deliver many addresses and teach many lessons before returning to the Father but advised the apostles to refrain from doing any public work during this Passover sojourn in Jerusalem. He instructed them to remain near him and to “watch and pray.” Jesus knew that many of his apostles and immediate followers even then carried swords concealed on their persons, but he made no reference to this fact.
172:2.2 (1880.3) Denne morgens instruktioner omfattede en kort gennemgang af deres tjeneste fra dagen for deres ordination nær Kapernaum frem til denne dag, da de blev klar til at gå ind i Jerusalem. Apostlene lyttede i tavshed; de stillede ingen spørgsmål.		172:2.2 (1880.3) This morning’s instructions embraced a brief review of their ministry from the day of their ordination near Capernaum down to this day when they were preparing to enter Jerusalem. The apostles listened in silence; they asked no questions.
172:2.3 (1880.4) Tidligt om morgenen havde David Zebedæus overgivet til Judas de midler, han havde modtaget fra salget af udstyret fra lejren ved Pella, og Judas, til gengæld havde lagt størstedelen af disse penge i varetægt hos Simon, deres vært, til opbevaring i forventning om det umiddelbare behov deres ankomst i Jerusalem eventuelt kunne medføre.		172:2.3 (1880.4) Early that morning David Zebedee had turned over to Judas the funds realized from the sale of the equipment of the Pella encampment, and Judas, in turn, had placed the greater part of this money in the hands of Simon, their host, for safekeeping in anticipation of the exigencies of their entry into Jerusalem.
172:2.4 (1880.5) Efter konferencen med apostlene havde Jesus en samtale med Lazarus og pålagde ham at undgå at ofre sit liv for det jødiske råds hævngerrighed. Det var i lydighed mod denne formaning, at Lazarus, et par dage senere, flygtede til Filadelfia da rådet sendte mænd for at anholde ham.		172:2.4 (1880.5) After the conference with the apostles Jesus held converse with Lazarus and instructed him to avoid the sacrifice of his life to the vengefulness of the Sanhedrin. It was in obedience to this admonition that Lazarus, a few days later, fled to Philadelphia when the officers of the Sanhedrin sent men to arrest him.
172:2.5 (1880.6) På en eller anden måde fornemmede alle Jesu disciple den forestående krise, men de blev forhindret i fuldt ud at indse hvor alvorlig den var af Mesteren usædvanlige munterhed og ekstraordinær gode humor.		172:2.5 (1880.6) In a way, all of Jesus’ followers sensed the impending crisis, but they were prevented from fully realizing its seriousness by the unusual cheerfulness and exceptional good humor of the Master.
3. Afrejsen til jerusalem ^top		3. The Start for Jerusalem ^top
172:3.1 (1880.7) Betania var omkring tre kilometer fra templet, og klokken var halv to denne søndag eftermiddag da Jesus var klar til at gå til Jerusalem. Han havde en dyb hengivenhed for Betania og dets simple mennesker. Nazaret, Kapernaum, og Jerusalem havde afvist ham, men Betania havde accepteret ham, havde troet på ham. Det var i denne lille landsby, hvor næsten hver mand, kvinde og barn var troende, at han valgte at udføre det mægtigste arbejde i hans overdragelse på jorden, Lazarus opstandelse fra de døde. Han opvækkede ikke Lazarus, for at landsbyboerne skulle tro, men snarere fordi de allerede troede.		172:3.1 (1880.7) Bethany was about two miles from the temple, and it was half past one that Sunday afternoon when Jesus made ready to start for Jerusalem. He had feelings of profound affection for Bethany and its simple people. Nazareth, Capernaum, and Jerusalem had rejected him, but Bethany had accepted him, had believed in him. And it was in this small village, where almost every man, woman, and child were believers, that he chose to perform the mightiest work of his earth bestowal, the resurrection of Lazarus. He did not raise Lazarus that the villagers might believe, but rather because they already believed.
172:3.2 (1880.8) Hele formiddagen havde Jesus tænkt over sit indtog i Jerusalem. Hidtil havde han altid bestræbt sig på at undertrykke alle offentlige anerkendelse af ham som Messias, men nu var situationen anderledes; han nærmede sig slutningen af sin kødelige karriere, jødernes råd havde besluttet hans død, og ingen skade kunne komme af at tillade hans disciple at give frie tøjler til deres følelser, der ligesom kunne tænkes at opstå, hvis han besluttede sig for at lave en formel og offentlig indtog i byen.		172:3.2 (1880.8) All morning Jesus had thought about his entry into Jerusalem. Heretofore he had always endeavored to suppress all public acclaim of him as the Messiah, but it was different now; he was nearing the end of his career in the flesh, his death had been decreed by the Sanhedrin, and no harm could come from allowing his disciples to give free expression to their feelings, just as might occur if he elected to make a formal and public entry into the city.
172:3.3 (1881.1) Jesus besluttede ikke at gøre dette offentlige indtog til Jerusalem som en sidste forsøg på at vinde folkets gunst eller som et sidste greb om magten. Heller ikke gjorde han det kun for at tilfredsstille sine disciples og apostles menneskelige længsel. Jesus underholdt ingen illusioner som en fantastisk drømmer; Han vidste godt, hvordan hans besøg ville ende.		172:3.3 (1881.1) Jesus did not decide to make this public entrance into Jerusalem as a last bid for popular favor nor as a final grasp for power. Neither did he do it altogether to satisfy the human longings of his disciples and apostles. Jesus entertained none of the illusions of a fantastic dreamer; he well knew what was to be the outcome of this visit.
172:3.4 (1881.2) Da Mesteren havde besluttet at foretage en offentlig indtog i Jerusalem blev han mødt af behovet for at vælge en passende metode til at håndhæve en sådan beslutning. Jesus tænkte over alle de mange mere eller mindre modstridende såkaldte messianske profetier, men der syntes kun at være en eneste, der overhovedet var passende for ham at følge. De fleste af disse profetiske udsagn beskrev en konge, søn og efterfølger til David, en modig og aggressiv tidsmæssig befrier af hele Israel fra åget af udenlandsk dominans. Men der var én passage i skriften, nogle gange forbundet med Messias af dem, der havde en mere åndelig opfattelse af hans mission, som Jesus mente kunne tages som en rettesnor for hans forventede indtog i Jerusalem. Denne tekst blev fundet i Zakarias, og sagde: "Bryd ud i jubel, du Zions datter; høje råb, du Jerusalems Datter. Se, din konge kommer til dig. Han er retfærdig og han bringer frelse. Han kommer som den ydmyge, og ridende på et æsel, på et føl, på et føl af et æsel."		172:3.4 (1881.2) Having decided upon making a public entrance into Jerusalem, the Master was confronted with the necessity of choosing a proper method of executing such a resolve. Jesus thought over all of the many more or less contradictory so-called Messianic prophecies, but there seemed to be only one which was at all appropriate for him to follow. Most of these prophetic utterances depicted a king, the son and successor of David, a bold and aggressive temporal deliverer of all Israel from the yoke of foreign domination. But there was one Scripture that had sometimes been associated with the Messiah by those who held more to the spiritual concept of his mission, which Jesus thought might consistently be taken as a guide for his projected entry into Jerusalem. This Scripture was found in Zechariah, and it said: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king comes to you. He is just and he brings salvation. He comes as the lowly one, riding upon an ass, upon a colt, the foal of an ass.”
172:3.5 (1881.3) En kriger konge marcherede altid ind i en by, ridende på en hest. En konge, der kom i en fredelig og mindelig mission red altid ind på et æsel. Jesus ville ikke komme ind Jerusalem som en mand på hesteryg, men han var villig til at komme ind på fredelig vis og med god vilje som Menneskesønnen på et æsel.		172:3.5 (1881.3) A warrior king always entered a city riding upon a horse; a king on a mission of peace and friendship always entered riding upon an ass. Jesus would not enter Jerusalem as a man on horseback, but he was willing to enter peacefully and with good will as the Son of Man on a donkey.
172:3.6 (1881.4) Jesus havde længe prøvet ved direkte undervisning at indprente sine apostle at hans rige ikke var af denne verden, men at det var et rent åndeligt anliggende, men det var ikke lykkedes ham i denne bestræbelse. Hvad han derfor ikke havde været i stand til at gøre med en enkel og personlig undervisning, ville han forsøge at opnå gennem en symbolsk appel. Derfor kaldte Jesus på Peter og Johannes umiddelbart efter måltidet ved middagstid, og bad dem om at gå over til Betfage, en nærliggende landsby lidt væk fra hovedvejen og en kort afstand nordvest for Betania, og sagde han videre: "Gå til Betfage, og når du kommer til en skillevej, vil du finde et føl bundet der. Løs føllet og bring det tilbage hertil med jer. Hvis nogen spørger dig, hvorfor du gør dette, siger du bare, "Mesteren har brug for det." "Da de to apostle var gået til Betfage som Mesteren havde bedt dem, fandt de føllet bundet tæt på sin mor i den åbne gade og tæt på et hus i krydset. Så Peter begyndte at løsne føllet, ejeren kom ud og spurgte, hvad de lavede, og da Peter svarede ham som Jesus havde pålagt, sagde manden: "Hvis din Mester er Jesus fra Galilæa, så lad ham få føllet.” Så vendte de tilbage med ungæslet.		172:3.6 (1881.4) Jesus had long tried by direct teaching to impress upon his apostles and his disciples that his kingdom was not of this world, that it was a purely spiritual matter; but he had not succeeded in this effort. Now, what he had failed to do by plain and personal teaching, he would attempt to accomplish by a symbolic appeal. Accordingly, right after the noon lunch, Jesus called Peter and John, and after directing them to go over to Bethpage, a neighboring village a little off the main road and a short distance northwest of Bethany, he further said: “Go to Bethpage, and when you come to the junction of the roads, you will find the colt of an ass tied there. Loose the colt and bring it back with you. If anyone asks you why you do this, merely say, ‘The Master has need of him.’” And when the two apostles had gone into Bethpage as the Master had directed, they found the colt tied near his mother in the open street and close to a house on the corner. As Peter began to untie the colt, the owner came over and asked why they did this, and when Peter answered him as Jesus had directed, the man said: “If your Master is Jesus from Galilee, let him have the colt.” And so they returned bringing the colt with them.
172:3.7 (1881.5) På dette tidspunkt havde flere hundrede pilgrimme samlet sig omkring Jesus og hans apostle. Siden formiddagen havde de besøgende, der passerede forbi på deres vej til påsken opholdt sig her. I mellemtiden, havde David Zebedæus og nogle af hans tidligere budbringere påtaget sig sagen at skynde sig ned til Jerusalem, hvor de blandt flokke af besøgende pilgrimme om templet effektivt spredte budskabet om, at Jesus fra Nazaret var ved at lave en triumferende indtog i byen. Derfor strømmede flere tusinde af disse besøgende sammen for at hilse på denne meget omtalte profet og mirakelmager, hvem nogle mente var Messias. Denne mængde, der kommer ud fra Jerusalem, mødte Jesus og den skare, der gik ind i byen lige efter de havde passeret Oliebjergets bakkekam og var begyndt nedstigningen ind i byen.		172:3.7 (1881.5) By this time several hundred pilgrims had gathered around Jesus and his apostles. Since midforenoon the visitors passing by on their way to the Passover had tarried. Meanwhile, David Zebedee and some of his former messenger associates took it upon themselves to hasten on down to Jerusalem, where they effectively spread the report among the throngs of visiting pilgrims about the temple that Jesus of Nazareth was making a triumphal entry into the city. Accordingly, several thousand of these visitors flocked forth to greet this much-talked-of prophet and wonder-worker, whom some believed to be the Messiah. This multitude, coming out from Jerusalem, met Jesus and the crowd going into the city just after they had passed over the brow of Olivet and had begun the descent into the city.
172:3.8 (1882.1) Da optoget startede fra Betania, var der stor begejstring blandt den festlige flok af disciple, troende og besøgende pilgrimme, af hvilken mange kom fra Galilæa og Peræa. Lige før de startede, ankom de tolv kvinder i det oprindelige kvindekorps, ledsaget af nogle af deres medarbejdere og sluttede sig til denne unikke procession, da den munter drog af sted mod byen.		172:3.8 (1882.1) As the procession started out from Bethany, there was great enthusiasm among the festive crowd of disciples, believers, and visiting pilgrims, many hailing from Galilee and Perea. Just before they started, the twelve women of the original women’s corps, accompanied by some of their associates, arrived on the scene and joined this unique procession as it moved on joyously toward the city.
172:3.9 (1882.2) Før de begyndte at gå lagde Alpheus tvillinger deres kapper på æsel og holdt det, mens Mesteren satte sig op. Mens processionen bevægede sig mod toppen af Oliebjerget kastede menneskerne i den festlige skare deres klæder på jorden og bragte kviste fra træerne nær vejen for at lave et tæppe af ære for æslet som bar den kongelige Søn, den lovede Messias. Som den lystige skare nærmede sig Jerusalem begyndte de at synge, eller rettere at råbe i kor, salmen, "Hosianna Davids Søn; Velsignet er den, som kommer i Herrens navn. Hosianna i det højeste. Velsignet være riget, der kommer ned fra himlen."		172:3.9 (1882.2) Before they started, the Alpheus twins put their cloaks on the donkey and held him while the Master got on. As the procession moved toward the summit of Olivet, the festive crowd threw their garments on the ground and brought branches from the near-by trees in order to make a carpet of honor for the donkey bearing the royal Son, the promised Messiah. As the merry crowd moved on toward Jerusalem, they began to sing, or rather to shout in unison, the Psalm, “Hosanna to the son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed be the kingdom that comes down from heaven.”
172:3.10 (1882.3) Jesus var let om hjertet og glad i sindet da de bevægede sig fremad sammen, indtil han kom til bakkekammen af Oliebjerget, hvorfra byen og templets tårne blev synlige. Der standsede Mesteren optoget, og en stor stilhed faldt over dem alle, da de så ham grædende. Da Mesteren kiggede ud over den enorme menneskemængde, der var på vej ud fra byen for at byde ham velkommen, sagde han med mange følelser og med tårevædet stemme: "Jerusalem, hvis du kun havde forstået, selv dig, i det mindste på denne dag, som er din, hvad som giver dig fred og du så frit kunne have fået! Men nu er disse herligheder ved at blive skjult for dine øjne. Du er ved at afvise Fredens Søn og vende ryggen til frelsens evangelium. Det vil snart komme en tid, hvor du vil se dine fjender grave en voldgrav omkring dig og belejre dig fra alle sider. De vil ødelægge dig så grundigt, at ikke en sten skal blive tilbage på en anden. Og alt dette skal ramme dig, fordi du ikke forstod, at tiden var inde for dit guddommelige besøg. Du er ved at afvise Guds gave, og alle mænd vil afvise dig."		172:3.10 (1882.3) Jesus was lighthearted and cheerful as they moved along until he came to the brow of Olivet, where the city and the temple towers came into full view; there the Master stopped the procession, and a great silence came upon all as they beheld him weeping. Looking down upon the vast multitude coming forth from the city to greet him, the Master, with much emotion and with tearful voice, said: “O Jerusalem, if you had only known, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong to your peace, and which you could so freely have had! But now are these glories about to be hid from your eyes. You are about to reject the Son of Peace and turn your backs upon the gospel of salvation. The days will soon come upon you wherein your enemies will cast a trench around about you and lay siege to you on every side; they shall utterly destroy you, insomuch that not one stone shall be left upon another. And all this shall befall you because you knew not the time of your divine visitation. You are about to reject the gift of God, and all men will reject you.”
172:3.11 (1882.4) Da han var færdig med at tale, begyndte nedstigningen af Oliebjerget og blev snart forenet med skaren af besøgende, der var kommet ud fra Jerusalem og som vinkede med palmegrene, råbe hosianna, og ellers udtrykte glæde og godt kammeratskab. Mesteren havde ikke planlagt, at disse skarer skulle komme ud fra Jerusalem for at byde dem velkommen; det var noget, som andre havde afstedkommet. Han planlage aldrig noget overlagt som var dramatisk.		172:3.11 (1882.4) When he had finished speaking, they began the descent of Olivet and presently were joined by the multitude of visitors who had come from Jerusalem waving palm branches, shouting hosannas, and otherwise expressing gleefulness and good fellowship. The Master had not planned that these crowds should come out from Jerusalem to meet them; that was the work of others. He never premeditated anything which was dramatic.
172:3.12 (1882.5) Blandt denne menneskemængde, der strømmede ud for at byde velkommen til Mesteren, var der også mange af farisæerne og hans andre fjender. De blev så forvirret over denne pludselige og uventede udbrud af populær anerkendelse, at de ikke turde arrestere ham af frygt for at en sådan handling kunne have fået folk til at indlede et åbent oprør. De var meget bange for holdningen hos det store antal besøgende, der havde hørt meget om Jesus og af hvilken mange troede på ham.		172:3.12 (1882.5) Along with the multitude which poured out to welcome the Master, there came also many of the Pharisees and his other enemies. They were so much perturbed by this sudden and unexpected outburst of popular acclaim that they feared to arrest him lest such action precipitate an open revolt of the populace. They greatly feared the attitude of the large numbers of visitors, who had heard much of Jesus, and who, many of them, believed in him.
172:3.13 (1882.6) Da mængden nærmede sig Jerusalem blev den mere demonstrativ i sit udtryk, så meget, at nogle af farisæerne banede sig vej op til Jesus og sagde: "Mester, du skal irettesætte dine disciple og formane dem til at opføre sig mere anstændigt."Jesus svarede: "Der er kun passende, at disse børn byder Fredens Søn velkommen, som ypperstepræsterne har afvist. Det ville være nytteløst at stoppe dem, for i deres sted, vil disse stene langs vejkanten begynde at skrige."		172:3.13 (1882.6) As they neared Jerusalem, the crowd became more demonstrative, so much so that some of the Pharisees made their way up alongside Jesus and said: “Teacher, you should rebuke your disciples and exhort them to behave more seemly.” Jesus answered: “It is only fitting that these children should welcome the Son of Peace, whom the chief priests have rejected. It would be useless to stop them lest in their stead these stones by the roadside cry out.”
172:3.14 (1882.7) Farisæerne skyndte sig forud for processionen for at forene sig med jødernes råd, som netop holdt møde i templet, og de indberettede til deres medarbejdere: "Se, alt hvad vi gør, er til ingen nytte; vi er forvirrede over denne galilæer. Menneskerne er gået tosset over ham; hvis vi ikke stopper disse uvidende, vil hele verden følge ham."		172:3.14 (1882.7) The Pharisees hastened on ahead of the procession to rejoin the Sanhedrin, which was then in session at the temple, and they reported to their associates: “Behold, all that we do is of no avail; we are confounded by this Galilean. The people have gone mad over him; if we do not stop these ignorant ones, all the world will go after him.”
172:3.15 (1883.1) Der var ingen dybere betydning i denne overfladiske og spontane udbrud af populære entusiasme. Selv om denne velkomst var glad og oprigtig, bebudede den ikke nogen oprigtig eller dybtliggende overbevisning i hjertet på mennesker i denne jublende skare. Disse folkesamlinger var lige så villige til hurtigt at afvise Jesus senere på ugen, da jødernes råd til sidst tog en fast og beslutsom holdning til ham, og de blev desillusioneret - da de indså, at Jesus ikke ville etablere riget i overensstemmelse med deres lange nærede forventninger.		172:3.15 (1883.1) There really was no deep significance to be attached to this superficial and spontaneous outburst of popular enthusiasm. This welcome, although it was joyous and sincere, did not betoken any real or deep-seated conviction in the hearts of this festive multitude. These same crowds were equally as willing quickly to reject Jesus later on this week when the Sanhedrin once took a firm and decided stand against him, and when they became disillusioned—when they realized that Jesus was not going to establish the kingdom in accordance with their long-cherished expectations.
172:3.16 (1883.2) Men hele byen befandt sig i en tilstand af mægtig opvågnen, til det punkt, hvor alle spurgte: "Hvem er denne mand?" Og folkeskaren svarede: "Dette er profeten fra Galilæa, Jesus af Nazaret.”		172:3.16 (1883.2) But the whole city was mightily stirred up, insomuch that everyone asked, “Who is this man?” And the multitude answered, “This is the prophet of Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth.”
4. Besøg rundt om i templet ^top		4. Visiting About the Temple ^top
172:4.1 (1883.3) Mens Alpheus tvillingerne bragte æsel tilbage til sin ejer, løsrev Jesus og de ti apostle sig fra deres nærmeste medarbejdere og vandrede omkring i templet, og kiggede på forberedelserne til påsken. Der blev ikke gjort forsøg på at forulempe Jesus eftersom at jødernes råd stærkt frygtede for folket, og det var helt sikkert en af årsagerne til at Jesus havde tilladt folkemængden at ære ham som de havde gjort. Apostlene forstod kun lidt, at dette var den eneste menneskelige måde at forebygge Jesu umiddelbare anholdelse, så snart han kom ind i byen. Mesteren ønskede at give Jerusalems Indbyggere, høj og lav, samt titusindvis af påske besøgende, denne ene mere og sidste chance for at høre evangeliet og at, hvis de ville, tage imod Fredens Søn.		172:4.1 (1883.3) While the Alpheus twins returned the donkey to its owner, Jesus and the ten apostles detached themselves from their immediate associates and strolled about the temple, viewing the preparations for the Passover. No attempt was made to molest Jesus as the Sanhedrin greatly feared the people, and that was, after all, one of the reasons Jesus had for allowing the multitude thus to acclaim him. The apostles little understood that this was the only human procedure which could have been effective in preventing Jesus’ immediate arrest upon entering the city. The Master desired to give the inhabitants of Jerusalem, high and low, as well as the tens of thousands of Passover visitors, this one more and last chance to hear the gospel and receive, if they would, the Son of Peace.
172:4.2 (1883.4) Nu da aftenen nærmede sig og folkemængderne begyndte at søge ud for at få noget at spise, blev Jesus og hans umiddelbare tilhængere efterladt alene. Sikke en mærkelig dag det havde været! Apostlene var tankefulde, men målløse. Aldrig i løbet af deres år med Jesus, havde de set sådan en dag. Et kort øjeblik, satte de sig ved tempelkisten, og så folk lægge deres bidrag i: de rige lagde meget i kisten, og alle gav noget i overensstemmelse med omfanget af deres aktiver. Til sidst kom der en fattig enke, som var sparsomt klædt, og de så på mens hun kastede to mider (små kobbermønter) i kisten. Så sagde Jesus, der henledte apostlenes opmærksom på enke: "Læg vel mærke til, hvad du lige har set. Denne fattige enke smed mere end alle de andre, for alle de andre som gav en gave, gav en beskeden del af deres overflod, men denne fattige kvinde, selvom hun er i nød, gav alt, hvad hun havde, alt det, hun havde at leve af."		172:4.2 (1883.4) And now, as the evening drew on and the crowds went in quest of nourishment, Jesus and his immediate followers were left alone. What a strange day it had been! The apostles were thoughtful, but speechless. Never, in their years of association with Jesus, had they seen such a day. For a moment they sat down by the treasury, watching the people drop in their contributions: the rich putting much in the receiving box and all giving something in accordance with the extent of their possessions. At last there came along a poor widow, scantily attired, and they observed as she cast two mites (small coppers) into the trumpet. And then said Jesus, calling the attention of the apostles to the widow: “Heed well what you have just seen. This poor widow cast in more than all the others, for all these others, from their superfluity, cast in some trifle as a gift, but this poor woman, even though she is in want, gave all that she had, even her living.”
172:4.3 (1883.5) Som aftenen skred frem gik de tavse omkring på tempelpladsen, og efter at Jesus atter havde kastet et blik på disse velkendte steder og huskede sine følelser i forbindelse med tidligere besøg, uden at forglemme den tidligste, sagde han: "Lad os gå op til Betania for at hvile." Jesus gik sammen med Peter og Johannes til Simons hjem, mens de andre apostle overnattede blandt deres venner i Betania og Betfage.		172:4.3 (1883.5) As the evening drew on, they walked about the temple courts in silence, and after Jesus had surveyed these familiar scenes once more, recalling his emotions in connection with previous visits, not excepting the earlier ones, he said, “Let us go up to Bethany for our rest.” Jesus, with Peter and John, went to the home of Simon, while the other apostles lodged among their friends in Bethany and Bethpage.
5. Apostlernes indstilling ^top		5. The Apostles’ Attitude ^top
172:5.1 (1883.6) Denne søndag aften da de vendte tilbage til Betania, gik Jesus foran apostlene. Ikke et ord blev sagt, indtil de skilles, efter at de var ankommet til Simons hus. Ingen andre tolv mennesker havde nogensinde oplevet så forskellige og uforklarlige følelser som nu susede gennem sind og sjæl i disse rigets ambassadører. Disse robuste galilæere var forvirret og befippet. De vidste ikke, hvad de kunne forvente som det næste; de var for overrasket over at være meget bange. De vidste intet om Mesterens planer for den næste dag, og de stillede ingen spørgsmål. De gik til deres logi, selvom de ikke sov meget, med undtagelse af tvillinger. Men de holdt ikke væbnet vagt over Jesus ved Simons hus.		172:5.1 (1883.6) This Sunday evening as they returned to Bethany, Jesus walked in front of the apostles. Not a word was spoken until they separated after arriving at Simon’s house. No twelve human beings ever experienced such diverse and inexplicable emotions as now surged through the minds and souls of these ambassadors of the kingdom. These sturdy Galileans were confused and disconcerted; they did not know what to expect next; they were too surprised to be much afraid. They knew nothing of the Master’s plans for the next day, and they asked no questions. They went to their lodgings, though they did not sleep much, save the twins. But they did not keep armed watch over Jesus at Simon’s house.
172:5.2 (1884.1) Andreas var grundigt fortumlet, så godt som forvirret. Han var den eneste apostel, som ikke for alvor foretog sig at evaluere den hyldest, der var brudt ud blandt folket. Han var også optaget af tanken om hans ansvar som chef for det apostoliske korps til seriøst at overveje meningen med eller betydningen af folkemængdens højlydte hosianna råb. Andreas var travlt optaget med at se nogle af hans medarbejdere, da han var bange for, at de i løbet af begejstringen kunne blive vildledt af deres følelser, især Peter, James, Johannes, og Simon Zelotes. Hele denne dag og i løbet af de næste følgende dage blev Andreas plaget med alvorlig tvivl, men han sagde aldrig noget om disse betænkeligheder til sine apostolske medarbejdere. Han var bekymret over holdningen hos nogle af de tolv, som han vidste, var bevæbnet med sværd; men han vidste ikke, at hans egen bror, Peter, bar et sådant våben. Derfor gjorde processionen ind i Jerusalem et forholdsvis overfladisk indtryk på Andreas. Han var for travlt optaget med sit ansvar i tjenesten til at blive påvirket af noget andet.		172:5.2 (1884.1) Andrew was thoroughly bewildered, well-nigh confused. He was the one apostle who did not seriously undertake to evaluate the popular outburst of acclaim. He was too preoccupied with the thought of his responsibility as chief of the apostolic corps to give serious consideration to the meaning or significance of the loud hosannas of the multitude. Andrew was busy watching some of his associates who he feared might be led away by their emotions during the excitement, particularly Peter, James, John, and Simon Zelotes. Throughout this day and those which immediately followed, Andrew was troubled with serious doubts, but he never expressed any of these misgivings to his apostolic associates. He was concerned about the attitude of some of the twelve who he knew were armed with swords; but he did not know that his own brother, Peter, was carrying such a weapon. And so the procession into Jerusalem made a comparatively superficial impression upon Andrew; he was too busy with the responsibilities of his office to be otherwise affected.
172:5.3 (1884.2) Simon Peter var først næsten helt beruset af denne manifestation af begejstring, men han var betydeligt ædru, da de vendte tilbage til Betania samme aften. Peter kunne simpelthen ikke komme til klarhed over, hvad Mesteren ønskede. Han var meget skuffet over, at Jesus ikke fulgte op på denne bølge af folkelig gunst med en form for erklæring. Peter kunne ikke forstå, hvorfor Jesus ikke talte til de mange, da de ankom til templet, eller i det mindste tillod en af apostlene at holde en tale til mængden. Peter var en stor prædikant, og han kunne ikke lide at se sådan en stor, modtagelig, og begejstret publikum gå til spilde. Han ville meget gerne have prædiket rigets evangelium til mængden lige der i templet; men Mesteren havde specifikt pålagt dem ikke at undervise eller prædike, mens de var i Jerusalem denne påskeuge. Reaktionen fra den spektakulære procession ind i byen var katastrofal for Simon Peter. Om natten var han ædru og usigeligt bedrøvet.		172:5.3 (1884.2) Simon Peter was at first almost swept off his feet by this popular manifestation of enthusiasm; but he was considerably sobered by the time they returned to Bethany that night. Peter simply could not figure out what the Master was about. He was terribly disappointed that Jesus did not follow up this wave of popular favor with some kind of a pronouncement. Peter could not understand why Jesus did not speak to the multitude when they arrived at the temple, or at least permit one of the apostles to address the crowd. Peter was a great preacher, and he disliked to see such a large, receptive, and enthusiastic audience go to waste. He would so much have liked to preach the gospel of the kingdom to that throng right there in the temple; but the Master had specifically charged them that they were to do no teaching or preaching while in Jerusalem this Passover week. The reaction from the spectacular procession into the city was disastrous to Simon Peter; by night he was sobered and inexpressibly saddened.
172:5.4 (1884.3) For James Zebedæus, var denne søndag en dag med rådvildhed og dyb forvirring. Han kunne ikke forstå betydningen af, hvad der skete. Han kunne ikke forstå Mesterens formål i at tillade denne vilde anerkendelse og derefter i at nægte at sige et ord til menneskerne, da de ankom til templet. Som processionen bevægede sig ned fra Oliebjerget mod Jerusalem, især da de blev mødt af de tusinder af pilgrimme, der strømmede ud for at byde Mesteren velkommen, blev James grusomt sønderrevet af sine modstridende følelser af opstemthed og tilfredsstillelse over hvad han så og ved hans dybe følelse af frygt for, hvad ville ske, når de nåede templet. Og han blev modløs og overvældet af skuffelse, da Jesus steg ned fra æsel og fortsatte med at gå i ro og mag omkring på templets gårdspladser. James kunne ikke forstå, hvorfor de smed sådan en storslået mulighed væk for at forkynde Guds Rige. Frem mod aftenen holdt en sørgeligt og frygtelige usikkerhed et fast greb om hans sind.		172:5.4 (1884.3) To James Zebedee, this Sunday was a day of perplexity and profound confusion; he could not grasp the purport of what was going on; he could not comprehend the Master’s purpose in permitting this wild acclaim and then in refusing to say a word to the people when they arrived at the temple. As the procession moved down Olivet toward Jerusalem, more especially when they were met by the thousands of pilgrims who poured forth to welcome the Master, James was cruelly torn by his conflicting emotions of elation and gratification at what he saw and by his profound feeling of fear as to what would happen when they reached the temple. And then was he downcast and overcome by disappointment when Jesus climbed off the donkey and proceeded to walk leisurely about the temple courts. James could not understand the reason for throwing away such a magnificent opportunity to proclaim the kingdom. By night, his mind was held firmly in the grip of a distressing and dreadful uncertainty.
172:5.5 (1884.4) Johannes Zebedæus kom et sted i nærheden af forståelsen af hvorfor Jesus gjorde, som han gjorde; i det mindst forstod han delvis den åndelige betydning af dette såkaldte triumftog ind i Jerusalem. Da mængden var på vej til templet, og da Johannes så Mesteren sidder der overskrævs på føllet, huskede han, at han engang havde hørt Jesus citere en passage af skrifterne, ytringen af Zakarias, der beskrev, hvordan Messias ville komme som en fredens mand og ride ind i Jerusalem på et æsel. Da Johannes vendte dette skriftsted rundt i sit sind begyndte han at forstå den symbolske betydning af denne søndag eftermiddags festspil. I det mindste vidste han tilstrækkeligt af skriftens betydning i dette tilfælde til i en vis grad at kunne nyde episoden og forhindre ham i at blive for meget modløs af triumftogets tilsyneladende formålsløshed. Johannes havde en type for sind, som havde en naturlig evne til at tænke og føle i symboler.		172:5.5 (1884.4) John Zebedee came somewhere near understanding why Jesus did this; at least he grasped in part the spiritual significance of this so-called triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As the multitude moved on toward the temple, and as John beheld his Master sitting there astride the colt, he recalled hearing Jesus onetime quote the passage of Scripture, the utterance of Zechariah, which described the coming of the Messiah as a man of peace and riding into Jerusalem on an ass. As John turned this Scripture over in his mind, he began to comprehend the symbolic significance of this Sunday-afternoon pageant. At least, he grasped enough of the meaning of this Scripture to enable him somewhat to enjoy the episode and to prevent his becoming overmuch depressed by the apparent purposeless ending of the triumphal procession. John had a type of mind which naturally tended to think and feel in symbols.
172:5.6 (1885.1) Filip kom helt ud af balance af at udbruddet kom så pludseligt og så spontan. Han kunne ikke samle sine tanker tilstrækkeligt, mens de var på vej ned fra Oliebjerget til at komme til nogen klar idé om, hvad hele demonstrationen var om. På en vis måde nød han forestillingen, fordi hans Mester blev hædret. Da de nåede templet, blev han urolig ved tanken om, at Jesus eventuelt kunne bede ham om at bespise de mange, så da Jesu adfærd roligt vendte sig bort fra mængden, som gjorde de fleste af apostlene så bittert skuffet, var det en stor lettelse for Filip. Folkemængderne havde nogle gange været en stor prøvelse for proviantforvalteren af de tolv. Efter at han var sluppet af med denne personlige frygt for massernes materielle behov, sluttede Filip sig sammen med Peter i at udtrykke sin skuffelse over, at intet blev gjort for at undervise de mange. Den nat begyndte Filip at tænke over disse erfaringer, og var fristet til at tvivle på hele idéen med riget. Han spekulerede ærligt på, hvad alt dette kunne betyde, men han udtrykte ikke sin tvivl til nogen; han elskede Jesus for meget. Han havde stor personlig tro på Mesteren.		172:5.6 (1885.1) Philip was entirely unsettled by the suddenness and spontaneity of the outburst. He could not collect his thoughts sufficiently while on the way down Olivet to arrive at any settled notion as to what all the demonstration was about. In a way, he enjoyed the performance because his Master was being honored. By the time they reached the temple, he was perturbed by the thought that Jesus might possibly ask him to feed the multitude, so that the conduct of Jesus in turning leisurely away from the crowds, which so sorely disappointed the majority of the apostles, was a great relief to Philip. Multitudes had sometimes been a great trial to the steward of the twelve. After he was relieved of these personal fears regarding the material needs of the crowds, Philip joined with Peter in the expression of disappointment that nothing was done to teach the multitude. That night Philip got to thinking over these experiences and was tempted to doubt the whole idea of the kingdom; he honestly wondered what all these things could mean, but he expressed his doubts to no one; he loved Jesus too much. He had great personal faith in the Master.
172:5.7 (1885.2) Bortset fra de symbolske og profetiske aspekter, så kom Natanael nærmest til at forstå Mesterens grund til at mobilisere folkelig støtte hos påskens pilgrimme. Før de nåede templet, havde han gennemtænkt, at uden et sådan demonstrativt indtog i Jerusalem ville Jesus have været arresteret af det jødiske råds embedsmænd og kastet i fængsel i det øjeblik, han formodes at komme ind i byen. Han var derfor ikke i den mindst overrasket over, at Mesteren ikke brugte flere af de jublende skarer til andre formål, da han var kommet indenfor byens mure og havde dermed gjort så stærkt et indtryk på de jødiske ledere, at de afstod fra straks at fængsle ham. Da Natanael forstod den virkelige årsag til Mesterens ankom i byen på denne måde, var han åbenbart mere samlet, når han gik sammen med de andre, og mindre forstyrret og skuffet over Jesu senere adfærd end de andre apostle. Nataniel havde stor tillid til Jesu forståelse af mennesker såvel som i hans klogskab og kløgt i håndteringen med vanskelige situationer.		172:5.7 (1885.2) Nathaniel, aside from the symbolic and prophetic aspects, came the nearest to understanding the Master’s reason for enlisting the popular support of the Passover pilgrims. He reasoned it out, before they reached the temple, that without such a demonstrative entry into Jerusalem Jesus would have been arrested by the Sanhedrin officials and cast into prison the moment he presumed to enter the city. He was not, therefore, in the least surprised that the Master made no further use of the cheering crowds when he had once got inside the walls of the city and had thus so forcibly impressed the Jewish leaders that they would refrain from placing him under immediate arrest. Understanding the real reason for the Master’s entering the city in this manner, Nathaniel naturally followed along with more poise and was less perturbed and disappointed by Jesus’ subsequent conduct than were the other apostles. Nathaniel had great confidence in Jesus’ understanding of men as well as in his sagacity and cleverness in handling difficult situations.
172:5.8 (1885.3) Mattæus var først rådvild over denne storslåede forestilling. Han forstod ikke betydningen af det, hans øjne så, indtil han også kom i tanke om skriftstedet hos Zakarias hvor profeten havde hentydet til jubel i Jerusalem, fordi dens konge var kommet med frelse og ridende på et ungæsel. Da processionen bevægede sig i retning af byen og derefter drog mod templet, blev Mattæus ekstatisk. Han var sikker på, at noget særligt ville ske, når Mesteren ankom til templet i spidsen for denne råbende mangfoldighed. Da en af farisæerne hånede Jesus og sagde: "Se, alle, se, hvem der kommer her, jødernes konge rider på et æsel!" krævede det store tilbageholdenhed af Mattæus til ikke at gå til håndgribeligheder. Ingen af de tolv var mere deprimeret, den nat på vej tilbage til Betania. Næst efter Simon Peter og Simon Zelotes, oplevede han de største nervøse spændinger, og da natten kom, var han helt udmattet. Men om morgenen var Mattæus meget jublede; Han var trods alt, en munter taber.		172:5.8 (1885.3) Matthew was at first nonplused by this pageant performance. He did not grasp the meaning of what his eyes were seeing until he also recalled the Scripture in Zechariah where the prophet had alluded to the rejoicing of Jerusalem because her king had come bringing salvation and riding upon the colt of an ass. As the procession moved in the direction of the city and then drew on toward the temple, Matthew became ecstatic; he was certain that something extraordinary would happen when the Master arrived at the temple at the head of this shouting multitude. When one of the Pharisees mocked Jesus, saying, “Look, everybody, see who comes here, the king of the Jews riding on an ass!” Matthew kept his hands off of him only by exercising great restraint. None of the twelve was more depressed on the way back to Bethany that evening. Next to Simon Peter and Simon Zelotes, he experienced the highest nervous tension and was in a state of exhaustion by night. But by morning Matthew was much cheered; he was, after all, a cheerful loser.
172:5.9 (1886.1) Thomas var den mest forvirrede og rådvilde af alle de tolv. Det meste af tiden, fulgte han bare med, stirrede på skuespillet og ærligt spekulerer på, hvad kunne være Mesterens motiv for at deltage i sådan en mærkelig demonstration. Dybt i sit hjerte betragtede han hele forestillingen som noget barnligt, hvis ikke ligefrem fjollet. Han havde aldrig set Jesus gøre noget lignende, og var ikke sikker på, hvordan han skulle forklare hans mærkelige adfærd på denne søndag eftermiddag. Da de nåede templet, havde Thomas udledt, at formålet med denne populære demonstration var at skræmme jødernes råd, så de ikke straks turde arrestere Mesteren. På vej tilbage til Betania tænkte Thomas meget, men sagde ikke noget. Ved sengetid havde Mesterens dygtighed i at iscenesætte dette tumultagtige indtog i Jerusalem begyndt at syntes ret humoristisk, og reaktionen opmuntrede ham meget.		172:5.9 (1886.1) Thomas was the most bewildered and puzzled man of all the twelve. Most of the time he just followed along, gazing at the spectacle and honestly wondering what could be the Master’s motive for participating in such a peculiar demonstration. Down deep in his heart he regarded the whole performance as a little childish, if not downright foolish. He had never seen Jesus do anything like this and was at a loss to account for his strange conduct on this Sunday afternoon. By the time they reached the temple, Thomas had deduced that the purpose of this popular demonstration was so to frighten the Sanhedrin that they would not dare immediately to arrest the Master. On the way back to Bethany Thomas thought much but said nothing. By bedtime the Master’s cleverness in staging the tumultuous entry into Jerusalem had begun to make a somewhat humorous appeal, and he was much cheered up by this reaction.
172:5.10 (1886.2) Denne søndag startede som en stor dag for Simon Zelotes. Han så syner af vidunderlige gerninger i de kommende dage i Jerusalem, og heri havde han ret, men Simon drømte om etablering af et nyt nationalt styre for jøderne, med Jesus på Davids trone. Simon så nationalisterne træde i aktion, så snart riget blev udråbt, og sig selv som den øverste chef for de militære styrker som samledes i det nye rige. På vej ned fra Oliebjerget, forestillede han sig endda medlemmer af jødernes råd og alle deres sympatisører døde før solnedgang samme dag. Han troede virkelig, at noget stort vil ske. Han var den højstråbende i hele mængden. Ved femtiden om eftermiddagen var han en tavs, knust, og illusionsløs apostel. Han genvandt sig aldrig helt fra denne depression, som slog sig ned på ham som et resultat af denne dags chok, i hvert fald ikke før længe efter Mesterens opstandelse.		172:5.10 (1886.2) This Sunday started off as a great day for Simon Zelotes. He saw visions of wonderful doings in Jerusalem the next few days, and in that he was right, but Simon dreamed of the establishment of the new national rule of the Jews, with Jesus on the throne of David. Simon saw the nationalists springing into action as soon as the kingdom was announced, and himself in supreme command of the assembling military forces of the new kingdom. On the way down Olivet he even envisaged the Sanhedrin and all of their sympathizers dead before sunset of that day. He really believed something great was going to happen. He was the noisiest man in the whole multitude. By five o’clock that afternoon he was a silent, crushed, and disillusioned apostle. He never fully recovered from the depression which settled down on him as a result of this day’s shock; at least not until long after the Master’s resurrection.
172:5.11 (1886.3) For Alpheus tvillinger var dette en perfekt dag. De nød virkelig det alt sammen hele vejen, og da de ikke var til stede under den stille gåtur rundt omkring i templet, undgik de meget af den antiklimaks, der fulgte uroen blandt folket. De kunne umuligt forstå den nedslåede opførsel blandt apostlene da de vendte tilbage til Betania samme aften. I tvillingerne hukommelse fremstod denne dag altid som den dag da de havde været tættest på himlen på jorden. Denne dag var det tilfredsstillende højdepunkt i hele deres karriere som apostle. Mindet om glæden af denne søndag eftermiddag førte dem videre gennem hele tragedien i denne begivenhedsrige uge, helt op til korsfæstelsen. Det var det mest værdige indtog tvillingerne kunne forestille sig af en konge; de nød hvert øjeblik af hele festspillet. De godkendt fuldt ud alt hvad de så og næret længe mindet om det.		172:5.11 (1886.3) To the Alpheus twins this was a perfect day. They really enjoyed it all the way through, and not being present during the time of quiet visitation about the temple, they escaped much of the anticlimax of the popular upheaval. They could not possibly understand the downcast behavior of the apostles when they came back to Bethany that evening. In the memory of the twins this was always their day of being nearest heaven on earth. This day was the satisfying climax of their whole career as apostles. And the memory of the elation of this Sunday afternoon carried them on through all of the tragedy of this eventful week, right up to the hour of the crucifixion. It was the most befitting entry of the king the twins could conceive; they enjoyed every moment of the whole pageant. They fully approved of all they saw and long cherished the memory.
172:5.12 (1886.4) Af alle apostlene, var Judas Iskariot den mest negativt påvirket af dette festlige indtog i Jerusalem. Hans sind var i en gærende splid på grund af Mesterens irettesættelse den foregående dag i forbindelse med Marias salvelse på højtiden i Simons hus. Judas var forarget med hele skuespillet. For ham virkede det barnligt, hvis ikke ligefrem latterligt. Da denne hævngerrige apostel betragtede denne søndag eftermiddag, forekom Jesus ham mere at ligne en klovn end en konge. Han var inderligt fornærmet over hele forestillingen. Han delte synspunkter med grækerne og romerne, der så ned på alle, der indvilligede i at ride på et æsel, eller et æselføl. På det tidspunkt da triumftoget var kommet ind i byen, havde Judas så godt som besluttet at opgive hele idéen om en sådan rige; han havde næsten besluttet at trække sig ud af alle sådanne farceagtige forsøg på at etablere himmelriget. Men så tænkte han på Lazarus opstandelse, og mange andre ting, og besluttede at blive med de tolv, i det mindste for endnu en dag. Desuden bar han posen, og han ville ikke desertere med de apostoliske midler i hånden. På vejen tilbage til Betania den aften syntes hans adfærd ikke mærkeligt, da alle apostlene var lige så nedslået og tavse.		172:5.12 (1886.4) Of all the apostles, Judas Iscariot was the most adversely affected by this processional entry into Jerusalem. His mind was in a disagreeable ferment because of the Master’s rebuke the preceding day in connection with Mary’s anointing at the feast in Simon’s house. Judas was disgusted with the whole spectacle. To him it seemed childish, if not indeed ridiculous. As this vengeful apostle looked upon the proceedings of this Sunday afternoon, Jesus seemed to him more to resemble a clown than a king. He heartily resented the whole performance. He shared the views of the Greeks and Romans, who looked down upon anyone who would consent to ride upon an ass or the colt of an ass. By the time the triumphal procession had entered the city, Judas had about made up his mind to abandon the whole idea of such a kingdom; he was almost resolved to forsake all such farcical attempts to establish the kingdom of heaven. And then he thought of the resurrection of Lazarus, and many other things, and decided to stay on with the twelve, at least for another day. Besides, he carried the bag, and he would not desert with the apostolic funds in his possession. On the way back to Bethany that night his conduct did not seem strange since all of the apostles were equally downcast and silent.
172:5.13 (1887.1) Judas blev voldsomt påvirket af at hans venner blandt saddukæerne gjorde ham til grin. Ingen anden enkelt faktor påvirkede ham så stærkt, da han endelig besluttet at opgive Jesus og sine apostlevenner, som en vis episode, der fandt sted lige som Jesus nåede indgangen til byen: En fremtrædende saddukæer (en ven af Judas familie) styrtede op til ham i en ånd af skadefro latterliggørelse og dunkede ham på ryggen og sagde: "Hvorfor er du så bekymret, min gode ven? Op med humøret! og slut dig til os alle, mens vi hylder denne Jesus af Nazaret jødernes konge, når han rider gennem Jerusalems porte siddende på et æsel." Judas havde aldrig skrumpet fra forfølgelse, men han kunne ikke udholde denne form for latterliggørelse. Med den længe nærede følelse af hævnlyst der nu blev blandet med denne fatale frygt for latterliggørelse, den frygtelige og bange følelse af at skamme sig over sin Mester og sine medapostle. I sit hjerte, var denne ordineret ambassadør af riget allerede en desertør. Det forblev kun for ham at finde nogen brugbar undskyldning for en åben brud med Mesteren.		172:5.13 (1887.1) Judas was tremendously influenced by the ridicule of his Sadducean friends. No other single factor exerted such a powerful influence on him, in his final determination to forsake Jesus and his fellow apostles, as a certain episode which occurred just as Jesus reached the gate of the city: A prominent Sadducee (a friend of Judas’s family) rushed up to him in a spirit of gleeful ridicule and, slapping him on the back, said: “Why so troubled of countenance, my good friend; cheer up and join us all while we acclaim this Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews as he rides through the gates of Jerusalem seated on an ass.” Judas had never shrunk from persecution, but he could not stand this sort of ridicule. With the long-nourished emotion of revenge there was now blended this fatal fear of ridicule, that terrible and fearful feeling of being ashamed of his Master and his fellow apostles. At heart, this ordained ambassador of the kingdom was already a deserter; it only remained for him to find some plausible excuse for an open break with the Master.