Kapitel 177		Paper 177
Onsdagen, Hviledagen		Wednesday, the Rest Day
177:0.1 (1920.1) NÅR arbejdet med at undervise folket ikke pressede dem, var det skik for Jesus og hans apostle at hvile sig fra deres arbejde hver onsdag. Denne særlige onsdag spiste de morgenmad noget senere end normalt, og lejren var gennemsyret af en ildevarslende stilhed; der blev ikke sagt meget under den første halvdel af morgenmåltidet. Endelig tog Jesus ordet: “Jeg ønsker, at I hviler i dag. Tag jer tid til at tænke over alt det, der er sket, siden vi kom til Jerusalem, og mediter over det, der ligger forude, og som jeg tydeligt har fortalt jer om. Sørg for, at sandheden bliver i jeres liv, og at I hver dag vokser i nåde.”		177:0.1 (1920.1) WHEN the work of teaching the people did not press them, it was the custom of Jesus and his apostles to rest from their labors each Wednesday. On this particular Wednesday they ate breakfast somewhat later than usual, and the camp was pervaded by an ominous silence; little was said during the first half of this morning meal. At last Jesus spoke: “I desire that you rest today. Take time to think over all that has happened since we came to Jerusalem and meditate on what is just ahead, of which I have plainly told you. Make sure that the truth abides in your lives, and that you daily grow in grace.”
177:0.2 (1920.2) Efter morgenmaden informerede Mesteren Andreas om, at han havde tænkt sig at være fraværende i dag, og foreslog, at apostlene fik lov til at bruge tiden, som de selv ville, bortset fra at de under ingen omstændigheder måtte gå inden for Jerusalems porte.		177:0.2 (1920.2) After breakfast the Master informed Andrew that he intended to be absent for the day and suggested that the apostles be permitted to spend the time in accordance with their own choosing, except that under no circumstances should they go within the gates of Jerusalem.
177:0.3 (1920.3) Da Jesus gjorde sig klar til at gå alene op i bjergene, henvendte David Zebedæus sig til ham og sagde: “Du ved godt, Mester, at farisæerne og magthaverne forsøger at tilintetgøre dig, og alligevel gør du dig klar til at gå alene op i bjergene. Det er tåbeligt at gøre det; derfor vil jeg sende tre mænd med dig, som er velforberedte til at sørge for, at der ikke sker dig noget.” Jesus så på de tre velbevæbnede og stærke galilæere og sagde til David: “I mener det godt, men I tager fejl, fordi I ikke forstår, at Menneskesønnen ikke har brug for nogen til at forsvare sig. Ingen skal lægge hånd på mig før den time, hvor jeg er parat til at give mit liv i overensstemmelse med min Faders vilje. Disse mænd må ikke ledsage mig. Jeg ønsker at gå alene, så jeg kan tale med Faderen.”		177:0.3 (1920.3) When Jesus made ready to go into the hills alone, David Zebedee accosted him, saying: “You well know, Master, that the Pharisees and rulers seek to destroy you, and yet you make ready to go alone into the hills. To do this is folly; I will therefore send three men with you well prepared to see that no harm befalls you.” Jesus looked over the three well-armed and stalwart Galileans and said to David: “You mean well, but you err in that you fail to understand that the Son of Man needs no one to defend him. No man will lay hands on me until that hour when I am ready to lay down my life in conformity to my Father’s will. These men may not accompany me. I desire to go alone, that I may commune with the Father.”
177:0.4 (1920.4) Da David og hans bevæbnede vagter hørte disse ord, trak de sig tilbage, men da Jesus begyndte at gå alene, kom Johannes Markus frem med en lille kurv med mad og vand og foreslog, at hvis han havde tænkt sig at være væk hele dagen, ville han måske blive sulten. Mesteren smilede til Johannes og rakte ned for at tage kurven.		177:0.4 (1920.4) Upon hearing these words, David and his armed guards withdrew; but as Jesus started off alone, John Mark came forward with a small basket containing food and water and suggested that, if he intended to be away all day, he might find himself hungry. The Master smiled on John and reached down to take the basket.
1. En dag alene med gud ^top		1. One Day Alone with God ^top
177:1.1 (1920.5) Da Jesus var ved at tage madkurven ud af Johannes hånd, vovede den unge mand at sige: “Men, Mester, du kan stille kurven fra dig, mens du går til side for at bede, og fortsætte uden den. Desuden, hvis jeg gik med for at bære frokosten, ville du være mere fri til at tilbede, og jeg vil helt sikkert være tavs. Jeg stiller ingen spørgsmål og bliver ved kurven, når du går til side for at bede.”		177:1.1 (1920.5) As Jesus was about to take the lunch basket from John’s hand, the young man ventured to say: “But, Master, you may set the basket down while you turn aside to pray and go on without it. Besides, if I should go along to carry the lunch, you would be more free to worship, and I will surely be silent. I will ask no questions and will stay by the basket when you go apart by yourself to pray.”
177:1.2 (1920.6) Mens han holdt denne tale, hvis dristighed forbløffede nogle af tilhørerne i nærheden, havde Johannes vovet at holde fast i kurven. Der stod de så, både Johannes og Jesus med kurven i hånden. I det samme gav Mesteren slip, og mens han så ned på drengen, sagde han: “Eftersom du af hele dit hjerte ønsker at gå med mig, skal jeg ikke nægte dig det. Vi vil gå hver for sig og have et godt besøg. Du kan stille mig alle de spørgsmål, der dukker op i dit hjerte, og vi vil trøste hinanden. Du kan starte med at bære frokosten, og når du bliver træt, vil jeg hjælpe dig. Følg med mig.”		177:1.2 (1920.6) While making this speech, the temerity of which astonished some of the near-by listeners, John had made bold to hold on to the basket. There they stood, both John and Jesus holding the basket. Presently the Master let go and, looking down on the lad, said: “Since with all your heart you crave to go with me, it shall not be denied you. We will go off by ourselves and have a good visit. You may ask me any question that arises in your heart, and we will comfort and console each other. You may start out carrying the lunch, and when you grow weary, I will help you. Follow on with me.”
177:1.3 (1921.1) Jesus vendte ikke tilbage til lejren den aften før efter solnedgang. Mesteren tilbragte denne sidste stille dag på jorden med i samtale med denne sandhedshungrende unge mand og sammale med sin Paradisfader. Denne begivenhed er blevet kendt i det høje som “den dag, en ung mand tilbragte med Gud i bakkerne.” For evigt er denne begivenhed et eksempel på Skaberens villighed til at være sammen med skabningen. Selv en ung mand kan, hvis hjertets ønske virkelig er det højeste, tiltrække sig opmærksomhed og nyde det kærlige selskab fra universets Gud og faktisk opleve den uforglemmelige ekstase, det er at være alene med Gud i bjergene en hel dag. Og sådan var Johannes Markus’ unikke oplevelse denne onsdag i Judæas bjerge.		177:1.3 (1921.1) Jesus did not return to the camp that evening until after sunset. The Master spent this last day of quiet on earth visiting with this truth-hungry youth and talking with his Paradise Father. This event has become known on high as “the day which a young man spent with God in the hills.” Forever this occasion exemplifies the willingness of the Creator to fellowship the creature. Even a youth, if the desire of the heart is really supreme, can command the attention and enjoy the loving companionship of the God of a universe, actually experience the unforgettable ecstasy of being alone with God in the hills, and for a whole day. And such was the unique experience of John Mark on this Wednesday in the hills of Judea.
177:1.4 (1921.2) Jesus var meget sammen med Johannes og talte frit om denne og den næste verden. Johannes fortalte Jesus, hvor meget han beklagede, at han ikke havde været gammel nok til at blive en af apostlene, og udtrykte sin store taknemmelighed over, at han havde fået lov til at følge med dem siden deres første forkyndelse ved Jordans vadested nær Jeriko, bortset fra turen til Fønikien. Jesus advarede drengen om ikke at blive modløs af de forestående begivenheder og forsikrede ham om, at han ville leve og blive en mægtig budbringer af riget.		177:1.4 (1921.2) Jesus visited much with John, talking freely about the affairs of this world and the next. John told Jesus how much he regretted that he had not been old enough to be one of the apostles and expressed his great appreciation that he had been permitted to follow on with them since their first preaching at the Jordan ford near Jericho, except for the trip to Phoenicia. Jesus warned the lad not to become discouraged by impending events and assured him he would live to become a mighty messenger of the kingdom.
177:1.5 (1921.3) Johannes Markus var begejstret for mindet om denne dag med Jesus i bjergene, men han glemte aldrig Mesterens sidste formaning, som han sagde, netop som de var ved at vende tilbage til Gethsemane-lejren: “Nå, Johannes, vi har haft et godt besøg, en rigtig hviledag, men sørg for, at du ikke fortæller nogen de ting, jeg har fortalt dig.” Og Johannes Markus afslørede aldrig noget af det, der skete på denne dag, som han tilbragte sammen med Jesus i bjergene.		177:1.5 (1921.3) John Mark was thrilled by the memory of this day with Jesus in the hills, but he never forgot the Master’s final admonition, spoken just as they were about to return to the Gethsemane camp, when he said: “Well, John, we have had a good visit, a real day of rest, but see to it that you tell no man the things which I told you.” And John Mark never did reveal anything that transpired on this day which he spent with Jesus in the hills.
177:1.6 (1921.4) I løbet af de få timer, der var tilbage af Jesu jordiske liv, tillod Johannes Markus aldrig Mesteren at slippe ud af syne ret længe ad gangen. Drengen gemte sig altid i nærheden; han sov kun, når Jesus sov.		177:1.6 (1921.4) Throughout the few remaining hours of Jesus’ earth life John Mark never permitted the Master for long to get out of his sight. Always was the lad in hiding near by; he slept only when Jesus slept.
2. Barndomstiden i hjemmet ^top		2. Early Home Life ^top
177:2.1 (1921.5) I løbet af denne dags samvær med Johannes Markus brugte Jesus en del tid på at sammenligne deres tidlige barndom og senere ungdomsoplevelser. Selvom Johannes’ forældre havde flere af denne verdens goder end Jesus’ forældre, var der mange oplevelser i deres barndom, som var meget ens. Jesus sagde mange ting, som hjalp Johannes til bedre at forstå sine forældre og andre medlemmer af sin familie. Da drengen spurgte Mesteren, hvordan han kunne vide, at han ville blive en “mægtig budbringer af riget,” sagde Jesus:		177:2.1 (1921.5) In the course of this day’s visiting with John Mark, Jesus spent considerable time comparing their early childhood and later boyhood experiences. Although John’s parents possessed more of this world’s goods than had Jesus’ parents, there was much experience in their boyhood which was very similar. Jesus said many things which helped John better to understand his parents and other members of his family. When the lad asked the Master how he could know that he would turn out to be a “mighty messenger of the kingdom,” Jesus said:
177:2.2 (1921.6) “Jeg ved, at du vil vise dig loyal over for rigets evangelium, fordi jeg kan stole på din nuværende tro og kærlighed, når disse egenskaber er grundlagt på en så tidlig oplæring, som du har fået derhjemme. Du er produktet af et hjem, hvor forældrene viser hinanden oprigtig hengivenhed, og derfor er du ikke blevet overelsket på en måde, der har været skadelig for din opfattelse af egen betydning. Din personlighed er heller ikke blevet forvrænget som følge af dine forældres kærlighedsløse manøvrer for at få din tillid og loyalitet, den ene mod den anden. Du har nydt den forældrekærlighed, som sikrer en prisværdig selvtillid, og som fremmer en normal følelse af tryghed. Men du har også været heldig, fordi dine forældre besad både visdom og kærlighed; og det var visdom, der fik dem til at holde igen med de fleste former for forkælelse og mange af de luksusgoder, som rigdom kan købe, mens de sendte dig i synagogeskolen sammen med dine legekammerater i nabolaget, og de opmuntrede dig også til at lære, hvordan man lever i denne verden ved at give dig mulighed for at få originale erfaringer. Du kom over til Jordan, hvor vi prædikede, og Johannes’ disciple døbte, sammen med din unge ven Amos. I ønskede begge at gå med os. Da I vendte tilbage til Jerusalem, indvilligede jeres forældre; Amos forældre nægtede; de elskede deres søn så højt, at de nægtede ham den velsignede oplevelse, som I har haft, selv sådan som I nyder i dag. Ved at løbe hjemmefra kunne Amos have sluttet sig til os, men derved ville han have såret kærligheden og ofret loyaliteten. Selv hvis en sådan beslutning havde været klog, ville det have været en frygtelig pris at betale for erfaring, uafhængighed og frihed. Kloge forældre, som dine, sørger for, at deres børn ikke behøver at såre kærligheden eller kvæle loyaliteten for at udvikle uafhængighed og nyde en forfriskende frihed, når de er blevet voksne på din alder.		177:2.2 (1921.6) “I know you will prove loyal to the gospel of the kingdom because I can depend upon your present faith and love when these qualities are grounded upon such an early training as has been your portion at home. You are the product of a home where the parents bear each other a sincere affection, and therefore you have not been overloved so as injuriously to exalt your concept of self-importance. Neither has your personality suffered distortion in consequence of your parents’ loveless maneuvering for your confidence and loyalty, the one against the other. You have enjoyed that parental love which insures laudable self-confidence and which fosters normal feelings of security. But you have also been fortunate in that your parents possessed wisdom as well as love; and it was wisdom which led them to withhold most forms of indulgence and many luxuries which wealth can buy while they sent you to the synagogue school along with your neighborhood playfellows, and they also encouraged you to learn how to live in this world by permitting you to have original experience. You came over to the Jordan, where we preached and John’s disciples baptized, with your young friend Amos. Both of you desired to go with us. When you returned to Jerusalem, your parents consented; Amos’s parents refused; they loved their son so much that they denied him the blessed experience which you have had, even such as you this day enjoy. By running away from home, Amos could have joined us, but in so doing he would have wounded love and sacrificed loyalty. Even if such a course had been wise, it would have been a terrible price to pay for experience, independence, and liberty. Wise parents, such as yours, see to it that their children do not have to wound love or stifle loyalty in order to develop independence and enjoy invigorating liberty when they have grown up to your age.
177:2.3 (1922.1) “Kærlighed, John, er universets højeste realitet, når den skænkes af kloge væsener, men det er en farlig og ofte halvegoistisk egenskab, som den kommer til udtryk i dødelige forældres erfaringer. Når du bliver gift og selv får børn at opdrage, så sørg for, at din kærlighed formanes af visdom og styres af intelligens.		177:2.3 (1922.1) “Love, John, is the supreme reality of the universe when bestowed by all-wise beings, but it is a dangerous and oftentimes semiselfish trait as it is manifested in the experience of mortal parents. When you get married and have children of your own to rear, make sure that your love is admonished by wisdom and guided by intelligence.
177:2.4 (1922.2) “Din unge ven Amos tror lige så meget på dette evangelium om riget som dig, men jeg kan ikke helt stole på ham; jeg er ikke sikker på, hvad han vil gøre i de kommende år. Hans tidlige hjemmeliv var ikke af en sådan art, at det ville skabe en helt pålidelig person. Amos ligner for meget en af de apostle, som ikke fik en normal, kærlig og klog opdragelse i hjemmet. Hele dit liv efter døden vil være mere lykkeligt og pålideligt, fordi du tilbragte dine første otte år i et normalt og velreguleret hjem. Du har en stærk og veludviklet karakter, fordi du voksede op i et hjem, hvor kærligheden herskede og visdommen regerede. En sådan barndomstræning frembringer en form for loyalitet, som forsikrer mig om, at du vil gennemføre den kurs, du har påbegyndt.”		177:2.4 (1922.2) “Your young friend Amos believes this gospel of the kingdom just as much as you, but I cannot fully depend upon him; I am not certain about what he will do in the years to come. His early home life was not such as would produce a wholly dependable person. Amos is too much like one of the apostles who failed to enjoy a normal, loving, and wise home training. Your whole afterlife will be more happy and dependable because you spent your first eight years in a normal and well-regulated home. You possess a strong and well-knit character because you grew up in a home where love prevailed and wisdom reigned. Such a childhood training produces a type of loyalty which assures me that you will go through with the course you have begun.”
177:2.5 (1922.3) I mere end en time fortsatte Jesus og Johannes denne diskussion om livet i hjemmet. Mesteren fortsatte med at forklare Johannes, hvordan et barn er helt afhængig af sine forældre og det tilhørende hjemmeliv for alle sine tidlige begreber om alt intellektuelt, socialt, moralsk og endda åndeligt, da familien repræsenterer alt, hvad det lille barn først kan vide om enten menneskelige eller guddommelige forhold. Barnet må få sine første indtryk af universet fra moderens omsorg; det er helt afhængigt af den jordiske far for at få sine første forestillinger om den himmelske Fader. Barnets senere liv bliver lykkeligt eller ulykkeligt, let eller svært, i overensstemmelse med dets tidlige mentale og følelsesmæssige liv, der er betinget af disse sociale og åndelige relationer i hjemmet. Hele et menneskes liv efter døden er enormt påvirket af, hvad der sker i de første par år af dets eksistens.		177:2.5 (1922.3) For more than an hour Jesus and John continued this discussion of home life. The Master went on to explain to John how a child is wholly dependent on his parents and the associated home life for all his early concepts of everything intellectual, social, moral, and even spiritual since the family represents to the young child all that he can first know of either human or divine relationships. The child must derive his first impressions of the universe from the mother’s care; he is wholly dependent on the earthly father for his first ideas of the heavenly Father. The child’s subsequent life is made happy or unhappy, easy or difficult, in accordance with his early mental and emotional life, conditioned by these social and spiritual relationships of the home. A human being’s entire afterlife is enormously influenced by what happens during the first few years of existence.
177:2.6 (1922.4) Vi tror oprigtigt, at evangeliet ifølge Jesu lære, som er baseret på forholdet mellem far og barn, næppe kan få en verdensomspændende modtagelse indtil den tid kommer, når hjemmelivet hos de moderne civiliserede folk omfatter mere kærlighed og mere visdom. Trods det faktum, at forældrene i det tyvende århundrede besidder stor viden og øget sandhed for at forbedre hjemmet og forædle hjemmelivet, er det stadig et faktum, at meget få moderne hjem er lige så gode steder at uddanne drenge og piger som Jesu hjem i Galilæa og Johannes Markus hjem i Judæa var, selv om accepten af Jesu evangelium vil føre til at hjemmelivet umiddelbart forbedres. Det kærlighedsfulde liv i en klog hjem og den loyale hengivenhed af sand religion udøver en dybtgående gensidig indflydelse på hinanden. Et sådan indre liv forhøjer religionen, og ægte religion forherliger altid hjemmet.		177:2.6 (1922.4) It is our sincere belief that the gospel of Jesus’ teaching, founded as it is on the father-child relationship, can hardly enjoy a world-wide acceptance until such a time as the home life of the modern civilized peoples embraces more of love and more of wisdom. Notwithstanding that parents of the twentieth century possess great knowledge and increased truth for improving the home and ennobling the home life, it remains a fact that very few modern homes are such good places in which to nurture boys and girls as Jesus’ home in Galilee and John Mark’s home in Judea, albeit the acceptance of Jesus’ gospel will result in the immediate improvement of home life. The love life of a wise home and the loyal devotion of true religion exert a profound reciprocal influence upon each other. Such a home life enhances religion, and genuine religion always glorifies the home.
177:2.7 (1923.1) Det er sandt, at mange af de ubehagelige hæmmende påvirkninger og andre trange forhold i disse gamle jødiske hjem stort set er blevet elimineret fra mange af de bedre regulerede moderne hjem. Der er ganske vist mere spontan frihed og langt mere personlig frihed, men denne frihed er ikke behersket af kærlighed, motiveret af loyalitet eller styret af visdommens intelligente disciplin. Så længe vi lærer barnet at bede “Fader vor, du som er i himlene,” hviler der et enormt ansvar på alle jordiske fædre for at leve og indrette deres hjem, så ordet fader bliver værdifuldt forankret i alle opvoksende børns sind og hjerter.		177:2.7 (1923.1) It is true that many of the objectionable stunting influences and other cramping features of these olden Jewish homes have been virtually eliminated from many of the better-regulated modern homes. There is, indeed, more spontaneous freedom and far more personal liberty, but this liberty is not restrained by love, motivated by loyalty, nor directed by the intelligent discipline of wisdom. As long as we teach the child to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven,” a tremendous responsibility rests upon all earthly fathers so to live and order their homes that the word father becomes worthily enshrined in the minds and hearts of all growing children.
3. Dagen i lejren ^top		3. The Day at Camp ^top
177:3.1 (1923.2) Apostlene brugte det meste af dagen på at gå rundt på Oliebjerget og besøge de disciple, der havde slået lejr sammen med dem, men tidligt på eftermiddagen blev de meget opsatte på at se Jesus vende tilbage. Som dagen skred frem, blev de mere og mere bekymrede for hans sikkerhed; de følte sig usigeligt ensomme uden ham. Dagen igennem blev der diskuteret meget, om Mesteren skulle have haft lov til at gå alene i bjergene, kun ledsaget af en stikirenddreng. Selvom ingen åbent gav udtryk for det, var der ingen af dem, bortset fra Judas Iskariot, der ikke ønskede at være i Johannes Markus’ sted.		177:3.1 (1923.2) The apostles spent most of this day walking about on Mount Olivet and visiting with the disciples who were encamped with them, but early in the afternoon they became very desirous of seeing Jesus return. As the day wore on, they grew increasingly anxious about his safety; they felt inexpressibly lonely without him. There was much debating throughout the day as to whether the Master should have been allowed to go off by himself in the hills, accompanied only by an errand boy. Though no man openly so expressed his thoughts, there was not one of them, save Judas Iscariot, who did not wish himself in John Mark’s place.
177:3.2 (1923.3) Det var omkring midt på eftermiddagen, da Nataniel holdt sin tale om “Det højeste ønske” for omkring et halvt dusin af apostlene og lige så mange disciple, og den sluttede sådan her: “Det, der er galt med de fleste af os, er, at vi kun er halvhjertede. Vi formår ikke at elske Mesteren, som han elsker os. Hvis vi alle havde ønsket at gå med ham så meget, som Johannes Markus gjorde, ville han helt sikkert have taget os alle med. Vi stod og så på, mens drengen nærmede sig Mesteren og tilbød ham kurven, men da Mesteren tog fat i den, ville drengen ikke give slip. Så Mesteren efterlod os her, mens han gik op i bjergene med kurv, dreng og det hele.”		177:3.2 (1923.3) It was about midafternoon when Nathaniel made his speech on “Supreme Desire” to about half a dozen of the apostles and as many disciples, the ending of which was: “What is wrong with most of us is that we are only halfhearted. We fail to love the Master as he loves us. If we had all wanted to go with him as much as John Mark did, he would surely have taken us all. We stood by while the lad approached the Master and offered him the basket, but when the Master took hold of it, the lad would not let go. And so the Master left us here while he went off to the hills with basket, boy, and all.”
177:3.3 (1923.4) Omkring klokken fire kom løbere til David Zebedæus og bragte ham besked fra hans mor i Betsaida og fra Jesu mor. Flere dage tidligere havde David overbevist sig selv om, at ypperstepræsterne og magthaverne ville slå Jesus ihjel. David vidste, at de var fast besluttede på at ødelægge Mesteren, og han var næsten overbevist om, at Jesus hverken ville bruge sin guddommelige magt til at redde sig selv eller tillade sine tilhængere at bruge magt til at forsvare ham. Da han var nået frem til disse konklusioner, sendte han straks et bud til sin mor og opfordrede hende til straks at komme til Jerusalem og medbringe Maria, Jesu mor, og alle medlemmer af hans familie.		177:3.3 (1923.4) About four o’clock, runners came to David Zebedee bringing him word from his mother at Bethsaida and from Jesus’ mother. Several days previously David had made up his mind that the chief priests and rulers were going to kill Jesus. David knew they were determined to destroy the Master, and he was about convinced that Jesus would neither exert his divine power to save himself nor permit his followers to employ force in his defense. Having reached these conclusions, he lost no time in dispatching a messenger to his mother, urging her to come at once to Jerusalem and to bring Mary the mother of Jesus and every member of his family.
177:3.4 (1923.5) Davids mor gjorde, som hendes søn bad om, og nu kom løberne tilbage til David med besked om, at hans mor og hele Jesu familie var på vej til Jerusalem og ville ankomme sent den følgende dag eller meget tidligt den næste morgen. Da David gjorde dette på eget initiativ, mente han, at det var klogt at holde det for sig selv. Han fortalte derfor ikke nogen, at Jesu familie var på vej til Jerusalem.		177:3.4 (1923.5) David’s mother did as her son requested, and now the runners came back to David bringing the word that his mother and Jesus’ entire family were on the way to Jerusalem and should arrive sometime late on the following day or very early the next morning. Since David did this on his own initiative, he thought it wise to keep the matter to himself. He told no one, therefore, that Jesus’ family was on the way to Jerusalem.
177:3.5 (1924.1) Kort efter middag ankom mere end tyve af de grækere, der havde mødt Jesus og de tolv hjemme hos Josef af Arimatæa, til lejren, og Peter og Johannes brugte flere timer på at tale med dem. Disse grækere, i hvert fald nogle af dem, var langt fremme i deres viden om riget, da de var blevet undervist af Rodan i Alexandria.		177:3.5 (1924.1) Shortly after noon, more than twenty of the Greeks who had met with Jesus and the twelve at the home of Joseph of Arimathea arrived at the camp, and Peter and John spent several hours in conference with them. These Greeks, at least some of them, were well advanced in the knowledge of the kingdom, having been instructed by Rodan at Alexandria.
177:3.6 (1924.2) Den aften, efter at være vendt tilbage til lejren, besøgte Jesus grækerne, og havde det ikke været, fordi en sådan fremgangsmåde ville have forstyrret hans apostle og mange af hans ledende disciple meget, ville han have ordineret disse tyve grækere, ligesom han havde ordineret de halvfjerds.		177:3.6 (1924.2) That evening, after returning to the camp, Jesus visited with the Greeks, and had it not been that such a course would have greatly disturbed his apostles and many of his leading disciples, he would have ordained these twenty Greeks, even as he had the seventy.
177:3.7 (1924.3) Mens alt dette foregik i lejren, var ypperstepræsterne og de ældste i Jerusalem forbløffede over, at Jesus ikke vendte tilbage for at tale til folkemængden. Dagen før, da han forlod templet, havde han ganske vist sagt: “Jeg overlader jeres hus til jer som en ødemark.” Men de kunne ikke forstå, hvorfor han var villig til at give afkald på den store fordel, som han havde opbygget i folkemængdens venlige indstilling. Mens de frygtede, at han ville skabe tumult blandt folket, havde Mesterens sidste ord til folkemængden været en formaning om på enhver rimelig måde at rette sig efter autoriteten hos dem, “der sidder i Moses sæde.” Men det var en travl dag i byen, hvor de på samme tid forberedte påsken og perfektionerede deres planer om at tilintetgøre Jesus.		177:3.7 (1924.3) While all of this was going on at the camp, in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders were amazed that Jesus did not return to address the multitudes. True, the day before, when he left the temple, he had said, “I leave your house to you desolate.” But they could not understand why he would be willing to forgo the great advantage which he had built up in the friendly attitude of the crowds. While they feared he would stir up a tumult among the people, the Master’s last words to the multitude had been an exhortation to conform in every reasonable manner with the authority of those “who sit in Moses’ seat.” But it was a busy day in the city as they simultaneously prepared for the Passover and perfected their plans for destroying Jesus.
177:3.8 (1924.4) Der kom ikke mange mennesker til lejren, for dens oprettelse havde været en velbevaret hemmelighed for alle, der vidste, at Jesus forventede at blive der i stedet for at tage ud til Betania hver nat.		177:3.8 (1924.4) Not many people came to the camp, for its establishment had been kept a well-guarded secret by all who knew that Jesus was expecting to stay there in place of going out to Bethany every night.
4. Judas og ypperstepræsterne ^top		4. Judas and the Chief Priests ^top
177:4.1 (1924.5) Kort efter at Jesus og Johannes Markus havde forladt lejren, forsvandt Judas Iskariot blandt sine brødre og vendte først tilbage sidst på eftermiddagen. Denne forvirrede og utilfredse apostel skyndte sig at overholde sin aftale med Jesu fjender hjemme hos ypperstepræsten Kajfas på trods af sin Mesters udtrykkelige anmodning om at afholde sig fra at gå ind i Jerusalem. Det var et uformelt møde i Sanhedrinet, som var blevet aftalt til kort efter klokken ti den morgen. Mødet var indkaldt for at diskutere arten af de anklager, der skulle rejses mod Jesus, og for at beslutte, hvilken procedure der skulle anvendes for at bringe ham for de romerske myndigheder med det formål at sikre den nødvendige civile bekræftelse af den dødsdom, som de allerede havde afsagt over ham.		177:4.1 (1924.5) Shortly after Jesus and John Mark left the camp, Judas Iscariot disappeared from among his brethren, not returning until late in the afternoon. This confused and discontented apostle, notwithstanding his Master’s specific request to refrain from entering Jerusalem, went in haste to keep his appointment with Jesus’ enemies at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. This was an informal meeting of the Sanhedrin and had been appointed for shortly after ten o’clock that morning. This meeting was called to discuss the nature of the charges which should be lodged against Jesus and to decide upon the procedure to be employed in bringing him before the Roman authorities for the purpose of securing the necessary civil confirmation of the death sentence which they had already passed upon him.
177:4.2 (1924.6) Den foregående dag havde Judas fortalt nogle af sine slægtninge og nogle saddukæiske venner af sin fars familie, at han var nået til den konklusion, at selv om Jesus var en velmenende drømmer og idealist, så var han ikke den forventede befrier af Israel. Judas sagde, at han meget gerne ville finde en måde at trække sig elegant ud af hele bevægelsen på. Hans venner forsikrede ham smigrende om, at hans tilbagetrækning ville blive hyldet af de jødiske herskere som en stor begivenhed, og at intet ville være for godt til ham. De fik ham til at tro, at han straks ville modtage høje æresbevisninger fra jødernes råd, og at han endelig ville være i stand til at udslette skampletten af sin velmente, men “uheldige omgang med ulærde galilæere.”		177:4.2 (1924.6) On the preceding day Judas had disclosed to some of his relatives and to certain Sadducean friends of his father’s family that he had reached the conclusion that, while Jesus was a well-meaning dreamer and idealist, he was not the expected deliverer of Israel. Judas stated that he would very much like to find some way of withdrawing gracefully from the whole movement. His friends flatteringly assured him that his withdrawal would be hailed by the Jewish rulers as a great event, and that nothing would be too good for him. They led him to believe that he would forthwith receive high honors from the Sanhedrin, and that he would at last be in a position to erase the stigma of his well-meant but “unfortunate association with untaught Galileans.”
177:4.3 (1924.7) Judas kunne ikke helt tro på, at Mesterens mægtige gerninger var blevet udført af djævleprinsens magt, men han var nu helt overbevist om, at Jesus ikke ville bruge sin magt til selvforherligelse; han var endelig overbevist om, at Jesus ville lade sig tilintetgøre af de jødiske herskere, og han kunne ikke udholde den ydmygende tanke at blive identificeret med en nederlagsbevægelse. Han nægtede at underholde tanken om en tilsyneladende fiasko. Han forstod grundigt sin Mesters robuste karakter og skarpheden i hans majestætiske og barmhjertige sind, men alligevel fandt han glæde i selv den delvise underholdning af en af hans slægtninges forslag om, at Jesus, selvom han var en velmenende fanatiker, sandsynligvis ikke var rigtig sund i sindet; at han altid havde fremstået som en mærkelig og misforstået person.		177:4.3 (1924.7) Judas could not quite believe that the mighty works of the Master had been wrought by the power of the prince of devils, but he was now fully convinced that Jesus would not exert his power in self-aggrandizement; he was at last convinced that Jesus would allow himself to be destroyed by the Jewish rulers, and he could not endure the humiliating thought of being identified with a movement of defeat. He refused to entertain the idea of apparent failure. He thoroughly understood the sturdy character of his Master and the keenness of that majestic and merciful mind, yet he derived pleasure from even the partial entertainment of the suggestion of one of his relatives that Jesus, while he was a well-meaning fanatic, was probably not really sound of mind; that he had always appeared to be a strange and misunderstood person.
177:4.4 (1925.1) Og nu, som aldrig før, blev Judas underligt vred over, at Jesus aldrig havde tildelt ham en mere ærefuld stilling. Han havde hele tiden værdsat den ære, det var at være apostlenes kasserer, men nu begyndte han at føle, at han ikke blev værdsat; at hans evner ikke blev anerkendt. Han blev pludselig forarget over, at Peter, James og Johannes var blevet hædret med tæt tilknytning til Jesus, og på dette tidspunkt, da han var på vej til ypperstepræstens hjem, var han mere opsat på at hævne sig på Peter, James og Johannes, end han var optaget af nogen tanke om at forråde Jesus. Men frem for alt begyndte en ny og dominerende tanke netop da at indtage forreste række i hans bevidsthed: Han havde sat sig for at skaffe sig selv ære, og hvis det kunne sikres samtidig med, at han fik hævn over dem, der havde bidraget til hans livs største skuffelse, så meget desto bedre. Han blev grebet af en frygtelig sammensværgelse af forvirring, stolthed, desperation og beslutsomhed. Og derfor må det være klart, at det ikke var for pengenes skyld, at Judas var på vej til Kajfas’ hjem for at arrangere forræderiet mod Jesus.		177:4.4 (1925.1) And now, as never before, Judas found himself becoming strangely resentful that Jesus had never assigned him a position of greater honor. All along he had appreciated the honor of being the apostolic treasurer, but now he began to feel that he was not appreciated; that his abilities were unrecognized. He was suddenly overcome with indignation that Peter, James, and John should have been honored with close association with Jesus, and at this time, when he was on the way to the high priest’s home, he was bent on getting even with Peter, James, and John more than he was concerned with any thought of betraying Jesus. But over and above all, just then, a new and dominating thought began to occupy the forefront of his conscious mind: He had set out to get honor for himself, and if this could be secured simultaneously with getting even with those who had contributed to the greatest disappointment of his life, all the better. He was seized with a terrible conspiracy of confusion, pride, desperation, and determination. And so it must be plain that it was not for money that Judas was then on his way to the home of Caiaphas to arrange for the betrayal of Jesus.
177:4.5 (1925.2) Da Judas nærmede sig Kajfas’ hjem, nåede han frem til den endelige beslutning om at forlade Jesus og sine medapostle; og da han således havde besluttet sig for at forlade Himmerigets sag, var han fast besluttet på at sikre sig så meget som muligt af den ære og hæder, som han havde troet ville blive hans, da han først identificerede sig med Jesus og det nye evangelium om Himmeriget. Alle apostlene delte engang denne ambition med Judas, men som tiden gik, lærte de at beundre sandheden og at elske Jesus, i hvert fald mere end Judas gjorde.		177:4.5 (1925.2) As Judas approached the home of Caiaphas, he arrived at the final decision to abandon Jesus and his fellow apostles; and having thus made up his mind to desert the cause of the kingdom of heaven, he was determined to secure for himself as much as possible of that honor and glory which he had thought would sometime be his when he first identified himself with Jesus and the new gospel of the kingdom. All of the apostles once shared this ambition with Judas, but as time passed they learned to admire truth and to love Jesus, at least more than did Judas.
177:4.6 (1925.3) Forræderen blev præsenteret for Kajfas og de jødiske magthavere af sin fætter, som forklarede, at Judas, efter at have opdaget sin fejltagelse ved at lade sig vildlede af Jesus’ subtile lære, var kommet til det sted, hvor han ønskede at give offentligt og formelt afkald på sin forbindelse med galilæeren og samtidig bede om at blive genindsat i sine judæiske brødres tillid og fællesskab. Denne talsmand for Judas fortsatte med at forklare, at Judas erkendte, at det ville være bedst for freden i Israel, hvis Jesus blev taget i forvaring, og at han som bevis på sin sorg over at have deltaget i en sådan fejltagelse og som bevis på sin oprigtighed i nu at vende tilbage til Moses’ lære, var han kommet for at tilbyde sig selv til Sanhedrinet som en, der kunne arrangere med kaptajnen, der havde ordren til Jesu arrestation, at han kunne blive taget i forvaring stille og roligt og dermed undgå enhver fare for at ophidse folkemængderne eller nødvendigheden af at udskyde hans arrestation til efter påsken.		177:4.6 (1925.3) The traitor was presented to Caiaphas and the Jewish rulers by his cousin, who explained that Judas, having discovered his mistake in allowing himself to be misled by the subtle teaching of Jesus, had arrived at the place where he wished to make public and formal renunciation of his association with the Galilean and at the same time to ask for reinstatement in the confidence and fellowship of his Judean brethren. This spokesman for Judas went on to explain that Judas recognized it would be best for the peace of Israel if Jesus should be taken into custody, and that, as evidence of his sorrow in having participated in such a movement of error and as proof of his sincerity in now returning to the teachings of Moses, he had come to offer himself to the Sanhedrin as one who could so arrange with the captain holding the orders for Jesus’ arrest that he could be taken into custody quietly, thus avoiding any danger of stirring up the multitudes or the necessity of postponing his arrest until after the Passover.
177:4.7 (1925.4) Da hans fætter var færdig med at tale, præsenterede han Judas, som trådte frem til ypperstepræsten og sagde: “Alt, hvad min fætter har lovet, vil jeg gøre, men hvad er du villig til at give mig for denne tjeneste?” Judas så ikke ud til at opfatte det udtryk af foragt og endda afsky, der kom over den hårdhjertede og forfængelige Kajfas’ ansigt; hans hjerte var alt for optaget af selvros og trangen til at tilfredsstille sig selv.		177:4.7 (1925.4) When his cousin had finished speaking, he presented Judas, who, stepping forward near the high priest, said: “All that my cousin has promised, I will do, but what are you willing to give me for this service?” Judas did not seem to discern the look of disdain and even disgust that came over the face of the hardhearted and vainglorious Caiaphas; his heart was too much set on self-glory and the craving for the satisfaction of self-exaltation.
177:4.8 (1926.1) Og så så Kajfas ned på forræderen, mens han sagde: “Judas, gå hen til vagtkaptajnen og aftal med ham, at han bringer din Mester til os enten i aften eller i morgen aften, og når du har afleveret ham i vores hænder, skal du få din belønning for denne tjeneste.” Da Judas hørte dette, gik han ud fra ypperstepræsterne og magthaverne og rådførte sig med tempelvagternes kaptajn om, hvordan Jesus skulle pågribes. Judas vidste, at Jesus på det tidspunkt var væk fra lejren og ikke anede, hvornår han ville vende tilbage den aften, så de blev enige om at arrestere Jesus den næste aften (torsdag), efter at Jerusalems befolkning og alle de besøgende pilgrimme var gået til ro for natten.		177:4.8 (1926.1) And then Caiaphas looked down upon the betrayer while he said: “Judas, you go to the captain of the guard and arrange with that officer to bring your Master to us either tonight or tomorrow night, and when he has been delivered by you into our hands, you shall receive your reward for this service.” When Judas heard this, he went forth from the presence of the chief priests and rulers and took counsel with the captain of the temple guards as to the manner in which Jesus was to be apprehended. Judas knew that Jesus was then absent from the camp and had no idea when he would return that evening, and so they agreed among themselves to arrest Jesus the next evening (Thursday) after the people of Jerusalem and all of the visiting pilgrims had retired for the night.
177:4.9 (1926.2) Judas vendte tilbage til sine kammerater i lejren beruset af tanker om storhed og ære, som han ikke havde haft i mange dage. Han havde ladet sig hverve af Jesus i håb om en dag at blive en stor mand i det nye rige. Til sidst indså han, at der ikke ville blive noget nyt rige, som han havde forventet. Men han glædede sig over at være så klog, at han byttede sin skuffelse over ikke at opnå ære i et forventet nyt rige for den umiddelbare erkendelse af ære og belønning i den gamle orden, som han nu troede ville overleve, og som han var sikker på ville ødelægge Jesus og alt, hvad han stod for. I sit sidste motiv af bevidst hensigt var Judas forræderi mod Jesus en kujonagtig handling fra en egoistisk desertør, hvis eneste tanke var hans egen sikkerhed og forherligelse, uanset hvad resultatet af hans opførsel måtte blive for hans Mester og hans tidligere medarbejdere.		177:4.9 (1926.2) Judas returned to his associates at the camp intoxicated with thoughts of grandeur and glory such as he had not had for many a day. He had enlisted with Jesus hoping some day to become a great man in the new kingdom. He at last realized that there was to be no new kingdom such as he had anticipated. But he rejoiced in being so sagacious as to trade off his disappointment in failing to achieve glory in an anticipated new kingdom for the immediate realization of honor and reward in the old order, which he now believed would survive, and which he was certain would destroy Jesus and all that he stood for. In its last motive of conscious intention, Judas’s betrayal of Jesus was the cowardly act of a selfish deserter whose only thought was his own safety and glorification, no matter what might be the results of his conduct upon his Master and upon his former associates.
177:4.10 (1926.3) Men sådan var det altid. Judas havde længe været engageret i denne bevidste, vedholdende, egoistiske og hævngerrige bevidsthed om gradvist at opbygge i sit sind og underholde i sit hjerte disse hadefulde og onde ønsker om hævn og illoyalitet. Jesus elskede og stolede på Judas, ligesom han elskede og stolede på de andre apostle, men Judas formåede ikke at udvikle loyal tillid og opleve helhjertet kærlighed til gengæld. Og hvor farlige ambitioner kan blive, når de først er helt forbundet med selvsøgen og motiveret af sur og længe undertrykt hævn! Hvilken knusende skuffelse i livet for de tåbelige personer, der, når de fæstner blikket på tidens skyggefulde og flygtige lokker, bliver blinde for de højere og mere virkelige resultater af de evige opnåelser i de evige verdener af guddommelige værdier og sande åndelige realiteter. Judas higede efter verdslig ære i sit sind og voksede til at elske dette begær af hele sit hjerte; de andre apostle higede ligeledes efter den samme verdslige ære i deres sind, men af hjertet elskede de Jesus og gjorde deres bedste for at lære at elske de sandheder, han lærte dem.		177:4.10 (1926.3) But it was ever just that way. Judas had long been engaged in this deliberate, persistent, selfish, and vengeful consciousness of progressively building up in his mind, and entertaining in his heart, these hateful and evil desires of revenge and disloyalty. Jesus loved and trusted Judas even as he loved and trusted the other apostles, but Judas failed to develop loyal trust and to experience wholehearted love in return. And how dangerous ambition can become when it is once wholly wedded to self-seeking and supremely motivated by sullen and long-suppressed vengeance! What a crushing thing is disappointment in the lives of those foolish persons who, in fastening their gaze on the shadowy and evanescent allurements of time, become blinded to the higher and more real achievements of the everlasting attainments of the eternal worlds of divine values and true spiritual realities. Judas craved worldly honor in his mind and grew to love this desire with his whole heart; the other apostles likewise craved this same worldly honor in their minds, but with their hearts they loved Jesus and were doing their best to learn to love the truths which he taught them.
177:4.11 (1926.4) Judas var ikke klar over det på dette tidspunkt, men han havde været en ubevidst kritiker af Jesus, lige siden Johannes Døberen blev halshugget af Herodes. Dybt inde i sit hjerte har Judas altid været vred over, at Jesus ikke reddede Johannes. Du må ikke glemme, at Judas havde været Johannes’ discipel, før han blev en af Jesu tilhængere. Og alle disse ophobninger af menneskelig vrede og bitter skuffelse, som Judas havde gemt i sin sjæl i hadets klæder, var nu velorganiserede i hans underbevidsthed og klar til at springe op og opsluge ham, når han engang vovede at adskille sig fra sine brødres støttende indflydelse og samtidig udsætte sig selv for Jesu fjenders smarte insinuationer og subtile latterliggørelse. Hver gang Judas lod sine forhåbninger svæve højt, og Jesus gjorde eller sagde noget, der slog dem i stykker, blev der altid efterladt et ar af bitter harme i Judas’ hjerte; og efterhånden som disse ar blev flere og flere, mistede det hjerte, der så ofte var blevet såret, enhver ægte hengivenhed for den, der havde påført en velmenende, men fej og selvcentreret personlighed denne usmagelige oplevelse. Judas var ikke klar over det, men han var en kujon. Derfor var han altid tilbøjelig til at tillægge Jesus fejhed som det motiv, der fik ham til så ofte at nægte at gribe efter magt eller ære, når de tilsyneladende var inden for hans rækkevidde. Og ethvert dødeligt menneske ved udmærket, hvordan kærlighed, selv når den først er ægte, på grund af skuffelse, jalousi og langvarig bitterhed til sidst kan blive forvandlet til egentligt had.		177:4.11 (1926.4) Judas did not realize it at this time, but he had been a subconscious critic of Jesus ever since John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod. Deep down in his heart Judas always resented the fact that Jesus did not save John. You should not forget that Judas had been a disciple of John before he became a follower of Jesus. And all these accumulations of human resentment and bitter disappointment which Judas had laid by in his soul in habiliments of hate were now well organized in his subconscious mind and ready to spring up to engulf him when he once dared to separate himself from the supporting influence of his brethren while at the same time exposing himself to the clever insinuations and subtle ridicule of the enemies of Jesus. Every time Judas allowed his hopes to soar high and Jesus would do or say something to dash them to pieces, there was always left in Judas’s heart a scar of bitter resentment; and as these scars multiplied, presently that heart, so often wounded, lost all real affection for the one who had inflicted this distasteful experience upon a well-intentioned but cowardly and self-centered personality. Judas did not realize it, but he was a coward. Accordingly was he always inclined to assign to Jesus cowardice as the motive which led him so often to refuse to grasp for power or glory when they were apparently within his easy reach. And every mortal man knows full well how love, even when once genuine, can, through disappointment, jealousy, and long-continued resentment, be eventually turned into actual hate.
177:4.12 (1927.1) Endelig kunne ypperstepræsterne og de ældste ånde lettet op i et par timer. De behøvede ikke at arrestere Jesus offentligt, og da de havde sikret sig Judas som en forræderisk allieret, kunne de være sikre på, at Jesus ikke ville flygte fra deres jurisdiktion, som han havde gjort så mange gange før.		177:4.12 (1927.1) At last the chief priests and elders could breathe easily for a few hours. They would not have to arrest Jesus in public, and the securing of Judas as a traitorous ally insured that Jesus would not escape from their jurisdiction as he had so many times in the past.
5. Den sidste fællestime ^top		5. The Last Social Hour ^top
177:5.1 (1927.2) Da det var onsdag, var denne aften i lejren en social time. Mesteren forsøgte at opmuntre sine nedtrykte apostle, men det var så godt som umuligt. De var alle begyndt at indse, at foruroligende og knusende begivenheder var nært forestående. De kunne ikke være muntre, selv når Mesteren fortalte om deres mange begivenhedsrige og kærlige år sammen. Jesus spurgte omhyggeligt ind til alle apostlenes familier, og da han kiggede over på David Zebedæus, spurgte han, om nogen for nylig havde hørt fra hans mor, hans yngste søster eller andre medlemmer af hans familie. David kiggede ned på sine fødder; han var bange for at svare.		177:5.1 (1927.2) Since it was Wednesday, this evening at the camp was a social hour. The Master endeavored to cheer his downcast apostles, but that was well-nigh impossible. They were all beginning to realize that disconcerting and crushing events were impending. They could not be cheerful, even when the Master recounted their years of eventful and loving association. Jesus made careful inquiry about the families of all of the apostles and, looking over toward David Zebedee, asked if anyone had heard recently from his mother, his youngest sister, or other members of his family. David looked down at his feet; he was afraid to answer.
177:5.2 (1927.3) Dette var anledningen til, at Jesus advarede sine tilhængere om at tage sig i agt for folkemængdens støtte. Han fortalte om deres oplevelser i Galilæa, hvor store skarer af mennesker gang på gang begejstret fulgte dem rundt og derefter lige så begejstret vendte sig imod dem og vendte tilbage til deres tidligere måde at tro og leve på. Og så sagde han: “Og derfor må I ikke lade jer bedrage af de store skarer, som hørte os i templet, og som syntes at tro på vores lære. Disse skarer lytter til sandheden og tror overfladisk på den med deres sind, men få af dem tillader sandhedens ord at slå levende rødder ned i hjertet. De, der kun kender evangeliet i tankerne, og som ikke har oplevet det i hjertet, kan ikke regne med støtte, når de virkelige problemer kommer. Når jødernes herskere bliver enige om at tilintetgøre Menneskesønnen, og når de slår til i enighed, vil du se folkemængden enten flygte i forfærdelse eller stå der i tavs forbløffelse, mens disse vanvittige og forblindede herskere fører evangeliets sandhedslærere i døden. Og så, når modgang og forfølgelse rammer jer, vil endnu flere, som I tror elsker sandheden, blive spredt, og nogle vil frasige sig evangeliet og forlade jer. Nogle, som har været meget tæt på os, har allerede besluttet sig for at forlade os. I har hvilet i dag for at forberede jer på de tider, som nu er over os. Våg derfor og bed om, at I i morgen må blive styrket til de dage, der ligger lige foran jer.”		177:5.2 (1927.3) This was the occasion of Jesus’ warning his followers to beware of the support of the multitude. He recounted their experiences in Galilee when time and again great throngs of people enthusiastically followed them around and then just as ardently turned against them and returned to their former ways of believing and living. And then he said: “And so you must not allow yourselves to be deceived by the great crowds who heard us in the temple, and who seemed to believe our teachings. These multitudes listen to the truth and believe it superficially with their minds, but few of them permit the word of truth to strike down into the heart with living roots. Those who know the gospel only in the mind, and who have not experienced it in the heart, cannot be depended upon for support when real trouble comes. When the rulers of the Jews reach an agreement to destroy the Son of Man, and when they strike with one accord, you will see the multitude either flee in dismay or else stand by in silent amazement while these maddened and blinded rulers lead the teachers of the gospel truth to their death. And then, when adversity and persecution descend upon you, still others who you think love the truth will be scattered, and some will renounce the gospel and desert you. Some who have been very close to us have already made up their minds to desert. You have rested today in preparation for those times which are now upon us. Watch, therefore, and pray that on the morrow you may be strengthened for the days that are just ahead.”
177:5.3 (1927.4) Atmosfæren i lejren var ladet med en uforklarlig spænding. Tavse budbringere kom og gik og kommunikerede kun med David Zebedæus. Før aftenen var gået, vidste nogle, at Lazarus havde taget en hastig flugt fra Betania. Johannes Markus var ildevarslende tavs, da han vendte tilbage til lejren, på trods af at han havde tilbragt hele dagen i Mesterens selskab. Ethvert forsøg på at overtale ham til at tale viste kun tydeligt, at Jesus havde bedt ham om ikke at tale.		177:5.3 (1927.4) The atmosphere of the camp was charged with an inexplicable tension. Silent messengers came and went, communicating with only David Zebedee. Before the evening had passed, certain ones knew that Lazarus had taken hasty flight from Bethany. John Mark was ominously silent after returning to camp, notwithstanding he had spent the whole day in the Master’s company. Every effort to persuade him to talk only indicated clearly that Jesus had told him not to talk.
177:5.4 (1928.1) Selv Mesterens gode humør og hans usædvanlige selskabelighed skræmte dem. De følte alle, at den frygtelige isolation, som de var klar over ville komme med et brag og en uundgåelig rædsel, trak i dem. De havde en vag fornemmelse af, hvad der var på vej, og ingen følte sig parat til at møde prøven. Mesteren havde været væk hele dagen, og de havde savnet ham meget.		177:5.4 (1928.1) Even the Master’s good cheer and his unusual sociability frightened them. They all felt the certain drawing upon them of the terrible isolation which they realized was about to descend with crashing suddenness and inescapable terror. They vaguely sensed what was coming, and none felt prepared to face the test. The Master had been away all day; they had missed him tremendously.
177:5.5 (1928.2) Denne onsdag aften var lavpunktet for deres åndelige status op til den egentlige time for Mesterens død. Selvom den næste dag var endnu en dag tættere på den tragiske fredag, var han stadig hos dem, og de gik mere yndefuldt gennem de angstfyldte timer.		177:5.5 (1928.2) This Wednesday evening was the low-tide mark of their spiritual status up to the actual hour of the Master’s death. Although the next day was one more day nearer the tragic Friday, still, he was with them, and they passed through its anxious hours more gracefully.
177:5.6 (1928.3) Det var lige før midnat, da Jesus, der vidste, at dette ville blive den sidste nat, han nogensinde ville sove sammen med sin udvalgte familie på jorden, sagde, da han spredte dem for natten: “Gå i seng, mine brødre, og fred være med jer, indtil vi står op i morgen, endnu en dag for at gøre Faderens vilje og opleve glæden ved at vide, at vi er hans sønner.”		177:5.6 (1928.3) It was just before midnight when Jesus, knowing this would be the last night he would ever sleep through with his chosen family on earth, said, as he dispersed them for the night: “Go to your sleep, my brethren, and peace be upon you till we rise on the morrow, one more day to do the Father’s will and experience the joy of knowing that we are his sons.”