Walks and Words of Jesus Part 24

Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that if any man knew where he were, he should shew _it_, that they might take him.

Then Jesus six days before the pa.s.sover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper there they made him a supper; and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary an alabaster box of a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and she brake the box, and poured it on his head, as he sat _at meat_, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

But when his disciples saw it, then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's _son_, which should betray him, why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. When Jesus understood _it_, he said unto them,

Why trouble ye the woman? Let her alone: why trouble ye her?

she hath wrought a good work on me: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: for in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, _there_ shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

CHAPTER LIII.

TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM.

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed _is_ the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called _the mount_ of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them,

Go into the village over against you, and straightway, as soon as ye enter into it, ye shall find an a.s.s tied, and a colt with her, whereon yet never man sat; loose _them_, and bring _them_ unto me. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this?

say ye that the Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them hither.

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an a.s.s, and a colt the foal of an a.s.s.

And the disciples that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them, the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him; even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

And they brought the a.s.s and the colt to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an a.s.s's colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and _that_ they had done these things unto him.

And as he went, a very great mult.i.tude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed _them_ in the way.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole mult.i.tude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise G.o.d with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed _be_ the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

And some of the Pharisees from among the mult.i.tude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them,

I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

And the mult.i.tudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed _is_ he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed _be_ the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying,

If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things _which belong_ unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compa.s.s thee round, and keep thee in on every side. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the mult.i.tude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem and into the temple.

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them,

Yea; have ye never read; Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

And when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out.

CHAPTER LIV.

GREEKS WISH TO SEE JESUS--BARREN FIG TREE.

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: the same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying,

The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will _my_ Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name.

Then came there a voice from heaven, _saying_, I have both glorified _it_, and will glorify _it_ again. The people therefore that stood by, and heard _it_, said that it thundered: others said, An Angel spake to him.

Jesus answered and said,

This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all _men_ unto me.

This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever; and how sayest thou, The son of man must be lifted up? Who is this son of man?

Then Jesus said unto them,

Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.

These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany, with the twelve; and lodged there.

And on the morrow, in the morning, when they were come from Bethany, as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not _yet_. And Jesus answered and said unto it,

No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.

And his disciples heard _it_. And presently the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw _it_, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them,

Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this _which is done_ to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple of G.o.d, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry _any_ vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them,

Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.