Volume 2

198 Life of Jesus Christ
side the synagogue, and the Pharisees requested Jesus to
cure them, that thereby they might see a sign. But Jesus
refused to perform any cure, saying that they would not
believe in Him, therefore they should see no sign. Their
real aim was to tempt I-lim to heal on the Sabbath, that
they nlight have something for which to bring an action
against Him.
When the Sabbath was over, most of the disciples from
Galilee returned to their homes, but Jesus with Saturnin
and two other disciples went back to Lazarus's country
seat. How touching to see Him giving instructions to the
children of the steward and those of the neighbors, first
to the boys and then to the girls. He spoke of obedience
to parents and of reverence for old age. The Father in
Heaven had appointed for them their fathers; as much as
they honored them, so much also would they honor their
Heavenly Father. He spoke likewise of the children of
the sons of Jacob and of these of Israel, telling how they
had murmured and for that reason had not been allowed
to enter the Promised Land, a land that was so beautiful.
Then He pointed to the fine trees and fruits in the
garden, and told them of the heavenly Kingdom promised
to them that keep the Commandments of God. It was far
more glorious and beautiful than the lovely garden in
which they were; that garden, compared with the
heavenly one, was nothing more than a desert. They must
then be obedient and submit thankfully to the decrees of
God in their regard; they must never nlurmur, that
thereby they might not be excluded from the Kingdom of
Heaven; they must not doubt concerning the beauty of
that Kingdoln, as the Israelites did in the desert; they
must believe it to be far above, yes, a thousand times
more magnificent than what they then saw before them;
and lastly, they should have it often in their thoughts, in
order to merit it by their daily toil and labors. During
these instructions Jesus had the smaller ones right in