Volume 2
Share Embed Flag
Download ePaper

Volume 2

Volume 2 Volume 2

essan.org
11.04.2013 Views

Jesus in Peter's House 251 returned to report, the second remaining to spy Jesus' conduct and teaching. They had already held a meeting before which the Centurion Zorobabel, the son, and father had to appear and answer interrogatories respecting the boy's cure and Jesus' doctrine. They could neither deny the cure nor challenge the doctrine, nevertheless they could not reconcile themselves to what had happened. They were angry because Jesus had not studied under them; they found fault with His frequenting the company of common people, such as the Essenians, fishermen, publicans, and sinners; they were indignant at His presuming to teach without a mission from Jerusalem, from the Sanhedrin; they were offended at His not having recourse to themselves for counsel and instruction; and they could not endure that He was neither Pharisee nor Sadducee, that He taught among the Samaritans, and cured on the Sabbath day. They were in short furious at the thought that to render Him justice would be to denounce and condemn themselves. The young man frool Nazareth was a violent enemy of the Samaritans, whonl he persecuted in many ways. Jesus' friends and relatives did not want Him to teach in Capharnaum on the Sabbath. Even His Mother was full of anxiety, and she expressed her opinion that it would be more advisable for Him to go to the other side of the lake. From such objections, Jesus turned aside with a few brief words and without explanations. There were in Bethsaida and Capharnaum immense numbers of sick, of heathens, and Jews. Several troops of the travellers that Jesus had lately met on the other side of the lake were here awaiting Him. Near Bethsaida were large open inns covered with reeds, some for heathens, some for Jews. Above this place were the heathen baths; below were the Jewish. Peter accommodated many of the Jewish sick in the precincts of his dwelling, and Jesus next morning healed

252 Life of Jesus Christ a large number of them. Jesus had said to Peter the evening before that he should leave his fishery on the following day and help Him to fish after men; soon would He call upon him to quit it entirely. Peter obeyed, though not without some inward embarrassment. He was always of the opinion that life with the Master was too high for him, he could not understand it. He believed in Jesus, he saw His miracles, he shared freely his substance with the other disciples, he did willingly all that was enjoined upon him, but yet he felt unfit for such a vocation. He thought himself too simple, too unworthy, and to this was added a secret anxiety for the welfare of his business. Sometimes also it was very vexatious to him to find himself the object of such railleries as, "He is only a poor fisherman, and yet look at him going around with the Prophet! And his house is a perfect rendezvous for fanatics and seditious persons. See how he neglects his business!" All this made it a struggle for Peter since, though full of faith and love, he was not at that time so enthusiastic, so zealous as Andrew and the other disciples. He was timid and humble, attached to his ordinary occupations, and in his simplicity would have preferred being left in the peaceful discharge of them. Jesus went from Peter's dwelling over the mountain ridge to the north side of Bethsaida. The whole road was full of sick, pagans and Jews, separate however, the leprous far removed from all others. There were blind, lame, dumb, deaf, paralytic, and an exceedingly large number of dropsical Jews. The ceremony of curing was performed with the greatest order and solemnity. The people had already been two days here, and the disciples of the place, Andrew, Peter, and the others whom Jesus had notified of His coming, had arranged them comfortably in the nooks, retired and shady, and the little gardens on the road. Jesus instructed and admonished the sick, who were carried or led and ranged around Him in groups. Some desired to confess their sins to Him, and He stepped with them to a more

252 Life of Jesus Christ<br />

a large number of them. Jesus had said to Peter the evening<br />

before that he should leave his fishery on the following day<br />

and help Him to fish after men; soon would He call upon<br />

him to quit it entirely. Peter obeyed, though not without<br />

some inward embarrassment. He was always of the opinion<br />

that life with the Master was too high for him, he could not<br />

understand it. He believed in Jesus, he saw His miracles, he<br />

shared freely his substance with the other disciples, he did<br />

willingly all that was enjoined upon him, but yet he felt unfit<br />

for such a vocation. He thought himself too simple, too<br />

unworthy, and to this was added a secret anxiety for the<br />

welfare of his business. Sometimes also it was very vexatious<br />

to him to find himself the object of such railleries as,<br />

"He is only a poor fisherman, and yet look at him going<br />

around with the Prophet! And his house is a perfect rendezvous<br />

for fanatics and seditious persons. See how he<br />

neglects his business!" All this made it a struggle for Peter<br />

since, though full of faith and love, he was not at that time<br />

so enthusiastic, so zealous as Andrew and the other disciples.<br />

He was timid and humble, attached to his ordinary occupations,<br />

and in his simplicity would have preferred being<br />

left in the peaceful discharge of them.<br />

Jesus went from Peter's dwelling over the mountain ridge<br />

to the north side of Bethsaida. The whole road was full of<br />

sick, pagans and Jews, separate however, the leprous far<br />

removed from all others. There were blind, lame, dumb,<br />

deaf, paralytic, and an exceedingly large number of dropsical<br />

Jews. The ceremony of curing was performed with the<br />

greatest order and solemnity. The people had already been<br />

two days here, and the disciples of the place, Andrew,<br />

Peter, and the others whom Jesus had notified of His coming,<br />

had arranged them comfortably in the nooks, retired<br />

and shady, and the little gardens on the road. Jesus instructed<br />

and admonished the sick, who were carried or led<br />

and ranged around Him in groups. Some desired to confess<br />

their sins to Him, and He stepped with them to a more

logo

products

Resources

Company

Terms of service
Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Cookie settings
Imprint
Change language
Made with love in Switzerland
© 2024 Yumpu.com all rights reserved

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!