4. The second Pasch of the public Ministry of Jesus.

(There is no certain record of Jesus having been present in Jerusalem at this Pasch.)

§ 14. John the Baptist sends his disciples to question Jesus. Jesus goes out again into the surrounding country to preach. The widow's son of Naim. After the messengers of John had returned, He speaks to the people concerning John. The twelve disciples are chosen.

Now Herod the Tetrarch, being reproved by John on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother, and for other evil things that he had done, added this above all others, that he shut up John in prison.

When John, therefore, had heard in the prison of all the things that Jesus did, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Him: Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?' And when the men were come unto Him, they said: 'John the Baptist hath sent us to Thee, saying, "Art Thou He that art to come, or look we for another?" (And in that same hour He cured many of their diseases, and cast out evil spirits; and to many that were blind He gave sight.) And answering, He said to them: 'Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, to the poor the gospel is preached; and blessed is he whosoever shall not be scandalised in Me.' (Matt. xi.; Luke vii. 20-23.)

And it came to pass afterwards that He went into a city that is called Naim; and there went with Him His disciples and a great multitude. And when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a great multitude of the city was with her. Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, He said to her: 'Weep not.' And He came near, and touched the bier. And they that carried it stood still. And He said: 'Young man, I say to thee, arise.' And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. And there came a fear on them all; and they glorified God, saying: 'A great prophet is risen up among us; and God hath visited His people.' And this rumour of Him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the country round about. (Luke vii.)

And after the disciples of John had returned, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: 'What went you out into the desert to see a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Amen, I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist; yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.'

And it came to pass in those days that He went out into a mountain to pray, and He passed the whole night in the prayer of God. And when day was come, He called unto Him His disciples; and He chose twelve of them, whom also He named apostles: Simon, whom He surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and

Simon, who is called Zelotes, and Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor. And coming down with them, He stood in the open plain: and with Him stood the company of His disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea-coast both of Tyre and Sidon, who were come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch Him, for virtue went out from Him, and healed them all. (Mark iii. 12-19; Luke vi.)

§ 15. The dinner in the house of Simon the Pharisee. The beheading of John the Baptist in prison.

And one of the Pharisees desired Him to eat with him. And He went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down to meat. And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that He sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster-box of ointment; and standing behind at His feet, she began to wash His feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment. And when the Pharisee began to murmur, Jesus answering, said to him: 'Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee.' But he said: Master, say it.' 'A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most? Simon answering, said: 'I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.' And He said to him: 'Thou hast judged rightly.' And turning to the woman, He said unto Simon: 'Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet; but she with tears hath washed My feet, and with her hairs hath wiped them. Thou gavest Me no kiss; but she, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she with ointment hath anointed My feet. Wherefore I say to thee, many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less.' And He said to her: 'Thy sins are forgiven thee.' And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves: 'Who is this that forgiveth sins?' And He said to the woman: 'Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.' (Luke vii.)

Now Herodias laid snares for John; and was desirous to put him to death, and could not. For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man; and when he heard him did many things, and he heard him willingly. And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee. And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.' And he swore to her: 'Whatsoever thou shalt ask, I will give it thee, though it be half of my kingdom.' Who when she was gone out, said to her mother: 'What shall I ask? But she said: 'The

head of John the Baptist.' And when she was come in to the king, she asked immediately, with haste, saying: 'I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish the head of John the Baptist." And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with

him at table, he would not displease her; but sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish. And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother. Which his disciples hearing, came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark vi.) § 16. Jesus speaks to the people in Parables. The Parable of the Sower. The same day, Jesus going out of the house, sat by the seaside. And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went up into a boat and sat down, and all the multitude stood on the shore. And He spoke to them many things in parables, saying:

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. Behold, the sower went forth to sow his seed,

And whilst he soweth, some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up.

And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth; and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth.

And when the sun was up, they were

scorched and because they had no root, they withered away.

And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked them. And others fell upon good ground:

and they brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, and some thirty fold.

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And His disciples came and said to Him: 'Why speakest Thou to them in parables? He answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it is not given. For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound; but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath. Therefore do I speak to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.. Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.'

EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catch. eth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side.

And he that received the seed upon stony ground, this is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy.

Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time: and when there ariseth tribulation and persecution because

of the word, he is presently scandalised.

And he that received the seed among thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choketh up the word, and he becometh fruitless.

But he that received the seed upon good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth, and beareth fruit, and yieldeth the one an hundred fold, and another sixty, and another thirty.

And with many such parables He spoke to them the word as they were able to hear. And without a parable He did not speak, but apart He explained all things to His disciples. (Matt. xiii.; Mark iv.; Luke viii.)

§ 17. Jesus heals the Paralytic at Jerusalem.

And Jesus went up to Jerusalem to the Feast of Tabernacles.

Now there is at Jerusalem a pool called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered, waiting for the moving of the water. And an Angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pool; and the water was moved: And he that went down first into the pool after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under. And there was a certain man there, that had been eight-and-thirty years under his infirmity. Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time, He saith

to him: Wilt thou be made whole? The infirm man answered Him: 'Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; for whilst I am coming, another goeth down before me.' Jesus saith to him: Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.' And immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed, and walked. And it was the sabbath that day. And when the Jews murmured, Jesus said:

PUBLIC DISCOURSE OF JESUS ON THE OCCASION OF THIS MIRACLE.

You sent to John, and he gave testimony to the truth.

But I receive not testimony from man; but I say these things that you may be saved.

He was a burning and a shining light; and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

But I have a greater testimony than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given Me to perfect; the works themselves, which I do, give testimony of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.

And the Father Himself who hath

sent Me, hath given testimony of Me: neither have you heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.

And you have not His word abiding in you; for whom He hath sent, Him you believe not.

Search the Scriptures, for you think in them to have life everlasting; and the same are they that give testimony of Me.

And you will not come to Me that you may have life.

I receive not glory from men. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.