Part 6 (1/2)

They never once thought that Jesus might be the Messiah. When they saw the kind of friends he had, they wondered if he was even a good man.

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5. A Busy Time

The Pharisees may not have liked Jesus, but no one could deny that he knew how to preach. The crowds that came to hear him were growing larger. Often Jesus stood at the foot of a hill and preached to the crowd that had gathered on the hillside.

Now everyone who heard Jesus preach was likely to be surprised. For he did not say the things that people expected to hear. Often he said the very opposite of what they wanted him to say.

He did not believe in giving people a good opinion of themselves. He told them what was wrong with them. He did not say that it was easy to be good. He said that it was much harder than anybody thought. He did not try to preach sermons that would make him popular, for he was not thinking of himself. He was thinking of what G.o.d had to say to the people, and so he told them plainly what they ought to know and what they ought to do.

Jesus knew that his listeners found it easier to hate other people than to love them. And so he stood one day at the foot of the hill and said:

”You have all heard the saying, Love your friend and hate your enemy.

But that is not what I say. I say, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who use you badly. That is what G.o.d does. He makes the sun rise on everybody, good or bad. He sends the rain to fall on everyone, no matter who he is.

”If you love only those who love you, you don't deserve any credit for that. That's what everybody does. Be like G.o.d. He is merciful, and you ought to be merciful too. Forgive those who do you a wrong, or you cannot expect G.o.d to forgive you.”

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All the people thought that they were at least doing the right thing in hating the Romans. How could anyone help hating those rough Roman soldiers, who often came along and made Jews carry their packs for them? But Jesus said,

”If a Roman soldier makes you carry his pack for a mile, carry it another mile as well, to show that you love him.”

Another thing that Jesus knew about his listeners was that many of them were worried about money, and food and clothes. It was hard to blame them for that; for some of the people were very poor, and were never sure that they were going to get enough to eat.

Jesus was poor enough himself. His disciples were also poor, and they got no richer by following him. Turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them,

”Blessed are you who have nothing you can call your own.”

The disciples p.r.i.c.ked up their ears. ”Blessed”--that meant to be fortunate, or well off. What was good about having nothing? Jesus went on:

”Blessed are you who have nothing, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.

”Blessed are you who often go hungry, you shall be fed later on.

”Blessed are you who are sad, the time will come when you will be joyful.

”Blessed are you, when other people hate you, and will have nothing to do with you, because you are my disciples. Be glad when that happens, because that is what has happened to all G.o.d's servants. G.o.d will reward you for everything you suffer for my sake.”

There was silence. Jesus looked out over the crowd and spoke again,

”Woe to you who are rich!”

Again the disciples were amazed. The rich people would not like that!