Part 33 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXIII

LAST WEEK OF JESUS

Jesus did in fact set out with his disciples to see oncecity The hopes of his co up to Jerusaledom of God was about to be realized there[1] The in that the consummation was at hand The persuasion in this respect was such, that they already disputed for precedence in the kingdom[2] This was, it is said, the moment chosen by Saloht and left of the Son of rave thoughts Soainst his enemies to appear; he related the parable of a nobledoone than his fellow-citizens wished to get rid of hiainst hiht before him, and had them all put to death[4] At other times he summarily destroyed the illusions of the disciples As theythe stony roads to the north of Jerusaleroup of his co of fear, and not daring to interrogate him Already, on various occasions, he had spoken to thes, and they had listened to hier concealing his presenti end[6] There was great sadness in the whole con appear in the clouds The inaugural cry of the kingdom of God: ”Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,”[7] resounded already in joyous accents in their ears The fearful prospect he foreshadowed, troubled thedoe of their dreams As to Jesus, he became confirmed in the idea that he was about to die, but that his death would save the world[8]

The reater each moment

[Footnote 1: Luke xix 11]

[Footnote 2: Luke xxii 24, and following]

[Footnote 3: Matt xx 20, and following; Mark x 35, and following]

[Footnote 4: Luke xix 12-27]

[Footnote 5: Matt xvi 21, and following; Mark viii 31, and following]

[Footnote 6: Matt xx 17, and following; Mark x 31, and following; Luke xviii 31, and following]

[Footnote 7: Matt xxiii 39; Luke xiii 35]

[Footnote 8: Matt xx 28]

The custom was to come to Jerusalem several days before the Passover, in order to prepare for it Jesus arrived late, and at one tiht they were frustrated in their hope of seizing him[1]

The sixth day before the feast (Saturday, 8th of Nisan, equal to the 28th March[2]) he at last reached Bethany He entered, according to his custom, the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, or of Sireat reception There was a dinner at Simon the leper's,[3] where many persons were asse hi Lazarus, of whos had been related Lazarus was seated at the table, and attractedto her custoht, by an increased show of respect, to overconity of their guest Mary, in order to give to the event aa vase of perfume which she poured upon the feet of Jesus She afterward broke the vase, according to an ancient custom by which the vessel that had been eer of distinction was broken[5] Then, to testify her worshi+p in an extraordinary manner, she prostrated herself at the feet of her Master and wiped the hair[6] All the house was filled with the odor of the perfuht of every one except the avaricious Judas of Kerioth

Considering the econoality The greedy treasurer calculated iht have been sold for, and what it would have realized for the poor This not very affectionate feeling, which see above Jesus, dissatisfied him He liked to be honored, for honors served his aim and established his title of Son of David

Therefore, when they spoke to him of the poor, he replied rather sharply: ”Ye have the poor alith you; buthimself, he proave him a token of love[7]

[Footnote 1: John xi 56]

[Footnote 2: The Passover was celebrated on the 14th of Nisan Now in the year 33, the 1st of Nisan corresponded with Saturday, 21st of March]

[Footnote 3: Matt xxvi 6; Mark xiv 3 Cf Luke vii 40, 43, 44]

[Footnote 4: It is customary, in the East, for a person who is attached to any one by a tie of affection or of dooes to eat at the house of another]

[Footnote 5: I have seen this custom still practised at Sour (Zoar)]

[Footnote 6: We st us, concealed under the table, but extended on a level with the body on the divan, or _tricliniu; Mark xiv 3, and following; John xi 2, xii 2, and following Co]

The next day (Sunday, 9th of Nisan), Jesus descended from Bethany to Jerusalem[1] When, at a bend of the road, upon the summit of the Mount of Olives, he saw the city spread before him, it is said he wept over it, and addressed to it a last appeal[2] At the base of the hboring portion of the eastern wall of the city, which was called _Bethphage_, no doubt on account of the fig-trees hich it was planted,[3] he had experienced a momentary pleasure[4] His arrival was noised abroad The Galileans who had cohly elated, and prepared a little triu to custoarments upon the back of this humble animal as saddle-cloths, and seated hiarreen branches Thepalms, cried: ”Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he that coave hi of Israel[5] ”Master, rebuke thy disciples,” said the Pharisees to him ”If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out,” replied Jesus, and he entered into the city The Hierosolymites, who scarcely knew him, asked who he was ”It is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, in Galilee,”

was the reply Jerusale event, such as the entrance of a stranger, however little celebrated, or the arrival of a band of provincials, or a movement of people to the avenues of the city, could not fail, under ordinary circumstances, to be quickly noised about But at the time of the feast, the confusion was extreme[7] Jerusaleers It was ast the latter that the excitement appears to have beenGreek, who had come to the feast, had their curiosity piqued, and wished to see Jesus They addressed themselves to his disciples;[8]

but we do not know the result of the interview Jesus, according to his custoe of Bethany[9] The three following days (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) he descended regularly to Jerusale of the sun, he returned either to Bethany, or to the farms on the western side of the Mount of Olives, where he had many friends[10]

[Footnote 1: John xii 12]