Volume 2

Jesus in Nazareth
235
and the punishment in store for them if they did not
reform, and impressed upon them the fact of His own
coming to help, to heal, and to teach. They became more
and more displeased, especially when He said: "But ye
say to Me, 'Physician, cure Thyself! In Capharnaum and
elsewhere, Thou hast wrought miracles. Do the same
here in Thy native city!' But I say to you no prophet is
accepted in his own country." Then comparing the present
to a time of famine and the different cities to poor
widows, He said: "There was great famine throughout
the land in the time of Elias, and there were many
widows in those days, but the Prophet was sent to none
but the widow of Sarepta. And there were many lepers in
the days of Eliseus, but he cleansed none but Naaman
the Syrian," and so Jesus compared their city to a leper
who was not healed. They became terribly furious at
being likened unto lepers, and, rising up from their seats,
they stornled against Him and made as if they would
seize Him. But He said: "Observe your own laws and
break not the Sabbath! When it is over do what you propose
to do." They allowed Him to proceed with His discourse,
though they kept up the murmuring among themselves
and addressed scornful words to Him. Soon after
they left their places and went down to the door.
Jesus, however, continued to teach and explain His last
words, after which He, too, left the synagogue. Outside
the door, He found Hinlself surrounded by about twenty
angry Pharisees who laid hands on Him, saying: "Come
on up with us to a height from which Thou canst advance
some more of Thy doctrines! There we can answer
Thee as Thy teaching ought to be answered." Jesus told
them to take their hands off, that He would go with
them. They surrounded Hinl like a guard, the crowd
following. The moment the Sabbath ended, jeers and insults
arose on all sides. They raged and hooted, each trying
to outdo his neighbor in the number and quality of