Volume 2

Jesus at Ophra
25
not exactly wicked, but they were indifferent, and as is
often the case among traders and innkeepers, they cleared
great profits. It seemed as if they made something off
everyone that passed through their city. As yet they had
paid little attention to John's baptism; they hungered not
after salvation. Things went on here as in places of which
it is said: Business thrives there.
When they approached Ophra, Jesus sent the nephews
of Joseph of Arimathea on ahead, in order to get the key
of the synagogue and to call the people to the instruction.
Jesus always entrusted such messages to these youths, for
they were very clever and amiable. At the entrance of the
city, the possessed and lunatics ran around Jesus, crying
out: "Here comes the Prophet, the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, our enemy! He will drive us out!" Jesus commanded
them to be silent and to cease their frantic
gestures. All became quiet and followed Him into the
synagogue, to which He had to go from almost one end
of the city to the other. There He taught till evening,
going out only once to take some refreshment. His theme
was, as usual, the nearness of the Kingdom of God and
the necessity of Baptism. In vigorous words He warned
the inhabitants to awake from their indifference and fancied
security, lest judgement should come upon them. He
spoke in strong terms against their usury, their smuggling'
and such sins as are common to publicans and
nlerchants. His hearers did not contradict Him, though
they were not very well disposed. They were captives to
their gains. Still some of them were really touched and
very much changed by His teaching. That evening several
of the most important men of the city, as well as some of
the humblest class, called upon Jesus at the inn. They
had resolved to receive baptism, and on the following day
they went to John.
Next morning Jesus and His disciples left Ophra and
returned to Bethabara. On the way they separated,