Volume 2

Jesus at Bezech
305
Pharisees, who had come from the places around with
the intention of catching Jesus in His words. His teaching
here was nlild and full of love, for the people, who \vere
well disposed, had profited by John's visit and instructions,
and especially by the baptism which many of them
had received. Jesus exhorted them to remain contented
with their humble condition, to be industrious, and to
show mercy to their neighbor. He spoke of the reign of
grace, of the Kingdom, of the Messiah, and more significantly
than ever of Himself. He alluded to John and his
testimony, to his imprisonment and the persecution
directed against him. He spoke likewise of the royal
adulterer for the denunciation of whom John had been
cast into prison, though in Jerusalem certain men guilty
of the same crime, but who had carried on their evil
doings less openly than Herod, had been condemned and
executed. Jesus spoke significantly and to the point. He
gave particular admonitions to each condition, age, and
sex. A Pharisee having asked whether He was going to
take John's place, or whether He was the one of whom
John had spoken, Jesus answered indirectly and reproached
the questioner with his evil intention to entrap
Him.
After that Jesus gave a very touching instruction to the
boys and girls. He counseled the boys to bear with one
another. If one should strike a companion or throw him
down, the ill-treated party should bear it patiently and
think not of retaliating. He should turn away in silence,
forgiving his enemy, and his love should become twice as
great as it was before, yes, for they should show affection
even to enemies. They should not covet the goods of
others. If a boy wanted the pen, the writing materials, the
plaything, the fruit belonging to his neighbor, the latter
should relinquish not only the object coveted, but give
him still more if allowed to do so. They should fully
satisfy their neighbor's cupidity if permitted to give the