I

XIV

THE SEQUEL OF THE TOUR'

T should be observed of the three Galilean tours that,

while there is almost no specific record of the events

occurring in the many months they occupied, yet immediately upon the return of Jesus home to Capernaum there is in each case a specific detail of incidents and teachings comprised within one or two days. Thus on the return from the second tour, quite a number of important events, as its sequel to be narrated under the present topic, all occurred in a single day.

When in the autumn Jesus returned home he found that the Scribes and Pharisees, the emissaries from Jerusalem, had turned from him the tide of popular favor. However, a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him. A great crowd had collected in the house where he was, and the beneficent miracle seemed about to win them again, for they asked in

amaze :

"Is not this the son of David?" 53

But the Scribes and the Pharisees, repeating their former insulting accusation, said among the people:

"He himself is possessed of Beelzebub, and by the prince of demons casteth he out demons."

Jesus knowing of this, called them to him, and publicly exposed the absurdity of the charge, and its heinous

blasphemy. Finally he denounced them bitterly, as John had done, saying:

"Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?"

Then these malignants taunted him with:

Master, we would see a sign from thee."

Their meaning is that what they had seen was no proof. He must, like Moses and Elijah, bring down a sign from heaven. This Jesus refused, and referred as once before at the cleansing of the Temple, to his coming resurrection, as the great and eternal sign of his heavenly commission.

Meantime his friends heard of what was going on, and they came quickly together with his mother and kinsmen, all infected apparently with the disseminated distrust; for they proposed to lead him away and take charge of him, saying, He surely is insane. But they could not enter the house because of the crowd sitting there. So word was passed to him while he was yet speaking:

Thy mother and thy brethren are standing without, desiring to see thee."

But Jesus said unto them that told him :

"Who is my mother, and who are my brethren ?” Then stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he added:

"Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister and mother."

This emphatic preference of spiritual to natural ties is very significant, especially with reference to the Virgin Mary.

About noon of this eventful day, Jesus left the house

where the contention occurred, and attended by the twelve and other disciples and followers, went down to the lake shore, probably a little south of the wharves of the city and opposite the suburb Bethsaida the home of several apostles. There a very great multitude collected and pressed upon him. So he entered into a boat, which was then moved out a few yards from shore, and he sat down and taught the people standing on the beach, many things in parables, saying:

“Hearken. Behold the sower went forth to sow.” 54 Possibly there was one in sight to whom he pointed as an object lesson, for such was his custom in teaching.

A parable in its primary meaning is a comparison, a putting things side by side, whereby familiar matter is made to illustrate something less familiar and more important. The New Testament parable is distinguished from a simile by being more elaborate, and from a fable by being physically possible. Generally it takes the form of a short fictitious narrative of a like case or of an example, in a few instances expanding into an allegory. Altogether there are twenty-nine parables spoken by Jesus and recorded in the synoptic, the first three, Gospels; there are none in the fourth Gospel. In general, they occur in four groups; one in this Galilean ministry; another in the second Judean ministry, and given by Luke only; a third in the Peræan ministry, also given by Luke only; and a fourth on the final Tuesday. All are marked rhetorically, on the surface, by extreme simplicity and elegance; logically, in their depths, by profound wisdom, both human and divine. The marvellous genius of the man whose vivid imagination and penetrating insight invented these exquisite stories, one after another on the spur of the moment, stories so delectable,

monitory and significant as to live throughout all time, for the delight of every child, the counsel of every man, the research of every sage, is a genius unequalled in the history of mankind.

The parables spoken from the boat, resting on the gospel lake, paled in with men, were five in number; The Sower, The Growing Seed, The Tares, The Mustard Seed, and The Leaven. By means of a comparison with familiar things, each illustrates some attribute of the kingdom of heaven already proclaimed by John and by Jesus.

Leaving the multitude on the shore Jesus went into the house, probably the home of Simon Peter. The twelve and other disciples followed, and when they were alone they asked him:

Why speakest thou to them in parables ?”

For the disciples were much surprised at this indirect, parabolic teaching which was a distinct departure from his usual, direct method. Jesus answered:

"Unto you is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them that are yet without the kingdom, all things are taught in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."

Evidently Jesus painfully felt that the hostility of the Scribes and Pharisees, and the general distrust with which they had affected the people, were so great obstacles to their receiving his word, that a new method was requisite to reach them. Therefore he would henceforth use the distinction prevalent in the Greek and perhaps in the Hebrew schools, of exoteric teaching for them that were without, reserving his esoteric teaching for his immediate disciples. A similar distinction is

made to-day between popular scientific lectures, and the specific instruction given to students of science.

Having answered their question, Jesus proceeded to expound to them esoterically the parable of The Sower. Thereupon at their request, he explained also the parable of The Tares. These two expositions furnish the basis for interpreting the parables generally. Then he added three other parables; The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Drag-net. Thus while with many such parables spake he the word unto the people as they were able to bear it, privately to his disciples he expounded all things.

The practice of the parabolic method, beginning with this group of eight parables, marks a distinct epoch in the teaching of The Teacher. Also it is worthy of note that while from this time forth his miracles diminish in frequency, the frequency and fullness of his parables increase; and that the total number, about thirty, recorded in each series is nearly the same.

In the mid-afternoon, Jesus, depressed by the insult and slander of the forenoon, distressed by the fickle people's heart waxed gross, annoyed by the curious multitude lingering and gathering about the door of his refuge, said to his disciples:

"Let us go over to the other side of the lake." 55

So they helped him, even as he was, to the boat, launched forth, and set sail for the opposite shore. Jesus, harassed and weary with the toils of the day, lay down in the stern of the boat, and pillowing his head upon the cushion of the seat, soon was rocked to sleep. It toucheth us nearly, this tired, sleeping man.

It has already been noted that the Galilean lake is sub