THE KINGDOM AND THE APOSTLES

St. Luke tells us that Jesus, having “returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, the fame of Him went out through the whole country. And He taught in their synagogues and was magnified by all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.”

Here particularly was verified the declaration in St. John’s gospel that “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” His claim in the synagogue at Nazareth to be the One whose advent had been predicted by Isaiah the prophet was rejected with the scornful remark that He was but the son of Joseph the carpenter; and sadly exclaiming that “no prophet is accepted in his own country,” He went down to Capharnaum on the lakeside, making that town headquarters for His Galilean ministry.

On the first Sabbath after His arrival in Capharnaum, He spoke in the synagogue and met with a very different reception from that given Him in Nazareth. The people were enthusiastic about His teaching, sensing a divine authority in His words far beyond anything they had experienced in those of the Scribes and Pharisees. Moreover, at the end of His discourse, Jesus with a word cast the evil spirit out of a possessed man so that the people, amazed, spread far and wide the story of the incident.

Leaving the synagogue for the home of Peter and Andrew, He there found the mother of Peter’s wife ill with fever, but He cured her at once and she prepared a meal for them all.

That evening crowds of sick people were brought to Him and He healed their diseases, working late into the night; yet, tired as He must have been, He rose before daybreak and went off to a lonely place in the hills to pray, a habit of His all His life.

From Capharnaum He made many preaching tours through Galilee, meeting with ever-growing success.

He had come, however, to establish a Kingdom, as He Himself had declared, saying: “I must preach the Kingdom of God, for therefore am I sent.” Although this Kingdom was not to be of the world, it was to be in this world and to last till the end of time, long after He Himself had returned to the Heaven from which He came. For the foundation of this Kingdom He was to choose from among His disciples twelve men whom He would train personally before sending them out to continue His work.

One evening, therefore, in preparation for this, He went alone into the mountains and prayed all through the night. Next morning He called His disciples together and chose the twelve, conferring upon them the title of Apostles.

The chosen ones were Simon Peter; Andrew; James; John; Philip; Nathanael, known also as Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alpheus; Simon Zelotes; Jude, the brother of James; and Judas Iscariot, who eventually was to betray Him.

This was one of the greatest events of history, the beginning of the Church as the Kingdom of God on earth. And it was followed by one of the most important utterances ever to come from human lips. For immediately afterwards, with His newly-chosen Apostles about Him, He gave to the people the great discourse known as the “Sermon on the Mount.”

So Jesus who had come, as He said, not to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to usher in their perfect fulfillment, laid the foundations of the “Kingdom of God” or the “Kingdom of Heaven” (He spoke of it in both ways) which He called His Church.

MANIFESTATIONS OF DIVINE POWER

At about this same time Jesus made a brief visit to Jerusalem for one of the festival days. Whilst there He healed a man on the Sabbath who had been crippled for thirty-eight years, to the scandal of the Scribes and Pharisees once more.

In answer to their complaints He asserted that He had all the rights of God over the Sabbath, that He was equally God with His Father, and that some day at His bidding all men would rise from their graves and that He would be their Judge.

This filled His critics with still more anger and strengthened their determination to find ways and means to kill Him.

Leaving Jerusalem, He returned to Galilee and continued preaching in various synagogues; but representatives of the Scribes and Pharisees followed Him wherever He went, spying upon Him, interrupting Him, disputing with Him, and gathering all the information which they thought they could later use against Him. But Jesus went on teaching and doing good.

One day, as He entered a village, a poor leper met Him and cried out piteously: “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him, saying: “I will. Be thou cleansed.” The leprosy at once vanished and the man was bidden to go and to report himself to the priest as cured.

The fame of the miracle quickly spread and when Jesus arrived at last in Capharnaum people came in such numbers to the house where He was staying that the room was overflowing, with crowds outside trying, yet unable to get in.

As He was teaching them, a paralyzed man was brought by some friends. These tore away the tiles of the roof since there was no other means of entry, and let the patient down by ropes to the feet of Jesus. Far from being angry, Jesus was deeply moved and said to the sick man: “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” The Scribes and Pharisees present thought: “This at any rate, is blasphemy. Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus, however, reading their minds, said: “You think I have not that power? Then see this!” Turning to the palsied man, He said: “Take up your bed and go home.” The man at once did so, to the amazement of all. And on all sides people glorified God, saying: “We have never seen anything like this before!”

A few days later He healed the sick servant of a Roman centurion at the request of the Jewish people who urged that, although he was a heathen, the centurion had built a synagogue for them.

On the morning after that, He left at daybreak for Naim, a village some twenty-four miles away. He arrived there in the evening—the time when funerals usually took place—and met that of a dead boy, the only son of a poor widow. “Weep not,” He said to the mother; and with a word He restored her son to life, to her great consolation and the further astonishment of all who saw or heard of it.

The news spread like wildfire; the excitement was intense; the popularity of Jesus with the people was at its height.

SPEAKING IN PARABLES

With the Twelve, Jesus travelled through the towns and villages of Galilee, preaching everywhere the Kingdom of God.

Much of His teaching He gave in the form of parables or stories, in accordance with Jewish ways at the time. And all kinds of subjects were dealt with in this way.

It is not possible to discuss all the parables at any length in this small book, nor to treat of them in the order in which they were given. We can but touch briefly on some of the many aspects of His teaching given at different times by this means, referring readers to the gospels themselves for a more extensive study of them.

In the parable of the “Sower and the Seed” (Mark 4:1-20), He warned His listeners that if His teaching awakened no response within them, the fault would lie in their own evil dispositions.

Of such evil dispositions they should repent, confident that God, on His part, will welcome them with infinite mercy. A “Shepherd seeking a Lost Sheep,” a “Woman seeking a Lost Coin,” a “Father” rejoicing in the return of a “Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:1-32), are but faint images of God’s attitude towards souls repenting of the sins separating them from Him.

Think, He begged them, of what is at stake. It is no less than the “Kingdom of Heaven,” for which no sacrifice is too great; even as a man will sell all to buy a “Field containing buried Treasure,” or a merchant to gain a “Pearl of Great Price.” (Matthew 13:44-46).

That Kingdom of Heaven is brought within their reach by His Church, small now as a “Mustard Seed,” but to grow into an immense and spreading tree affording shelter for all who seek rest within it. (Matthew 13:31-32). Scandals will arise, yes; for the Church will be in a world like to a “Field sown with Good Grain,” but which enemies will oversow with “Cockle or Tares.” It will be like a “Net holding Good and Bad Fish.” (Matthew 13:24-50). Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with the “Net,” and the Church is indeed the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Sadly, however, Jesus warned the Jews that their official leaders and their nation as a whole would reject the grace being offered to them, as the “Invited Guests” made all kinds of excuses for refusing to attend the “Great Supper.” (Luke 14:17-24). They would even eventually put Him to death, as the “Wicked Husbandmen” in the vineyard planned to murder the very son of the proprietor. (Mark 12:1-12).

Of those who do come to the Kingdom, despite this national rejection of it, much will be expected.

They must be the enemies of sin, making sure that they are clothed in the “Wedding Garment” of divine grace. (Matthew 22:11-14). As “Leaven” transforms bread, that grace will transform their souls. (Luke 13:21).

But they must co-operate generously with this grace, making good use of whatever “Talents” God has given them. (Matthew 25:14-30).

Above all, charity will be required of them; forgiving others, instead of behaving like the “Unmerciful Servant” (Matthew 18:23-35); relieving the needs of the poor, not imitating the attitude of the selfish “Rich Man” towards “Lazarus the Beggar” (Luke 16:19-31); being a “Good Samaritan” to all in distress, of whatever kind it might be. (Luke 10:25-37).

Nor must any quarter be given to the pride of the “Pharisee” who thought himself such a paragon of virtue in comparison with the “Publican.” (Luke 18:9-14).

Surely they should be as earnest in preparing for their eternal destiny as was the “Unjust Steward” in looking to his merely temporal future (Luke 18:1-8), and in taking every care to avoid the fate that overtook the “Rich Fool.” (Luke 12:13-21).

Always to be kept in mind is the fact that there will most certainly be a Last Judgment, when the good and the wicked will be divided as the “Sheep and the Goats” (Matthew 25:31-46); and that it is essential not to be found then as the “Foolish Virgins” who were taken by surprise only to find no oil in their lamps. (Matthew 25:1-13).

INCREASING POPULARITY

For almost a year Jesus had been teaching, mighty in word and work, throughout Galilee, His popularity increasing daily. More and more widespread became the conviction that He was indeed a great prophet, and even perhaps the Messiah. But the people were soon to learn that He was definitely not the kind of Messiah they were expecting.

How hard He was working at this time can be gathered from the following typical incidents.

One day, near Capharnaum, He had been explaining His doctrine and persuading the people almost from daylight till dark; and, as evening fell, seeing how great the constantly increasing crowd had become, He asked the disciples to take Him by boat across the Lake.

During the journey a fierce storm arose suddenly, the waves threatening to swamp the little ship, and the disciples were thoroughly frightened. Jesus, tired out, was asleep in the stern of the vessel, so they woke Him, saying: “Master, is it nothing to you that we perish?” Jesus replied: “Why are you afraid? Is your faith still so weak?” Then He bade the wind stop and the sea to be still, both immediately obeying, so that a great calm at once prevailed. Despite all the previous miracles they had witnessed the disciples could scarcely believe their senses, and said to one another: “Who can He be? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

At daybreak they arrived at the opposite shore of the Lake, in what was known sometimes as the country of the Gerasenes, sometimes as that of the Gadarenes. Near to where they landed there was an old cemetery, and at once a poor lunatic possessed by devils rushed towards them from among the tombs. Making straight for Jesus, he fell at His feet, crying out: “Why do you interfere with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you not to torment me.” The poor man was not responsible for what he was saying. The devils impelled him to speak as he did; and Jesus cast them out of the man into a herd of swine feeding on the mountainside. These, filled with frenzy, hurled themselves down the slopes into the sea and were drowned.

The men who had been looking after the animals ran off to tell others what had happened, and soon many of the country-folk from the district came and begged Jesus to leave their coasts; they were so afraid of what He might do next!

To the disciples, however, the lesson was one of great significance. Acting as only God could do, He wrought miracles such as had not been heard of “from the beginning of the world,” proving His dominion over the whole of creation, not only over inanimate things, not only over the vegetative and animal worlds, but over those evil spirits also from whose power He had come to deliver mankind.

Making their way back to the boat, they set out across the Lake once more. It was broad daylight, and as the people of Capharnaum could easily see them coming, a great crowd gathered to welcome them.

Among those anxiously waiting to see Jesus and talk to Him was an official of the synagogue named Jairus. As soon as Jesus landed, therefore, he begged Him to come and heal his dying daughter. Jesus set out with him for the house, the people thronging around them.

A woman in the crowd, suffering from a twelve year old disease, edged her way towards Him, touched the hem of His garment, and was instantly cured. Divinely aware of this, Jesus proclaimed for the benefit of all present both the fact of her cure and that it was her great spirit of faith which had won for her so wonderful a favor. It was a faith He was asking of them all.

There had been some delay, and before they arrived at the house of Jairus a servant came to say that his daughter had died and that it was now useless for Jesus to come any farther. But Jesus consoled the poor father, told him to believe firmly still, and that all would be well.

At the house, He allowed only Peter, James and John, together with the father and the mother, to enter the dead girl’s room with Him. In their presence, He merely took her hand and said: “Talitha cumi.” (“Little girl, get up.”) Then he bade the parents to see that she had something to eat, adding that they were not to broadcast the news of what He had done. The excitement of the enthusiastic crowd outside could easily give rise to charges against Him of causing a tumult. Such charges would come soon enough!

So Jesus gave Himself to all who needed Him, and not only preached the gospel of His new spiritual Kingdom, confirming His mission by signs and miracles in village after village throughout the country, but gave authority and power to His Apostles also, sending them out in twos to do the same.

DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

During the absence of the Apostles on their mission, as He Himself continued His labors, news came to Him which was a kind of portent of what was to be His own fate.

John the Baptist had been put to death by Herod Antipas who, in a drunken moment during a scandalous banquet, had yielded to the demand of the woman with whom he was living in incest and adultery for “the head of John the Baptist in a dish.”

John was the last of the prophets of the Old Testament and the first of the New. He stands like the dividing-line between the two great Covenants.

What Jesus thought of him we know. “A prophet?” He had said of him. “Truly, I tell you, more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say to you: Amongst those born of woman, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.”

To the astonishment of His listeners, He then took occasion to add that the least of those actually received into the Church He Himself was establishing and who enjoyed the full blessing of His Kingdom, would be greater than John the Baptist!

MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES

Shortly after John’s death the twelve Apostles returned to Jesus from a month’s hard work, excited, but very tired; and Jesus said to them: “Come apart with Me and rest awhile.” So they took a boat and went some distance along the shore of the Lake to find a quiet place away from the crowds.

The people, however, were not so easily shaken off. Seeing the direction in which the boat was going, they hurried round by land, and when Jesus got to the place He had in mind He found an immense throng already there.

Taking pity on these “sheep without a shepherd,” He spent the rest of the day instructing them. They had brought no food with them, but they were so entranced by all He had to say to them that they did not dream of leaving so long as He continued speaking.

At last it began to grow dark and the Apostles suggested to Him that they should be told to go to nearby villages to buy food for themselves. Jesus replied: “There’s no need for them to go. You give them food.” Philip said to Him: “We’d have to get about fifty dollars’ worth of provisions, to give them a mere pittance each!”

There were over five thousand people present, Capharnaum being full of visitors at the time from all parts of the country, who were making their way to Jerusalem for the rapidly approaching Feast of the Passover.

Andrew, the brother of Peter, interjected, saying: “There’s a boy here, with five barley loaves and two fishes; but what are these among so many?”

Jesus was in no way perturbed. “Tell the people,” He said, “to sit down.” The people sat down on the grass, in rows of hundred-and-fifties.

He then took the loaves, raised His eyes to heaven, offered a prayer, broke the bread, gave some to each of the Apostles, and told them to distribute it among their guests. As they did so, they must have felt like men in a dream, for the supply in their hands kept increasing. The same thing happened also with the fish; and after all had had enough, there were twelve baskets of fragments remaining.

The meal finished, Jesus told the Apostles to set out for home by boat, leaving Him to dismiss the people.

The people, however, were reluctant to go, and in their enthusiasm decided to proclaim Him as their King there and then. But Jesus wanted something better than a faith bound up with miraculous temporal benefits and the triumphant nationalism they had in mind. So He refused their offer and escaped from them into the neighboring hills, to their great displeasure—a displeasure which, with many, was to turn to open hostility within twenty-four hours!