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Chapter 11 -- Pride and Power
When Jesus finished telling the twelve of us what to do, he went out to teach and preach in our cities. At this time John, the one who had baptized Jesus, was in prison. He followed closely what he heard of the works of Jesus and finally sent two of his disciples to Jesus.
"Are you the one we've been expecting?" they said. "Or must we look for another?"
Jesus answered, "Go and tell John again about the things you hear and see. The blind see, the lame walk, the sick become well, the deaf hear, the dead rise, and the poor hear the good news. Happy is the person who finds no offense in me."
As they left, Jesus talked about John to the people gathered around him. "What did you go to the wilderness to see anyway? A reed blown in the wind?
"Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in richly soft clothing? No, the man in soft clothes lives in a king's palace.
"So what did you go out there to see? A prophet? Oh yes, and I tell you he is much more than a prophet. This is the one of whom the prophet Malachi wrote, 'See, I will send my messenger before your arrival who will prepare your way before you' (Malachi 3:1).
"Yes, I tell you there is no human greater than John the Baptist, yet in the kingdom of heaven the least are always greater even though the proud and powerful think to rule by force. All the law and prophets until John told of this day. John is the Elijah which was to come. If you can hear and accept this, do so."
Jesus went on to say, "People today are like children playing in the street, complaining to their playmates, 'We did the disco and you wouldn't dance. We did the dirge and you wouldn't mourn.'
"John came fasting and you complained because he didn't fast to your tune. You labeled him possessed. I cam partying and you complain because I don't party to your beat. You label me a glutton, wino, and friend of lowlife. If you were wisdom's children you would recognize wisdom."
Then Jesus' talk began to change. He began to expose and reproach the cities where he had done his most powerful works of healing and freeing for their pride and arrogance.
"You are in big trouble, Chorazin and Bethsaida," he said. "If the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have come down from their arrogance long ago. In the judgment day, it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
"And you, Capernaum, think you are as high and mighty as heaven. You will be brought down to hell. If the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom it would still be here today. In the judgment day, it will be better for the land of Sodom than for you."
Then Jesus prayed, "I thank you Father, Ruler of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from those who ar smart and calculating and have revealed them to the young and innocent. It seemed good to you, Father, to do it that way, and I agree."
To the crowds he said, "I am the one to whom all things are revealed by the Father. No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son and anyone to whom the Son confides.
"Come to me, all you who live under fear and heavy obligation, and I will give you rest. Take my kingdom for your own and spend time learning of me. I am meek and lowly in heart and that's the secret of my power. If you come to me you will find rest for your souls from the obligation, fear, and shame put upon you by the power of pride and arrogance. My kingdom is safe and my load is freedom"
I noticed the change immediately, and so did Thomas. We'd never seen him condemn anyone. We hadn't thought it in his nature. We exchanged glances but kept our thoughts to ourselves. I for one wanted some of that rest he promised. I indeed had heard the mumbling in the crowd that led up to Jesus' reproaches of the cities, and I wondered what unrest must be brewing.
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