Winter in the Batanea                   

Our chances of survival in Galilee and Judea have not improved. We therefore decide to walk along the Jordan and the Jarmuk to the Batanea. The Jewish area in the League of Cities of Syria, where John had once begun baptizing. It seems like an eternity ago, and yet some images are still so clear in my mind. That thin man with his enormous voice. The passers-by who stopped, first curious, then ashamed. Their stories when they allowed themselves to be baptized. The discussions with all kinds of people, tax collectors, Secularists, Pious, Philip's Jewish horsemen.

The horsemen now in Herod's service are in a sombre mood. Vitellius, the new governor of Syria, was ordered by Emperor Tiberius to conclude a peace treaty with the Parthian king Artabanus. For the signing on the Euphrates, the border river between Syria and Parthia, Herod welcomed the two festively in a river pavilion. But in his ambition, Herod sent a letter about the success of the negotiations to the emperor before Vitellius arrived, claiming part of the credit for himself. Vitellius is now furious about this, and the soldiers in Batanea fear that the Romans will not be a strong ally in the fight against the Arab king Aretas. There are even rumors that he is preparing for a major attack in the spring. Some horsemen no longer want to fight for the man who killed the Baptist. There are even those who want to take revenge on Herod.

They ask me to pray with them, as John prayed with them. Many still know his sayings and prayers by heart. I have taught my disciples sayings, but I have never composed prayers. I usually speak freely with my father. But these people need a prayer that will help them when I am no longer here.

'Then pray this prayer:

            Father,

            your name is holy, your kingdom is coming.

            But for today we ask only for bread for today.

            Forgive us our shortcomings,

            as we forgive those who trespass against us.

            Keep us from the temptation of retaliation.

Do not repay evil with evil. God says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," even the death of John. Overcome evil with good. For if we forgive our enemies, our Father will also forgive our shortcomings. But if we do not want to forgive, how can we trust that he will forgive us?

Do not be afraid that this is too much to ask. Ask freely. Imagine that a friend knocks on your door in the middle of the night asking for bread. You may find him troublesome, because the children are already asleep and the house is locked. But you will still get up to give it to him; you would be ashamed if you did not. Remember the saying I taught you:

            Ask, and you will receive.     

            Seek and you will find.

            Knock, and it will be opened to you.

                        For whoever prays receives, whoever seeks finds

and those who knock will have the door opened.

Imagine that your child asks you for bread. Which of you would give a stone instead of bread, a snake instead of a fish, or a scorpion instead of an egg? If sinful people give their children what is good for them, will not the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

The hypocrisy was palpable  

They bring me a man who hasn't spoken for years. Who knows what he has been through to end up like this? He gestures wildly, but I hold his hands and speak to him. His face turns red and then a sound comes out. First a cough, then a scream, and finally he bursts into tears. I thank God that he has freed another person from the yoke of the devil.

The people are amazed. But a Pharisee cries out, "By the devil, the lord of demons, he heals the sick." If anything makes me angry, it is that. "If I drive out his own demons with the help of the devil, how do you prayer healers do it? With your words you also condemn your own people. But if I drive out the demons with God's finger, then his kingdom is here with you."

'Prove it!'

"Whoever is not with me is against me. Whoever stands in the field and does not help to gather the sheep scatters them. When an evil spirit is driven out of someone, it wanders around. If it finds no rest and returns to its old house, make sure that the Spirit of God lives there. For when it is empty, swept clean and tidy, the evil spirit will bring seven friends with him, worse than himself. When they move in, that person will be worse off than before."

The people are glad that I am getting rid of him, and a woman cries out, "Happy is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you." She does not know my mother's suffering, but she means well. "Sure, but they are happy because they want to hear God's word and keep it."

Then I turn back to the bystanders:

"These people are impossible. Do not think that they will receive any other sign than that which Jonah gave to the people of Nineveh, the city that oppressed all the nations around it. As Jonah was a sign to them, so is the Son of Man to this generation. The men of Nineveh will rise up on the Day of God's Judgment and will serve as evidence against this generation. Jonah's preaching was all they heard, and they repented. And behold, more than Jonah stands here before you. The queen of Ethiopia once came from Africa to hear the wisdom of Israel's king Solomon. In the Day of God's Judgment, she will be raised up and serve as evidence against this generation. For behold, more than Solomon stands here before you. If you simply use your eyes, the light will penetrate you. But if your eye is false, you will remain in darkness ( ). Make sure you see clearly. If you allow the light into your life and shut nothing out, everything will be bathed in light, like a room in which a lamp has been lit.

The Pharisee now asks me to join him for lunch. I go inside, still excited, but I don't want to refuse him either. The room is full of pious people and scholars of the law. Without thinking, I lie down on one of the benches. There is a deathly silence. Someone says, "You must wash your hands first." I am speechless. I know that the pious consider washing their hands almost equivalent to asking for a blessing before a meal, but now I have had enough.

"You wash yourselves with the same water that dogs and pigs drink. Do you really think that makes you clean before God? You wash the skin of your hands and your face before the meal, but does that mean you are purified inside? You wash the cups and plates, but isn't it more important what's in them and what's done with them? Pour the contents to the poor, then the cup will also be good for God.

• For woe to the pious who pay tithes on the smallest herb that grows in their garden, but ignore the judgment and love of God. You may do the one, but you must not neglect the other. Otherwise, you are like someone who strains out a gnat from their food but swallows a camel.
• Woe to the pious who insist on sitting in the front row at meetings and being greeted with reverence in the street.
• Woe to those who are pious, for they are actors who hide their dryness under their piety. They are like unmarked graves. Without people knowing it, they have run into death.

One of the teachers of the law stood up and said, "Rabbi Jesus, you are insulting us too." But I'm not done with them yet:

• "Woe to the lawyer who burdens the ordinary believers with all kinds of burdens and restrictions and does not lift a finger to help them carry them.
• Woe to those who build magnificent tombs for the prophets of old, but who (if they had lived in their time) would have stoned them to death. They will have to give account for all the righteous blood that has been shed, from Abel, who was murdered by Cain, to Zechariah, who was killed in the temple.
• Woe to the lawyers who have taken away the key to God's presence. They themselves have not entered, but they have shut others out. They travel the sea and the land to make converts, but when a sincere believer joins them, they burden him with laws that are impossible to keep. And with his innocence, he loses his trust in the Lord.

There is no stopping it now. Discussions are breaking out everywhere. As I walk outside, some pious people attack me violently. But I go out into the street and call the curious bystanders around me.

"The lawyers and the pious have set themselves up as judges. What they say is true and good to follow. But they do not practice their own teachings. They bind heavy burdens on people but do not lift a finger to help carry them. They ostentatiously display their good works, make their prayer straps wide and the tassels of their prayer shawls ( ) long. They want to sit at the head of the table and in the synagogues and be called 'Teacher'.

Beware of their hypocrisy, lest you be infected by it. For what is covered up and hidden will be revealed and made known. What you say in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you whisper in someone's ear will be shouted from the rooftops.

So do not be called 'master,' for one is your master, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone 'father,' for is not one our Father? Do not be called 'teacher,' for the Anointed One is your teacher. Whoever wants to be important, let him be important in service. For whoever humbles himself will be exalted, and whoever exalts himself will be humbled.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

The search for God's kingship                        

Some people want to hear more, fortunately including some of the teachers of the law who were my table companions. But the atmosphere here is thoroughly corrupt. We leave the city and look for a place to continue our conversation. Some are concerned that the leaders of the meeting will take it badly. Unfortunately, I know all about that.

"Do not be afraid of people. They can kill you, but that is all they can do. Rather, beware of the one who has the power to send people to hell even after death. But rest assured. He loves even the sparrows that are sold for a penny. How much more does he love you? He has counted your hairs one by one.

I tell you: anyone who dares to stand up for me in this world will defend the Son of Man on the Day of God's Judgment. But anyone who is ashamed of me in this world will find no defender on that day. Even if you curse me as the Son of Man, I will forgive you and defend you. But whoever recognizes God's Spirit in me should not curse me, for how can I defend him?

Do not worry about what you will say when they ask you about me in the synagogue or in court. At that moment, God's Spirit will give you the words you need to say.

My words are not for everyone. Someone stands up and says, "Teacher, tell my brother here to share the inheritance with me." 'Your father did not ask me to carry out his will. Listen instead to what I told you, for your life is not your possession. I knew a man who had many fields. He worked hard to fill his barns with food and riches. Enough to enjoy for many years in peace. But when they were finally full, God called his soul back. And he had nothing left. So it is with everyone who has stored up treasures for themselves but has no treasure with God.

Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: they do not sow, they do not reap, they do not gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither spin nor weave; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. If God so beautifully clothes the straw that is , which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not clothe people, even if they have only a little faith, at least as well?

Therefore, do not worry about what you will eat or drink or what you will wear. For it is your heavenly Father who will provide all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for the Father has chosen you to receive his kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Do not store up treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. Store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Seek the kingdom of God as a merchant sought pearls for his king. When he found a rare pearl, he sold everything he had to obtain it. Consider it a treasure that someone found in a field. He immediately buried it again. Full of joy, he sold everything he had to acquire the field.

The kingdom of God is also like a man who scatters seed on the ground. He goes to sleep and gets up, day after day. And without knowing how, the seed sprouts and grows. The earth bears fruit by itself. First a blade, then an ear, then the full grain in the ear. When the farmer sees the grain, he puts his sickle to it, for the harvest time has come.

But God's kingship is also revealed when an enemy sows wild wheat in God's wheat field. When the wheat sprouts, it is found among the wild wheat. The workers want to pull the wild wheat out of the ground. But wild wheat and wheat look alike, and the Lord does not want to risk pulling out even one wheat plant by mistake. He lets them grow together until harvest time comes. He gathers the wheat into his barn, but burns the thistles.

The kingdom of God is also like a dragnet thrown into the sea. People pull it through the water and it fills with everything it encounters. When they pull it ashore, they sit down and gather all the edible fish. They throw away what is not edible.

I look at the teachers of the law who are with me and ask, 'Do you understand what I mean?' They nod. 'That is why a teacher of the law who has become a disciple of God's kingdom is like a householder who brings out of his treasure chest things both old and new.

       *      

When we return to the house where we are staying, my disciples ask me about the parable of the wild wheat that is burned. They find that message the most difficult to understand.

"When the Son of Man sends out his messengers on that day, they will remove everything that leads to sin and injustice. Only then will the righteous shine like the sun under their Father's kingdom. But first, the night will come. Keep your clothes on and your lamps burning. Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding. Be ready to open the door as soon as he knocks. Blessed are those servants who are ready, even if it is in the middle of the night or at daybreak. I tell you, this master will roll up his sleeves, invite them to the table, and serve them.

Or turn it around: if you knew that a thief was coming to your house, wouldn't you stay awake and not let him break in? Be ready, because the Son of Man will come at any time.

Peter asks, "Lord, does this parable refer only to us or to everyone?"

'Let everyone stay alert. But who is the faithful and wise steward whom the master can put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is the servant who is doing this when his master returns. For he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But woe to that servant who begins to beat the other servants and to eat and drink too much. His master will come back unexpectedly and will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites.

The servant who knows what his master wants and does all this will be severely punished. But the ignorant will receive little punishment. To whom much is entrusted, much will be required. To whom much is given, much will be asked.

They find it strange to think of a night when I am no longer on earth, but how do they think I feel?

'The Baptist said that I must purify this earth with fire. And what else do I want? It is already burning on all sides. I must be immersed in death. And it distresses me that the goal cannot be achieved in any other way. Do not think that my work will bring peace to earth. Absolutely not, rather division. As the prophet Micah has already foretold, it will cut right through families. Three will be for me and two against, or two for and three against. Fathers against sons and sons against fathers, mothers against daughters, mothers-in-law against daughters-in-law.'

They nod gloomily. They have known this for a long time. Some left their parents, others even their wives and children when I fled from Herod. And not everyone at home supported that decision.

Threat and promise                                   

That night I sleep poorly. In my dream, I am working in a vineyard with a beautiful old fig tree. The owner of the vineyard comes up to me. "This is now the third year that I have come to you at fig time, but there is not a single fig to be found. Cut it down. Why should it take up all that space?" I am startled, because I love the tree under which I grew up and which has been entrusted to my care for almost three years now. "Let it stand for another year. I will dig a trench around the tree. I will prune its old roots and put manure around it so that new root shoots can grow. Wait and see if it will bear fruit again. If not, then it can be cut down." When I wake up, I feel uneasy. How much time do I have left to prepare this people for the Day of God's Judgment?

*

The next day, the atmosphere is tense. Something terrible has happened in Samaria. An "Anointed One" has also risen among them. The Samaritans believe that the Anointed One will return to them the temple vessels that were made under the leadership of Moses after the exodus from Egypt. The Samaritans believe that these were buried somewhere on their holy mountain, Gerizim, when their temple was destroyed by the Jews. The 'Anointed One' had called on the Samaritans to gather in the village of Tirithana, at the foot of the mountain. At God's sign, they would ascend the mountain, find the temple vessels, and use them to offer sacrifices to God again. But before that could happen, Pilate sent horsemen and soldiers to block their way to the mountain. It ended in a battle in which many Samaritans, along with their sacrificial animals, were slaughtered by the Romans.

The people around me are restless. Some think that the Romans could treat us in the same way. Others say that this does not apply to us because it was a punishment for the sins of the Samaritans. But I would like to contradict that. Do you think these Samaritans were worse sinners than other Samaritans because this happened to them? What about the collapse of a tower at the pool of Siloam in Jerusalem? Do you really think that the eighteen people who died there were worse sinners than the other inhabitants of Jerusalem? Do not think that it cannot happen to you, or that you are not sinners who need to repent.

When you see a cloud rising from the sea in the west, you say, "Rain is coming." And it happens. When you feel the wind blowing from the desert in the south, you say, 'It will be hot.' And it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the signs of the weather, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Come to your senses, and hurry. Your enemy is at your door. Try to settle with him now, before he hands you over to the judge, and the judge to the police, and the police to prison. For I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

That evening, the day of rest begins and we go to the meeting. The leader of the meeting asks me to say a few words about the passage we read. In the women's section, I see a woman with an incredibly crooked back. She tries to look at me, but she can't. I call her over to me. She tells me she has had this for eighteen years. I feel the cramp in her spirit and say, "Woman, God has delivered you from your sickness." When I lay my hands on her and pray with her, I feel her relax and straighten up. She praises God, but there is also disapproving murmuring from the congregation.

The leader of the meeting feels terribly cornered. Despite the clash with some devout people and teachers of the law the day before yesterday, he had asked me to speak. But now he wants to intervene before more people come forward. He stands up and shouts, "There are six days to work. Come on those days to be healed. But not on the Sabbath." But I also stand up and say, "You actors, which of you does not untie his cattle every day to let them drink, even on the Sabbath? And should not this daughter of Abraham be untied from the devil who has bound her for eighteen years, especially on this Sabbath?" The protest falls silent in shame, someone sings a song of praise to God, and one by one everyone joins in. Relieved that they can be unrestrainedly happy about her healing.

"This is the kingdom of God," I exclaim. "It is like a mustard seed that a man sows in his garden. It grows and becomes a large tree, and the birds nest in its branches. It is the yeast that a woman kneads into her dough, and after a while it makes the whole loaf rise."

Someone comes up to me and says, "John didn't perform miracles, but everything he said about you is true."

In silence, I thank my father for the miracle of conversion.