Men Called Him Master

llow him. On this night the tax collector had asked Jesus and his disciples to come to his home for dinner. "I know that Levi is diffe

point. "Don't you want to

rt, I want nothing to do with him." Simon realized that his tone was not respectful. "I am thinking of our

have sinned. We are going to eat with them because they need help. And do not forget,

became bitter. "Anyway, I never worked for King Herod! I cannot stand the idea of sit

i's eye you had better dig the tree trunk out of your own." Strongly rebuked

t respected citizen of Capernaum, stopped to visi

ied man of about sixty, "is how a man who wants to te

him. They are very common people-fishermen, this tax collector, and such

on. "He says many things that show he knows the Law very we

er of the two visiting Pharisees. "Some men put a paralytic in front of the Nazarene while

has great power. The people go out to hear him everywhere. I want to find out his purpose. I have a suggestion that may help us see what he

sted the young Pharisee. "We should be as

mischief.... Anyhow, I don't see how we can understand him unless we talk to him." The others said nothing, and Symeon took their silence for consent. "Of course," he a

Symeon, Andrew was pleased. "I guess we have not offended the

Master," he said, "that you wil

nt the approval of the most respected citizens of Capernaum. Yet Jesus

oor of his home open for any visitor who cared to enter. During the meal, both friends and strangers cont

," Jesus was saying. "Very often our nation has listened to God's voice

preaching to the people of Galilee?" aske

is present among us," answered Jesus plainly. "But most of you will not t

zled, others offended. "But surely you misundersta

God, how can you mix with outcasts?"

young man. "I am here to call sinners!" Irony came into his voice. "People who are he

ed around the room. It sounded as though someone were weeping! He examined the shadowy corners where the ligh

e darkness behind him. Her tears fell on his feet. She loosed the cor

ated. "What kind of nonsense is this

en like this are bound to get in. Everyone there knew her. She had a bad reputation in the city. Symeon felt humiliated to

woman had broken open a bottle of precious perfum

. I wonder if the Nazarene has any idea where she got the money

"Symeon," he said, "I have

eacher?" asked

ive dollars." The guests were listening closely. "Neither of these men could pay back the money, so the lender said to both of them: 'I fo

more money would be more grateful,

fer to wash my feet-and everyone does that for his guest! But this w

ne greets his guest that way!" He pointed to

ould sense the force of his words when he said: "She has committed many sins, but they are all forgiven and now her heart is full of love." Then Jesus spoke directly to Symeon a

roubled by the suggestion that he was a sinner. All his life he had done his

im say that this woman's sins are forgiven?" Abruptly Symeon looked up at th

ful," Jesus was saying to the wo

a blasphemer, nothing better! Only God could forgive sin. They all knew the truth about this Jesus now: such a man was dangero

ouse. But two days later, while buying food, Andrew and John heard a rumor which

ood, and hurried out to the shore of the lake. As usual, a large group of listeners

he Pharisees and the followers of John the Baptizer fast while your disciples pay no a

e asked, "do the friends of people who ar

t is a time for rej

his friends they are not sorrowful. But a time comes

man, "the Pharisees say it i

have an old coat with a hole in it, do you

f cour

t?" ask

in," answered a woman very quickly, "it sh

something new to the old, the n

t?" asked the first man

a dry, stiff wineskin that has been used before?" The people stor

ourse

y n

nt it stretches the skin tight. New wine is

to put new wine in old skins. The old cannot hold the new. The gospel o

doubtfully. "I don't know who is right. It is

ed to do. Some wanted to play that they were at a wedding; others, that they were at a funeral. When they piped wedding music, the

ou said he had a demon. Now I come eating and drinking like other men and you call me a glutton and a drunkard.

to Capernaum with Jesus. "Someone had been talking

ercy, and kindness they forget. They would strain a gnat out of their soup and swallow a camel whole!" The disciples had to smile at the way Jesus put it. "

h interested in what Jesus said. They seemed friendly, and after the service went walking with Jesus and a few other people who clustered around Jesus. The group passed through a field of grain outside the town. James and Levi were hungry, so they pulled the tops off some wheatstalks. They rubbed the heads of

the men here were pulling whea

ry. It is all right for th

ey replied, "but these men are rubbing out whole stalks, and that

ead off the sacred table in the Tabernacle when they were hungry?"

The first almost stammered as

David there may also be a higher law for me

set aside a law. No one can. That is impossible. It is part of our reli

n for the Sabbath," replied Jesus. "T

neck tightened as he looked at Jesus. "You dare to say such things

what had happened in the wheat field. "They just keep wat

e doing," ventured Andrew. "They never listen to what we s

speak to a leper! Who is going to go out among the people of our towns and l

s about the outcasts," said Sim

t Jesus might win the people over to himself struck panic into Symeon's heart. If that should happen, something despera

of worship. The moment Simon and Andrew entered they saw that there would be trouble: there was a man present with an arm made lame from dropsy-and they knew Jesus would surely heal him if he asked. The s

to heal him?" one of the P

"To break the Sabbath law right in the syn

stantly the room was quiet. Everyone knew the charge ag

th me?" He led the man to the front of the synagogu

to help or to hurt on the Sabbath Day? Sho

h all day long if it fell in on Sabbath morning?" Everyone knew

man worth mor

erently. Symeon could hardly contain himself. He wanted to rise up and cry out to everyone that these were trick questions; that this bold Nazaren

an. "Stretch out your

ynagogue, followed by the religious officials of Capernaum. Outside, Symeon turned to the others and declared firmly: "We must save our holy religion at al