The King Nobody Wanted

preach. The crowds that came to hear him were growing larger. Often Jesus stood

. For he did not say the things that people expected to hear.

ood. He said that it was much harder than anybody thought. He did not try to preach sermons that would make him popular, for he was not thinking

o hate other people than to love them. And so h

ove your enemies, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who use you badly. That is what God does.

's what everybody does. Be like God. He is merciful, and you ought to be merciful

ing the Romans. How could anyone help hating those rough Roman soldiers, wh

s pack for a mile, carry it another mi

about money, and food and clothes. It was hard to blame them for that; for some of th

also poor, and they got no richer by following h

o have nothing you

-that meant to be fortunate, or well off. What

ve nothing, for yours i

often go hungry, you

sad, the time will come

ecause you are my disciples. Be glad when that happens, because that is what has happ

us looked out over the

you who

uld not like that! The disciples were poor themselv

ggar who sat all day long outside the rich man's house. His body was covered with sores, and he was so hungry that he would have been

nued, in a

me is coming when you will go hungry. Woe to you who are enjoying yourselves all the time! Someday you will weep. Woe to you

t money could buy. They wanted the Messiah to come so that he would ma

nd drink and wear. Why, that's the kind of thing the Romans

re flying overhead, and singing; and up the hillside the wild

ny clothes for themselves, and yet the great King Solomon in all his glory was not so beautifully clothed as one of these little flowers. You people who have so little faith in God-think! If God clothes the flowers of the field, which are here today a

ple, especially in the Pharisees. They loved to show

ome people I could mention, who want to impress everybody with how generous they are. If y

e everyone can see you. There are many people who do that. When you pray, go into your own ro

y began to call him "Master" and "Lord." But Jesus did not think

expects of you. Someday, I suppose you will come and tell me of all the wonderful things you hav

there, because it is built upon a rock. You will be strong like that house, if you do as I say. But anyone who hears my teachings and pays no attention to them is like a man who builds his

who spoke to them as though he were God himself. That was not how other preachers taught.

"I am telling you." H

eople would come in and take their places, with the most important people up in front. At the beginning of the service, everyone stood and faced in the direction of Jerusalem, and recited some verses from t

kind of paper. The pieces were kept rolled up when they were not in use. The minister brought two of the rolls and laid them on the reading desk. So

re in the town of Capernaum they went to the service as usual. When the time came to explain the lesson, Jesus went

n to cry out. There seemed to be some evil thing inside him, which made him h

s came pouring out

you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy m

d, and spoke to the e

said, "and come

The man looked around him as though he wondere

ad seen and heard. On the way home fr

g is this, which makes

word of what Jesus had do

m. Simon's wife's mother was sick in bed. Jesus went to her bed-side, and took her hand, and h

out of their minds, and of how he was able to heal the sick. As long as the Sabbath lasted, the people had to stay quietly at home. But once the sun had s

. Jesus came out to heal the sick. Darkness fell, and night came on, and still the people pressed around Jesus to have him

rest. And what he needed more than anything else was to pray. He wanted to be alone for a while with his Father. So many people to

ay upon the land, Jesus silently slipped away from the hou

ould not wait for him to come back. They went at once

is looking

have rested and prayed. But then he thought of the people who were waiting for him. He thought of the people who

e to h

so that I can preach in them too. After all, that is why

d him were there. The people who needed him were there. And the people who wer

wns, where his friends a