JESUS CHRIST
893
JESUS CHRIST
25, 26), and, again hinting at the crowning miracle of his resurrection, he returned to the eastern side of tlic lake, warning his disciples on the way of the pernicious doctrine of the sectaries, which he comparetl to leaven (JMatt. xvi, 4-12, and parallels). Proceeding to Beth- saida (in Peraja), he cured a blind man in a gradual manner by successive touches of his eyes (Mark viii, 22-'2(;), and on his way through the environs of Casa- roa-l'liiliiipi, after private devotion, he elicited from the disciples a profession of their faith in him as the Mes- siah, and conferred upon them the right of legislating for his future Church, but rebuked Peter for demurring at his ]ircdiction of his own approaching passion, anil enjoined the strictest self-denial upon his followers, in view of the eventual retribution shortly to be foreshad- owed by the overthrow of the Jewish nation (Matt, xvi, 13-28, and parallels; prob. May, A.D. 2K). A week af- terwards, taking three disciples only with him, he as- cended a lofty mountain in the vicinity (prob. Hermon), where his person experienced a remarkable luminous- ness [see Transfiguration], with other prodigies, that at first alarmed the disciples ; and, on descending the mountain, he explained the allusion (jMal. iv, 5, C) to Elijah (who, with Moses, had just conversed with him in a glorifietl state) as meaning John the Baptist, lately put to death (Matt, xvii, 1-13, and parallels). On his return to the rest of the disciples, he found them dis- puting with the Jewish sectaries concerning a demoniac deaf-mute child whom the former had vainly endeavor- ed to cure; the father now earnestly entreating Jesus to exercise his power over the malady, although of long duration, he immediately restored the lad to perfect soundness, and privately explained to the disciples the cause of their failure as lying in their want of faith (Mark ix, 14-28, and parallels), which would have ren- dered them competent to any requisite miracle (Luke xvii, 5, G, and parallel) if coupled with devout humility (Mark ix, 29, and parallel). Thence passing over into Galilee, lie again foretold his ignominious crucifixion and speedy resurrection to his disciples, who still failed to apprehend his meaning (Jlark ix, 30-32, and paral- lels). On the return of the party to Capemaum, the collector of the Temple-tax waited upon Peter for pay- ment from his Master, who, although stating his exemp- tion by virtue of his high character, yet, for the sake of peace, directed Peter to catch a fish, which woidd be found to have swallowed a piece of money sufficient to pay for them both (Matt, xvii, 24-27; prob. June, A.D. 28). About this time Jesus rebidced the disciples for a strife into which they had fallen for the highest honors under their ^Master's reign by placing a child in their midst as a symliol of artless innocence ; and upon John's remarking that they liad lately silenced an imknown per- son acting in his name, he reprimanded such bigotn,-, enlarging by various similes upon the duty of tenderly dealing with new converts, and closing with rules for the expulsion of an unworthy member from their socie- ty, adtling the parable of the unmerciful servant to en- force the doctrine of leniency (Mark ix, 33-40, 42, 49, 50; Matt, xviii, 10, 15-35; and parallels). Some time afterwards (prob. September, A.I). 28) Jesus sent seven- ty of the most trusty among his followers, in pairs, through the region which he intended shortly to visit, with instructions similar to those before given to the apostles, but indicative of the opposition they would be likely to meet with (Luke x, 1-3 ; Matt, vif, 6 ; x, 23- 26 ; and parallels) ; and then, after declining to accom- pany his worldly-minded brothers to the approaching festival of Tabernacles at Jerusalem, to which they urged him as a favorable opportunity for exhibiting his wonderful powers, near the close of the festal-week he went thither privately (John vii, 2-10), experiencing on the way the inhospitality of the Samaritans with a patience that rebuked the indignation of one of his dis- ciples (Luke ix, 51-56), and receiving the grateful ac- knowledgments of a single Samaritan among ten lepers whom he cured (^Luke xvii, 11-19).