Paper 147 Overview: The Interlude Visit to Jerusalem

Jesus and the apostles spent two weeks in Capernaum before going to Jerusalem for Passover in April of the year 28. During this time, Jesus healed the Roman centurion's servant who was sick, showing that faith was more important than being Jewish. In Jerusalem, Jesus taught important lessons about suffering, healing, prayer, and forgiveness.

At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus taught that physical healing was less important than spiritual healing. He also taught his apostles about the different levels of understanding the golden rule, from basic selfishness to the highest spiritual level of treating others as God would. Jesus showed kindness to a woman with a bad reputation who washed his feet, teaching that those who are forgiven much will love much.

Jesus and the apostles arrived in Capernaum on March 17 and stayed at their headquarters in Bethsaida for two weeks. During this time, the apostles taught people by the sea while Jesus spent time alone in the hills. Jesus also made two secret trips to Tiberias with James and John to meet with believers there.

Many people in Herod's household believed in Jesus, which helped reduce Herod's dislike of him. These believers had explained to Herod that Jesus' kingdom was spiritual, not political. The real danger to Jesus came from religious leaders in Jerusalem, not from Herod, which is why Jesus spent more time teaching in Galilee than in Judea.

A Roman centurion named Mangus had a sick servant who was near death. He asked the Jewish leaders to speak to Jesus because the centurion had built their synagogue and loved their nation. When Jesus agreed to go, the centurion sent friends to say he wasn't worthy for Jesus to enter his house.

The centurion's message showed that just as he could give orders to his soldiers, Jesus could give orders to disease. Jesus was amazed at his faith and said he hadn't found such great faith in Israel. The servant was completely healed, although no one knew exactly how it happened.

On Tuesday, March 30, Jesus and the apostles left for Jerusalem for Passover. They arrived on Friday, April 2, and stayed at Bethany as usual. So many people came seeking healing that Jesus moved between Bethany and Gethsemane to avoid crowds.

The apostles quietly celebrated Passover in Bethany. This was the second time Jesus observed Passover with his apostles in Jerusalem. When they later returned to Capernaum, John's apostles stayed behind in Jerusalem to continue working under Abner's direction.

On the second Sabbath in Jerusalem, John took Jesus to the pool of Bethesda where sick people waited for healing. The water would bubble up sometimes, and people believed the first person to enter after this would be healed. John hoped Jesus would perform healing miracles there to impress Jerusalem.

Jesus instead chose to speak words of comfort to the sick. He taught that some suffer because of wrong living, others due to accidents, and some from the mistakes of their parents. Jesus emphasized that spiritual healing was more important than physical healing, and his words inspired many who heard them.

At Bethany, Nathaniel asked Jesus about the golden rule - doing to others what you would want them to do to you. He wondered how this would work if someone had bad intentions. Jesus was disappointed that his followers kept missing the spiritual meaning of his teachings.

Jesus explained six levels of understanding the golden rule: 1) the selfish level, 2) the level of feelings, 3) the level of mind and good judgment, 4) the level of brotherly love, 5) the moral level of rightness, and 6) the highest spiritual level where we treat others as God would treat them. The apostles were amazed by this teaching.

Simon, an influential Pharisee from Jerusalem, invited Jesus, Peter, James, and John to a meal at his home. During the meal, a woman with a bad reputation came in, washed Jesus' feet with her tears, and anointed them with expensive perfume. Simon thought if Jesus were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman she was.

Jesus told Simon a story about two debtors who were forgiven, asking which would be more grateful. When Simon answered the one who owed more, Jesus pointed out how the woman had shown great love while Simon had neglected basic hospitality. Jesus forgave the woman's sins, shocking the other guests who wondered who could forgive sins but God.

The last week of April, Jesus and the twelve left Jerusalem to return to Capernaum. The Jewish religious leaders had decided to try to stop Jesus but couldn't agree on how. They appointed six spies to follow Jesus and gather evidence of lawbreaking.

On the journey, the apostles picked grain on the Sabbath because they were hungry. The spies accused them of breaking the Sabbath law. Jesus defended his disciples by reminding the accusers of how David had eaten the sacred bread when hungry. Jesus taught that "the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath."

Jesus and the twelve returned to Bethsaida by boat to avoid those following them. The next day, the spies caught up with them. One spy asked Jesus why his disciples didn't fast like John's followers and the Pharisees did.

Jesus answered using three comparisons: wedding guests who celebrate while the groom is present, a new patch on an old garment, and new wine in old wineskins. He explained that fasting might be appropriate for John's followers, but his disciples were experiencing joy in the new kingdom. Jesus taught that old truths should be kept while new truths should be accepted.

That night, Jesus taught his apostles about true spiritual goodness by quoting from the prophet Isaiah. The prophet had said God does not want fasting and self-punishment but rather desires people to help others, free the oppressed, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked.

Jesus taught his apostles that their faith in God was more important than punishing themselves with fasting. He encouraged them to go beyond Isaiah's teachings and grow in the understanding that they were God's children and all people were their brothers. Jesus continued teaching until two in the morning.