Paper 156 Overview: The Sojourn at Tyre and Sidon

This paper recounts Jesus and his apostles' journey to the Phoenician coast cities of Tyre and Sidon, where they sought temporary refuge from growing opposition in Jewish territories. During this sojourn of about two and a half weeks in Sidon and six weeks in the region altogether, Jesus and his followers gained many Gentile believers who better appreciated certain aspects of his teachings than many Jews did. The healing of a Syrian woman's daughter demonstrated Jesus's compassion extending beyond Jewish boundaries, fulfilling his statement that the kingdom would be embraced by Gentiles if "the children of Abraham" lacked sufficient faith.

A significant portion of the paper details Jesus's profound teachings at Tyre on spiritual growth, overcoming temptation, divine forgiveness, and developing spiritual character. Rather than avoiding difficult circumstances, Jesus taught that believers should transform temptations into opportunities for spiritual growth through genuine love of higher ideals. These teachings resonated particularly with the Gentile audiences, who showed remarkable receptivity to the message of God's universal love and the concept that the Father shows no favoritism toward races or nations.

On Friday, June 10, Jesus and his associates arrived near Sidon, where they stayed at the home of a wealthy woman who had previously been a patient at the Bethsaida hospital during Jesus's more popular days. The evangelists and apostles were lodged with friends in the neighborhood, and they rested in these refreshing surroundings over the Sabbath day before beginning nearly two and a half weeks in Sidon and vicinity.

This June Sabbath day was characterized by great quiet among the group. The evangelists and apostles were deeply absorbed in contemplating the religious teachings Jesus had shared during their journey to Sidon. While they each grasped something of what he had taught them, none fully comprehended the importance of his instruction, a pattern that would continue throughout much of his ministry as his followers struggled to understand the deeper spiritual meanings of his message.

Near the home where Jesus was staying lived a Syrian woman named Norana who had heard of Jesus as a great healer and teacher. She brought her twelve-year-old daughter, who suffered from a severe nervous disorder causing convulsions and other distressing symptoms, hoping Jesus would heal her. Although Jesus had instructed his disciples not to reveal his presence because he needed rest, Karuska's servant had informed Norana of his whereabouts.

When the Alpheus twins explained Jesus was resting and could not be disturbed, Norana refused to leave, declaring she would wait until Jesus finished resting. Several apostles tried to send her away, including Simon Zelotes who reminded her that as a Gentile, she should not expect help meant for "the children of the favored household." Norana responded humbly yet persistently, saying she was only a "dog" in Jewish eyes but "a believing dog" regarding Jesus. When her daughter had a convulsion before them, Jesus, who had overheard the conversation, came outside and healed the child, commending the mother's great faith.

Upon entering Sidon, Jesus and his associates crossed a bridge, prompting Jesus to offer a profound metaphor: "This world is only a bridge; you may pass over it, but you should not think to build a dwelling place upon it." This statement captured the transient nature of material existence compared to spiritual realities. Jesus then stayed in a home just north of the city with Justa and her mother Bernice, teaching the twenty-four each morning while they went into Sidon to teach and preach during afternoons and evenings.

The apostles and evangelists were greatly encouraged by how the Gentiles of Sidon received their message, with many embracing the kingdom during their six-week stay in Phoenicia. These Greek-speaking Syrophoenicians demonstrated a remarkable understanding of Jesus's teachings about the uniformity of universal laws and God's impartiality toward all people and nations. Jesus explained to the twenty-four that he had not fled Galilee out of fear but because he was not yet ready for an open confrontation with established religion, telling them, "even though heaven and earth shall pass away, my words of truth shall not."

On Tuesday, June 28, Jesus and his companions left Sidon, traveling up the coast to Porphyreon and Heldua where they were well received by the Gentiles. Many joined the kingdom during this week of teaching and preaching as the apostles preached in Porphyreon while the evangelists taught in Heldua. During this period, Jesus briefly left his disciples for three or four days to visit the coastal city of Beirut, where he met with a Syrian believer named Malach who had previously been at Bethsaida.

On Wednesday, July 6, they all returned to Sidon and stayed at Justa's home until Sunday morning when they departed for Tyre, traveling south along the coast and arriving on Monday, July 11. By this time, the apostles and evangelists had grown accustomed to working among these so-called Gentiles, who were primarily descended from earlier Canaanite tribes of Semitic origin but spoke Greek. The apostles were surprised by the eagerness of these Gentiles to hear the gospel and their readiness to believe Jesus's message.

From July 11 to July 24, Jesus and his followers taught in Tyre, with each apostle partnering with an evangelist to teach throughout the city and surrounding areas. The diverse population of this bustling seaport city received their message gladly, and many were baptized into the fellowship of the kingdom. Jesus established his headquarters at the home of a Jewish believer named Joseph who lived about three or four miles south of Tyre, near the tomb of Hiram, the ancient king of Tyre.

Each day the apostles and evangelists entered Tyre via Alexander's mole to conduct small meetings, returning at night to Joseph's home south of the city. Believers regularly traveled from the city to visit Jesus at his resting place. Jesus spoke in Tyre only once, on the afternoon of July 20, teaching about the Father's love for all mankind and the Son's mission to reveal the Father to all races. Interest in the gospel was so great that the doors of the Melkarth temple were opened to him, and years later a Christian church would be built on that site.

During his address in Tyre, Jesus shared the story of the white lily that grows with its roots in dark soil yet raises its pure blossom into the sunshine, comparing this to how humans can elevate their spiritual nature through faith while their origins remain in "animal soil." Jesus also made a rare reference to his trade as a carpenter, warning against wasting effort trying to build character using "worm-eaten and inwardly rotting timber." He emphasized the importance of strong moral and intellectual foundations to support spiritual growth.

Later, Nathaniel asked Jesus about the prayer phrase "lead us not into temptation," questioning why God would lead anyone into temptation. Jesus explained that this reflected an older, less accurate understanding of God. He clarified that people are tempted by their own selfishness and animal natures, not by God. Jesus taught that overcoming temptation is not about suppressing desires through willpower but about transforming them through genuine interest in and love for higher ideals, saying: "Beauty is always triumphant over ugliness in the hearts of all who are illuminated by the love of truth."

Around noon on Sunday, July 24, Jesus and the twelve left Joseph's home south of Tyre, traveling down the coast to Ptolemais where they stayed for a day, with Peter preaching to the believers there that evening. The following day they journeyed inland, making stops at several villages including Jotapata, Ramah, and Zebulun, eventually reaching the shores of Galilee near Gennesaret, where they met with David Zebedee as planned.

Upon learning that leaders were gathered across the lake near Kheresa, they crossed over and rested in the hills for a day before moving to a nearby park where Jesus had once fed the five thousand. During Jesus's absence from Galilee, opposition to his teaching had diminished considerably. Herod Antipas had changed his position, indicating Jesus would not be molested if he remained outside Galilee, and Philip invited Jesus to freely work in his territories. Even many synagogues had begun reopening to Abner and his associates, claiming they were followers of John rather than disciples of Jesus.