Paper 171 Overview: On the Way to Jerusalem

After delivering his sermon on "The Kingdom of Heaven," Jesus announced his intention to travel to Jerusalem for Passover, making visits to cities in southern Perea along the way. This announcement, coupled with his kingdom teachings, led many of his followers to mistakenly believe he was finally going to establish a political kingdom with headquarters in Jerusalem. Despite Jesus' continuous teaching about the spiritual nature of his kingdom, many of his followers clung to their nationalistic ideas and could not grasp the true concept of his mission.

The journey toward Jerusalem was marked by significant events that revealed both the expectations of Jesus' followers and his attempts to prepare them for what was to come. Salome's request for special positions for her sons in the kingdom, Jesus' teaching on counting the cost of discipleship, his final meeting with Abner, and encounters in Jericho with Bartimeus and Zaccheus all contributed to the narrative of these final days before his entrance into Jerusalem. Throughout these experiences, Jesus continued to demonstrate the qualities of graciousness, mercy, and wisdom that characterized his ministry, while also preparing his disciples for the trials that awaited him.

After his memorable sermon on "The Kingdom of Heaven," Jesus announced his plan to depart for the Passover in Jerusalem, passing through several cities in southern Perea on the way. This announcement, combined with his teachings on the kingdom, led many of his followers to believe he was finally going to Jerusalem to establish a political kingdom with the Jews in power. Despite Jesus' consistent teaching about the non-material nature of his kingdom, his Jewish listeners could not separate themselves from the idea that the Messiah would establish a nationalistic government centered in Jerusalem.

Shortly after this announcement, Salome, the mother of apostles James and John, approached Jesus with a request that her sons be given positions of honor in his kingdom. Jesus gently corrected this misconception, asking if they could "drink the cup" he was about to drink, to which they confidently responded they could. Jesus explained that while they would indeed share in his suffering, the positions of honor were not his to give but were reserved by his Father. This incident sparked indignation among the other apostles, leading Jesus to teach them about true greatness through service and to explain that he came to minister rather than to be ministered to.

On Monday, March 13, Jesus and the twelve apostles took their final leave from the Pella encampment to begin their tour of the cities in southern Perea where Abner's associates were working. They spent more than two weeks visiting these cities before proceeding directly to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Of the thousand followers who initially left Pella with Jesus, approximately half departed when they learned he was headed to Heshbon rather than directly to Jerusalem, after he delivered his sermon on "Counting the Cost."

Most of Jesus' immediate followers interpreted the abandonment of the Pella camp as a sign that he was finally ready to establish his kingdom in Jerusalem. David Zebedee closed the visitors' camp at Pella on March 15, selling all the equipment and forwarding the funds to Judas Iscariot. David was present in Jerusalem during the final week, and after the crucifixion, he helped his mother return to Bethsaida. Following the resurrection and the death of his mother, David moved to Philadelphia, where he worked alongside Abner and Lazarus as the financial overseer of the kingdom interests centered there. This Philadelphia community remained the center of the "Abnerian kingdom of heaven," while Antioch became the headquarters of Pauline Christianity.

When Jesus and his company of nearly one thousand followers arrived at the Bethany ford of the Jordan (also called Bethabara), his disciples began to realize he wasn't heading directly to Jerusalem. As they hesitated and debated among themselves, Jesus climbed upon a large stone and delivered the discourse known as "Counting the Cost." He emphasized that those who wished to follow him must be willing to forsake family ties and even their own lives, just as he was about to offer his life for completing the Father's will on earth.

Jesus used two vivid analogies to illustrate the importance of fully committing to discipleship: a person building a watchtower must first calculate if they have enough resources to complete it, and a king preparing for war must consider whether his forces are adequate against the enemy. He warned them that from that point forward, they would face bitter persecutions and crushing disappointments, requiring complete dedication. After this discourse, Jesus led the twelve apostles toward Heshbon, followed by about five hundred followers, while the other half of the multitude continued to Jerusalem. The apostles, though thoughtful about these words, still clung to their hope that after a brief period of adversity, the kingdom would be established according to their long-cherished expectations.

For more than two weeks, Jesus and the twelve, followed by several hundred disciples, journeyed throughout southern Perea, visiting all the towns where the seventy laborers were working. Many Gentiles lived in this region, and since few of them would be attending the Passover feast in Jerusalem, the messengers of the kingdom continued their work of teaching and preaching without interruption. Jesus met with Abner at Heshbon and directed that the work of the seventy should continue regardless of the events that were about to unfold in Jerusalem.

As they traveled from city to city, many followers departed to go to Jerusalem, reducing their company to fewer than two hundred by the time Jesus set out for Passover. The apostles understood that Jesus was going to Jerusalem despite the Sanhedrin's condemnation, but they were less alarmed than before because of their experience with Lazarus's resurrection. This event had strengthened their faith in Jesus' divine power and spiritual superiority, giving them courage to follow him to Jerusalem despite the open declaration of the Sanhedrin that he must die. Most of the apostles and many inner disciples did not believe it was possible for Jesus to die, viewing him as immortal and already triumphant over death.

On Wednesday evening, March 29, Jesus and his followers encamped at Livias on their way to Jerusalem. That night, Simon Zelotes and Simon Peter conspired to acquire more than one hundred swords, which they distributed to those willing to carry them concealed beneath their cloaks. Early the next morning, Jesus called his apostles together privately to warn them about the events that would unfold in Jerusalem, plainly telling them that the Son of Man would be delivered to the chief priests and religious rulers, condemned, and then handed over to the gentiles.

Jesus explicitly foretold that the religious leaders would mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and deliver him to death, but declared that he would rise on the third day. Yet the apostles were so blinded by their persistent belief in a temporal kingdom that they could not comprehend Jesus' literal meaning. Later that day, some friendly Pharisees warned Jesus that Herod sought to kill him. Jesus responded that Herod would prefer him to go to Jerusalem to die at the hands of the chief priests, as Herod feared taking responsibility for another death after John the Baptist. Jesus then lamented over Jerusalem, which had killed prophets and rejected God's messengers, predicting that the city would be left desolate. His followers remained confused, interpreting his reference to "rising on the third day" as signifying an immediate triumph of the kingdom after a preliminary conflict.

Late on Thursday afternoon, March 30, Jesus and his apostles approached Jericho with about two hundred followers. Near the city gate, they encountered a throng of beggars, including Bartimeus, an elderly man who had been blind since youth. Having heard about Jesus healing the blind Josiah in Jerusalem, Bartimeus had resolved not to let Jesus pass through Jericho without appealing to him for sight restoration. When Bartimeus heard that Jesus was passing by, he began crying out loudly for mercy.

Despite being rebuked by those nearby and told to be quiet, Bartimeus only cried out more loudly and persistently. Hearing him, Jesus stopped and asked for the blind man to be brought forward. When Bartimeus approached, Jesus asked what he wanted, to which the blind man replied that he wanted his sight restored. Jesus told him, "You shall receive your sight; go your way; your faith has made you whole." Immediately, Bartimeus received his sight and remained near Jesus, glorifying God. The next day, when Jesus departed for Jerusalem, Bartimeus went ahead of the multitude, declaring to everyone how his sight had been restored in Jericho.

When Jesus' procession entered Jericho near sunset, he intended to stay there for the night. As he passed by the customs house, Zaccheus, the chief tax collector, was present and eager to see what kind of man Jesus was. Being short in stature and unable to see over the crowd, Zaccheus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree whose branches overhung the road where Jesus would pass. As Jesus walked by, he looked up and said, "Make haste, Zaccheus, and come down, for tonight I must abide at your house."

The people of Jericho were surprised that Jesus would lodge with someone considered a sinner and an extortioner. As Jesus and his apostles gathered at Zaccheus's house, a nearby Pharisee criticized Jesus for associating with a sinner. In response, Zaccheus stood up and publicly declared that he would give half of his goods to the poor and restore fourfold to anyone he had wronged. Jesus then proclaimed, "Today has salvation come to this home, and you have become indeed a son of Abraham," adding that the Son of Man had come to seek and save that which was lost. Jesus and his companions stayed with Zaccheus that night, and the next day they continued their journey up the "road of robbers" to Bethany on their way to the Passover in Jerusalem.

Jesus spread good cheer everywhere he went, full of grace and truth. His associates continually marveled at the gracious words that came from his mouth. While goodness always commands respect, it only becomes universally attractive when it is gracious, and goodness is only effective when it appeals to people's affections. Jesus truly understood human nature, which enabled him to demonstrate genuine sympathy and show sincere compassion that was practical, personal, and constructive.

Jesus could help people so effectively because he loved them sincerely, completely understanding what was in their hearts and minds. He was an interested and keen observer of human needs and longings, yet he never seemed to be in a hurry. He always made time to comfort others "as he passed by" and was a charming listener who never engaged in meddlesome probing into others' souls. Jesus inspired profound self-confidence in those who enjoyed his company, and he could discern saving faith even in seemingly superstitious actions, such as the woman who sought healing by touching his garment. Most of the important things Jesus said or did seemed to happen casually, "as he passed by," dispensing health and happiness naturally as he journeyed through life.

The group did not depart from Jericho until nearly noon on Friday, as they had stayed up late the previous night while Jesus taught Zaccheus and his family about the gospel of the kingdom. Halfway up the ascending road to Bethany, they paused for lunch while the multitude continued on to Jerusalem, unaware that Jesus and the apostles planned to stay on the Mount of Olives that night. At this point, Jesus shared the parable of the pounds, which was based on the historical experience of Archelaus, who had journeyed to Rome seeking kingship but was rejected by his subjects.

In this parable, Jesus compared himself to a nobleman who went to a far country to receive a kingdom, leaving his servants with resources to manage in his absence. Upon returning, he rewarded those who had used their pounds productively and punished the servant who had hidden his pound out of fear. Jesus used this illustration to explain that although he was being rejected in his spiritual rule now, he would return in another age to receive the kingdom that was currently being denied. After hearing the parable, the apostles sought to understand the difference between this teaching and the earlier parable of the talents. Nathaniel later taught that these parables conveyed important lessons: ability is the measure of life's opportunities, faithfulness determines trustworthiness, and rewards are given based on faithfulness regardless of the size of the opportunity. As they resumed their journey, Jesus pointed westward and said, "Come, my brethren, let us go on into Jerusalem, there to receive that which awaits us; thus shall we fulfill the will of the heavenly Father in all things."