was already here, where was the great forerunner? Jesus' answer was ready and explicit. "Elijah" he said, "indeed cometh first and restoreth all things and of the Son of Man it is written that he should suffer many things and be set at naught. But Elijah is already come and to him also they have done whatsoever they would.'

The disciples now realized that he was speaking of John, and this momentary doubt too was laid at rest. John's impression had been great enough to justify such an idea of him, it completely fulfilled the conditions of the problem; and Jesus' answer satisfied them entirely. From this time on they were certain that the Messiah was actually here and that the change in the age and the actual Kingdom of God could be expected at any moment. Awe-inspiring, arousing the most vivid hopes and fears, such a conviction must have been overwhelming to them.*

It now became clear to Jesus that at any danger and at any cost he must go up to Jerusalem to com

"The healing of the epileptic child reported as immediately following in Mark 9:14-29, Matthew 17:14-20, Luke 9:37-43, is similar to the numerous other cases of "casting out devils" described in the gospels. But the careful reader will recognize the completely developed attack and perfectly normal recovery of consciousness after the attack had run its course. There is no necessary evidence of any actual curative or even alleviative effect from the command of Jesus. Everything that is reported could have taken place just as well without the intervention of any external factor whatever. An interesting side light is the impatience manifested by Jesus at the demand made upon him (Mark 9:19, Matthew 17:17, Luke 9:41). To one who was now steeling his soul for the supreme sacrifice in order to bring in the Kingdom, the continuous demands for benefits pertaining solely to this age were becoming irksome.

plete the prophecies concerning the Messiah. The Messianic prophecies largely revolved about Jerusalem. Many of them could be fulfilled in no other place. Since he believed that he must fulfill these prophecies before the Kingdom could come, the conclusion that he must go to Jerusalem was inevitable. Judging from the way he carried out this purpose, he must also have kept in mind the possibility that after all he might be able to fulfill the prophecies and bring the Kingdom to pass without the intervention of his death. Perhaps when he appeared in Jerusalem, among the chosen people of his Father, they, as had the people of Galilee, might recognize him, flock to him, fulfill the law and the prophets, and bring to pass the Kingdom that was to be.

He did not desire to go to Jerusalem alone. To deal single-handed with the opposition and resistance of the Pharisees and the aristocrats, whom he now knew to be deeply hostile to him, would be impossible. Besides, in the great event which he expected to take place there he desired as many as possible to participate. So calling together the Twelve, together with the crowds who, here as elsewhere, followed him eagerly, numbers of them fully convinced of the truth of his message, he earnestly invited them to accompany him. He did not conceal from them the hardships and dangers into which he was about to lead them, but showed them the uselessness of avoiding peril at such a time. For, as he again assured them most explicitly, the Kingdom

of God was about to come with power and those who were not willing to acknowledge him now, in that great day he would not acknowledge before the heavenly Father:'

"And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? For what shall a man give in exchange for his life? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also shall be ashamed of him when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, there are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Such an appeal to such an audience could not fail to be deeply effective. From that time he had a nucleus about him, gradually increasing with the passage of the days, of men and women who were prepared in all respects to follow him into whatsoever circumstances he should lead them.

'Mark 8:34-9-1. The reference to the cross is an unconscious reflex into the story of a factor which had no place and no meaning until after the via dolorosa and Calvary.

CHAPTER XI

THE MARCH TO JERUSALEM

Filled with this renewed determination, Jesus now cast aside his apprehension of Herod and returned to Galilee, there among the crowds which a short time before had followed him to find other followers on his trip to Jerusalem.' This was to be a supreme attempt. Through his appearance in the central city of the Jewish people and the announcement of his message, supported by the wonders that he would do in their presence, surrounded by the multitudes who were to share with him the coming Kingdom, he would secure recognition for himself, change of attitude upon the part of the Jewish populace and a surrender of the nation to the will of God. This would usher in the Kingdom at once. Or if he should fail in that, by his death, which he knew would be sure to follow such a failure, he would fulfill the prophecies of the suffering of the Messiah and by his resurrection and return upon the clouds of Heaven, would nevertheless bring to men the Messianic kingdom. Never did other human being entertain so high a purpose; and the firmness, the unselfishness, the nobility, the utterly heroic attitude with which he carried it out have bound the hearts of humanity to him with unbreakable bonds of admiration and affection.

'Mark 9:30-32.

First he busied himself in Capernaum,' making preparations and secretly gathering together those Galileans who would accompany him to Jerusalem. He had been away from Galilee long enough to be temporarily forgotten by the authorities and for the immediate energy of their attempt to seize him to have ceased, but good sense required that no opportunity be given for the officers of Herod to lay hands upon him before he had his plans completed and his followers about him.

His immediate followers had not yet become in even a slight degree adjusted to Jesus' change of attitude. They were ready to go with him to Jerusalem, but they expected that at Jerusalem the Kingdom of God would be revealed, and Jesus would come into his authority. Since the recognition of his Messiahship near Caesarea Philippi their whole attitude toward him had changed. From that time on we find an element of fear mingled with awe in the reverence which up until that time had been their prevailing sentiment in their re

"Mark 9:33; Matthew 17:22. The Greek verb used in the participial phrase translated in Matthew 17:22 "And while they abode in Galilee" is correctly rendered by the marginal translation of the Revised Version "while they were gathering themselves together in Galilee." This verb occurs in one other place in the New Testament, Acts 28:3, and is there translated "had gathered." In classic Greek it always has the same or a similar meaning, never the meaning "abide." Such an interpretation would never have been placed upon it here had the translators kept in mind the meaning of this new purpose of Jesus and the character of the expedition he was organizing. The secrecy with which he was operating is shown in Mark 9:30. This is the first time he had visited Capernaum since he left it just prior to his visit to Nazareth.