Course 2, Chapter 10: Public Life of our Lord — Third year

1. Was the determination of the chief men of Jerusalem to put the Saviour to death, a sufficient reason to prevent the people from recognizing him as the Son of God?

This determination was not a sufficient reason why the people should not recognize him as the Son of God. The miracles of Jesus spoke louder than the hatred of the synagogue.

2. Had the Saviour omitted anything requisite to show that he was truly the Messiah?

No; he had come into the world at the precise time at which the Messiah was expected. He was born at Bethlehem, and of the race of David; he had been adored by kings, as foretold by the prophets. For more than thirty-two years he employed himself in showing that he was the true Messiah, by his doctrine, his sanctity, his miracles, and by the literal accomplish ment of the prophecies which referred to him.

3. What yet remained for him to do?

It remained for him to complete the proof of his divine mission.

4. How?

By dying; for the finishing trait of the Messiah was his death on the cross, ordered by the Jews; caused by the hand of strangers; followed after three d:iys by his glorious resurrection, and crowned by his ascension into heaven.

5. Was the Saviour dismayed at the schemes of *lie synagogue?

Our Saviour was not dismayed at the soltemea

of the synagogue; he was pleased even to show that if he one day would deliver himself into their hands, it would be a free act on his part.

6. How did he do this?

He went up to Jerusalem publicly, seated on the colt of an ass, followed by its mother; for the prophel Zachary had foretold that the Messiah should entei Jerusalem in this manner. All the people came out to meet him, carrying olive branches in their hands and crying: Hoxanna to the Son of David, blessed is hi that cometh in the name of the Lord.

7. What did the Saviour do in the midst of his triumph?

In the midst of his triumph the Saviour wept over Jerusalem, and predicted the calamities which were soon to befall it. He went to the temple, where a voice was heard saying that God should be glorified by Jesus.

8. What happened whilst he was in the temple?

Whilst he was in the temple a poor widow put a farthing into the treasury, and the Saviour said of her, that she had put in more than the rich, in order to show us the merit of purity of intention.

9. Whither did the Saviour go on leaving the temple?

On leaving the temple he retired to Mount Olivet, where he announced to his apostles the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, also the end of the world and the circumstances attendant on the last judgment.

10. What did he do after?

He returned to Bethania, and staid with Simon the leper, where a woman poured precious ointment on his head. This act so irritated the avaricious Judas that lie formed the design of selling his master. He went out to find the chief priests and said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you' They promised him thirty pieces of silver — this was

156 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

the price of a slave. Judas returned to the company of the Saviour to seek an opportunity of delivering him up.