Many brought little children to Jesus, that He should touch them. The disciples rebuked those that brought the children. But Jesus said: Suffer little children to come unto me; and forbid them not, for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Unless ye repent and become as little children, ye can not enter therein. And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them. (Mark 10:13-16.)
[86. Jesus the Guest of Zaccheus]
On His last journey to Jerusalem Jesus came through Jericho. Here resided a man by the name of Zaccheus; he was the chief publican in Jericho and was very rich. He was anxious to see Jesus, but could not for the people, as he was small of stature. He therefore ran on before, and climbed up in a tree. When Jesus came to the place and saw him He said: Zaccheus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house. And Zaccheus made haste and received Him with joy. But those who saw it murmured, saying: He is gone in to lodge with a sinful man! Zaccheus said to the Lord: Behold, half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold. And Jesus answered him: The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19: 1-10.)
[87. The Enemies of Jesus]
The Pharisees were outwardly blameless, and for a show made long prayers; but in secret they robbed widows of their property. They were like graves, outwardly whitened, but inwardly full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Jesus told them these things openly, and they therefore became His enemies; for man does not wish that his evil works shall come to the light.—They believed that they for the sake of their righteousness should inherit the kingdom of God; but Jesus preached conversion and faith, and said that publicans and sinners would go into the Kingdom of Heaven before them. The Pharisees wished to be greeted in the market-places and be called Rabbi, and they were envious, for the multitude clung to Jesus because of His blessed words and His miracles. They would not understand Moses and the prophets, and expected that the Messiah should establish the kingdom of David again, and bring the Romans and other nations under the Jews. Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world, and that He should be persecuted and crucified, and on the third day arise again from the dead. For all these things the Pharisees and priests hated Jesus, and took counsel how they could kill Him. Man always finds an excuse. The high priest Caiaphas said: It is better that one man die for the people, than that the whole nation should be destroyed.
The Sadducees taught that there is no resurrection from the dead, and they therefore held the doctrine of Jesus concerning resurrection and final judgment in derision and gave not the Word room in their hearts.
[The Last Days of Jesus]
[88. The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Into Jerusalem]
On Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday before Easter, Jesus rode from Bethany on the other side of the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem on a young ass. This came to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Zechariah: Tell ye the daughter of Zion: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and riding upon the foal of an ass. Many of the people cut branches from the palm trees and spread them in the way, and the most part spread their garments in the way and cried, saying: Hosanna[[7]] to the Son of David; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
And when He drew nigh and saw the city, He wept over it, saying: If thou hadst known, even in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. Therefore the days shall come when thine enemies shall compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall dash thee to the ground, and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another, because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation. And He entered into the city and went to the court of the temple, and healed the blind and the lame that came to Him.