friends. And many of these guests also became believers in the message of the coming kingdom.
One of the great sermons which Jesus preached in the temple this Passover week was in answer to a question asked by one of his hearers, a man from Damascus. This man asked Jesus: "But, Rabbi, how shall we know of a certainty that you are sent by God, and that we may truly enter into this kingdom which you and your disciples declare is near at hand?" And Jesus answered:
"As to my message and the teaching of my disciples, you should judge them
by their fruits. If we proclaim to you the truths of the spirit, the spirit will
witness in your hearts that our message is genuine. Concerning the kingdom
and your assurance of acceptance by the heavenly Father, let me ask what father
among you who is a worthy and kindhearted father would keep his son in anxiety
or suspense regarding his status in the family or his place of security in the
affections of his father's heart? Do you earth fathers take pleasure in torturing
your children with uncertainty about their place of abiding love in your human
hearts? Neither does your Father in heaven leave his faith children of the spirit
in doubtful uncertainty as to their position in the kingdom. If you receive God
as your Father, then indeed and in truth are you the sons of God. And if you
are sons, then are you secure in the position and standing of all that concerns
eternal and divine sonship. If you believe my words, you thereby believe in Him
who sent me, and by thus believing in the Father, you have made your status in
heavenly citizenship sure. If you do the will of the Father in heaven, you shall
never fail in the attainment of the eternal life of progress in the divine kingdom.
"The Supreme Spirit shall bear witness with your spirits that you are truly the children of God. And if you are the sons of God, then have you been born of the spirit of God; and whosoever has been born of the spirit has in himself the power to overcome all doubt, and this is the victory that overcomes all uncertainty, even your faith.
"Said the Prophet Isaiah, speaking of these times: 'When the spirit is poured upon us from on high, then shall the work of righteousness become peace, quietness, and assurance forever.' And for all who truly believe this gospel, I will become surety for their reception into the eternal mercies and the everlasting life of my Father's kingdom. You, then, who hear this message and believe this gospel of the kingdom are the sons of God, and you have life everlasting; and the evidence to all the world that you have been born of the spirit is that you sincerely love one another."
The throng of listeners remained many hours with Jesus, asking him questions and listening attentively to his comforting answers. Even the apostles were
emboldened by Jesus' teaching to preach the gospel of the kingdom with more
power and assurance. This experience at Jerusalem was a great inspiration to the
twelve. It was their first contact with such enormous crowds, and they learned
many valuable lessons which proved of great assistance in their later work.
One evening at the home of Flavius there came to see Jesus one Nicodemus, a wealthy and elderly member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. He had heard much
