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sought out His enemies； for they were in harmony with their spirit and work。 They misinterpreted His words； falsified His statements； and impugned His motives。 They sustained their course by gathering up every item that could be
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turned against Him； and such indignation was stirred up by these false reports that His life was in danger。
The news spread swiftly that by His own confession Jesus of Nazareth was not the Messiah。 And thus in Galilee the current of popular feeling was turned against Him； as； the year before； it had been in Judea。 Alas for Israel！ They rejected their Saviour； because they longed for a conqueror who would give them temporal power。 They wanted the meat which perishes； and not that which endures unto everlasting life。
With a yearning heart； Jesus saw those who had been His disciples departing from Him； the Life and the Light of men。 The consciousness that His compassion was unappreciated； His love unrequited； His mercy slighted； His salvation rejected； filled Him with sorrow that was inexpressible。 It was such developments as these that made Him a man of sorrows； and acquainted with grief。
Without attempting to hinder those who were leaving Him； Jesus turned to the twelve and said； 〃Will ye also go away？〃
Peter replied by asking； 〃Lord； to whom shall we go？〃 〃Thou hast the words of eternal life；〃 he added。 〃And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ； the Son of the living God。〃
〃To whom shall we go？〃 The teachers of Israel were slaves to formalism。 The Pharisees and Sadducees were in constant contention。 To leave Jesus was to fall among sticklers for rites and ceremonies； and ambitious men who sought their own glory。 The disciples had found more peace and joy since they had accepted Christ than in all their previous lives。 How could they go back to those who had scorned and persecuted the Friend of sinners？ They had long been looking for the Messiah； now He had come； and they could not turn from His presence to those who were hunting His life； and had persecuted them for becoming His followers。
〃To whom shall we go？〃 Not from the teaching of Christ； His lessons of love and mercy； to the darkness of unbelief； the wickedness of the world。 While the Saviour was forsaken by many who had witnessed His wonderful works； Peter expressed the faith of the disciples；〃Thou art that Christ。〃 The very thought of losing this anchor of their souls filled them with fear and pain。 To be destitute of a Saviour was to be adrift on a dark and stormy sea。
Many of the words and acts of Jesus appear mysterious to finite minds； but every word and act had its definite purpose in the work for our redemption； each was calculated to produce its own result。 If we
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were capable of understanding His purposes； all would appear important； complete； and in harmony with His mission。
While we cannot now comprehend the works and ways of God； we can discern His great love； which underlies all His dealings with men。 He who lives near to Jesus will understand much of the mystery of godliness。 He will recognize the mercy that administers reproof； that tests the character； and brings to light the purpose of the heart。
When Jesus presented the testing truth that caused so many of His disciples to turn back； He knew what would be the result of His words； but He had a purpose of mercy to fulfill。 He foresaw that in the hour of temptation every one of His beloved disciples would be severely tested。 His agony in Gethsemane； His betrayal and crucifixion； would be to them a most trying ordeal。 Had no previous test been given； many who were actuated by merely selfish motives would have been connected with them。 When their Lord was condemned in the judgment hall； when the multitude who had hailed Him as their king hissed at Him and reviled Him； when the jeering crowd cried； 〃Crucify Him！〃when their worldly ambitions were disappointed； these self…seeking ones would； by renouncing their allegiance to Jesus； have brought upon the disciples a bitter； heart…burdening sorrow； in addition to their grief and disappointment in the ruin of their fondest hopes。 In that hour of darkness； the example of those who turned from Him might have carried others with them。 But Jesus brought about this crisis while by His personal presence He could still strengthen the faith of His true followers。
Compassionate Redeemer； who in the full knowledge of the doom that awaited Him； tenderly smoothed the way for the disciples； prepared them for their crowning trial； and strengthened them for the final test！
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Chapter 42
Tradition
The scribes and Pharisees； expecting to see Jesus at the Passover； had laid a trap for Him。 But Jesus； knowing their purpose； had absented Himself from this gathering。 〃Then came together unto Him the Pharisees； and certain of the scribes。〃 As He did not go to them； they came to Him。 For a time it had seemed that the people of Galilee would receive Jesus as the Messiah； and that the power of the hierarchy in that region would be broken。 The mission of the twelve； indicating the extension of Christ's work； and bringing the disciples more directly into conflict with the rabbis； had excited anew the jealousy of the leaders at Jerusalem。 The spies they sent to Capernaum in the early part of His ministry； who had tried to fix on Him the charge of Sabbathbreaking； had been put to confusion； but the rabbis were bent on carrying out their purpose。 Now another deputation was sent to watch His movements； and find some accusation against Him。
As before； the ground of complaint was His disregard of the traditional precepts that encumbered the law of God。 These were professedly designed to guard the observance of the law； but they were regarded as more sacred than the law itself。 When they came in collision with the commandments given from Sinai； preference was given to the rabbinical precepts。
Among the observances most strenuously enforced was that of ceremonial purification。 A neglect of the forms to be observed before eating
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was accounted a heinous sin； to be punished both in this world and in the next； and it was regarded as a virtue to destroy the transgressor。
The rules in regard to purification were numberless。 The period of a lifetime was scarcely sufficient for one to learn them all。 The life of those who tried to observe the rabbinical requirements was one long struggle against ceremonial defilement； an endless round of washings and purifications。 While the people were occupied with trifling distinctions； and observances which God had not required； their attention was turned away from the great principles of His law。
Christ and His disciples did not observe these ceremonial washings； and the spies made this neglect the ground of their accusation。 They did not； however； make a direct attack on Christ； but came to Him with criticism of His disciples。 In the presence of the multitude they said； 〃Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders？ for they wash not their hands when they eat bread。〃
Whenever the message of truth comes home to souls with special power； Satan stirs up his agents to start a dispute over some minor question。 Thus he seeks to attract attention from the real issue。 Whenever a good work is begun； there are cavilers ready to enter into dispute over forms or technicalities； to draw minds away from the living realities。 When it appears that God is about to work in a special manner for His people； let them not be enticed into a controversy that will work only ruin of souls。 The questions that most concern us are； Do I believe with saving faith on the Son of God？ Is my life in harmony with the divine law？ 〃He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life： and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life。〃 〃And hereby we do know that we know Him； if we keep His commandments。〃 John 3：36； 1 John 2：3。
Jesus made no attempt to defend Himself or His disciples。 He made no reference to the charges against Him； but proceeded to show the spirit that actuated these sticklers for human rites。 He gave them an example of what they were repeatedly doing； and had done just before coming in search of Him。 〃Full well ye reject the commandment of God；〃 He said； 〃that ye may keep your own tradition。 For Moses said； Honor thy father and thy mother； and； Whoso curseth father or mother； let him die the death： but ye say； If a man shall say to his father or mother； It is Corban； that is to say； a gift； by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me； he shall be free。 And ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother。〃 They set aside the fifth commandment as of
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no consequence； but were very exact in carrying out the traditions of the elders。 They taught the people that the devotion of their property to the temple was a duty more sacred than even the support of their parents； and that； however great the necessity； it was sacrilege to impart to father or mother any p