Be Like Jesus - 5

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Jerusalem. He spoke out against the harmful practices in the temple and

preached the omnipresence of God in all living beings. He exhorted the people

not to cause harm to anyone. At that time, the priests of the holy temples of

Jerusalem had become corrupt and money-oriented, and had deteriorated into

pround and selfis men. Jesus went round to the holy shrines and discovered

that they had become bazaars where grace was being bargained and

commericialised. In those days, people used to sacrifice doves in the temple

of Jerusalem, thinking that God would be pleased. When Jesus entered the

precints of the temple of Jerusalem, and found people sacrificing doves and

other living beings to God, he sought to put an end to these cruel practices.

He went to the place where doves were sold,

released the birds and condemned the acts of blood. The priests and scholars

resented his act and argued that the God in whom they had faith accepted the

sacrifice and was propitiated thereby. Even though the affected persons turned

against him, Jesus carried on regardless of their hostility. He did not attach

any importance to praise or blame, since they pertained to the body, not the

Self. The priests asked Jesus for evidence of authority to interfere with

the dictates of religion. Christ went on tell them a parable. "Once there was

a farmer who had two sons. He asked his first son to go out to the field so

that he may watch the crops ready for harvest. The son refused to obey him.

Thereupon he asked the second son, and he readily agreed. But, what really

happened was, the second son did not go.

The first son later repented for his refusal to do as bidden and he went and

watched the crop." "Now," Christ asked, "Who among these two pleased the

Father more - the son who declared his assent by word of mouth and disobeyed

in action or he who disobeyed by word of mouth but obeyed in action? You obey

in words, but disobey in action. My action reveals that I do acts which God

has commanded. You are you own witness, whether you follow the dictates of the

Divine father. I have greater authority than you, for your action shows that

you disobey whereas my actions prove that I follow His commands." Jesus also

condemned the priesthood that tolerated and encouraged these corrupt practices.

So he drew upon himself the anger of the heads of temples and monasteries. As

Jesus went on

with his preaching and drew multitudes towards him, some of the priests and

those in authority grew envious of his popularity. THis happens in all

countries; becoming popular in the world automatically begets jealousy and

envy. They started persecuting him and charging him with blasphemy. Jesus,

however, continued up to the end to carry on his mission of love and

righteousness, first, as the messenger of God, and later as the Son of God.

Love will not submit to the forces of envy or hatred however powerful they

may be. Love will prevail over them. --- Sri Sathya Sai Baba. From the book

"Be Like Jesus" The Good News of Jesus in the words of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Compiled by William and Debra Miller.