Remark made by preacher causes uproar in capital

Jerusalem AD 32

The preacher Jesus, whose campaign is attracting increasing attention in the capital, has been quoted as saying there were some people he would like to see thrown over a cliff. The comment has caused uproar among the religious authorities once again, some of whom see it as incitement to murder.

A spokesman for the High Priest, Dr Caiaphas, said it was "just the latest example of this fellow getting away with next to murder. Surely is about time the Governor intervened before someone is killed because of something this Jesus character says. For example the way he talks about the Pharisees alone must provide sufficient grounds for his arrest and long-term detention. It simply cannot go on like this. Someone will die . . ."

At Governor Pilate's palace the response was the now familiar ". . . it is not Governor Pilate's practice to interfere in the internal affairs of this country unless that is absolutely necessary".

A spokesman for King Herod said it was unclear whether Jesus made the remark in his kingdom. Sources close to the king said he was anxious to detain Jesus who, since the "unfortunate" death of the preacher John, is regarded as troublemaker number one by the administration.

In fact, Jesus made the controversial remark in Capernaum. His friends had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. Not an unusual conversation, between Peter and John particularly. Jesus asked what they were arguing about, but they were too embarrassed to tell him. He knew anyhow.

He sat them down and said: "Whoever among you wants to be first must be the last and at the service of all." He called over a child and, taking the boy in his arms, said to the group "you see this child. Unless you become like him you'll never see heaven. Whoever becomes as innocent as this child will be the greatest in heaven, and whoever welcomes a little child like this welcomes me."

Then he became very angry and continued: "But, I tell you, anyone who causes one of these little ones who believe in me to do wrong . . . well . . . it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and be thrown off a cliff into the depths of the sea."

Jesus's friends were surprised at the vehemence with which he spoke. But, though the preacher rarely became angry, they knew he had a temper. Some of them still spoke of his rage when he cleared the temple in Jerusalem.

Jesus, as enraged as then again, said: "There will be no pity for the one who causes people to do evil". And, in a comment that most of his friends thought over-the-top, he said: "If your hand or your foot causes you to do wrong, cut it off, throw it away. It is better for you to be maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and end up in hell. If your eye makes you do wrong, gouge it out . . . throw it away. It is better to have just one eye than have two and end up in hell."

Stroking the child's head he said: "Never look down on one of these little ones . . . they are very precious to my father."

The preacher's own fondness for children was frequently commented on. It was not as well known, however, that Joseph, his father, also felt such affection.

Indeed, when it came to curing people with ailments Jesus never hesitated when a child was involved. He even, as some believe, raised the 12-year-old daughter of the rabbi Jairus from the dead.

People often brought their children with them when he spoke, whether in a synagogue or in the open air. It often meant that with crying or playing children, people could not hear what he said. This led his friends to plead with people not to bring their children to these meetings.

Jesus heard about this. At the very next meeting people were bringing their children for him to touch as usual, when his friends rebuked them. Jesus became angry and said to them "let the children come to me and don't try to stop them again. Heaven belongs to such as these . . . anyone who doesn't accept God and heaven with the innocence of a child will never see eternal life."

He took the children in his arms and embraced them. And his friends were suitably chastened.