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SearchFear Too High to Hear the Truth
Philip and Andrew returned with the Greeks to the home of Joseph, where Jesus received them;
and they sat near while he spoke to his apostles and a number of leading disciples assembled at
this luncheon. Said Jesus:
"My Father sent me to this world to reveal his loving-kindness to the children of men, but those
to whom I first came have refused to receive me. True, indeed, many of you have believed my
gospel for yourselves, but the children of Abraham and their leaders are about to reject me, and
in so doing they will reject Him who sent me. I have freely proclaimed the gospel of salvation to
this people; I have told them of sonship with joy, liberty, and life more abundant in the spirit. My
Father has done many wonderful works among these fear-ridden sons of men. But truly did the
Prophet Isaiah refer to this people when he wrote: `Lord, who has believed our teachings? And to
whom has the Lord been revealed?' Truly have the leaders of my people deliberately blinded
their eyes that they see not, and hardened their hearts lest they believe and be saved. All these
years have I sought to heal them of their unbelief that they might be recipients of the Father's
eternal salvation. I know that not all have failed me; some of you have indeed believed my
message. In this room now are a full score of men who were once members of the Sanhedrin, or
who were high in the councils of the nation, albeit even some of you still shrink from open
confession of the truth lest they cast you out of the synagogue. Some of you are tempted to love
the glory of men more than the glory of God. But I am constrained to show forbearance since I
fear for the safety and loyalty of even some of those who have been so long near me, and who
have lived so close by my side.
"In this banquet chamber I perceive there are assembled Jews and gentiles in about equal
numbers, and I would address you as the first and last of such a group that I may instruct in the
affairs of the kingdom before I go to my Father."
These Greeks had been in faithful attendance upon Jesus' teaching in the temple. On Monday
evening they had held a conference at the home of Nicodemus, which lasted until the dawn of
day, and thirty of them had elected to enter the kingdom.