e even have power over demons!"

Jesus answered quickly. "You should rejoice because you know what it is
to be a part of God's Kingdom--not because you can do miracles!" He
raised his arms to pray. Like the silent shadow that had stolen over
them as the sun sank from sight, a reverent hush settled over the crowd.

"Father in heaven, I thank thee that thou hast concealed thyself from
men who think they are wise. I praise thee that thou hast revealed all
these things to the humble and the simple. I praise thee that it is thy
purpose to rule over all who are willing to give their hearts to thee."

While the group were returning to their lodging in Tiberias, James and
John made a discovery that shocked and angered them. One of the Seventy
had been turned roughly away from a town on the border of Samaria.
Indignantly the two fishermen came with the man to Jesus.

"This man was driven out of a village in Samaria," they said angrily.
"Let us call down fire from the sky and burn up these people!"

"No!" commanded Jesus. "We have not come to destroy men's lives but to
save them."

"Why should these worthless Samaritans be allowed to stand in the way of
the Kingdom of God?" demanded James hotly. "We should destroy them. They
are enemies of God!"

"Our own towns in Galilee have rejected us as harshly as any town in
Samaria," answered Jesus. He pointed northward toward the villages on
the Lake of Galilee. His voice sent a chill through the fishermen: "O
Bethsaida, you are doomed--you are doomed! If my miracles had been done
in Tyre or Sidon, they would have repented long ago. But you have turned
your back on me! And you, Capernaum! Will you become great? No! You
shall be utterly destroyed for your sin!"

These towns--the ones James and John knew and loved the best--Jesus
condemned because they had not accepted his gospel! Did he believe
Galilee had rejected him? Of what mighty destruction was he speaking?

By morning the fishermen had forgotten Jesus' somber warning. The little
waves on the lake sparkled in the brightness of the sun. As Jesus'
followers walked briskly with him along the road toward Jerusalem, they
could talk of nothing but their arrival in the holy city.

"We shall be welcomed in Jerusalem," said Peter. "See how well liked the
Master is by all the pilgrims!"

"That is true," agreed a man from Capernaum. "But just the same, Pilate
is a dangerous man. Did you hear what he did at the last festival?"

"No,