n."

Jesus suddenly became grim. "The whole religion of the Pharisees sets
them against the Kingdom of Heaven!"

The men looked at him in surprise. "But Master," urged James, "we need
them to help us set up the new Kingdom! They are more loyal to God than
anyone else. Besides, we can do nothing without their friendship."

"I know them, James," answered Jesus. "Men who are sure of themselves
will never welcome what we have to tell them!"

John shook his head but said no more. This was not his idea of the way
the Kingdom would come. The disciples felt sure Jesus could not mean all
he said. But two days later they realized they were wrong. Jesus had
meant every word.

After a short trip through lower Galilee, the men arrived in Nazareth
where Jesus had lived until a few months before. His mother and brothers
were still there, but Jesus stayed outside the town until Sabbath
morning and then went with them to the synagogue.

The rumors of Jesus' miracles had spread through all Galilee, and when
Jesus entered the synagogue many people looked at him curiously. He saw
many people he knew. There was the woman who had lived next to them for
twenty years and who was a special friend of his mother's; there were
several young men whom he knew well. He smiled across the congregation
at one young man who had helped him in the carpenter shop after his
father Joseph had died, when Jesus was forced to support the family.

The minister of the synagogue, an old friend of Jesus', invited him to
lead the service. After the prayers, he sat down at the desk in the
center of the synagogue and opened the scroll to the Prophet Isaiah.

Looking into the faces of many people who had known him from boyhood,
Jesus knew it would not be easy to tell them about the Kingdom. He read
the same passage he had read in Capernaum: "The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, for he has consecrated me to preach the gospel to the poor. He
has sent me to proclaim release for captives and recovery of sight for
the blind. He has sent me to set free the oppressed and to proclaim the
year of the Lord's blessing."

Jesus rolled up the scroll. Everyone waited for him to speak. "Today,"
he declared, "these words of the Prophet Isaiah have come true right
here. God has sent his Holy Spirit upon me to tell you that he is now
among you. If you truly know that you need God, your ears will be open
to hear this word from him; but if you are proud, you will be deaf. Put
your