(Matthew 9:1.) But we now traveled straight in the direction of Nazareth; for I have resolved to visit Nazareth once again, to rest a little at home and on this occasion also to kindle the light of genuine truth for the very inconstant Nazarenes.
But the return crossing lasted somewhat longer than the outward one, and many grew hungry. Yet I strengthened them, and they felt a wonderful satiation within them, and some said, ‘Truly, one breath gives bread, and a second tastes like wine!’ And so we reached the shore early the next morning. From the shore of the lake all the way to Nazareth there were still twenty field paths (a field path, according to the present measure, was a distance of fifty to seventy fathoms). We therefore continued our journey unhindered and reached the town of Nazareth in a short time; meanwhile Peter’s servants quite naturally took care of the boat and went home.
But there, where we have landed, was a public landing place, and many people were gathered at it: some who had to travel across the sea in all directions for their business, and many who came from every region, even down from Jerusalem, to the market at Nazareth; for at this time there was a large market in this town.
But when word went around at the landing place that I had arrived in Peter’s boat, even those who wished to make their journey across the sea for their business stayed behind, and thus a great crowd went with Me to Nazareth.
But I and My disciples went to My house—that is, now mother Mary’s house. She was at home with the three eldest sons and four maidservants, who had been taken into the house as daughters and brought up there earlier, in Joseph’s time, when I was still a child.
Mary and the whole household now set to work and prepared us an abundant morning meal, which we already sorely needed, especially the disciples, who had eaten almost nothing for a whole day and a whole night. The meal was soon ready, and we sat down and afterwards went into the town to watch the people’s doings and activity a little. But we could scarcely get out of the house because of the great crowd that had gathered around it, chiefly out of curiosity, partly for disgraceful spying, and only to a very small extent out of distress and need.
When we therefore stepped out in front of the house, some Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem who were present asked whether I would perform no miracles and signs here. But I told them quite earnestly and decisively, ‘No! Because of your unbelief—none!’ At this decisive no they began to disperse, and some muttered and whispered in one another’s ears, ‘He is afraid of the gentlemen from Jerusalem and does not dare!’ Others said, ‘He probably does not have his magical means with him!?’ Still others said, ‘He does nothing here on account of his countrymen, for he will surely know that he has no particular reputation among them!?’ With these and similar remarks they dispersed, and in a few moments there was no one left by the house of Mary, who bore My body, and we at once had room enough to set off on our way into the town.
There we visited a synagogue in which every Jew who knew anything could speak before three scribes who sat at the head, and could also bring forward one complaint or another which he, or a whole community together with him, knew to be well founded against the priests and scribes appointed from Jerusalem in any place.
When we came into the synagogue, Simon of Cana said to Me secretly, ‘Lord, could we not also bring something forward here? We would have no lack of all manner of complaints.’
I say, ‘My friend! To speak according to truth at the right time is right and good; but to be silent at the right time is even better! You can do whatever you wish, but you will still never make gold out of iron or silver out of clay. This kind, which sits here to deliberate and hear, is far different inwardly from how it appears outwardly: outwardly it is a lamb, and inwardly a ravening wolf.
‘Do you think these people sit here to hear in order to obtain for the people the relief they ask for after hearing their complaints!? O, there you would be greatly mistaken!
‘This kind sits listening to the people with friendly faces only to sound out their disposition towards the priesthood. Believe Me! Today you will be heard most kindly, and tomorrow they will put you into a penal prison and chastise you with snakes for a full year. For these priests are all like ravens and crows: one never pecks out another’s eyes with the sharp point of its beak.
‘Therefore we shall merely listen here and pay attention to whether, to what extent and in what manner we are mentioned. They do not notice us, and even if they did notice us, they would still not recognize us so quickly. Thus we can listen well here and act according to what we hear.’ Simon of Cana was entirely content with this answer, and we took our places in a somewhat dark corner of the synagogue and listened to all that was brought forward.
Individual people on their own, as well as delegates from entire communities, brought a multitude of clamorous complaints against the priests and were heard most kindly.
But when the people had finished with their complaints, and the three scribes and Pharisees who have come down from Jerusalem had given them a faithful assurance that they would do everything possible about them, subject the accused priests to a strict investigation and know how to chastise them according to a just finding, a scribe asks the people with the friendliest expression whether, and what, they might know of Me—that is, of the notorious agitator of the people, Jesus. For they had heard up in Jerusalem that he was carrying on his activities around Galilee and performing great signs such as no one before him had ever carried on or performed. Whether this was still true, and what they and the other people thought of it.