________________
516
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE. due to his super-human power of curing disease and working miracles. Even his disciples, as has been seen before, developed very little capacity for faith, at least during the time that he was with them, and displayed a marked tendency to remain content with the miraculous in him. It thus became necessary to give a public demonstration of his doctrine of immortality, under circumstances which would leave no doubt as to its truth. It was to serve a twofold purpose for him. Firstly, it would be proof positive of his teaching, and, secondly, it would remove whatever imperfections were still left in him. That he regarded himself as imperfect before his crucifixion follows from his own words :
“And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox (Herod), Behold I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."--(Luke, XIII. 32.)
Thus, his plan was intended to serve the twofold purpose, that is, the practical demonstration of the truth of the doctrine to the public, and the attainment of perfection for himself. But it was essential for its success that he took no one into his counsel.
It was a matter of life and death, and with such men as Judas Iscariot among his disciples, the safest course was to impart the secret to no one. Yet a reference to the matter was necessary, so that when the experiment passed off successfully, it could be pointed out as constituting the strongest item of proof in support of the doctrine.
It would be the height of folly to reject Jesus as an artful designer, because we should then have to reject every one in whose conduct we might see traces of design.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org