Synagogues of Palestine are Closed to Jesus 

On Sunday, May 8, 29 CE, the Jerusalem Sanhedrin passed a decree closing all the synagogues of Palestine to Jesus and his followers. Five members of the Sanhedrin resigned in protest. This was an abuse of authority, infringing on the rights of each independent self-governing place of worship. Only the synagogues of Jerusalem were subject to the mandates of the Sanhedrin, and all others were governed independently with their own congregation of worshipers and their own board of governors. The Sanhedrin sent one hundred messengers to convey and enforce their edict. Within two weeks, every synagogue in Palestine bowed to this manifesto except for one: the Hebron synagogue demanded their congregation remain autonomous and was shortly after destroyed by fire.

Jesus, upon hearing of this attempt to suppress his message, simply declared a week’s holiday, urging all of his disciples to return to their homes or friends to rest their troubled souls and speak words of encouragement to their loved ones. He said: “Go to your several places to play or fish while you pray for the extension of the kingdom.”

On the same day that the Sanhedrin passed their decree, Jesus announced a week-long holiday for his disciples, advising them to visit their homes or friends to rejuvenate and encourage their loved ones while contemplating the expansion of the kingdom. Throughout this break, Jesus visited numerous families and groups by the seaside, even fishing with David Zebedee, though he often wandered alone, subtly guarded by David’s messengers.

During this period, apostles Nathaniel and James Zebedee suffered from a painful digestive disturbance, which Jesus attended to without using supernatural means, adhering to his principle of not employing divine powers for personal ends. This approach highlights the philosophy that overcoming difficulties and facing challenges is essential for the spiritual and personal growth of mortal beings, aiming to foster resilience and spiritual evolution.

On May 16, 29 CE, the authorities at Jerusalem and Herod Antipas met at Tiberias, where the Jewish leaders proudly announced that they had shut the doors on Jesus to practically all synagogues in both Galilee and Judea. In addition, they tried to secure his arrest, but Herod refused. On May 18, after they applied more pressure, Herod agreed to permit the Sanhedrin authorities to seize Jesus and take him to be tried on religious charges if they secured permission from the Roman ruler of Judea. His brother, the former ruler Archelaus, had been deposed when Jesus was twelve. Meanwhile, Jesus’ enemies spread propaganda that Herod had turned hostile to Jesus and intended to censor his teachings and exterminate those who supported him.

On Saturday night, May 21, 29 CE, the civil authorities agreed to have Jesus seized and carried to Jerusalem and put on trial on charges of flouting the sacred laws. Before midnight, Herod signed the decree authorizing officers of the Sanhedrin to seize Jesus within his domains and to forcibly make him stand trial. Herod faced strong pressure from many sides and knew this was politically a smart move. He also understood it was unjust, and Jesus could not expect a fair trial before his bitter enemies at Jerusalem.

The next and last time Jesus spoke in the synagogue at Jerusalem was Tuesday, April 4, 30 CE, during the last week of his life. The rulers of the Jews were afraid of Jesus and wanted him killed. This discourse was Jesus’ last attempt to show the people mercy and denounce the evil ways of their rulers.