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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1954 | January 15
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violate the Genesis decree concerning kinds, because two different kinds are not interfertile and no offspring could result. Through selective breeding and cross-breeding and mutations a great variety of plants or animals may be developed, but they are all within the boundary of their kind. Science is without evidence to successfully dispute this.
The Bible speaks of horses and asses and mules, all of which terms are translated from different Hebrew words. The mule is a cross between a jackass and a mare, and it is a hybrid. Only in a few rare instances have mules been reported to have had offspring. The Jews were not allowed to produce their own mules, but they were allowed to use the mule gotten from non-Jews. It was considered an excellent riding mount, even King David having one for his use. (1 Ki. 1:33, 38, 44) A census taken after the Jews’ return from Babylonian captivity showed 245 mules in their possession. So we cannot object to hybrids as unscriptural.
● What did Jesus mean when he said his followers would do greater works than he had done?—V. W., United States.
Jesus said: “Most truly I say to you, He that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do, and he will do works greater than these, because I am going my way to the Father.” (John 14:12, NW) He did not mean that the works his followers would do would be greater in miraculous power and cause more amazing demonstrations of that power. The subsequent facts show they did not do so; for instance, they performed no miracle surpassing Jesus’ raising of the four-days-dead Lazarus. (John 11:38-44) Jesus gave as the reason for saying they would do greater works the fact that he was going to the Father in heaven. That would stop his personal activity as a preacher on earth, end it, draw to a close the wonderful works he had been doing. The followers, on the other hand, would remain on earth for a long time, during which time they could do the works Jesus did and keep at it much longer than he did, accumulating more of them perhaps, and certainly extending the activity over a much greater area. Jesus had confined himself to Palestine, and for the most part had limited his activities to the Jews; but his followers would work in all nations.
Also by his departure Jesus made possible the outpouring of holy spirit on his followers, and for this reason they were able to preach in many tongues and spread the work, and make use of other gifts of the spirit in performing wonderful works. As Jesus told them at the time of his departure, “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NW) So by Jesus’ leaving earth his work on earth as a preacher ended, and by his leaving the holy spirit came upon his followers to empower them to carry on an expanded service, taking in all nations. So they covered a greater area and served a greater length of time than did Jesus, and in this sense they did greater works.
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‘Words Fitly Spoken’The Watchtower—1954 | January 15
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‘Words Fitly Spoken’
● In the coal-mining region of northeastern France are to be found, in the main, three classes of people: staunch Catholics, Communists and those who are indifferent. There, often a Catholic will tell one of Jehovah’s witnesses: “Your religion isn’t French. It comes from America,” entirely overlooking the fact that his religion is not French either, but comes from Rome.
● In one of the towns in this region a priest asked a seven-year-old witness who was standing on the street corner offering Bible literature to passers-by if he was being paid for doing this. “Why, yes,” he replied, “of course. All workers deserve a salary. Jehovah will give me eternal life in the new world. What did you think my pay would be?” The priest left without saying a word.
● In another such town a 78-year-old witness for Jehovah was visited by his Catholic priest. Said he, “I can’t understand why you have quit your religion after having been so long in it. How did you get to be so crazy at your age?” The witness replied: “You’re very much mistaken—just the opposite is the case. I was crazy among crazy folks for seventy-seven years. Since then I have been healed spiritually. Yes, at 77 years I was still calling you ‘Father,’ when I am old enough to be your grandfather.”
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