17 Their love for him impels them on to show respect, for they have thought, and have been taught that it is sin to lightly treat the memory of the dead. 18 To them it is a sin, and it is well that they should fast. 19 When men defy their consciences and listen not to what they say, the heart is grieved and they become unfitted for the work of life; and thus they sin. 20 The conscience may be taught. One man may do in conscience what another cannot do. 21 What is a sin for me to do may not be sin for you to do. The place you occupy upon the way of life determines what is sin. 22 There is no changeless law of good; for good and evil both are judged by other things. 23 One man may fast and in his deep sincerity of heart is blest. 24 Another man may fast and in the faithlessness of such a task imposed is cursed. 25 You cannot make a bed to fit the form of every man. If you can make a bed to fit yourself you have done well. 26 Why should these men who follow me resort to fasting, or to anything that would impair their strength? They need it all to serve the race. 27 The time will come when God will let you have your way, and you will do to me what Herod did to John; 28 And in the awfulness of that sad hour these men will fast. 29 They who have ears to hear may hear; they who have hearts to feel may understand. CHAPTER 120. _Nicodemus is at the feast. He asks Jesus, Cannot the Christine religion be introduced more successfully by reforming the Jewish service? Jesus answers in the negative and gives his reasons. Jesus heals a woman with hemorrhages. Heals Jairus’ daughter. Disappears when the people would worship him._ Now, Nicodemus, who once came to Jesus in the night to learn the way of life, was one among the guests. 2 And standing forth he said, Rabboni, it is true that Jewish laws and Jewish practices do not agree. 3 The priesthood needs to be reformed; the rulers should become more merciful and kind; the lawyers should become more just; the common people should not bear such loads. 4 But could we not gain these reforms and not destroy the service of the Jews? 5 Could you not harmonize your mighty work with that of Pharisee and scribe? Might not the priesthood be a benefit to your divine philosophy? 6 But Jesus said, You cannot put new wine in ancient skins, for when it purifies itself, lo, it expands; the ancient bottles cannot bear the strain; they burst, and all the wine is lost. 7 Men do not mend a wornout garment with a piece of cloth unworn, which cannot yield to suit the fabric, weak with age, and then a greater rent appears. 8 Old wine may be preserved in ancient skins; but new wine calls for bottles new. 9 This spirit-truth I bring is to this generation new, and if we put it in the ancient skins of Jewish forms, lo, it will all be lost. 10 It must expand; the ancient bottles cannot yield and they would burst.