m
as one dead, but Jesus took him by the hand and he arose.

"Why could not we cast him out?" said the disciples afterward.

"This kind," said Jesus, "can come forth by nothing but by prayer and
fasting."

As they turned their steps toward home--the Lake side in Galilee--Jesus
again spoke of the work that lay before Him. The disciples listened
sadly, but could not understand why He should speak of being killed,
and of rising again from the dead, and they dared not ask Him questions
about it.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE LORD AND THE LITTLE ONES--LEAVING GALILEE.

As the Lord and His disciples walked over the hills into Galilee some
of them fell behind wondering among themselves what He could mean when
He spoke of being killed and of rising again. Perhaps they thought it
only a sadness that would pass away, and so full of faith in His power
were they that they could not believe that One who could raise the dead
could Himself die.

"He will be a King," they thought, and began to wonder who among them
would be chosen to be greatest in His Kingdom, and even to quarrel
about it.

After they had reached Capernaum, and were at home again--probably in
Peter's house--Jesus said to them,

"What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?"

There was no word from any one of them, for they were ashamed. Then
the Lord sat down, and calling the twelve around Him, said gently,

"If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and
servant of all."

A little child stood near listening, and wishing, perhaps, that he
might be a grown man so that he also could be a disciple.

Making room for him in the midst of them all, He called the child,
Peter's child, perhaps, who came joyfully to Him. Taking Him tenderly
in His arms He said,

"Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name receiveth me,
and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but Him that sent me."

And He taught His disciples to be humble as a little child in these
beautiful words:

"Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto
you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father
which is in heaven."

[Illustration: The little ones]

He also told them of the love of the Father in seeking His lost
children. That if a shepherd had but lost one of his hundred sheep, he