maria. The Samaritans were not friendly to the Jews, and
the disciples, who had been sent on before to find lodging for the
company in a village, were not allowed to bring their Master there.

The gentle John and his brother James were angry that unkindness was
shown to Jesus, and wished to call down fire from heaven to destroy the
villagers, but Jesus said,

"Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of, for the Son of Man has
not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."

And they went to another village. On the way they found men who wished
to follow Jesus as the disciples did but while some were ready to leave
all, others wished to first bid their friends farewell, or bury their
dead, but Jesus saw something in their hearts that showed that they
were not fit for the Kingdom of God.

There were many beside the twelve who fully believed in Jesus, and were
ready to tell others of the coming kingdom, so He sent them out to all
the places where he intended to go, until there were seventy of them
preaching the good news. They went, saying, "The Kingdom of God is
come unto you," and they healed the sick in Jesus' name. When they
returned they were full of joy, saying,

"Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name." But
Jesus said, "Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, but
rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

CHAPTER XXIX.

AT THE HOUSE OF MARTHA--THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem a lawyer came and asked Him
questions. He did not want to be a disciple, yet he asked what he
should do to have eternal life.

Jesus asked him what the commandments said about it, and the lawyer
repeated the two great commandments concerning love to the Lord and to
the neighbor.

"Thou hast answered right," Jesus replied. "This do and thou shalt
live."

"And who is my neighbor?" said the lawyer.

Then Jesus told a story of a man who went down to Jericho, and was
nearly killed by thieves. A priest came that way and when he saw a man
who needed help he passed by on the other side of the road. So did a
Levite, one of the helpers in the temple worship, but a Samaritan (and
the Samaritans were despised by the Jews) came that way, and he stopped
in pity for the poor man, dressed his wounds, set him upon his own
beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. When he left the
inn he also left money for his care, with the promise of more