o cause any disturbance in Jericho,"
agreed Peter.

"We shall be in serious trouble if Pilate's local commander sends him
word that we caused a riot here," added Judas. "I hope these people keep
their heads."

Outside the gate of Jericho sat the usual line of beggars, ragged,
filthy, and diseased. Some were silent, but others called out, asking
alms. Hardly anyone paid any attention. Suddenly there was a loud cry
from the side of the road.

"Jesus! Jesus! Thou Son of David! Messiah! Have mercy on me!"

"Shut up!" snapped someone. Others looked harshly at the beggar who had
shouted, but he could not see their hard faces. He was blind.

"Jesus! Messiah! Have pity on me!" His voice was louder than before.

"In the name of heaven, make that wretch be quiet!" burst out Judas. "We
shall have the whole Roman army on us if anyone hears him talking as
though Jesus were going to lead a revolution!"

Jesus stopped. "Who is calling to me?"

"Oh, just some beggar," answered James.

"Bring him to me." The man who had scolded the beggar said to him:
"Don't worry. The Master himself is calling you." The blind man leaped
to his feet, threw off his tattered coat, and pushed his way through the
crowd toward Jesus.

"What do you want me to do for you?" asked Jesus.

The beggar dropped to his knees. "O Master, that I might be able to see
again!"

A hush had fallen over the crowd. Jesus said: "Open your eyes. Your
faith has made you well again." The man looked around him. He saw the
people, the city wall above him, the palm trees at the side of the road.
Jesus turned and led the crowd through the gate into Jericho. People
clustered around the beggar as he walked after Jesus. He talked loudly
and happily, hardly able to express his joy.

Judas came up to Jesus. "Can't we send that man away? Think what will
happen if the Romans hear him babbling like this!"

"Let him tell what has happened to him," answered Jesus. "We have come
to Judea to proclaim the gospel. That man has found the Kingdom of
Heaven. Let him declare it to everyone!"

"We are losing our chance to win over the high priests in Jerusalem!"
burst out Judas. "Before tomorrow night word will reach them that the
people are trying to make Jesus king! They will all be against us!"

"Well, there is nothing to do about it now," said the Zealot. The man in
front of Judas stopped in his tracks and Judas ran into him. "What is
the matter now?" he demanded impatiently.