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Jesus, a near relative of the Master. Other of His disciples were
called James, he was the boat-builder; then Simon, Andrew, and Thomas,
the fishermen; Levi Matthew, the publican; Thaddeus, the saddler; and
further--but my memory is weak--James, the little shepherd; Nathan, the
potter; and his brother Philip, the innkeeper from Jericho;
Bartholomew, the smith; and Judas, the money-changer from Carioth.
Like Simon and Matthew, they had all left their trades or offices to
follow with boundless devotion Him they called Lord and Master.
How shall I dare to describe the Master! His personality defies
description. It left none cold who came in contact with it. It was
attractive not only by humility and gentleness, but more by active
power, and by such sacred and fiery anger as had never before been seen
in any one. People were never tired of looking at the man with the
tall, handsome figure. His head was crowned with lightly curling,
reddish, bright-looking hair, which hung down soft and heavy at the
side and back, and floated over His shoulders. His brow was broad and
white, for no sunbeam could penetrate the shade formed by His hair. He
had a strong, straight nose, more like that of a Greek than of a Jew,
and His red lips were shaded with a thick beard. And His eyes were
wonderful, large, dark eyes, with a marvellous fire in them.
Ordinarily it was a fire that burnt warm and soft, but at times it
shone with a great glow of happiness, or sparkled with anger, like a
midsummer storm by night in the mountains of Lebanon. On that account
many called Him "fiery eye." He wore a long, straight gown, without
hat or staff. He generally wore sandals on His feet, but sometimes He
forgot to put them on, for in His spiritual communings He did not
perceive the roughness of the road. So He wandered through the stony
desert, as through the flowery meadows of the fertile valleys. When
His companions complained of the storm or heat, and tore their limbs on
the sharp stones and thorns, He remained calm and uncomplaining. He
did not, like the holy men of the East, seek for hardships, but He did
not fear them. He was an enemy of all external trappings, because they
distracted the attention from the inner life, and by their attractions
might induce a false appearance of reality. He gladly received
invitations to the houses of the joyful, and rejoiced with them; at
table He ate and drank with moderation. He added to the pleasu
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