ilies, their work, to
follow you. What enchantment do you practise on them?"

"They follow the tidings," He said. "They thirst after comfort as the
hart pants for water."

"And you call it comfort to starve and freeze in the wilderness," broke
in one of his relations; "you call it comfort to deny oneself
everything till our rags fall off our bodies, and we are taken by the
soldiers as criminals? Take heed. The governors at Caesarea and
Jerusalem are displeased at the state of affairs. They mean to put a
stop to the demagogue's proceedings, and they are right."

"Who is the demagogue?"

"Why, you, of course."

Jesus was surprised at the reply, and said:--"I? I, who say to you,
Peace be with you! Love one another! Do good to your enemies! I, a
demagogue?"

"They say you claim to be the Messiah who shall conquer the kingdom."

"A kingdom that is not of this world."

Mary fell into His arms. "My dear son, leave all this alone. If it is
to be, God will do it all without you. See how lonely your mother is
at Nazareth! Come with me to our peaceful home, and be once again my
good, dear Jesus. And these here, they love you, they are your
brothers."

Then Jesus stretched out His arm and pointed to His followers, who had
pushed their way into the house. "Those are My brothers! Those who
acknowledge the Heavenly Father as I do, they are My brothers."

His relations stepped back, and wrung their hands in perplexity. "He
is out of His mind. He is possessed by devils."

The people in the road who were looking over the fence felt sorry for
the forsaken woman, and wanted to interfere; whereupon a voice
exclaimed loudly: "Happy the mother who has such a son! The nations
will arise and call her blessed!"

Jesus turned to them gravely. "Blessed are those who follow the word
of God."

His mother felt, as He spoke those words, as if she had been stabbed to
the heart with a sword. The people were silent, and whispered to each
other: "Why is He so hard towards His mother?"

John the younger answered them: "He sees salvation only in God the
Father. He has converted many people to His view, but just those whom
He loves best will not listen to the tidings of the Kingdom of Heaven."

Jesus lifted up His voice and cried: "He who desires to be My disciple,
and his parents and brothers and sisters do not believe in Me, he must
forsake his parents and brothers and sisters in order to follow Me. He
who has wif