e and child, and they despise My tidings, he must forsake
wife and child and follow _Me_ if he wishes to be My disciple. Who
does not love God more than mother and child, than brother and sister,
yea, more than himself and his life, he is not worthy of God."

Many were troubled by this speech, and murmured: "He asks too much."

Then said John: "Whoever is in earnest about his faith in the Heavenly
Father cannot speak otherwise. He feels Himself how hard it is to
destroy all ties. Do you not observe how He struggles with Himself,
and must subdue His own heart, so that it may lose its power over Him?
He asks all from His disciples because He gives them all. We already
know that what He has to give us is worth more than all we have given
up."

His relations went away. They talked violently against Jesus. His
mother could not endure that, so she remained behind and climbed the
stony path by herself. In her sorely tried heart she prayed: "My
Father which art in Heaven, Thy will be done!" And she had no idea
that it was her son's prayer, in which she found the same faith and
comfort as He did. She knew not that thus she, too, became a disciple
of Jesus.

CHAPTER XIX

Elsewhere Jesus's fame had become so great that all men came to Him.
The poor crowded to Him in order to eat at His table where the word had
become flesh. The rich invited Him to their houses, but He mostly
declined those invitations, accepting, however, one here and there.

He Himself went to those who humbly remained in the background and yet
desired to go to Him. A man lived in the district whose greatest
desire was to see the Prophet. When he heard that Jesus was coming his
way, he began to tremble and to think what he should do. "I should
like to meet Him face to face, and yet dare not venture to go to Him.
For I have a bad reputation as a publican, and am not in any way
worthy. Then He is always accompanied by so many people, and I am
short and cannot see over their heads." When Jesus approached, the man
climbed a bare sycamore-tree and peeped between the branches. Jesus
saw him, and called out; "Zacchaeus, come down from the tree! I will
come and visit you to-day."

The publican jumped down from the tree and went over to Him, and said
humbly: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should go to my house. Only
say one word to me, and I shall be content."

The people wondered that the Prophet should so honour this person of
somewhat