and knowledge. Naked saints stood on blocks
of stone, flies and wasps buzzing round them, and still as statues they
endured torments for the glory of their gods. The disciples of Jesus
saw and heard all this in astonishment, and were terrified to find
there were so many gods. When they were alone together with the Master
in a cedar-grove near Sidon, one of them who had been deeply wrapt in
thought said: "An idea has just occurred to me. Whether it be Brahma
the reposeful, or Osiris the shining, or Jehovah the wrathful, or Zeus
the loving, or Jupiter the struggling, or Wotan the conqueror, or our
God the Father--it occurs to me that it all comes to the same in the
end."

They were alarmed at this bold speech, and looked at the Master
expecting an angry reproof. Jesus was silent for a while, then said
calmly: "Do good to those who hate you."

They scarcely understood that with these words He marked the incredible
difference between His teaching and all other doctrines.

They were still speaking when a young man with a beardless face and
insolent expression came riding by on a tall steed. When he saw the
group of Nazarenes he reined in his horse; it would scarcely stop,
stamped with its legs on the ground, and threw its head snorting into
the air.

"Isn't this the man with the Kingdom of Heaven?" asked the rider
contemptuously.

James came forward quickly. "Sir, stop your mocking. How do you know
that you will never need it?"

"I?" said the arrogant cavalier. "I need a Kingdom of Heaven that is
not to be seen, heard, or understood!"

"But felt, sir!"

"Then that is He," exclaimed the horseman, pointing to Jesus. "No,
Nazarenes, I do not believe in your Heavenly Kingdom."

To which Jesus replied; "Perhaps you will believe in My empty tomb."

"We will see," said the cavalier, putting spurs to his horse so that it
reared, and galloped off. Soon all that the disciples saw was a cloud
of dust. Matthew looked searchingly at his comrades. "Did you
recognise him? Wasn't it Saul, the dread weaver? They were saying in
the town yesterday that he was coming with a legion of soldiers to
arrest the Nazarenes."

Then they urged in terror; "Master, let us flee."

He was not accustomed to flee before zealous Pharisees, but there was
another reason for removing his innocent disciples from the atmosphere
of these big cities. Simon was always suggesting that it would be no
bad thing to spend the coming Passove