his
stability and firmness; John was not a reed shaken with the wind, he
was not a self-indulgent man, courting ease and loving luxury; he was a
man ready for any self-denial and hardship. Jesus added to this eulogy
of John's qualities as a man, the statement that no greater soul than
his had ever been born in this world. This was high praise indeed. It
illustrates the loyalty of Jesus to the friend who had so honored him
and was suffering now because of faithfulness to truth and duty.

There is another incident which shows how much Jesus loved John. It
was after the foul murder of the Baptist. The record is very brief.
The friends of the dead prophet gathered in the prison, and, taking up
the headless body of their master, they carried it away to a reverent,
tearful burial. Then they went and told Jesus. The narrative says,
"When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place
apart." His sorrow at the tragic death of his faithful friend made him
wish to be alone. When the Jews saw Jesus weeping beside the grave of
Lazarus they said, "Behold how he loved him!" No mention is made of
tears when Jesus heard of the death of John; but he immediately sought
to break away from the crowds, to be alone, and there is little doubt
that when he was alone he wept. He loved John, and grieved over his
death.

The story of the friendship of Jesus and John is very beautiful.
John's loyalty and faithfulness must have brought real comfort to
Jesus. Then to John the friendship of Jesus must have been full of
cheer.

As we read the story of the Baptist's life, with its tragic ending, we
are apt to feel that he died too soon. He began his public work with
every promise of success. For a few months he preached with great
power, and thousands flocked to hear him. Then came the waning of his
popularity, and soon he was shut up in a prison, and in a little while
was cruelly murdered to humor the whim of a wicked and vengeful woman.

Was it worth while to be born, and to go through years of severe
training, only for such a fragment of living? To this question we can
answer only that John had finished his work. He came into the world--a
man sent from God--to do just one definite thing,--to prepare the way
for the Messiah. When the Messiah had come, John's work was done. As
the friend of Christ he went home; and elsewhere now, in other realms
perhaps, he is still serving his Lord.

CHAPTER IV.

J