CHAPTER XV.
"I THINK there will be an unusual gathering of strangers at the Passoverthis year," said Rabbi Reuben to Lazarus, as they came out together fromthe city, one afternoon. "The number may even reach three millions. Atravelling man from Rome was in my shop to-day. He says that in theremotest parts of the earth, wherever the Hebrew tongue is found, onemay hear the name of the Messiah.
"People pacing the decks of the ships, crossing the deserts, or tradingin the shops, talk only of Him and His miracles; they have aroused thegreatest interest even in Athens and the cities of the Nile. The veryair seems full of expectancy. I cannot but think great things are aboutto come to pass. Surely the time is now ripe for Jesus to proclaimHimself king. I cannot understand why He should hide Himself away in thewilderness as if He feared for His safety."
Lazarus smiled at the old man, with a confident expression. "Be sure, myfriend, it is only because the hour has not yet come. What a sight itwill be when He does stand before the tomb of our long dead power, tocall back the nation to its old-time life and grandeur. I can wellbelieve that with Him all things are possible."
"Would that this next Passover were the time!" responded Reuben. "How Iwould rejoice to see His enemies laid low in the dust!"
Already, on the borders of Galilee, the expected king had started towardHis coronation. Many of the old friends and neighbors from Capernaum hadjoined their band, to go on to the Paschal feast.
They made slow progress, however, for at every turn in the road theywere stopped by outstretched hands and cries for help. Nearly every stepwas taken to the sound of some rejoicing cry from some one who had beenblessed.
Joel could not crowd all the scenes into his memory; but some stood withclear-cut distinctness. There were the ten lepers who met them at thevery outset; and there was blind Bartimeus begging by the wayside. Hecould never forget the expression of that man's face, when his eyeswere opened, and for the first time he looked out on the glory of themorning sunshine.
Joel quivered all over with a thrill of sympathy, remembering his ownhealing, and realizing more than the others what had been done for theblind beggar.
Then there was Zaccheus, climbing up to look down through the sycamoreboughs that he might see the Master passing into Jericho, and Zaccheusscrambling down again in haste to provide entertainment for his honoredguest.
There was the young ruler going away sorrowful because the sacrificeasked of him was more than he was willing to make. But there was onescene that his memory held in unfading colors:--
Roses and wild honeysuckle climbing over a bank by the road-side.Orange-trees dropping a heavy fragrance with the falling petals of theirwhite blossoms. In the midst of the shade and the bloom the mothers fromthe village near by, gathering with their children, all freshly washedand dressed to find favor in the eyes of the passing Prophet.
Babies cooed in their mother's arms. Bright little faces smiled out frombehind protecting skirts, to which timid fingers clung. As they waitedfor the coming procession, and little bare feet chased each other up anddown the bank, the happy laughter of the older children filled all thesunny air.
As the travellers came on, the women caught up their children andcrowded forward. It was a sight that would have made almost any onepause,--those innocent-eyed little ones waiting for the touch that wouldkeep them always pure in heart,--that blessing their mothers coveted forthem.
But some of the disciples, impatient at the many delays, seeing in therosy faces and dimpled limbs nothing that seemed to claim help orattention, spoke to the women impatiently. "Why trouble ye the Master?"they said. "Would ye stop the great work He has come to do for mattersof such little importance?"
Repelled by the rebuke, they fell back. But there was a look ofdispleasure on His face, such as they had never seen before, as Jesusturned toward them.
"Suffer the little children to come unto me," He said, sternly, "andforbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven!"
Then holding out His hands He took them up in His arms and blessedthem, every one, even the youngest baby, that blinked up at Himunknowingly with its big dark eyes, received its separate blessing.
So fearlessly they came to Him, so lovingly they nestled in His arms,and with such perfect confidence they clung to Him, that He turned againto His disciples. "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receivethe kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."
Met at all points as He had been by loathsome sights, ragged beggars,and diseases of all kinds, this group of happy-faced children must haveremained long in His memory, as sweet as the unexpected blossoming of arose in a dreary desert.
At last the slow journey drew towards a close. The Friday afternoonbefore the Passover found the tired travellers once more in Bethany.News of their coming had been brought several hours before by a manriding down from Jericho. His swift-footed beast had overtaken andpassed the slow procession far back on the road.
There was a joyful welcome for the Master in the home of Lazarus. Thecool, vine-covered arbor was a refreshing change from the dusty road.Here were no curious throngs and constant demands for help.
Away from the sights that oppressed Him, away from the clamor and thecriticism, here was a place where heart and body might find rest. Thepeace of the place, and the atmosphere of sympathy surrounding Him, musthave fallen like dew on His thirsty soul. Here, for a few short days, Hewho had been so long a houseless wanderer was to know the blessedness ofa home.
Several hours before the first trumpet blast from the roof of thesynagogue proclaimed the approaching Sabbath, Simon hurried to his home.
"Esther," he called in great excitement, "I have seen Him! The Christ! Ihave knelt at His feet. I have looked in His face. And, oh, onlythink!--He has promised to sit at our table! To-morrow night, such afeast as has never been known in the place shall be spread before Him.Help me to think of something we may do to show him especial honor."
Esther sprang up at the news. "We have very little time to prepare," shesaid. "Seth must go at once into the city to make purchases. To-morrownight, no hireling hand shall serve him. I myself shall take that lowlyplace, with Martha and Mary to aid me. Abigail, too, shall help us, forit is a labor of love that she will delight to take part in. I shall goat once to ask them."
The long, still Sabbath went by. The worshippers in the synagogue lookedin vain for other miracles, listened in vain for the Voice that wroughtsuch wonders.
Through the unbroken rest of that day He was gathering up His strengthfor a coming trial. Something of the approaching shadow may have beenseen in His tender eyes; some word of the awaiting doom may have beenspoken to the brother and sisters sitting reverently at his feet,--forthey seemed to feel that a parting was at hand, and that they must crowdthe flying hours with all the loving service they could render Him.
That night at the feast, as Esther's little white hands brought thewater for the reclining guests to wash, and Martha and Abigail placedsumptuously filled dishes before them, Mary paused in her busy passingto and fro; she longed to do some especial thing to show her love forthe honored guest.
Never had His face worn such a look of royalty; never had He seemed somuch the Christ. The soft light of many candles falling on His wornface seemed to reveal as never before the divine soul soon to leave theworn body where it now tarried.
An old Jewish custom suddenly occurred to her. She seemed to see twopictures: one was Aaron, standing up in the rich garments of thepriesthood, with his head bowed to receive the sacred anointing; theother was Israel's first king, on whom the hoary Samuel was bestowingthe anointing that proclaimed his royalty. Token of both priesthood andkingship,--oh, if she dared but offer it!
No one noticed when she stepped out after awhile, and hurried swiftlyhomeward. Hidden away in a chest in her room, was a little alabasterflask, carefully sealed. It held a rare sweet perfume, worth almost itsweight in gold.
She took it out with trembling fingers, and hid it in the folds of herl
ong flowing white dress. Her breath came quick, and her heart beatfast, as she slipped in behind the guests again. The color glowed andpaled in her cheeks, as she stood there in the shadow of the curtains,hesitating, half afraid to venture.
At last, when the banquet was almost over, she stepped noiselesslyforward. There was a hush of surprise at this unusual interruption,although every one there was familiar with the custom, and recognizedits deep meaning and symbolism.
First on His head, then on His feet, she poured the costly perfume.Bending low in the deepest humility, she swept her long soft hair acrossthem to wipe away the crystal drops. The whole house was filled with thesweet, delicate odor.
Some of those who saw it, remembered a similar scene in the house ofanother Simon, in far away Galilee; but only the Anointed One could feelthe deep contrast between the two.
That Simon, the proud Pharisee, condescending and critical and scant inhospitality; this Simon, the cleansed leper, ready to lay down his life,in his boundless love and gratitude. That woman, a penitent sinner,kneeling with tears before His mercy; this woman, so pure in heart thatshe could see God though hidden in the human body of the Nazarene. Thatanointing, to His priesthood at the beginning of His ministry; thisanointing, to His kingdom, now almost at hand. No one spoke as thefragrance rose and spread itself like the incense of a benediction. Itseemed a fitting close to this hour of communion with the Master.
Across this eloquent silence that the softest sound would have jarredupon, a cold, unfeeling voice broke harshly.
"A DARK FIGURE WENT SKULKING OUT INTO THE NIGHT"]
It was Judas Iscariot who spoke. "Why was all this ointment wasted?" heasked. "It would have been better to have sold it and given it to thepoor."
Simon frowned indignantly at this low-browed guest, who was so lackingin courtesy, and Mary looked up distressed.
"Let her alone!" said the Master, gently. "Ye have the poor with youalways, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good: but me ye have notalways. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint mybody to the burying."
A dark look gleamed in the eyes of Judas,--there was that referenceagain to His burial. There seemed to be no use of making any furtherpretence to follow Him any longer. His kingdom was a delusion,--a vague,shadowy, spiritual thing that the others might believe in if they chose.But if there was no longer any hope of gaining by His service, he wouldturn to the other side.
That night there was another secret council of some of the Sanhedrin,and Judas Iscariot was in their midst.
When the lights were out, and the Temple police were making their finalrounds, a dark figure went skulking out into the night, and wound itsway through the narrow streets,--the dark figure that still goesskulking through the night of history,--the man who covenanted forthirty pieces of silver to betray his Lord.