Jesus shook His head over such talk, and said:
“No, My Peter is not a coward, but he is still
somewhat unstable for a rock. No one who, at
his age, can train himself for the Kingdom of God could
be a weakling.”
Martha, who had gone out to look after the supper,
called into the room that the children’s mother
wanted them to go to her to read the Haggadah.
The little ones pulled long faces. “To
read the Haggadah!” murmured the boy in a tone
far too contemptuous of the holy Passover book.
“Don’t you like to read about God, my
child?” asked Jesus.
“No,” replied the boy crossly.
John pinched his red cheek. “Naughty boy!
Good boys always like to hear about God.”
“But not always to read about Him!” said
the little one. “The Haggadah tires me
to death.”
Then said Jesus: “He is of the unhappy
ones for whom God is spoiled by the mere letter of
the Word. Would you rather stay with Me, children,
than go and read the Haggadah?”
“Yes, yes, we’ll stay with you.”
And all three hung round His neck.
And Martha sought the mother and told her: “They
are reading the Haggadah with six arms.”
Two days were spent in this quiet, cheerful fashion.
Then Jesus said to the disciples: “It
is over; we must return to Jerusalem.”
They were to spend the festival in the city, and James
had hired a room in which the Master and His twelve
faithful friends could solemnly celebrate the Passover.
His disciples again gathered round Him; but they
looked anxious. For they had had unpleasant experiences
in their walks through the town. The mood of
the people had entirely changed; they spoke little
of the Messiah but rather of the demagogue and betrayer
of the people, just in the same tone as had been used
in Galilee. Only here the expressions were more
forcible, and accompanied with threatening gestures.
In front of the town gates, where there was a rocky
hill, Thomas had watched two carpenters nailing crossbeams
to long stakes. He asked what they were doing,
and was told that criminals were impaled on the festival.
Questioning them more closely, he learned that they
were desert robbers.
“Desert robbers?” said a passer-by.
“What are desert robbers? There are desert
robbers every year. This time quite different
people are to be hoisted up.”
“Yes, if they’re caught,” said another.
“His followers are burrowing somewhere in the
city, but He Himself has flown. It’s too
absurd how the police seek everywhere, and can’t
find out where He is.”
Thomas did not want to hear any more, and took himself
off.
