of the world.  He saw Israel’s sphere of influence extending in all directions, until Persia, Egypt, Greece and even the once-feared Rome, become tributary nations.  He saw Himself in the triumphant chariot on some great feast day of victory, with Caesar himself tied to the tail of His chariot—­a slave to Israel’s King.  He saw His royal court outrivaling that of Solomon, and becoming the center of the world.  He saw Jerusalem as the capital of the world, and He, Jesus of Nazareth, son of David the King, as its Ruler, its hero, its demi-god.  The very apotheosis of human success showed in the picture of Himself and His Beloved Israel in the picture.

And then the Temple was seen to be the Center of the Religious thought of the World.  The Religion of the Jews, as modified by His own advanced views, would be the religion of all men.  And he would be the favored mouthpiece of the God of Israel.  All the dreams of the Hebrew Fathers would be realized in Him, the Messiah of the New Israel whose capital would be Jerusalem, the Queen of the World.

And all this by simply the exercise of his occult powers under the direction of HIS WILL.  It is related that accompanying this second picture and attracted by its mighty power, came all the great thought-waves of the world which had been thought by men of all times who thought and acted out the Dreams of Power.  These clouds settled down upon Him like a heavy fog, and their vibrations were almost overpowering.  And also came the hosts of the disembodied souls of those who while living had sought or gained power.  And each strove to beat into His brain the Desire of Power.  Never in the history of man have the Powers of Darkness so gathered together for attack upon the mind of a mortal man.  Would it have been any wonder had even such a man as Jesus succumbed?

But He did not succumb.  Rallying His Inner Force to His rescue He beat back the attacking horde, and by an effort of His Will, He swept both picture and tempters away into oblivion, crying indignantly “Thou darest to tempt even me, thy Lord and Master.  Get thee behind me thou Fiends of Darkness”!

And so the Temptation of the Wilderness failed, and Jesus received His answer from His soul, and He descended the mountains, back to the haunts of men—­back to the scene of His three years’ labors and suffering, and back to His Death.  And He knew full well all that awaited Him there, for had He not seen the First Picture?

Jesus had chosen His career.

* * * * *

The Master descended from the mountains and forsook the Wilderness for the place in which John and his followers were gathered.  Resting for a time, and refreshing Himself with food and drink, He gathered together His energies for His great work.