“Why not to the savage Gauls and the terrible Germans?” exclaimed Bartholomew, with some ill-temper at such an adventurous spirit.

“Ever since I was a boy I longed to see Rome,” said Simon.

Jesus replied:  “Seek your strength in your native land.  Here in the land of the prophets grows the tree among the branches of which will dwell the birds of heaven.  Then the winds will come and carry the seeds out into the whole world.”

The disciples who had not hitherto travelled much, found a new world in the harbours of Tyre and Sidon, a world of folk and wares from every quarter of the earth, strange people and strange customs.  They had never before seen men work with such industry in the warehouses, on the wharves, on the ships; yet others gave themselves up to continual idleness, trotting half-naked along the beach, begging with loud pertinacity in the harbour, or shamelessly basking in the sun.  Look! the lepers are limping about, complacently exhibiting their sores.  One of the disciples looked questioningly at the Master, wondering if He would heal them?  Then, perhaps, they would believe in Him.

“You know quite well,” He said reprovingly, “they would fain be healed and then believe, whereas I say they must believe in order to be healed.”

There were also to be seen in those towns nobles and kings from all lands surrounded by dazzling brilliance and gay trains; as others here haggled for spices, silks and furs, so they haggled for dignity and honour.  And there were wise and learned men from among all peoples; they made speeches, and talked in the public places in praise of their native prophets and gods.  The Hindoo praised his Brahma, the Magian shouted about sacred fire, the Semite spoke zealously for his Jehovah, the Egyptian sang the praises of his Osiris, the Greek extolled his Zeus, the Roman called on his Jupiter, and the German spoke in hoarse tones of his Wotan.  Magicians and astrologers were among them, and they boasted of their art 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.