But they regarded that as an excuse, as prudent reserve, until the time was ripe for the entry of the great general.  The curiosity increased at every new speech, and they hoped to hear Him sound the call to arms.  Others held aloof and thought over the deeper meaning of His words, and if it was possible to comprehend them and live according to them.  At first they found it easy and pleasant to be free from care, and to be conciliatory towards their neighbours.  It suited the poor admirably to make a virtue of necessity, so that their indolence and poverty appeared as meritorious.  But after a few days they began to realise that perhaps they had not understood the Master’s words aright.  Even the Samaritans from over the border listened to the strange teaching about heaven or earth.  If the ancient writings spoke of future blessedness, Jesus spoke of present blessedness.

A money-changer from Carioth was among His disciples.  So far he had only been with the Prophet on Sabbaths; on week-days he sat in his office and counted money and reckoned interest.  But things did not go well, for while he was doing his accounts his thoughts were with the Master, and he made errors; and when he was with the Master his thoughts were with his money, and he missed what was being said.  He must leave either one or the other, and he could not decide which.  But after listening to the Sermon on the Mount he determined to go no more to his place of business, but to remain with Jesus, so strong was his belief in Him.  And the exchange brought as much joy into his heart as if he had lent money to a man at two hundred per cent.  For he would have treasure in the Kingdom of the Messiah.

The only people who more or less still held aloof were the Galileans.  They had known the Prophet as a carpenter, and were uncertain what position to take up towards Him.  On the other hand, there were Galileans who came to Jerusalem, or Joppa, and were proud to hear their Prophet spoken of there, and they pretended to be His acquaintances and friends, only to greet Him on their return with the same old contempt.  He used to say that no man was a prophet in his own country.  At this period Jesus often went to Nazareth, and always accompanied by an ever-increasing number of followers.  His mother could never get any confidential talk with Him.  And His native place disowned Him.  His youthful acquaintances fought shy of Him as an eccentric vagrant who opposed the law, stirred up the people, and from whose further career no great honour was to be expected.  The Rabbi in the synagogue warned men of Him as of a public traitor.  He described with ardent zeal the ruin in which all would be involved who were persuaded by this man without a conscience to renounce the belief of their ancestors.  “There is only one true faith,” he exclaimed, “and only one God, and that is not the faith and God of this heretic, but the faith of Moses and the God of Abraham, Isaac,