Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the LordAbbott, Edwin Abbott
Religion
Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the Lord
Abbott, Edwin Abbott
Christian fiction; Jesus Christ -- Fiction
Already, even at the beginning of our march, when we first departed from
Hermon, there had arisen a questioning among us, who should have the chief
places in the New Kingdom. For now, within one month, we looked to see the
Romans cast out of Jerusalem, the Holy City and Temple purified, and the
throne of the Redeemer established. This done, it seemed to us that Syria
would be portioned out to several princes or governors; Galilee to one,
Samaria to another, Peræa to a third; after the manner of the Romans,
whose custom it is to divide their dominions among many princes. So we
disputed among ourselves who should have the best provinces. Judas, as
being ever foremost in all actions, claimed a principal share; but the
others also were not backward. Thus we disputed as we walked behind Jesus,
being now nigh to Capernaum; and so it was that, in the heat of our
disputing, we knew not that Jesus was standing still, waiting till we
should overtake him. Therefore we walked on, still disputing, with clamour
and much anger, till, lo, Jesus was in the midst of us. He looked
sorrowfully on us, but said nothing for that time, and we were all
straightway silent.
But in the evening, when we were all together in the house, Jesus called
us to him, holding a little child by the hand; and when we were gathered
round him, he set the little one in the midst of us, and said that we had
forgotten his former saying, how that no man could enter the Kingdom
unless he became as a little child. Then he added these words, “Whosoever
shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the
Kingdom of Heaven.” Then said Judas, “Whoso hath wrought much, shall he
not receive much? and whoso hath wrought little, shall he not receive
little? And is not the Master of the work faithful, who will pay us the
wage of our work?”
For an instant Jesus was silent, looking at Judas as though perchance he
had not heard his words aright. Then he answered that in the New Kingdom
there was no difference of reward; for the least were to be as the
greatest. At the same time he placed his hand on the head of the little
one and said, “Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name
receiveth me, and whosoever shall receive me receiveth not me, but Him
that sent me.” He also spake a certain parable to us, as if to shew that
the reward in the kingdom is not by way of price but rather by way of a
free gift, coming from the Father, as cometh the rain from heaven, and
sufficing for all them which receive it; even as the lord of an estate,
out of the kindness of his heart, might give unto all his labourers the
same wage (and that sufficing for their needs), even though some of the
labourers might perchance be hired later than the rest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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