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
Now while we rested at Gilgal, we looked gladly upon Jericho, gazing at
the forest of palm‐trees which lay between us and the city. Much did we
admire also the four towers of the city, which rose up straight to heaven
on the other side of the forest, and the walls high and newly built;
surrounded on all sides by thickets of balsam, and gardens of roses, and
full of all delights. For the place knoweth not drought, by reason of the
perpetual waters; but it is a paradise all the year round. Beyond Jericho,
on the other side, we could see, rising up as it were over against us, the
mountains that lead up to Jerusalem; insomuch that it was a saying with
them of the Holy City that the sounds of the sacred music and the smell of
the incense go down even to the men of Jericho. But the ascent is steep
and the way bleak and barren, through cliffs and rocks on the right hand
and on the left; where no trees are, nor any water; but robbers and
murderers lurk at all times in the caves on the sides of the mountains,
for to come down unawares upon the pilgrims and travellers which pass by
that way. Then said Peter unto John, “Without doubt the Romans will not
suffer us to go up; but they will fall upon us by the way. And should not
the people be advised thereof, that they may stand upon their guard?” But
John said nothing; notwithstanding, he seemed troubled that Jesus took no
order for what was to come to pass upon our journey.
When we came unto Jericho, behold, the people had been advised of our
coming, and on both sides of the road there was gathered together a great
multitude to see Jesus as he passed; and the common people hailed him at
this time by the name that was dearest unto the patriots of our nation,
calling him a deliverer after the manner of David, and saying, “Hosanna,
son of David.” But Azariah the son of Simon, who was of the acquaintance
of Judas, was come forth also; and he saluted Jesus and besought him to
eat bread in his house. Howbeit Jesus would not eat bread in the house of
Azariah. For as he passed through the midst of the people, he had espied a
certain man, by name Zacchæus, looking down upon him from a sycamore‐tree,
into the which he had climbed up, out of the fervency of his desire to see
Jesus: and straightway he had called unto the man, and bidden him come
down, saying that he must eat bread in the man’s house. Now the man was a
tax‐gatherer, as might have been seen by his dress and tablets, and indeed
the crowd shouted aloud that he was a tax‐gatherer, when they saw that
Jesus had chosen him to eat bread in his house; and they were sore
displeased at Jesus. Notwithstanding Jesus was constant in his purpose not
to eat bread in the house of Azariah the Rabbi, but in the house of
Zacchæus the publican. So Azariah dissembled his anger and came to the
feast in the house of Zacchæus, and certain other Pharisees with him.
Howbeit they themselves feasted not with the common people and the tax‐
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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