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 Judas ceased not cavilling at the exhortation of Jesus, saying that it
was not fit that a leader should make himself like a child, nor that whoso
would fain be greatest should make himself least; “For,” said Judas, “a
leader must lead, not follow; and he must command, not obey; and he must
have the forethought of a man to arrange all things orderly, not the
afterthought of a child to adventure all things at hazard. Now Jesus, in
his former days, when he was like himself, ever took upon himself the part
of leader, yea, even a leader greater than Moses; for he was wont to speak
in our ears such words as these, It was said to them of old time, Do this,
but _I_ say unto you, Do that; and again, Come unto _me_, and _I_ will
give you rest; Take _my_ yoke upon you, and the like. Were not these words
the words of a leader? But now what saith he? Even such words as these: ‘I
am not a leader, but a follower’; ‘I am not as the greatest, but as the
least’; ‘I am not a conqueror, but as one to be vanquished, yea and
already vanquished, even as a lamb led to the slaughter.’ Nor doth he give
command beforehand, nor warn us how to meet the enemy, nor where to expect
the onset. But behold it wanteth but a week or less, and there cometh the
Passover; and nothing is settled. Verily we are as sheep without a
shepherd.”
Thus spake Judas in the bitterness of his heart, more freely than he had
ever spoken before (at least in our presence), and we marvelled at the
bitterness of his speech. But Peter rebuked him and said, “Say not such
words as these, O Judas, for of a surety Jesus is our leader even unto
death; but his ways are not as our ways, and we must have faith in him.
Howbeit concerning what is to come to pass on the day after the morrow,
somewhat, as I know, is already settled; for he purposeth to enter the
Holy City publicly, even before the face of all that dwell in Jerusalem.
Now when that cometh to pass, then doubtless he will be moved to perform
some mighty work. I say not that he will smite with the sword; for he ever
shrinketh from the sword. But perchance he will pray unto the Lord, and
the earth will open for our enemies, even as it opened for the children of
Korah, or fire will go forth from the presence of our Master himself, and
he will consume his enemies with the fervency of his breath. For the
mercies of the Lord are manifold, and very many are His paths for the
destruction of the wicked.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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