had washed and kissed. Yet the prophet seemed to take no notice of her and her touch. But Simon, the host, said to himself, 'This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him; for she is a sinner.' The sinful woman's unheeded touch was more conclusive against Him than all His miracles were for Him. Simon did not have her thrust from his house; but there was a secret satisfaction in his heart at finding out that Joseph's son after all was not prophet enough to know who she was.

Did not Jesus know? Had He not felt every tear that had fallen upon His feet, and the touch of the trembling lips which dared not speak to Him? He spoke a short, simple parable to Simon, and asked Him a question, the answer to which condemned the selfrighteous Pharisee. And then, turning to the weeping woman, He said, 'Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.' Those who sat about Him began then with their old murmur, 'Who is this that forgiveth sins also?' But He gave them no sign this time. No sign could be greater than the miracle wrought that day. As Jesus Himself said in one of His parables, 'They will not be persuaded, no, not if one rise from the dead.'

CHAPTER X.

MIGHTY WORKS.

LEAVING Nain, Jesus, with a large number of followers, including the apostles, and certain women who ministered to them of their property, passed through all the villages of that neighbourhood, gradually working their way back to Capernaum. It was some time during this week that Jesus dismissed the disciples of John the Baptist, bidding them tell Him all they had seen and heard, and adding to His message a gentle reproof, 'Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.' He knew how many were already offended; and how the cause of offence must take deeper and deeper root, until the scandal of the cross came to eclipse every dream of glory in His followers. The message thus sent to John in his prison, with the marvellous tidings of the signs and wonders wrought, and the report of the new doctrines, must have greatly strengthened and comforted the prophet during the short time that remained to him of life.

The circuit from Nain to Capernaum, though short,

was one of great exertion and fatigue; yet when they reached the latter town, and were in need of rest, so great a multitude came together again immediately, that they could not so much as eat bread. Jesus could not attend to His own needs, whilst others were crying to Him for help, or crowding round Him for instruction. His meat was to do the will of Him that sent Him, and to finish His work; and the bitter enmity of the Pharisees warned Him that what He had to do must be done quickly. But His relations thought it was quite time to interfere with this self-forgetful zeal, and they sought to take hold of Him, saying, 'He is beside Himself.' They did not yet believe in Him, for they could not get over the impression made upon them by His homely simple life amongst them, when He worked at a trade like themselves, apparently unconscious of being different from them. Probably their words only meant that He was carried into extremes by His burning enthusiasm. But the Pharisees from Jerusalem, who were still hanging about Him, caught up the hasty words, and bitterly exaggerated them. He hath Beelzebub,' they cried, and by the prince of the devils He casteth out devils.' Jesus then called them to Him, bidding the crowd make way. It was an extraordinary scene. There stood the powerful enemies from the chief city and the chief priests of the nation, strong in their reputation for religion and for righteousness, face to face with the young but well-known prophet of Nazareth, who boldly and solemnly in the hearing of

all the people warned them of the sin they were committing, blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and declared that if it was persisted in there was no forgiveness for it.

In the mean time His mother, whose spirit could not be as brave for her son as His was for God, came to the outskirts of the throng with some of His cousins, and sent a message to Him, which reached His ears as He finished His warning to the Pharisees. Behold,' they said, 'Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to see Thee.' It was no moment for such a message to come. His kinsmen, though we cannot think His mother could have taken a part in it, had given occasion to the Pharisees to say that He had a devil; and it was necessary that all should know that He owned no authority in them, and could not submit to any interference. Dearly as He loved His mother, even she must cease to look upon Him as a son whom she might command. Solemnly and emphatically He pointed to His apostles, and to the women who had come into the city weary and hungry as Himself. 'Behold My mother and My brethren,' He said, 'for whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.'

The remainder of the day was one of ceaseless activities. So many persons came in from other towns that Jesus, as His custom was, led them down to some convenient spot on the shore, and there entered into a boat, so as to be seen and heard by all. He taught them

by parables, by many parables, and by nothing else than parables; a charming and fascinating mode of teaching to these imaginative eastern people, who carried them home in their minds to ponder over, and find out their hidden meaning. There was no need for them to be learned in the law, the common occupations of every day served as lessons for them; sowing their seed, or mixing their meal with yeast, was the symbol of the kingdom of heaven which had come among them.

At last the sun sank behind the western hills, and evening closed in. The disciples sent away the crowds from their exhausted Master. One of His hearers, a scribe even, for He had won some friends among the ranks of His foes, came to Him, saying, 'Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever thou goest.' Jesus was weary in body, and depressed in spirit. Capernaum lay there close by, but it was no safe place for Him to spend the night in. He had already decided that it was better to cross over the lake to the eastern side, where His enemies might not care to follow Him; and He answered the scribe in those mournful and most memorable words, 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.' The sky was darkening, and the stillness of night coming on; the birds were singing their last songs; and the wild beasts were creeping forth out of their dens which had sheltered them all day. But for Him there was no place of rest, save the deck of the boat; no bed, except a pillow, on