Volume 2

412 .l){e of Jesus Christ
Obed hilTIself felt a little anxiety about the boy. But
Jesus' words restored peace to their anxious hearts. After
His death, the boy joined the disciples.
In the \var of the Maccabees, Machmethat remained
lrue and rendered nluch help to the Jews. Judas Maccabeus
hiolself sojourned here at different times. Obed
took Job for his model in all things, and led in the bosom
of h is large family a life altogether patriarchal.
\\-'hen Jesus went into the other part of the city, the
quarter belonging to the tribe of Manasses, He found
near the synagogue SOBle Pharisees (not the best disposed
toward Hinlself) and nlany arrogant citizens. They were
friends and supporters of those that collected the taxes
and imposts for the Romans, which they afterward put
out at usury. Jesus taught, and then cured the sick. The
Pharisees and proud citizens treated Jesus with coldness
and indifference. They were displeased at His having
visited the sinlple, rustic people of Machmethat before
honoring their own city with His presence. They had no
love for Him. And yet, they were ambitious for His first
visit as a learned Doctor to be to themselves, rather than
to their unsophisticated neighbors, upon whom they
looked down.
Jesus, accoITlpanied by a crowd of people, went back
to the well outside Machmethat and began preparations
for the ceremony of Baptism. Many confessed their sins
in general ternls, while many others, going in private to
Jesus, rnade them known in detail, and asked for penance
and pardon. Saturnin and Judas Barsabas performed the
cerenlony of Baptism, the other disciples acting as sponsors.
It took place in an immense bathing cistern. After
the Baptism, Jesus returned to Aser for the Sabbath. I-Ie
preached from Genesis 18:23, et seq., of the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrha, and then taking up the miracles
recorded of Eliseus, He spoke in strong language on
the necessity of penance. His words were not pleasing to