Volume 2

74 Life of Jesus Christ
tages offered to malefactors by the refugial city, all
which He applied to the grace of doing penance on this
earth. He also cured several persons, most of them dropsical.
The Sabbath over, Jesus and the disciples returned
to the place of Baptism.
Next evening Jesus went with His disciples to the city
of Nebo, situated on the opposite side of the Jordan at
the foot of Mount Nebo, whose height is such that
several hours are necessary to reach the summit.
Messengers had previously been sent to implore Hiol to
enter the city and teach. The population was a mixed
one, Egyptians, Moabites, and Israelites that had in
former times defiled themselves with idolatry. They had
been aroused by John's preaching, but had not had the
courage to go over to Jesus' place of Baptism. I think
they dared not. On account of some crime of their
forefathers (of what kind I no longer remember), they
were held by the Jews in great contempt. They dared not
go about freely, but to certain places only. They now
came to Jesus humbly begging Him to baptize among
thenl. The disciples had brought from the baptismal
pool, water in leathern bottles, which they had left under
the care of some guards.
Nebo was about one half-hour from the Jordan, from
which it was separated by a mountain, and between five
and six hours from Macharus. The country around was
not fertile. To reach Nebo, one must, after crossing the
river, climb the mountain and then descend on the other
side. Just opposite the place of Baptism stands the
mountain, affording no place for a landing, and behind
was the city Nebo. It was tolerably large, the foundation
hilly, and separated by a valley from the mount of the
same name. There was still here a heathen temple, but it
was closed and something built around it.
Jesus, from a teacher's chair and out in the open air,
prepared the people for Baptism, which the disciples ad­