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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity974
Had he merely passed through Judea as a traveling missionary, as had
done many others before Him, he would have escaped the punishment
of the government. Although He would have aroused the hatred and
opposition of the priests, He would have not laid Himself open to the charge
of wishing to become the King of the Jews, or the Jewish Messiah, come to
resume the throne of David, His forefather. But it avails us nought to indulge
in speculations of this kind, for who knows what part Destiny or Fate plays
in the Great Universal plan—who knows where Free-Will terminates and
Destiny moves the pieces on the board, that the Great Game of Universal
Life be played according to the plan?
While among the Essenes, as we have said, Jesus first heard of John, and
determined to use the ministry of the latter as an opening wedge for His
own great work. He communicated to the Essenic Fathers His determination
to travel to John’s field of work later on, and the Fathers sent word of this
to John. The legends have it that John did not know who was coming, being
merely informed that a great Master from foreign parts would join him later
on, and that he, John, should prepare the people for his coming.
And John followed these instructions from his superiors in the Essenic
Brotherhood to the letter, as you will see by reference to our first lesson,
and to the New Testament. He preached repentance; righteousness; the
Essenic rite of Baptism; and above all the Coming of the Master. He bade
his hearers repent—“repent ye! for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”!—
“repent ye! for the Master cometh!” cried he in forceful tones.
And when his people gathered around him and asked whether he, John,
were not indeed the Master, he answered them, saying, “Nay, I am not He
whom thou seekest. After me there cometh one whose sandals I am not
worthy to unloose. I baptize thee with water, but He shall baptize thee
with the Fire of the Spirit that is within Him!” It was ever and always this
exhortation toward fitness for the coming of the Master. John was a true
Mystic, who sank his personality in the Work he was called on to do, and