The succeeding months were filled with wanderings up and down the land, spreading the work and making new converts and followers.  Jesus did not take the position of a great preacher at this time, but seemed to be rather a teacher of the few whom He gathered around Him at each point and place.  He observed but few ceremonies, that of Baptism being the principal one, and which, as we have shown, was an Essenic rite having an occult and mystical significance.  The students of the New Testament may read between its leaves the history of the ministry of Jesus at this time, noting the working of the leaven in the mass of the Jewish mind.

About this time Jesus was sorely distressed at the terrible news which reached Him regarding the fate of his cousin, John the Baptist, who had been His Forerunner.  The Baptist had dared to thrust his preachings and rebukes into the very precincts of a corrupt court, and had brought down upon his head the natural consequences of his rashness.  Herod had thrust him into a gloomy dungeon and there were rumors of a worse fate yet in store for him.  And that fate soon overtook him.  Refusing the chance of life and liberty that was promised him if he would but break his vows of asceticism and indulge the passionate desires of a royal princess,—­turning away from the base proposal with the horror of the true mystic,—­he met his fate like a man knowing the Truth, and the head which graced the royal platter bore upon its face no expression of fear or regret.  John had conquered even in Death.

Jesus retired once more into the Desert upon the news of John’s death reaching him.  Added to His sorrow came the conviction that there was a new work set before Him to do.  John’s death necessitated a combining of the work of the Baptist with that of Jesus’ own ministry.  The followers of the two teachers must be combined into one great body, under the supervision of the Master Himself, aided by the most worthy and capable of His disciples.  The tragic death of John played a most important part in the future ministry of the Master, and He sought the solace and inspiration of the Desert in His consideration of the plans and details of His new work.  Students will note that from the time He emerged from the Desert He threw off the cloak of reserve and retirement and stepped boldly before the people as an ardent preacher to multitudes and an impassioned orator and public speaker.  No more the little circle of appreciative students—­the rostrum with the great crowds of hearers were His from that time.

Returning from His work in Samaria and Judea, He once more made Galilee the scene of His principal work.  The new spirit which He now threw into His preaching attracted the attention of the public, and enormous crowds attended His meetings.  He spoke now with a new air of authority, differing greatly from His former mild tones as a teacher of the few.  Parables and allegories and other rich Oriental figures of