[Footnote 1:  Luke xxii. 30.]

[Footnote 2:  Mark x. 37, 40, 41.]

[Footnote 3:  Luke xxiii. 43; 2 Cor. xii. 4.  Comp. Carm.  Sibyll., prooem, 36; Talm. of Bab., Chagigah, 14 b.]

CHAPTER XII.

EMBASSY FROM JOHN IN PRISON TO JESUS—­DEATH OF JOHN—­RELATIONS OF HIS SCHOOL WITH THAT OF JESUS.

Whilst joyous Galilee was celebrating in feasts the coming of the well-beloved, the sorrowful John, in his prison of Machero, was pining away with expectation and desire.  The success of the young master, whom he had seen some months before as his auditor, reached his ears.  It was said that the Messiah predicted by the prophets, he who was to re-establish the kingdom of Israel, was come, and was proving his presence in Galilee by marvelous works.  John wished to inquire into the truth of this rumor, and as he communicated freely with his disciples, he chose two of them to go to Jesus in Galilee.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Matt. xi. 2, and following; Luke vii. 18, and following.]

The two disciples found Jesus at the height of his fame.  The air of gladness which reigned around him surprised them.  Accustomed to fasts, to persevering prayer, and to a life of aspiration, they were astonished to see themselves transported suddenly into the midst of the joys attending the welcome of the Messiah.[1] They told Jesus their message:  “Art thou he that should come?  Or do we look for another?” Jesus, who from that time hesitated no longer respecting his peculiar character as Messiah, enumerated the works which ought to characterize the coming of the kingdom of God—­such as the healing of the sick, and the good tidings of a speedy salvation preached to the poor.  He did all these works.  “And blessed is he,” said Jesus, “whosoever shall not be offended in me.”  We know not whether this answer found John the Baptist living, or in what temper it put the austere ascetic.  Did he die consoled and certain that he whom he had announced already lived, or did he remain doubtful as to the mission of Jesus?  There is nothing to inform us.  Seeing, however, that his school continued to exist a considerable time parallel with the Christian churches, we are led to think that, notwithstanding his regard for Jesus, John did not look upon him as the one who was to realize the divine promises.  Death came, moreover, to end his perplexities.  The untamable freedom of the ascetic was to crown his restless and stormy career by the only end which was worthy of it.

[Footnote 1:  Matt. ix. 14, and following.]

The leniency which Antipas had at first shown toward John was not of long duration.  In the conversations which, according to the Christian tradition, John had had with the tetrarch, he did not cease to declare to him that his marriage was unlawful, and that he ought to send away Herodias.[1] We can easily imagine the hatred which the granddaughter of Herod the Great must have conceived toward this importunate counsellor.  She only waited an opportunity to ruin him.