Jesus shook His head over such talk, and said:  “No, My Peter is not a coward, but he is still somewhat unstable for a rock.  No one who, at his age, can train himself for the Kingdom of God could be a weakling.”

Martha, who had gone out to look after the supper, called into the room that the children’s mother wanted them to go to her to read the Haggadah.

The little ones pulled long faces.  “To read the Haggadah!” murmured the boy in a tone far too contemptuous of the holy Passover book.

“Don’t you like to read about God, my child?” asked Jesus.

“No,” replied the boy crossly.

John pinched his red cheek.  “Naughty boy!  Good boys always like to hear about God.”

“But not always to read about Him!” said the little one.  “The Haggadah tires me to death.”

Then said Jesus:  “He is of the unhappy ones for whom God is spoiled by the mere letter of the Word.  Would you rather stay with Me, children, than go and read the Haggadah?”

“Yes, yes, we’ll stay with you.”  And all three hung round His neck.

And Martha sought the mother and told her:  “They are reading the Haggadah with six arms.”

CHAPTER XXX

Two days were spent in this quiet, cheerful fashion.  Then Jesus said to the disciples:  “It is over; we must return to Jerusalem.”

They were to spend the festival in the city, and James had hired a room in which the Master and His twelve faithful friends could solemnly celebrate the Passover.  His disciples again gathered round Him; but they looked anxious.  For they had had unpleasant experiences in their walks through the town.  The mood of the people had entirely changed; they spoke little of the Messiah but rather of the demagogue and betrayer of the people, just in the same tone as had been used in Galilee.  Only here the expressions were more forcible, and accompanied with threatening gestures.  In front of the town gates, where there was a rocky hill, Thomas had watched two carpenters nailing crossbeams to long stakes.  He asked what they were doing, and was told that criminals were impaled on the festival.  Questioning them more closely, he learned that they were desert robbers.

“Desert robbers?” said a passer-by.  “What are desert robbers?  There are desert robbers every year.  This time quite different people are to be hoisted up.”

“Yes, if they’re caught,” said another.  “His followers are burrowing somewhere in the city, but He Himself has flown.  It’s too absurd how the police seek everywhere, and can’t find out where He is.”

Thomas did not want to hear any more, and took himself off.