Simeon clearly heard the strange words, and thought to himself:  “Can this be He?  No, a wise man does not surround himself with such a shabby, poverty-stricken crowd.  And yet they say it is He.”  Simeon got out of his litter and drew his scimitar.  Then he pressed forward amid the disagreeable smell of old clothes and of the perspiring crowd.  Oh, how repulsive is the odour of the poor!  The multitude shyly gave way to the brilliant figure, for never had its like been seen in the Master’s neighbourhood.  Jesus stood calmly under the fig tree and saw the stranger coming.  He stood still three paces off Him, beat his head, placed his hand on his brow, like a king who greets another.

“Sir,” said the stranger, and his voice was not sharp and shrill as when he gave his servants orders, but low and hoarse.  “Sir, I have come a long way; I have sought you a long while.”

Jesus held out His hand to him in silence.

Simeon was excited.  He wanted to explain his object at once so as to return to Jerusalem without delay, but the words would not come.  He stammered out; “Sir, I hear that you understand about eternal life.  Therefore am I come to you.  Tell me where it is to be found.  What shall I do in order to possess eternal life?”

Jesus stepped forward a pace, looked earnestly at the man, and said:  “If you desire to live, keep the commandments of Moses.”

“Of Moses?” returned the stranger, surprised.  “But I do.  Although I am of pagan descent, in these matters I follow the people among whom I live.  But that is not the point.  They die.  I want to live for ever.”

Then said Jesus:  “If you desire to live for ever, follow Him Who lives for ever.  Love God above everything, and your neighbour as yourself.”

“Oh, Master,” said Simeon, “that is just what I strive to do.  And yet I am afraid.”

Whereupon Jesus said:  “You are afraid because you ought to do it, and desire to do it, and yet do it not.  You possess palaces in the town, fertile acres in the country, ships on the sea, laden with precious things from all quarters of the world.  You possess a thousand slaves.  Your stewards would fill many volumes if they wrote down all that you possess.”

“Sir, how do you know everything?”

“My friend, your brilliant train spells wealth; but look at the people who follow Me.  They have poor garments but glad souls, they have the Kingdom of God within them.  If you are in earnest, you must give up all you possess.”

“Give up all I possess?”

“You must give it up and become like these.  Then come to Me, and I will lead you to everlasting life.”

When Jesus had said that and more, the stranger cast down his head, and slowly stepped back.  What?  I must become like these lowly, beggarly people? must deliberately step out of my accustomed circle into this boundless misery?  No, no man could do it.  He returned to his suite in very low spirits.