Volume 2

Jesus in Thebez
33
bought for his son Joseph. A part of it already belonged
to Herod of Galilee. A boundary consisting of stakes, a
rampart of earth, and a path ran through the valley.
Thebez was quite an important city, traversed by a
highway and possessed of considerable trade. Heavily
laden camels, their burdens rising high upon their backs,
came and went. It was something wonderful to see those
animals with their packs like so many little towers, climbing
slowly over the mountain, their head at the end of the
long neck moving from side to side before their lofty
burden. Raw silk formed a chief staple of trade. The people
of Thebez were not bad, nor were they prejudiced
against Jesus, but they were neither simple nor childlike.
They were indifferent, as well-to-do tradespeople often
are. The priests and Scribes were content with themselves
and indifferent to others. As Jesus entered the city, the
possessed and the lunatics raised their cry: "There comes
the Prophet of Galilee! He has power over us! He will
drive us away!" Jesus commanded them silence, and instantly
they became quiet. Jesus put up near the synagogue
whither the crowds followed Him, bringing with
them their sick, of whom He healed many. That evening
He taught in the school and celebrated the Feast of
Dedication, which then began. In the school and in all the
houses seven lights were lit, also outdoors in the fields and
on the roads near the shepherds' huts were little burning
tufts of something on the ends of stakes. Thebez was admirably
situated on the mountain. At some distance, one
could see the mountain road running through it and the
laden camels climbing up; but near the city the view was
hidden.
Andrew, Saturnin, and Joseph's nephews had already
left Silo and gone to Galilee. Andrew had been up among
his relatives at Bethsaida. He had informed Peter that he
had again found the Messiah, who was taken on His way
up to Galilee, and that he would take him (Peter) to Him.