Page:Jesus of Nazareth the story of His life simply told (1917).djvu/280

 Our Lord told him that he must keep the Commandments.

"All these have I kept from my youth: what is yet wanting to me?" he said, and looked up with innocent eyes into the face of Jesus.

He spoke truly, his soul was beautiful in the sight of God. And Jesus looking on Him loved him and said to him:

"One thing is wanting to thee; if thou wilt be perfect, go sell all whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven, and come, follow Me."

When the young man heard this he went away sad, for he had great possessions. And Jesus, seeing him become sad, looking round about, said to His disciples:

"Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."

Then Peter answering, said to Him: "Behold, we have left all things and have followed Thee: what therefore shall we have?"

Instead of reproving this fisherman for talking about leaving all things, Jesus said to him:

"Amen, I say to you, that you who have followed Me, when the Son of Man shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Perhaps it was this promise of thrones that made James and John ask a little later for the first place in the Kingdom that was coming. Our Lord was not angry with them, but wonderfully indulgent and patient. He saw that the faults of His Apostles were on the surface only, so much on the surface, indeed, that