Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/126

114 those who followed Him. Beholding him, He had loved him, and with infinite pity and tenderness had made answer: "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

A look of disappointment had come over the face of Lazarus. This was not what he had expected. He had expected some mystic word that would direct him straight to the eternal throne. He had known that he had led such a life, in regard to purity and uprightness, as the Nazarene preached; but this, to give up his possessions—for Lazarus was a rich man—this would mean ceasing to be a ruler of the Synagogue, a lawyer, and a great man in Bethany and Jerusalem. Was this then the spirit of a little child, to be the possessor of nothing, to look to the Father for everything?

Surely this thing was not so easy. A life of believing and uprightness, yes; but poverty? pitiful poverty, to a man who had worn purple robes and been greeted in the market place with the cry of Rabbi, Rabbi! Verily they said truly that this Man was but the God of the poor and of sinners and, grieving at the Messiah's words, wishing inwardly that the test of love had not been so severe, he had gone on his way, followed by the sad, sweet eyes of the Nazarene, yet with the words of Jesus deeply rooted in his mind. In the garden of the house, the garden in which his soul delighted, and which the Lord would have him to give up, he had seen Martha and Mary walking with arms entwined, watching the beauty of the dying day, while they waited for their