130 QUAKER ASPECTS OF TRUTH 



though it is they whom we have followed, were crucified 

 by the Romans, as fanatical patriots and troublesome 

 leaders of insurrection* They took the sword, and 

 perished by the swordt and that was the end of their 

 mission. Jesus too, was crucified, but He was crucified 

 by His own nation as a pro-Roman, and a traitor. He 

 died on the Cross for the enemies of His Country, and 

 we believe that we have as yet seen only the beginning 

 of His glorious work of Redemption. 



That it was not without a severe struggle that Jesus 

 gave up all thoughts of becoming the war-like Messiah 

 of Jewish tradition, and chose the path of non-resistance, 

 and love at any price, that led Him to Calvary, is well 

 shown in the dramatic story of the Temptation. It is 

 evident that at the time of His Baptism He had a 

 stupendous and epoch-making Spiritual experience, 

 and it is probable that it was then that He first realised 

 that He was to be the promised Messiah. And the all- 

 important question arose — what kind of a Messiah was 

 He to be ? The traditional Messiah who should lead 

 the armies of Israel against the hated oppression of 

 Rome ? This was the line of least resistance, for evidently 

 it was what was expected of Him, and He must have felt 

 how well qualified He was for such an undertaking. 

 So He retired to the wilderness to be alone with God, 

 and there He had a wonderful Vision. Before Him 

 He seemed to see all the kingdoms of the v/orld, and the 

 Tempter said to Him ** All these will I give Thee and 

 the power of Them, if Thou wilt fall down and worship 

 me.*' Evidently He felt in that supreme moment that 

 it was within His power to become a world-conqueror ; 

 an earthly ruler over a political Kingdom ; and what a 

 glorious reign His would have been ! But He realised 

 another thing. He realised that the power to dominate 

 our fellow-men is in the gift of Satan. It was the Devil 

 who said : ** All these things will I give Thee, and the 



