Jesus
Goes To Babylon
In Persia Jesus' work was done and He resumed
His journey towards His native land. On His way home, He came to Babylon.
Jesus Explains Why Babylon Is Desolate
The ruined Babylon was near, and Jesus and a sage,
Ashbina,
went through the city’s gates and walked among her fallen palaces. They trod
the streets where Israel once was held in base captivity. They saw where
Judah's sons and daughters hung their harps upon the willows, and refused to
sing. They saw where Daniel and the Hebrew children stood as living witnesses
of faith.
And Jesus lifted up his hand and said,
“Behold the grandeur of the works of man! The king of Babylon destroyed the
temple of the Lord in old Jerusalem; he burned the holy city, bound in chains
my people and my kin, and brought them here as slaves. But retribution comes;
for whatsoever men shall do to other men the righteous Judge will do to them.
The sun of Babylon has gone down; the songs of pleasure will be heard no more
within her walls. And every kind of creeping thing and unclean bird will, in
these ruins, find their homes.”
And in the temple Belus, Jesus and Ashbina stood in silent thought. Then Jesus spoke and said,
“Behold this monument of folly and of shame. Man tried to shake the very throne
of God, and he assayed to build a tower to reach to heaven, when, lo, his very
speech was snatched away, because in lofty words he boasted of his power. And
on these heights the heathen Baal stood – the god wrought out by hands of man. Upon
yon altar, birds, and beasts, and men, yea children have been burned in awful
sacrifice to Baal. But now the gory priests are dead; the very rocks have
shuddered and have fallen down; the place is desolate.”
Now, in the plains of Shinar Jesus tarried yet for seven days, and, with Ashbina, meditated long upon the needs of men, and how the
sages could best serve the coming age. Then Jesus went His way, and after many
days He crossed the Jordan to His native land. At once He sought His home in Nazareth.
His mother's heart was filled with joy; she made a feast for Him, inviting all
her kindred and her friends.
But Jesus' brothers were not pleased
that such attention should be paid to one they deemed a sheer adventurer, and
they went not in to the feast. They laughed their brother's claims to scorn;
they called Him indolent, ambitious, vain; a worthless
fortune hunter; searcher of the world for fame, who, after many years returns
to mother's home with neither gold, nor any other wealth.
And Jesus called aside His mother and
her sister, Miriam, and told them of His journey to the East. He told them of
the lessons He had learned, and of the works that He had done. To others, He told
not the story of His life.