The Test

His knees trembled and he felt weak. The trek through the burning sands had been long, and longer still the climb up the mountain. His damp robe clung tightly to his hot body. The breeze that inhabits the high places found him at last as he looked toward the river, now a bright ribbon from his loft perch. He felt very faint; his fast had been long since his baptism by his cousin, John.

The human man called Jesus was driven by a force greater than his own. "Climb. Reach the highest peak. There you will find...." The voice in his mind gave no answer.

On and on he went. With his humanness threatening to betray him repeatedly, he at last reached the place he sought and found....