P1436:2, 130:5.1
The travelers had but one purpose in going to Crete, and that was to play,
to walk about over the island, and to climb the mountains. The Cretans of
that time did not enjoy an enviable reputation among the surrounding peoples.
Nevertheless, Jesus and Ganid won many souls to higher levels of thinking
and living and thus laid the foundation for the quick reception of the later
gospel teachings when the first preachers from Jerusalem arrived. Jesus loved
these Cretans, notwithstanding the harsh words which Paul later spoke concerning
them when he subsequently sent Titus to the island to reorganize their churches.
P1436:3, 130:5.2
On the mountainside in Crete Jesus had his first long talk with Gonod regarding
religion. And the father was much impressed, saying: "No wonder the boy believes
everything you tell him, but I never knew they had such a religion even in
Jerusalem, much less in Damascus." It was during the island sojourn that Gonod
first proposed to Jesus that he go back to India with them, and Ganid was
delighted with the thought that Jesus might consent to such an arrangement.
P1436:4, 130:5.3
One day when Ganid asked Jesus why he had not devoted himself to the work
of a public teacher, he said: "My son, everything must await the coming of
its time. You are born into the world, but no amount of anxiety and no manifestation
of impatience will help you to grow up. You must, in all such matters, wait
upon time. Time alone will ripen the green fruit upon the tree. Season follows
season and sundown follows sunrise only with the passing of time. I am now
on the way to Rome with you and your father, and that is sufficient for today.
My tomorrow is wholly in the hands of my Father in heaven." And then he told
Ganid the story of Moses and the forty years of watchful waiting and continued
preparation.
P1436:5, 130:5.4
One thing happened on a visit to Fair
Havens which Ganid never forgot; the
memory of this episode always caused him to wish he might do something to
change the caste system of his native India. A drunken degenerate was attacking
a slave girl on the public highway. When Jesus saw the plight of the girl,
he rushed forward and drew the maiden away from the assault of the
madman.
While the frightened child clung to him, he held the infuriated man at a safe
distance by his powerful extended right arm until the poor fellow had exhausted
himself beating the air with his angry blows. Ganid felt a strong impulse
to help Jesus handle the affair, but his father forbade him. Though they could
not speak the girl's language, she could understand their act of mercy and
gave token of her heartfelt appreciation as they all three escorted her home.
This was probably as near a personal encounter with his fellows as Jesus ever
had throughout his entire life in the flesh. But he had a difficult task that
evening trying to explain to Ganid why he did not smite the drunken man. Ganid
thought this man should have been struck at least as many times as he had
struck the girl.