Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when Time. A. D. 12. Place. Jerusalem. a he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou dealt thus with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, "How is it that ye sought " me? wist ye not that I must be about my C "Father's business?" : And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and Place. came to Nazareth, and was subject Nazareth. unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. a Seven days of the festival. ► Did ye not consider? Or, in my Father's house, or temple? 2 • 15. Of John the Baptist and his Ministry. Time. Now in the fifteenth year of the A.D. 29. reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the Place. wilderness. And he came into all the Desert of country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before Place. thy face, which shall prepare thy way Jordan. before thee. The voice of one cry Judea. Near ing in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. • A governor of a fourth part of a country. Annas having served the office retained the title, but Caiaphas was high priest that year. • In allusion to the custom in Eastern countries, of sending messengers and pioneers to make the ways level and straight before kings and princes, where they travelled with large retinues and great pomp. Mal. iii. 1. A sackcloth of camel's hair. • An insect, a common food in the East to this day. See Lev. xi. 22. 2 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. C And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. * All the people of. That is, be charitable to the distressed. • Collectors of a tribute paid to the Romans. c3 a And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. • The sole of the shoe worn without upper leathers was fastened with a thong across the top of the foot. I am not worthy to perform the meanest offices about the person of Christ. END OF THE FIRST PART. PART II. THE TRANSACTIONS OF ABOUT SIX MONTHS, FROM JESUS' BAPTISM TILL THE BEGINNING OF THE ENSUING PASSOVER. Time. 16. The Baptism of Christ. Place. THEN cometh Jesus from A. D. 30. Galilee to Jordan unto John, Jordan. The first to be baptized of him. But year of his John forbade him, saying, I have need ministry. to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer it to be so now; for thus it "becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."* Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending in a bodily shape like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age. • Conform to every righteous ordinance. Not in the form, but only the fluttering motion of a dove. • Was entered in his thirtieth year. |