The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-04-04

gin to scatter, Joseph and Mary among
the number.
How strange to read they lose sight
of their boy and for time seem to
have forgotten him. Soon, however,
they miss him and hurry back to the
city in search of him; at last find him
in the temple discussing theology with
gray-haired Rabbis, who listen with
awe to his words of wisdom and hear
him reply to his mothers reproachful
words: twist we not that 1 must be
about my Fathers business ?"-here
second wonder concerning Christ.
For eighteen years now the "star-
child" again sinks out Of sight so far
as history makes record, years passing
between the temple scene and the
strange gathering of multitudes in the
Jordan valley. Christ is now thirty
years of age, and we have caught but
two brief glimpses of him in all these
years.
We should be glad to know at this
point whether or not Christ had any
conception of his mission; whether or
not he understood that he was the
Messiah; whether or not he had vi
sions of fast approaching scenes that
should prove him the worlds Redeem
er; whether or not he saw down those
eventful years to the crowds that were
to cry "Hosanna" and spread palm
branches in his path; but ours is only
conjecture as to any of these things.
Some one has called them the ISL
lent years" Of the Son of God. But 81
1or,t owe ~
their moral testings and moral tri-
umphs; nor indeed without their mys-
tical manifestations Of purity and pow
er wholly unfamiliar to his land and
age.
Doubtless he followed the trade of
his father toiling month after month
and year after year in serene patience
and holy joy, realizing how little or
how much we cannot say, Of his divine
errand to our earth. His townsmen
brought him work to be done; worked
with him-saw his nobility of charac-
ter; felt the power Of his princely pres
ence, and likely marvelled at his con-
scious saintliness.
I take it that Christ was a wonder
not only to his parents, who, as none
others, were let into his life, but to all
who had dealing or association with
him. We must not, however, assume
to say what the people thought of him
or what he thought of himself while he
toiled with the tools of his trade or
walked in the groves around Nazareth
in meditation and prayer Enough for
us to know that his life was fitting him
RI hn hnI xr,ttI o..
infirmities'' and that other wonders
await him.
We come now to scenes of excite
ment in the Jordan valley. Everybody
there and through all that region is
talking of a certain recluse who has
come in the garb of an ancient proph-
ct; is speaking in the spirit and power
of Elias.
Messionic expectation is in the air Of
all Palestine. In the temple and mar,
ket-place men eagerly discuss the mes
sage of that religious enthusiast, who
is heralding the approach of prophet
greater than himself Multitudes are
waiting for the Consolation of Israel"
For once every distinction of race or
rank is levelled. Pharasee and Sad
ucee,. outcast publican and heather
soldier meet here as on common
ground. Their bond Of union is the
common hope of Israel; the only hope
that remained; that of the kingdom"
Kingdom! This had been the last
word of their Old Testament, and
though the voice of prophecy had
ceased, it's melody was in the air
AS Roman tyranny grew more cruel
and intolerable the speedy advent of
the long-looked for king grew to a very
passion. Priests, tradesmen, vine
dressers, fishermen, all of every age
and rank, dwell on this one theme.
The great fore-runner sounds forth
his call to repentance and declares the
kingdom at hand. His preaching is
what the people want, expect, are
ready for. Passing on from village to
village and from city to city, great
crowds gather to gaze on the preacher.
1t seems as if half the nation surround
him, startled, thrilled, awed by his ma
jestic utterances.
The Christ is yet unknown as such to
his forerunner. If they had ever met it
must have been in their youth. Since
then John had lived in the solitude of
the desert. Jesus had been the car
penters son" of a quiet and COMPARE
lively unfrequented village
We may imagine that from Johns
first emerging from the desert he had
been looking among the thousands
thronging for baptism for the one
whose shoe-latchet he felt himself un-
worthy to unloose. We are to believe
that he knew the Messiah to be living
somewhere, and that he would come to
him for baptism, and we may not for
get that a supernatural sign had been
promised by which he should recog-
nize the Messiah.
Finally Christ sets his face towards
the Jordan. Reaching it's banks He
| energies from the crowd and stands
apart on the brink of the river. John
is attracted to Him and recognizes him
as the Messiah. The Baptism of Christ
enters into history. Nothing strange
here; but in what follows; in the
! opening of the heavens; in the de-
scent of the Spirit of God, like
dove and in the voice out
of the open heaven saying, "This
| art my beloved Son in whom I am
well pleased Here is the wonder,
| +I,o lo,,a lilo fo,,,, ,-o;oa 5oo