Herod immediately inquired of the chief priests and scribes where CHRIST was to be born. We see then what expectation was raised of Jesus at his coming into the world, and how directly, and indirectly, but in language well understood by the Jews, his peculiar office was declared. About thirty years after this, "when the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts of John, whether he were the TM Christ or not," John disclaimed that character, and described a much greater person who was to succeed him. At Jesus's baptism, a voice from heaven proclaimed, and probably in the hearing of the multitude, ""Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased." When the Jews sent a solemn embassy of Priests and Levites from Jerusalem, for the purpose of asking John, Who art thou? he confessed that he was not the Christ, and asserted that there was one among them whom they knew not, who came after him, but was before him, and for whom he was not worthy to perform the meanest offices. Again; he called Jesus, "The P lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world:" and he bare witness to the miracle at his baptism; and in effect asserted his Messiahship, by acknowledging him to be the Son of God. And how this language, repeatedly used by John, was understood among the Jews, may hence appear very plainly; that one of the Baptist's disciples, who heard it, said to his brother Simon, "We have found Matt. ii. 2, 4. • John i. 19-27. Luke iii. 15, 16. P ib. 29, 33, 34. " ib. 21, 22. the MESSIAH." Nay, the Baptist himself puts the meaning of his declarations beyond a doubt, when he says, "Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ; but that I am sent before him." At the first passover Jesus indirectly affirmed that he was the Messiah, when he said, "Make not MY $ FATHER'S house a house of merchandise." And to Nicodemus he expressed himself very remarkably: "No man ascendeth up to heaven, but he who descended from heaven; even the Son of Man, who was in heaven :" and he styled himself" the Son of God, and even his "only begotten Son, in whom whosoever believed should have everlasting life." The Baptist's last testimony to Jesus was, "He * that cometh from above, is above all. What he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth. He, whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life." W Soon after this our Lord unreservedly declared to the woman of Samaria, I that speak to thee am the Christ. John the Baptist, our Lord himself, the twelve, and the seventy, preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. It is my opinion that demoniacs were supernaturally influenced to proclaim, as they often do, a "I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God: Thou art the Son of God: What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? Thou dart Christ, the Son of God." This testimony was given to Christ, that those who heard it might be led to a due consideration of his character. From the same cause, and for a like reason, a damsel, possessed with a spirit of divination, cried after Paul and his attendants, "These men are the servants of the most high God, who shew unto us the way of salvation:" And the evil spirit answered the Jewish exorcists, "Jesus f I know, and Paul I know: but who are ye." e At the second passover, when the Jews sought to kill Jesus for performing a miracle on the sabbath, he answered, "MY FATHER Worketh hitherto, and I work." And though the Jews considered this as blasphemous language, he persisted in it; and asserted that the Father loved him, committed all judgment to him, and bare witness of him by the works which he enabled him to perform. When he vindicated his disciples for plucking ears of corn on the sabbath, he called himself one greater than the temple, and Lord of the sabbath. In his sermon on the mount he improved on the law, placed his own authority in opposition to it, and declared that whoever heard his words built on a rock. a Mark i. 24. Acts xvi. 16, 17. ib. 20, 22, 36, 37. bib. iii. 11. 3 ib. v. 7. d Luke iv. 41, John v. 17. *ib.v. 28, 32. vii. 24. When John sent to him from his prison, saying, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? He plainly, though indirectly, asserted his high office by appealing to his miracles and conduct. In the hearing of a very great multitude he declared to his disciples, "m Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God: but he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God." After he had walked on the waves, he received the worship of the disciples, and their acknowledgment, "Of a truth thou art the " Son of God." n Soon after this, he asserted in the presence of the multitude that God had sent him, that he was the bread of life, and that every one who believed in him had everlasting life. And when Simon Peter said to him in the name of the twelve, "Thou hast the words of eternal life; and we believe and know that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God;" he did not then enjoin a concealment of this truth, but he only intimated that, though the twelve acquiesced in Peter's confession; yet one of them would betray him. On another occasion, he led his apostles into a profession of his Messiahship; and pronounced a blessedness on Peter for his second explicit declaration, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." At the feast of tabernacles, six months before his crucifixion, Jesus taught in the temple, and said, Matt. xi. 3, 5. • John vi. 29, 35, 40. n Matt. xiv. 33, m Luke xii. 8, 9. Pib. 68-70. 9 Matt. xvi. 16. S r My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me :" and his divine instructions and mighty works occasioned a division in the sentiments of men, whether he were the Christ. During this 'festival he called himself the light of the world; appealed to his Father's testimony, meaning the works which he performed; when asked, Who art thou? answered, The same that I said unto you at the beginning [of my ministry;] observed that Abraham saw his day and was glad; and solemnly affirmed that he existed before Abraham. He also expressly said to the blind man, whom he healed at this festival, and who asked him who the Son of God was, "Thou hast both seen him, and he that talketh with thee is he." X W At the feast of dedication, three months before his death, on being directly asked, whether he were the Christ, he answered, "I told you, and ye believed not the works which I do in my Father's name bear witness of me." And afterwards, in vindication of his high title implied in calling God his Father, he asserted that his Father had sanctified him and sent him into the world. Z Near Bethany Martha declared her belief before the twelve, that he was the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world. a He was repeatedly called the Son of David, a title equivalent to the Messiah. b |