It had been perhaps the most inexplicable and trying part of His life that hitherto the Son of God had had no more supernatural power than His neighbour. He had been quite unable to meet the needs of Israel by prophecy or healing or acts of power, such as had accredited Elijah or Elisha. So far as that was concerned He might as well not have been there. The tide of national suffering flowed on and on unchecked by the wondrous deeds of God. He must have felt like Gideon—'If the Lord be with us, where be all His miracles?'

Yet He had read in the Scriptures that He was to be anointed by His Father for His ministry; and now that His apprenticeship was over He was to receive those supernatural tools wherewith to do His work.

Further than this, He had lived for thirty years in the faith that He was the Son of God: alone He had clung to the Scriptures on this point in the face of universal unbelief. No tongue had refreshed His soul by calling Him God's Son: no knee had been bent before Him in adoration. 'Is not this the carpenter?' was His daily meat. But now there was to come to Him not only power in abundance, but also Divine recognition. He who had not received witness from man was now to receive it from God. The great contest was over; His faith was justified. The words 'Thou art My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased' set God's seal upon the struggle of His life. The anointing of the Spirit filled His empty hands with blessings, and He was ready to go forth upon His ministry in the Power of the Almighty.

We may pause a moment to gather up what truth we may about Jesus of Nazareth as He passes through this astounding experience. Here is no enthusiast hurling Himself blindfold into a crusade which might cost Him His life, hoping that His nation would fall in behind Him and by His aid bring about a wonderful Kingdom of God upon earth. No, here is Jesus of Nazareth in the full faith and