"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."-Mark, 1, 9.

A

MONG those who came to listen to John's preach

ing was the young man, Jesus of Nazareth Whether the wild, sun-blackened hermit recognized this calm-eyed listener as the companion of his childhood, whether either knew the other, the Bible does not say, nor whether Christ was as yet fully conscious of His mission. Thousands of penitents were being baptized by John; and Jesus, coming also, stood waiting in His turn in the river Jordan. At sight of Him John hesitated; he knew that he himself was the Forerunner, that his duty on earth was to "prepare the way," to recognize and to proclaim the Messiah. Yet in his humility he would have stayed Jesus, saying, "I have need 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 fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him." Even as John blessed Him they both beheld a miracle. The Spirit of God descended "like a dove" upon Jesus, and a Voice from heaven hailed Him as "My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

MATTHEW XXVI-THE LAST SUPPER

1551

8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

14¶ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover ?

18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, Is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.1

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.2

Thou hast said" is a phrase equivalent to "Yes." "The Revised Version reads "for this is my blood of the covenant," etc.