ed of the wonderful power of Jesus in speaking the word of healing.

From Cana Jesus went to Nazareth. John the Baptist had been thrown
into a gloomy prison down by the Dead Sea by Herod Antipas because he
had rebuked the wickedness of that king, and Jesus knew that His own
work was now fully begun, since the prophet, who had come to prepare
His way, was laid aside.

While Jesus was at home with His mother and brothers and sisters He
went one Sabbath to the village church or synagogue, as He had always
done through His childhood and youth. Perhaps His brothers and some of
His disciples were with Him, while His mother and sisters parted from
Him and entered by another door, as was the Jewish custom. There were
many there who hoped that the young carpenter, who had become a
teacher, and as many believed, a prophet, would read from the Book of
the Law.

After the singing, and the prayers, and the reciting of the creeds, the
time came for the reading and teaching. The first lesson had been
read, and the ruler of the synagogue took from the sacred place where
it was kept another parchment roll, and coming down the steps he handed
it to Jesus. It was the roll of Isaiah, and as Jesus went up to the
reader's desk He opened and unrolled it until He came to these words,

"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken
hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the
acceptable year of the Lord."

[Illustration: Jesus in the synagogue]

When he had finished he rolled the book again and handed it to the
minister and sat down. It was the custom of those who were teachers of
the people to sit down to teach, while the people all rose and stood
until he had finished.

"This day," said Jesus "is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."

The people were looking and listening so earnestly that it was very
still, and as Jesus told them simply that He was the very One whom
Isaiah had spoken of seven hundred years before, that He had brought
the good tidings, and had come to do the work the prophet had spoken
of, they looked at each other in amazement. To be sure they had never
heard such words of grace and wisdom, but how could this be true?

"Is not this Joseph's son?" they asked each other. Joseph had been
their neighbor and Jesus had grown up amon