to the Lord of
them both. For how long a period the two Johns continued together, we do
not know, but it was drawing to its close.

[Illustration: VISIT OF MARY TO ELISABETH _Old Engraving_ Page 58]

_CHAPTER X_

_The Messiah Found_

"They found Him not, those youths of noble soul;
Long seeking, wandering, watching on life's shore,
Reasoning, aspiring, yearning for the light.

* * * * *

"But years passed on; and lo! the Charmer came,
Pure, simple, sweet, as comes the silver dew,
And the world knew Him not,--He walked alone,
Encircled only by His trusting few."
--_H.B. Stowe_.

"We"--Andrew and John--"have found the Messiah."--_Andrew to
Peter_.

"We"--Andrew and Peter, James and John, and Philip--"have found
Him, of Whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of
Nazareth."--_Philip to Nathanael_.

"The fulness of the time was come," not only when "God sent forth His
Son," but "when the Son should reveal Himself to the world." So Jesus
came forth from His retirement in Nazareth to enter on His public
ministry.

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan, unto John to be baptized of
him." What a meeting! Probably the first in their lives. It is no marvel
that John said, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to
me?" But he obeyed Jesus' bidding, "Suffer it to be so now." "So He was
baptized of John in Jordan." Then followed the prayer of the Son of God;
and then "the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon
Him"; and then the voice of the Father, saying, "Thou art my beloved
Son: in Thee I am well pleased." Let us remember that voice: we shall
hear it again.

And then for forty days and forty nights Jesus was hidden completely
from the face of man, alone on the Mount of Temptation, with wild
beasts, until ministering angels come to Him from heaven.

He returned to the region where the Baptist was preaching. "John seeth
Jesus coming to him." His eye is turned away from the multitude
thronging about him, and is fastened upon Jesus only. His thought is of
Him of whom Isaiah wrote long before--"He is brought as a lamb to the
slaughter." Pointing to Jesus he exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God which
taketh away the sin of the world!"

The Galilean disciples were doubtless present, and were deeply moved by
their Master's exclamati