obvious.

Of his early life we know practically nothing. He was probably not
trained as a rabbi but worked at the trade of his father. We may
assume that he knew how to read and write, since an opportunity to
learn was usually offered in the synagogue. It is likely that his
reading was largely confined to the religious literature of his people,
especially the psalms and the prophets. His spirit was more in harmony
with the deep ethical fervor of these champions of righteousness and
lovers of justice than with the formal prescriptions of the Law. If we
may judge from the general tone of the traditions, he was a close
student of men and a lover of nature, a silent, reflective man who
noted the events passing around him. His youth passed in this way
without any overt step being taken; and, perhaps, without any clear
message having developed in his mind. He was simply one of the
dissatisfied few who are always to be found. Now and then, it may be,
he spoke passionate words against the evils that were apparent on every
hand, quoted the prophets in their outbursts against similar evils and
subsided into a brooding silence. There are many such in our land
to-day, sincere and passionate and kindly men who eat their heart out
witnessing the course of events.

The Jews of the day cherished the idea that a {80} Messianic kingdom
would be established. Jesus shared in this expectation; but it is
certain that he thought of it less as a restoration of the Jewish state
to power than a change in the position of the mass of the people. In
other words, he infused the belief with a finer ethical meaning more in
accordance with his concept of God and his sense of what was really
valuable and important. There is no means of knowing his entire
attitude toward this popular belief in a supernatural kingdom to be
established by God upon earth, but he undoubtedly retained its main
outlines. He was a child of his age although a notably sincere and
high-minded one.

About 28 A. D. John appeared and preached in the wilderness. Jesus
went to hear him because of the natural interest he aroused. It is
quite probable that he was baptized by John. We do not know whether he
associated himself with John or not. At any rate John's message
crystallized his own ideas and he felt called upon to continue his
mission. He did not proclaim himself as the Messiah but simply
preached that the kingdom of God was at hand and that men were to
prep