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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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preparation for it, must have awakened echoes<br />

throughout <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> startled <strong>the</strong> most careless<br />

<strong>and</strong> unbelieving. It was, according to St. Luke's<br />

exact statement, in <strong>the</strong> fifteenth year <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong><br />

Tiberius Caesar—reckoning, as provincials would<br />

do,* from his co^regency with Augustus (which<br />

commenced two years before his sole reign), in <strong>the</strong><br />

year 26 a.d.® According to our former<br />

computation, <strong>Jesus</strong> would <strong>the</strong>n be in His thirtieth<br />

year.' <strong>The</strong> scene <strong>of</strong> John's first public appearance<br />

was in ' <strong>the</strong> wilderness <strong>of</strong> Judsda,' that is, <strong>the</strong> wild,<br />

desolate district around <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jordan.<br />

We know not whe<strong>the</strong>r John baptized in this place,^<br />

nor yet how long he continued <strong>the</strong>re; but we are<br />

expressly told, that his stay was not confined to<br />

that locality.^ Soon afterwards we find him at<br />

Bethabara,® which is far<strong>the</strong>r up <strong>the</strong> stream. <strong>The</strong><br />

outward appearance <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> habits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Messenger corresponded to <strong>the</strong> character <strong>and</strong><br />

object <strong>of</strong> his Mission. Nei<strong>the</strong>r his dress nor his<br />

food was that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Essenes ; ^ <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> former, at<br />

least, like that <strong>of</strong> Elijah,' whose mission he was<br />

now to * fulfil.'

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