(3.) The author of J-Jcce Homo (a work which admira- bly illustrates the human side of Christ andliis religion, altliough it lamentably ignores the divine element in b(!tli ) forcibly points (chap, v) to the fact that the bare miniv/is of Jesus, although they were so public and so stujicndous as to compel the credit and awe of all, were in themselves not sufficient to command even reverence, much less a loving trust; nay, that, had they been too freely used, they were even calculated to repel men in affi-ight (comp. Luke v, 8) and consternation (see Luke viii, o7). It Avas the self-restraint which the Possessor of divine pov.'cr evidentlj' imposed upon himself in this respect, and especially his persistent refusal to employ his supernatural gift either for his own personal relief and comfort, or for the direct promotion of his kingdom by way of a violent assault upon hostile powers, that intensilied the astonished regard of his followers to the utmost pitch of devoted veneration. This penetrating sense of attachment to one to whom they owed everj-- thing, and wlio seemed to be J.pdependent of their aid, p.nd even indifferent to his ow:) orotection while serving otliers, culminated at the li5i«i). tragedy, which achieved a woild's redemption at his own expense. " It was the combination of greatness and self-sacritice which won their hearts, the mighty powers held under a mighty control, the unspeakable condescension, the Cross of Christ" (p. 57)— a topic that ever called forth the full enthusiasm of Paul's heart, and that fired it with a he- roic zeal to emulate his Master.
III. Xurratice of our Sariotn-^s Life and Ministi-y. — (For the furtlier literature of each topic, see the articles
referred to at each.) See Gospkls. About four hun- dred years had elapsed since Malachi, the last of the prophets, had foretold the coming of the Messiah's fore- runner, and nearly the same interval had transpired since Ezra closed the sacred canon, and composed the concluding psalm (cxix) ; a still greater number of years had intervened since the latest miracle of the Old Test, had been performed, and men not only in Palestine, but throughout the entire East, were in general expectation of the advent of the universal Prince (Suetonius, Vesp. 4; Tacitus, Tlist.v, 13) — an event wliich the Jews knew, from their Scriptures (Dan. ix, 25), was now close at hand (see Luke ii, 2G, 38). Sec Advent. It was un- der such circumstances, at a time when the Itoman em- pire, of which Judaja then formed a part, was in a state of profound and universal peace (Orosius, Hist, \],Jin.), under the rule of Augustus (Luke ii, 1), that an incident occurred which, although apparent]}' personal and incon- siderable, broke like a new oracle tlie silence of ages (comp. 2 Pet. iii, 4), and proved the dawn of the long- looked-for day of Israel's glory (see Luke i, 78). A priest named Zachariah was performing the regular functions of his office within the holy place of the Temple at Je- rusalem, when an angel aiipeared to him with the an- nouncement that his hitherto childless and now aged wife, Elisabeth, slioidd bear him a son, who was to be the harbinger of the promised lledeemer (Luke i, 5-25). See Zaciiaiuas. To punish and at the same time re- move his doubts, the po'wer of articulate utterance was miraculously taken from him until the verification of the i)rediction (probably IMay, B.C. 7). See John the Baptist. Nearly half a year after this vision, a still more remarkable annunciation (q. v.) was made by the same means to a maiden of the now obscure lineage of David, resident at Nazareth, and betrothed to Josepli, a descendant of the same once-royal family [see Geneal- ogy] : namely, that she was the individual selected to become the mother of the IMessiah who had been ex- pected in all previous ages (Luke i, 26-38). See Maky. Her scruples having been obviated by the assurance of a divine paternity [see Incarnation], she acquiesced in the providence, although she could not have failed to foresee the ignominy to which it -would cx])ose her [see Adultery], and even joined lier relative Elizabeth in praising God for so high an honor (Luke i, 39-56). As Eoon as her condition became known [see Conception], Joseph was divinely apiirised, through a dream, of Lis intended wife's innocence, and directed to name her child Jesus (see above), thus adopting it as his own (Matt, i, 18-25 ; probably April. B.C. 6). See Joseph.
Although the parents resided in Galilee, they had oc- casion just at this time to visit Bctldehcm (q. v.) in order to be enrolled along with their relatives in a census now in progress bj' order of the Koman authorities [see Cy- RENius], and thus Jesus was born, during tlieir stay in the exterior buildings of the ptdilic-khan [see Cara- vanserai], at that place (Luke ii, 1-7), in fulfilment of an express prediction of Scripture (Mic. v, 2), i)rob. Aug. B.C. G. See Nativity. The auspicious event was her- alded on the same night by angels to a companj^ of shepherds on the adjacent plains, and was recognised by two aged saints at Jerusalem [see Simeon; Anna], where the mother presented the babe at the usual time for the customarj' offerings at the Temple, the rite of circumcis- ion (q. V.) having been meanwhile duly performed (Luke ii, 8-39 ; prob. Sept. B.C. 6). Public notice, however, was not attracted to the event till, on the arrival at the j capital of a party of Eastern philosophers [see Magi], who had been directed to Palestine by astronomical phenomena as the birtlqilace of some noted infant [see Star of the Wise 3Ien], the intelligence of their in- quiries reached the jef.loiis ears of Herod (q. v.), who thereupon — first ascertaining from the assembled Sanhe- drim the predicted locality — sent the strangers to Beth- I lehem, where the holy family appear to have continued, ] pretending that he wished himself to do the illustrioi s ; babe reverence, but really only to render himfe'.f more