with this eminent feature, which is expressly attributed to one of them, " waiting for the consolation of Israel" (comp. Luke i, G with ii, '25, and 37, 38). Such hopes, stimulated by a profound and far-sighted faith, were exhibited at the birtli and infancy of the Jlessiah Jesus by these expectant Jews; and they were not alone. Gentiles displayed a not less marvellous faith, when " the wise men from the East" did homage to the babe of IJethlehem, umleterred by the disguise of humiliation witli wliich tlie Messiah's glory was to the human eye obscured (Matt, ii, 2, 11). But at his death, no less than at his birtli, under a still darker veil of ignominy, similar acknowledgments of faith in his Messiahship were exhibited. Mark mentions it as one of the points in the character of Joseph of Ariraathaja that he " wait- ed for the kingdom of God;" and it would seem that this faith urged him to that holy "■ boldness" of using his influence with Pilate to rescue the body of Jesus, and commit it to an honorable tomb, as if he realized the truth of Isaiaii's great prophecy, and saw in the Cru- ciKcd no less than tiie Messiah himself (Mark xv,43). To a like faith must be imputed the remarkable confession of the repentant thief upon the cross (Luke xxiii, 42) — a faith which brouglit even the Gentile centurion who superintended the execution of Jesus to the conviction that the expiring sufferer was not only innocent (Luke xxiii, 47), but even "the Son of God" (Matt, xxvii, 54, and Mark xv, 39). This conjunction of Gentile faith with that of Hebrews is most interesting, and, indeed, consistent with the progress of the promise. We have seen above how, in the earliest stages of the revelation. Gentile interests were not overlooked. Abraham, who saw the Messiah's day (John viii, 5C), was repeatedly assured of the share which all nations were destined to have in the blessings of liis death ((ien. xii, 3 ; xxii, 18 ; Acts iii, 25). Nor was the breadth of the promise after- wards narrowed. Moses called '• the nations" to rejoice with the chosen people (Deut. xxxii, 43). Isaiah pro- claimed the Messiali expressly as " the light of the Gen- tiles" (xlii, G ; xlix, G) ; Haggai foretold his coming as " the desire of all nations" (ii, 7) ; and when he came at last, holy Simeon inaugurated his life on earth under the title of " a light to lighten the (icntiles" (Luke ii, 32). When his Gospel was beghniing to run its free course, the two missionaries for the heathen quoted this great prophetic note as the warrant of their ministry : "I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth" (Acts xiii, 47). Plain, however, as was the general scope of the JMessianic prophecies, there were features in it which the Jewish nation failed to perceive. Fram- ing their ideal not so much from their Scriptures as from their desires, and impatient of a hated heathen yoke, they longeii for an avenging JMessiah who sliould inflict upon their oppressors retaliation for many wrongs. This wish colored all tlieir national hopes; and it sliould be borne in mind by the student of the Gospels, on wliich it throws much light. Not only was the more religious class, such as Christ's own apostles and pupils, afli^cted by this thought of an external kingdom, even so late as his last journey to Jerusalem (3Iark x,37) ; but the un- discriminating crowtls, who would have forcibly made him king (John vi, 15)— so strongly did his miracles attest his Messianic mission even in their view (vcr. 14) —and who afterwards followed him to the capital and shouted liosannas to his praise, most abruptly withdrew their popular favor from him and joined in his destruc- tion, because he gave them no signs of an earthly em- pire or of [xilitical emanciiiation. Christ's kingdom was "not of this world" — a proinisition wliich, although containing tlie very essence of Christianity, offended the Jewish people wlicn Jesus presented himself as their ! veritable ]Messiali, and led to their rejection of him. Moreover, liis lowly condition, sufferings, and death, have been a stumbling-block in the way of their recog- nition of-him ever since. See Savioi;i{.
III. Jewish Views resjyecting the Messiah. — " Even in
j the first prediction of the woman's seed bruising the j serpent's head, there is the idea of a painful struggle [ and of a victory, which leaves the mark of suffering upon the Conqueror" (Smith's Messianic Prnphecies of i Isaiuh [18G2], p. 1G4). This thouglit has tinged the sentiments of all orthodox believers since, although it [ has often been obscured by the brilliant fancy of ambi- tion. Sec Sox or Man.