"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:40. At the age of twelve years he went with his parents to the feast at Jerusalem, and conversed with the learned doctors in the temple, astonishing them with his understanding and answers, and after this it is said, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature [age], and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52.
And now the time had come when our Lord was about to enter upon his life-work, his public ministry. The messenger foretold by the last of the prophets had already come, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Mark 1:3. John the Baptist understood his mission; through faith he preached the Saviour he had not yet seen, saying, "There standeth one among you, whom ye know not; he it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John 1:26, 27.
One day as John stood and baptized in the river Jordan, Jesus came with those who desired baptism. The divine presence was revealed to the Baptist, and he exclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him." John 1:29, 32.
When Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water, "and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him; . . . and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. 3:16, 17. Later on, when our Lord had entered upon his ministry, Peter, and James, and John were with him "in the holy mount" (2 Peter 1:18) of transfiguration; and "while he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them;" and
again was heard on earth the divine voice proclaiming, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Matt. 17:5.
Under the Bible law two or three witnesses are sufficient to establish a matter; and here is God's own testimony to the divine Sonship of the man Christ Jesus, as witnessed by the Baptist and the three disciples. This testimony is faithfully recorded for all time, proving beyond controversy that the Son of God did indeed come to earth; he grew to man's estate; he was baptized in the river Jordan, and entered upon his life-work. From this time to the close of his earthly mission, our dear Lord, clothed with humanity, trod the hills and vales of Judea, seeking "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matt. 15:24.
