At the age of thirty he suddenly appears again on the page of history. Let us now follow his footsteps, and listen to his words.


CHAPTER III.

THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

AND it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, to Jordan, unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him,

Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.

Then he suffered him. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and praying, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and there came a voice from heaven, saying, "Thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts. And in those days he did eat nothing. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But Jesus answered and said,

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him,