THE GALILEE GALLERY (2nd in series)

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To better understand Jesus and the earthly world in which He lived,

it is important to know those around Him.

SIMEON (Luke 11:25)

Israel had for too long a time been under one domineering rule after the other and SIMEON, like other devout Jews was earnestly waiting for the coming of the Messiah.

The prophets had been quite specific. Malachai had said it would happen before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Daniel had laid out an exact place and time of arrival. Micah named Bethlehem and Isaiah predicted a virgin birth.

" ... Let me not see death until I have looked upon the Deliverer," Simeon prayed, and his prayer was answered. Guidance came in a vision, and thus it was that he entered the Temple the day the infant Jesus was brought there by Mary and Joseph.

In his heart there was no doubt and so he "took him in his arms" and with great fervor blessed God. He was ready now to die, "Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation •.."

JOHN THE BAPTIST (John 1:6)

Zechariah, a Temple priest, and Elizabeth were old and childless when the angel Gabriel promised a son would be born of them -JOHN. Since Elizabeth and Mary, mother of Jesus, were cousins, John and Jesus were cousins.

Few would argue that John the Baptist was anything but a lonely man, wandering alone in the wilderness as he did. It was a journey he made early on in his life as a way to purification. He had followers from every quarter, but to those who wondered if he were the Messiah, he said, "I am not the Christ but I am sent ahead of Him."

It was this John who baptized Jesus when He was thirty years old. And all gathered there heard John say, "Behold the lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." It was a prophecy and proclamation of which he had no doubt.

After the baptism a voice boomed from afar, "This is my son in whom I am well pleased." The mission of the man, John, ended. The mission of another who was both the Son of Man and the Son of God...began.