foreigners in their own age and country, and they lived
in the past and the future. The prophets, on whose words they
nourished their souls, foretold a good time coming, when on those who
sat in darkness there would burst a great light. For this better time,
then, they were waiting. They were waiting to hear the voice of
prophecy echoing once more through the land and waking the population
from its spiritual slumber. They were waiting, above all, for the
Messiah, if they might dare to hope that He would come in their days.

Such were the souls among which both John and Jesus found their
auditors. All such must have welcomed the voices of the Baptist and
his Successor as at least those of prophets who were striving earnestly
to deal with the evils of the time. But whether Jesus was He that
should come or whether they should look for another, some of them stood
in doubt. Among these perhaps was Joseph. He was, it is said, a
disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews. He had faith,
but not faith enough to confess Christ and take the consequences. Even
during the trial of Jesus he satisfied his conscience by being absent
from the meeting of the Sanhedrim, instead of standing up in his place
and avowing his convictions.

Such he had been up to this point. But now in the face of danger he
identified himself with Jesus. It is interesting to note what it was
that brought him to decision. It was the excess of wickedness in his
fellow-councillors, who at length went to a stage of violence and
injustice which allowed him to hesitate no longer. Complete religious
decision is sometimes brought about in this way. Thus, for example,
one who has been halting between two opinions, or, at all events, has
never had courage enough openly to confess his convictions, may be some
day among his fellow-workmen or shopmen, when religion comes up as a
topic of conversation and is received with ridicule, Christ's people
being sneered at, His doctrines denied, and He Himself blasphemed. But
at last it goes too far the silent, half-convinced disciple can stand
it no longer; he breaks out in indignant protest and stands confessed
as a Christian. In some such way as this must the change of sentiment
have taken place in the mind of Joseph. He had to defy the entire
Sanhedrim; he was putting himself in imminent peril; but he could hold
in no longer; and, casting fear behind his back, he went in "boldly" to
Pilate and begge