The many quotations of words, phrases and texts--which are from the Revised Version--are designed to direct the young to Scripture forms with which they should become familiar; and sometimes to emphasize a fact or truth, or to recall a former incident. Grateful acknowledgment is made especially to the works of Farrar, Edersheim and Stalker, for facts, and germs of thought which have been simplified in form and language for the interest and instruction of the young, in the hope that they may thereby be led into deeper study of one of the noblest of human lives. G.L.W. _Philadelphia, July, 1900_. ~CONTENTS~ PAGE~ CHAPTER I A HOME IN THE BLESSED LAND, BY THE SACRED SEA A Fitting Study for the Young--The Glory of all Lands--Divisions of Palestine--Galilee--People of Galilee--Gennesaret and its Surroundings--Comparisons--Jewish Sayings--McCheyne--Towns, Villages and Palaces--Fisheries--Bethsaida 19 CHAPTER II FIVE BOYS OF BETHSAIDA--RAMBLES ABOUT HOME Five Apostles of Jesus--Two Pair of Brothers--Salome--Brothers Indeed--Views from a Hilltop--View of the Lake--Poetic Description--Rambles North of the Lake--On the West--Keble's Poem--Answer to the Poet's Question--The Sower--Object Lessons of the Great Teacher--Mount of Beatitudes--Nature's Influence on John--Philip 24 CHAPTER III JOHN'S ROYAL KINDRED Salome and Mary Sisters--John and Jesus Cousins--Visit to Bethsaida--Visit to Nazareth--A Picture of the Boy Jesus--The Picture a Help--A Phrase to Remember--A Kinsman of John and Jesus--Education--The Messiah 31 CHAPTER IV THE GREAT EXPECTATION IN JOHN'S DAY Prophecy Concerning the Messiah--Jewish Mistakes--Roman Conquest--Judas of Galilee--The Five Bethsaidan Boys--John and Peter 35 CHAPTER V EARLY INFLUENCES ON CHARACTER Special Influences on the Five--Scripture Students--Rabbi Like Simeon, or a Teacher--Prophetess Like Anna--Home Teaching--From the Five to Two--Salome and Her Sons--Review--Boyhood Traits--Imperfections--Perfection 39 CHAPTER VI FIRST VISIT IN JERUSALEM Jewish Boy at Twelve--Interest in the First Pilgrimage--John's Journey--The Jordan Ford--City, Temple and Altar--John and Saul--Silent Years--Parental Thoughts Concerning John 44 CHAPTER VII JOHN'S VIEW OF THE COMING MESSIAH John's Old Testament Studies--First Gospel Promise--Promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--Promise to David--Mary and Immanuel--Names and Titles of the Messiah--John's Misreading of the Old Testament--Christ's Sufferings 48 CHAPTER VIII JESUS THE HIDDEN MESSIAH