was a poor man indeed, a Jewish artisan, at that moment seated on a grassy hill surrounded by many as poor and unknown as Himself! But did He wish to give the impression that He was nothing more? "The people were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes." No wonder! For what scribe--what teacher--what apostle--what mere man who ever lived had authority to utter such words as those we have just read! (Read also in connexion with this, Matt. xxv. 31-46.) Almost every chapter in the Gospels contains similar assumptions, on the part of Jesus, of a dignity which was divine. Think of the following assertions from the Gospel of John, every portion of which is irradiated by the glory of His person:--"The Father loveth the Son, and hath _given all things into his hand_. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and _he that believeth not the Son shall not see life_; but the wrath of God abideth on him." "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so _the Son quickeneth whom he will_. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: _that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father_. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the _voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live_." "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he _that hath seen me hath seen the Father_; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." "Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. _He shall glorify me_; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. _All things that the Father hath are mine_; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast _given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him._ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, _and Jesus Christ_, whom thou hast sent." Again I ask, What impression regarding His own dignity were such words as these intended to convey Consider them, and give an answer to God.