_Wisdom, whence cometh it? And where is the place of understanding?_ cried one who had despaired to find an answer. But the day came when certain of the Jews declared that Wisdom was _found_, that the infinite Divine Wisdom in its full glory had dwelt amongst us. All, and more than all, that had been said or thought or hoped of the Heavenly Wisdom, they had discovered in Christ Jesus. For one who had been man among men to be thus _by Jews_ identified as the Perfect Wisdom, which was but an aspect of God Himself, is clearly wonderful; but just how utterly amazing it is, perhaps only those can realise who are conscious of the innate and magnificent monotheism of the Jews, and who have listened with sympathy and understanding to these reverent and rapturous praises of Wisdom. That a human being could possibly be felt to be the incarnation of Wisdom’s Self is a miracle. But the miracle is precisely that which has happened, and it is explicable only by a cause as great as the effect; that is, by the miracle of what Jesus was and is. Recognition of Christ as the Divine Wisdom, and of Wisdom as incarnate in Christ, permeates the tradition and theology of the New Testament. It is visible in almost every passage where His disciples have sought to express the mystery and majesty of Him whose human love they had known on earth, whose divine power they now felt from heaven. The idea of Wisdom is the basis of St. Paul’s great utterances regarding Christ in the _Epistle to the Colossians_; of the affirmations in _Hebrews_ that by Christ were the worlds made and that He is the Radiance of the Divine Glory and the Reflection of the Divine Being; and behind the wonderful opening chapter of _St. John’s Gospel_ there is a hymn to the Eternal Wisdom, which was in the beginning, and was with God, and was God.[155] _Who hath ascended into heaven and descended?_--asked a sceptical questioner in the _Book of Proverbs_ (Pr. 30^{4}). _No man ascended into heaven, but He that descended out of heaven, even the Son of Man_, rings out the answer of the Gospel (_John_ 3^{13}). _If any man lack Wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him_, writes St. James. Surely God’s gift is Christ? There are now nineteen centuries to show that nothing that has set itself against His wisdom has endured and been accepted as the truth. “We need a power which can successfully contend against the storm of our passion and self-will.”--St. Paul affirms that the need has been met and answered in Christ crucified, _the Power of God and the Wisdom of God_, and the Gospel holds out the same promise: _as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the children of God_.