‘This day,’ said Jesus, ‘is this scripture fulfilled in your ears;’ and went on with his divine talk.  We shall yet know, I trust, what ’the gracious words’ were ‘which proceeded out of his mouth’:  surely some who heard them, still remember them, for ’all bare him witness, and wondered at’ them!  How did they bear him witness?  Surely not alone by the intensity of their wondering gaze!  Must not the narrator mean that their hearts bore witness to the power of his presence, that they felt the appeal of his soul to theirs, that they said in themselves, ’Never man spake like this man’?  Must not the light of truth in his face, beheld of such even as knew not the truth, have lifted their souls up truthward?  Was it not the something true, common to all hearts, that bore the wondering witness to the graciousness of his words?  Had not those words found a way to the pure human, that is, the divine in the men?  Was it not therefore that they were drawn to him—­all but ready to accept him?—­on their own terms, alas, not his!  For a moment he seemed to them a true messenger, but truth in him was not truth to them:  had he been what they took him for, he would have been no saviour.  They were, however, though partly by mistake, well disposed toward him, and it was with a growing sense of being honoured by his relation to them, and the property they had in him, that they said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’

But the Lord knew what was in their hearts; he knew the false notion with which they were almost ready to declare for him; he knew also the final proof to which they were in their wisdom and prudence about to subject him.  He did not look likely to be a prophet, seeing he had grown up among them, and had never shown any credentials:  they had a right to proof positive!  They had heard of wonderful things he had done in other places:  why had they not first of all been done in their sight?  Who had a claim equal to theirs? who so capable as they to pronounce judgment on his mission whether false or true:  had they not known him from childhood?  His words were gracious, but words were nothing:  he must do something—­something wonderful!  Without such conclusive, satisfying proof, Nazareth at least would never acknowledge him!

They were quite ready for the honour of having any true prophet, such as it seemed not impossible the son of Joseph might turn out to be, recognized as their towns-man, one of their own people:  if he were such, theirs was the credit of having produced him!  Then indeed they were ready to bear witness to him, take his part, adopt his cause, and before the world stand up for him!  As to his being the Messiah, that was merest absurdity:  did they not all know his father, the carpenter?  He might, however, be the prophet whom so many of the best in the nation were at the moment expecting!  Let him do something wonderful!