18, and following.] Who was to establish this kingdom of God?
Let us remember that the first thought of Jesus, a thought so deeply rooted in him that it had probably no beginning, and formed part of his very being, was that he was the Son of God, the friend of his Father, the doer of his will.
The answer of Jesus to such a question could not therefore be doubtful.

The persuasion that he was to establish the kingdom of God took absolute possession of his mind.

He regarded himself as the universal reformer.

The heavens, the earth, the whole of nature, madness, disease, and death, were but his instruments.

In his paroxysm of heroic will, he believed himself all powerful.