The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
      (1.) In sending the Messiah, God has made a gracious visit to his people, whom for many ages he had seemed to neglect, and to be estranged from; he hath visited them as a friend, to take cognizance of their case. God is said to have visited his people in bondage when he delivered them (Exodus 3:16; Exodus 4:31), to have visited his people in famine when he gave them bread,Ruth 1:6. He had often sent to them by his prophets, and had still kept up a correspondence with them; but now he himself made them a visit.