Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-09
THE FIRST DISCIPLES.
LESSON II, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY IL.

Text OF the Lesson. John !. eo-Ae-JC Com
init Verses, 4o-4s Golden Text. John
4, 20-Commentary by tho Rev. y. M
stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by
permission OF II. $. Hoffman. publisher, Phil
adelphia.l
30. "The next day John secth Jesus com
ing unto him"
The following verses Indicate that the
events OF the two days included in this les
son took place after the baptism Of Jesus.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sins OF the world"
The Father had testified by an audible
voice from heaven, and by the descent Of
the Holy Spirit in the form of dove. that
this was His beloved Son, and now John
points Him out as the one to whom he
came to bear witness.
30. "This IL lie of whom said, After me
cometh man who Is preferred before me
for He was before me-"
This He had said when they sent to ask
Him If he was the Christ or Elijah or the
prophet oversees 1890. When little later
word was brought TO John that all men
testimony exalting Jesus. Every believer
should make it his and her constant aim
to magnify Christ under all circumstances
81. "And knew Him not"
Inasmuch rs this gospel was written to
prove that He Is the Son of God Xxx, 81, 1t
may be that it was as Son of God he knew
Him not till after the baptism.
"But that he should be made manifest
to Israel, therefore am l come baptizing
with water"
Gabriel had spoken of Him as one to sit
on David's throne and reign over the house
of Jacob, and Hacharas (the father of
john sang of Him us the one who should
perform the oath which God had sworn to
Abraham duke i, 80, SO, ", 73). AS the
son Of David, son of Abraham, to restore
the kingdom to Israel Matt. /, /; Acts i,
o., John must have known Him, and hap
tized the people, pointing them to IsraePs
coming Messiah. But as Son of God and
Saviour of the World bearing away the sin
of the world this was n new revelation, and
not till long after Pentecost did even the
apostles receive the truth that Jesus was a
Saviour to any but Jews.
81. "And John bare record, saying, saw
the Spirit descending from heaven like a
dove, and 1T abode upon Him"
For special service and on special occa-
siens the Spirit had In Old Testament days
come upon people, but hire is one on whom
He can abide. Not as tongue of fire does
He come to Jesus, but as pure and gentle
dove.
80. "And knew Him not but He that
sent me TO haptize with water, the same
said unto me-"
As witnesses unto Christ we must be
much away from the world and 90 forth in
the power of God, and as sent by Him to
make ready n people for His Second Com
ing, now SO near at hand
"Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending and remaining on Him, the
same is He which baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost"
From the time when the Spirit of God
moved upon the chaos of Gen. i, 9, and
even before that Q's XXXiii, 81, all that
has been done on earth that has been
truly good or great has been by the Holy
Spirit.
a. "And saw and bare record that this
is the Son of God"
The word "son" in Scripture does not
necessarily signify infcriority or difference
OF nature, and sometimes not that at all,
but rather likeness or sameness of nature
orquality, the closest possible resemblance
IS. again the next day after John stood
and two of his disciples"
John continues his work quietly and
faithfully. When we are wholly subject
TO God He will clearly show us when to go
and when to stay, when to speak and
when to stop.
&c. "And looking upon Jesus as He
walked, lie saith, Behold the Lamb of
God"
The statement concerning His taking
away the sin of the world is here omitted,
so that this would point him out more
definitely to lsraelites us the antitype of
their burnt offerings and pasChal lamb.
81. "And the two disciples heard Him
speak, and they followed Jesus"
Sec tho benefit of personal work; the
statement in verse 90 was probably gem
eral declaration to the multitude, but here
is private and personal statement to two
individuals, and the result is that both fol
low Jesus. Observe how it came about
and do thou likewise.
80. "rhen Jesus turned and saw them
following, and saith unto them, What
seek yer"
How quietly and ordinarily it all comes
about, the calling of these first two disci-
plesl What small and unlikely begin
ningi
"I'hey said unto Him, Rabbi (Which is
to say, being interpreted, Master), where
dwellest thou"
Perhaps hardly knowing what they did
seek, or what to say, but longing for some
thing they had not yet obtained, they ask
where He dwclls. He might have an
swered, az dwell in the high and holy
place, with him also that is of n contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of
the humble and to revive the heart of the
contrite one Qsa lyii, l5).
80. "He saith unto them, Come and see.
They came and saw where He dwelt, and
abode with Him that day, for it was about
the tenth hour"
"lIim that comcth to Me | will in no
wise cast out" John vi, 80. However I'M
worthily or however feebly they come, if
any one will only como they will be wei
coined.
40. "One OF the two which heard John
speak, and followed him, was Andrew,
Simon Peters brother.'
The other, we suppose, was John him
self, inasmuch as he, being the writer of
this Gospel, would not be likely to mention
his own name; and it is only in the latter
part of the Gospel that he speaks of him
self as "That disciple whom Jesus loved"
al. "IIe first findeth his own brother
Simon"
1t may be that he thought of Gods
question to Cain, "Nhere is thy brother"
but whether or not, he did we'll to seek
first his own brother. The first question
for the sinner is, "Where art thouw and
when found and saved the next should be,
"Where is thy brotherW Gen iii, 9, iv, 81.