Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-07-10

H.. ..
adelphia.]
%. 1.-THE next day John seeth 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.
80. "This is He 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 1920. When a little later
word was brought to John that all men
were following Jesus, he only reiterated his
testimony exalting Jesus. Every believer
should make it his and her constant aim
to magnify Christ under all circumstances.
81. "And | knew Him not"
Inasnuch as this gospel was written to
prove that He is the Son of God Xxx, 81, it
may be that it was as Son of God he knew
'But that he should be made manifest
to Israel, therefore am | 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 Zacharias (the father of
john sang of Him as the one who should
perform the oath which God had sworn to
Abraham duke i, 30, 80, r. 13). AS the
son of David, son of Abraham, to restore
the kingdom to Israel Matt i, /. Acts i,
g. John must have known Him, and bap-
tized the people, pointing them to lsraefs
coming Messiah But as Son of God and
Saviour of the World bearing away the sin
of the world this was 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 it abode upon Him"
For special service and on special occa-
sons the Spirit had in Old Testament days
come upon people, but here is one on whom
He can ABIDE. Not as a tongue of fire does
He come to Jesus, but as pure and gentle
dove.
SO. "And l knew Him not; but He that
sent me to baptize with water, the same
said unto me-"
AS witnesses unto Christ we must be
much away from the world and go forth in
the power of God, and as sent by Him to
make ready 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, 2, and
even before that (ps Xxxiii, @, 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 inferiority or difference
| of nature, and sometimes not that at all,
but rather likeness or sameness of nature
orquality, the closest possible resemblance.
81. 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 90
and when to stay, when to speak and
when to stop.
SO. "And looking upon Jesus as He
walked He 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 Israelites as the antitvpe OF
their burnt offerings and paschal lamb.
81. "And the two disciples heard Him
speak. and they followed Jesus"
See the benefit of personal work; the
statement in verse 90 was probably a gen.
eral declaration to the multitude, but here
is a 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.
49, "Then 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.
pies! What a small and unlikely begin.
ming!
'"rhey said unto Him, Rabbi (Which is
to say, being interpreted, Master) where
dwellest thous"
Perhaps hardly knowing what they did
seek, or what to say, but longing for some
thing they had not yet obtained, they ask