The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-15
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST 19.
Lesson Text: "First Disciple of
Jesus" John L., 35-49-
Goldea Text: John l.. AZ
commentary.

35, &c. "Again the next day after John
stood and two of disc Nles. and looking upon
Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the
Lamb OF God" During the time OF fasting
and temptation OF our Lord John had gone
on preaching and baptizlng and preparing
the way OF the Lord. Then on certain day
he saw Jesus coming unto him and said,
'Behold the Lamb of God. which taketh
away the sin Of the world" (vers0 29). The
opening verses OF our lesson tell US ofthe
day following. This cry of Join is the
answer to Isaac's question asked so long
ago, "Where Is the lamb for burnt offer
ing2" (Gen. xiii, ~
81. "And the two disciples heard him
speak, and they followed Jesus" John was
not seeking to draw people to himself, but to
prepare them for and point them to the
Lamb OF God. When he heard later in his
ministry that all were following Jesus, he
said, "This my joy is fulfilled. he must IN
crease. but must decrease (John ILL.,, ~,
9e). We do we'll when our testimony leads
men to follow Jesus. Let US live to point
Him out.
3s. 'Then Jesus turned and saw them
following and saith unto them, What seek
We? They say unto Him, Rabbi. where
dwellest Thou?" We may imagine Him say
Ing to US every time we go to church, or
PRAYER meeting, or Bible class, "Wha! seek
yeT' Let US acquire the habit OF asking
ourselves. what am I going for? And may
our hearts ever say, "I would see Jesus, ""I
would know Him" (John Kill, 21; Phil. ILL.,,
1O).
SO. "He saith unto them, Come and see.
They came and saw where he dwelt and
abode with Him that day, for 1t was about
the tenth hour" II the reckoning is the
fhar, ryoo q
10 a, M, and they had several hours with
Him. We wonder what home was 30 fortu-
nate as to have Him for guest, and where
He entertained those two that day, but It Is
more important for US to open our hearts to
Him and have Him abide with us contin-
ually.
40. zone of the two which heard John
speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon
Peters brother" The other was probably
John himself, as he would not be likely TO
mention his own name. From Math. ir., IL {;
Luke ", 10, we gather that these four, 81
mon, Andrew, James and John, were part
ners as fishermen, and all left their boats
finally 10 follow Jesus and become fishers OF
men, about the same time.
Il. "He first flndeth his own brother 81
mon and saith unto him. We have found the
Messiah, which is, being interpreted. the
Christ" The result Of that call upon Jesus
was that Andrew (Which signifies manly)
became a true mana manly man indeed,
for he henceforth lives to bring men to Jesus
! and make Jesus known to men, and begins
with his own brother.
42. sand he brought him to Jesus. This
is the one thing to do mot bring him to a
church or prayer meeting merely, or to
truth or doctrine. but to Jesus as living
person. Andrew brought him to Jesus, who
, ~ Vt hrinO na0nla
to Jesus, who has died and is alive forever
more and has all power (Rev. l., 1S; Math.
xviii, 1s). Jesus, who knows all men and
what is in man (chapter H., "a, 25), told him
who He was and gave him new name.
Compare Gen. xviii. 5; xxxli., %.
43. 1.-THE day following Jesus would go
forth into Galilee. and flndeth Philip and
saith unto him, Follow Me-" Either directly
by the Spirit, or by the Spirit through the
word or some person, God Is ever seeking to
draw people to Himself. He began in the
garden of Eden and has been at 1t ever since.
.44. Now Philip was OF Bethsaida, the city
of Andrew and Peter" See how Jesus rec
opnizes earthly friendships and continues as
friends in Himself those who had been
friends before. II they are only willing to
have II so. Special mention Is made OF Philip
In John W.. S, 7; xii 2l, ~, and xiv, 8, g..
he seems to have grown in the knowledge OF
Jesus very slowly, and 10 have been OF
.easoning, calculating turn OF mind.
IS. 'tPhilip flndeth Nathaniel and saith
unto him, We have found Him OF whom
Moses In the law and the prophets did write
Jesus of Nazareth, the son OF Joseph.
Philip cerinly did well In at once seeking
another. II, from that day on, every believer
had promptly brought another soul to Jesus,
think OF the result.
Tn
there any good thing come out Of Nazareth!
Philip saith unto him, Come and see." 1t is
not a question Of place or circumstances.
but II Is a person with whom we have 10 do,
about whom We have to speak. and whom we
must show unto the people. 1t would seem
from this that Nazareth was not place that
1t was an honor to hail from, another proc
that Jesus made Himself Of no reputation
(Phil. H., y.
A. "Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to Him
and saith OF him. Behold, an Israellte In
deed, In whom is no guile" What testi-
mony from the searcher OF hearts! Ma
thanael must have been true worshiper up
to the light he had, one who walked up
rightly, wrought righteousness and spoke
the truth in his heart (Ps. 1v., q, one who
walked with perfect heart In perfect way
(Ps. ci., q. Jesus will surely make Himself
know God. Consider the gentle Cornelius
(Acts T., q and see how God enlightened
him (Acts X, At, 48; XII, a..
4S. "Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence
knowest Thou me? Jesus answered and
said unto him, Before that Philip called
thee, when thou vast under the fig tree,
saw thee" The eyes Of the Lord are IN
every place, they run to and fro through the
whole earth, to show Himself strong on be.
half OF those whose hearts are perfect toward
Him (Prov. xv, 8 II Chron. xvi, 81. we
might safely infer that Nathaniel under that
fig tree was engaged in studying the prophets
and in prayer.
40. "Nathanael answered and saith unto
Him Rabbi. thou art the Son of God thou
are the king OF Israeli. Philip might have
argued with him for hours about the pos
sibility of good thing coming even out o.
Nazareth without convincing him, but mo
ment with Jesus and a word from Him settle
it all. Jesus Himself, and none but He, !:
the solver of all doubts, the dispeller OF al
fears, the rest and peace and Joy OF every
soul who comes to Him. Nathaniel at once
proclaims Him divine (see John K, SO, 36)
and Israel's Messiah, the long expected
king, whereupon Jesus assures him that NJ
shall yer see heaven opened and the com
plete tuf!ment OF Jacobs vision. Ii shal
be when Jerusalem from above ana on