The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-08-09

iBSpliSi icCoius
S.. Johns was the last Gospel written.
1t is we'll we have a Gospel of such late
date Great errors had had time to spring
up and develop, giving st. John, inspired,
splendid opportunity to check such beresies;
e. g., the errors of Enron and Cerinthus;
also the hereses of the Gnostic sects, to wit,
those of Simon Magus, Valentnus, Basilldes,
Carpocrates, MeDander. Such errors would
, have continued TO modest the harmony of
the Church much more seriously had not
ST. John, on the very start, dealt against
them such heavy blows.
Eusebus tells us St. John wrote his Cos
pei to supply the omissions of St. Matthew,
Mark, and Luke.
Cyprian was converted through the read
ing of st. Johns Gospel.
81. John Evangelist.
He was son of Zebedee and Salome, brother
of ST.. James the Greater. Originally he was
a fisherman, living on the northwest side of
the Sea of Galilee, in vicinity of Capernaum.
He was author of the Gospel known as that
OF ST. J ohm the Evangelist, of three Epistles,
and Of the Book of the Revelations. At
about 80 years OF age he became a minister
of Christ and thereafter devoted himself to
that calling.
We are informed that about ~ years after
the ascension of Christ the II Apostles sepa-
rated and went into different parts of the
world to preach the Gospel and to establish
the Church We are told ST. John oil his
main work in Asia Minor. He established
the churches at Smyrna, Thyatira, Phiiadel-
pha, Laodicea, Sardis, and Pergamos. He
lie lived principally at Ephesus as Metro
politan, 81. Timothy being the Bishop. He
there consecraied Polycarp,
ST. John died natural death at Ephesus
about A. ID. 100, aged nearly a century. No
one knows anything of the present location
of the remains of the deceased Apostle.
ii. SITS JOHN. ANDREW, AND PETER BE-
COME FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
!. Data.
St. John, 1852 There is only this
one account.
g Time and Place.
We date March, A. d. IS, and locate at
Bethabara east of the Jordan. in Perea, 20
miles northeast from Jerusalem. By the
10th hour ". 39) we understand o'clock
p. III.
B. SIS. John, Andrew and Peter.
The two, SITS John and Andrew, were the
first to ally themselves to Christ. They
seemingly acted simultaneously. We can
not specify which was leader. No one can
fault the following order: st. John, st.
Andrew. Then 81. Peter followed. They
had all been disciples of ST. John Baptist.
ST. John the Evangelist was son of Zebedee
and Salome, and brother of st. James. st.
Peter was son of iona and brother of An
drew. All three were fishermen from
Capernaum, in Galilee.
4. ST. John Baptist.
ST. John Baptist WAS born at little place
named Juttab, III Judea, not far southeast
from Hebron about 20 miles from Jerusa-
lem. He was son OF the priest Iacharias.
His mothers name was Elizabeth. The
birth was a miracle 1t took place six
months before Christ was born. The name
John means The God-giver
3. The Facts.
Ignoring self, preierring Christ, st. John
Baptist directed attention to Jesus as the
Savior of sinners. The time has come to
leave st. John Baptist and go over to Christ
SITS. john (Evangelist) and Andrew are con-
WINGED of his Messiahship. Andrew is so
pleased and anxious about his brother Peter
that he seeks him at once and finds him
ready to join the nucleus of the first Chris
tian body.
We notice Christianity does not. shrink
from investigation. Come and see! :" is it's
frank invitation. There is nothing To hide.
/ There is no esOteric circle. The Founder of
our holy religion did not have pious exte-
rior for the pubic and looseness OF morals in
private.
There is something very modest in st.
Johns effort not to lug his name into the
narration.
6. Definitions and Explanations.
l. Two of his disciples. V. 80. The
| John named in the verse was st. john Bap-
| fist. The pronoun "his" refers to said ST.
| John. The two disciples are referred to also
| in verses 81 and 40 In the last verse the
name of one is stated, TO wit, Andrew, the
brother of Peter. Who was tho other?
The current opinion isathat I'VE are to under
stand St. John the Evangelist, the writer of
the account. So say Bengei, Meyer, DR..
| James Strong, DIR. A. Clarke, WhedoD.
/ 2. Looking upon. V. SO. The language
| implies Il more than usual penetration of
look. ST.. John Baptist singled Christ out
for observation, fixing his eyes on him in
tently. He looked III such a way as TO sug-
gest to others also to look coward Christ.
3. Lamb of God. 36 CT " 20. In
| Temple service lambs bad been sacrificed
for centuries pointing to the death of
Christ on Calvary. Then, lamb is the
symbol of meekness, innocence, purity,
harmlessness, gentleness, submissveness.
In the New Testament Christ is styled Tie
Lamb, and the followers of Christ are his
| lambs
A. What seek ye? v. 80. This is the
pedagogic interrogation. Christ knew what
they sought He only wanted to draw them
ont. There is also suggestiveness in this.
Persons should know what they are about.
Ii they follow Christ they should be able to
assign reasons for SO doing As to Christ's
knowledge of the intent of the two in fol-
lowing him, CT V. A. Then when two
parties are coming into association it is we'll
| TO have good understanding of their pur-
poses.
5. Rabbi. 80. That is Hebrew word,
and, since ST. John wrote TO the Greeks, he
explained the word. Master is used some
what in the sense OF sch0ol-master, teacher
CT. VS.. Al, az.
6. Come and see. 80. CT V. As; also
| Ps., 66:5. 1t is a cordial invitation. 1t in
dictates his willingness they should see him