Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-02-01

J.: 3o-46 supplies the Scripture. WINE
John the Baptist was preaching near the
Jordan, an embassy was sent to him from
Jerusalem by prominent Jews demanding
to know his authority for preaching. he
answered in the words of the prophet
II am the voice of one crying In the will
derness, make straight the way of the
Lord" He added a prophecy Of the COM
ing Messiah who was soon to appear. On
the very next day he saw Jesus approach
ing, and proclaimed him to the multi
tude. 1t was on the following day that
the call of the first disciples occurred.
The time was about February, A. ID. ~,
just after the temptation.
Explanatory.
Jesus, after his temptation had been
strengthened by angelic ministrations,
and was now fully ready to enter upon
his work of winning men. From the very
outset it was his plan to use some men
to win others, and hence the first step
was to get a few who would leave their
ordinary occupations and follow him. No
where could better material be found
than among Johns disciples. For by this
time, when John had been preaching for
six months or so, it is likely that most
of the choicest and most earnest spirits
of the time had been drawn to him. When
one is seeking for workers to undertake
an important task the best place to go Is
not among the idlers or the Indifferent,
but among those who are already labor
ing according to their best ability in hum
BILE places. This is something to be re-
membered by those who are ambitious to
serve God in great tasks. All that John
said was, Behold, the Lamb of God"
His disciples knew whom he meant, for
he had told them of the one to come.
1.-The two disciples heard him speak,
and they followed Jesus" A striking SEN
tence; they heard him speak, and follow
ed another. 1t is tribute to Johns
complete hiding of himself, his total de-
votion to his Master. Are there not some
religious leaders of whom this could not
be said-of whom it would rather be
said, Men heard them, and followed
them to delight in their eloquence and
magnetic charm" John had many fol-
lowers who did not readily leave him to
take up the service Of Jesus. Some of
these stood by him even after he was i'm
prisoned, and doubted whether to enter
the discipleship of Jesus. But this was
never Johns fault. He was always loyal,
always noble hearted. always eager for
the coming of the kingdom of which he
was the forerunner.
Jesus knew what they sought. He
wished them to make clear to themselves
their purpose. II they wished to turn
back, it should be done soon rather than
late. If all they wished was to satisfy
curiosity and then go their way, it was
well they should recognize that fact at
once. But if their souls were filled with
yearning desire to know and serve the
Messiah of whom they had heard, then
he was ready to meet them more than
half way.
To abide with Jesus is the only way to
learn to know him. All that one may find
in books or in the experience of others is
only partial and imperfect. He says to
men always who would know more of
truth, Come and see." Is there any APP
peal more pertinent to the needs of every
unconverted scholar who studies this les
son?
Andrew did his greatest work when he
brought his brother Simon to Jesus. 1t
is owing to this that the est Andrews
Brotherhood" is named after him; So
ciety that seeks to win some other man
to the service of God. Here is material
first; he began in his own family. How
few of us have the courage to do that. As
a rule, the young convert shrinks from
speaking to those nearest to him about
his new-found faith. This is easily un-
derstood, but it is not the way of the
New Testament.
The swift perception of Jesus, his in
sight into the character of men, enabled
10. fh.. Cts IN
character of Simon at once. The name
given him was hardly true at the time,
for Simon was no rock" for years after
this time. He was unstable and inn
pulsive even down to the close Of Jesus
ministry. But in later years he grew to
be the strong leader who might appropri
ately be called Peter" TIL word "Ce
phas" is simply the Aramaic for rock"
while Peter is the Greek. The other dis
ciple of the first two is generally assum-
ed to have been John the evangelist, who
nowhere mentions himself by name in his
gospel.
Philip and Nathaniel like Andrew, are
among the apostles Of whom little is
known. This is no proof that they were
obscure, however. We do not always real
ize that our gospels are far from being a
complete record Of Jesus ministry. Ii
the whole story were told we might find
many who seem obscure occupying posi-
tons of trust. Nathaniel is sometimes
called Bartholomew.
Him of whom Moses in the law, and
the prophets. did write: The prophe-
cies of the Messiah in the law are few
the promise to Eve, the assurance Of
Moses that another prophet like unto
himself should arise, etc. The prophetic
books are full Of such predictions. Philip,
like all devout Jews, was careful stu
dent of these scriptures.
''Come and see"-the disciple echoes the
words of his Master. They are the words
that best meet doubt and uncertainty Of
every sort when religion Is concerned. For
religion is nothing il not experimental.
All the rites and ceremonies and doc
trines in the world will prove nothing to
u doubter unless he can feel the divine
power that lies behind them and gives
them meaning.
For those who have not yet taken the
first step towards Christ, this invitation,
Come and see," is the keynote of the
lesson. For those who have already en-
tered this service, the example of An
drew and Philip is the thing to be en-
phasizcd. Christian faith and Christian
work are both illustrated. First, the
open heart; second, the seeking spirit;
third, the obedent win; fourth, the long
ing for souls.
Next Lesson--'Jesus and Nicodemus."