The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-14

i tf Jesus Wins His First Disciples.
 Origins always fascinate. Every Book of Genesis is attractive. This is the "beginning" of the Christian Church. The interest ordinarily attaching to the start of things is in this instance great ly enhanced by the sacred character of and its worldwide and beneficent eff fects. The story of the call of the first disciples is here told with a charming frankness and simplicity The circum- stance has been aptly called the cradle of the church. sf
 Jesus Himself had just c~me from the wilderness and the naked and arid mountains of malediction." In that awful solitude He had been with God for forty days. Glimpses and suges- tions of the exercises of his soul are given us. He had struggled out into an understanding of His Divine mis- sion. more or less clear. He had &C., cepted 1t right royalty. He had devel- oped a general plan of procedure to which He faithfully adhered to the close of His career.
 It was no fortuitous incident that Jesus came to the place where John was baptizing. He came to the lords of the Jordan as to human quarry, from which he could select living stones as the foundation of that spiritual structure He intended to rear. Nor was He disappointed. He found five out of twelve of His apostles there.
 When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming, he recognized Him as the Mes siah, the iatchet of whose shoes he felt himself unworthy to unloose. He gave the Master a respectful, but at the same time a joyous, welcome, and un- eQuivocally cast the full weight of his phenomenal influence upon the side of the new Teacher, no shade of jealousy crossed his noble heart. Looking and pointing, he cried. Behold the Lamb of Godr; A brief sentence, but long enough to tell the story of the Divine paternity and pity. The next day, on the reappearance of Jesus (not acci- dental. but designed), John repeated his significant exclamation with even in- creased emphasis. It was practical dismissal of his own disciples, concern ing whom John and Jesus may have consulted and arrived at an understand ing. It is as if John had been saying to his own followers, Whoever wishes to leave me now and attach himself to this greater Teacher, is at full liberty to do so." Two of the choicest spirits among his converts take the hint and separate themselves forever from John to follow Jesus. The Nazarene hears their footsteps, and. turning. encour- ages them with look and word. They are drawn to Him. as iron to the mag net Under the fresh-cut boughs of a pilgrim-b booth, or in the cool depths of some grotto. they sit at His feet, and learn of Him, their hearts burning within them as He unfolds to them the principles of His kingdom Then and Al lrs- E,. lNA O. Jesus that love which made John ey- ermore His bosom companion. Andrew coveted his brothers superior Abilities for the service of his new found Mas ter. He rested not until he had conn
 municated to him his momentous find" and brought him to Jesus. The next day he saw the addition of the fourth disciple in the person of Philip. who 1 showed the spirit of true convert by immediately bringing another to Jesus l in the person of the guileless IsraeIite, Nathaniel Bartholomew.
 From this circumstance the para graph has been we'll called chapter of eurekas, a series of fndings-Jesus
 finds disciples. They find their friends. | We have found!" one of the most i'm pressive declarations of the Bible.
 Mosaic From Commentaries.
 Two disciples Account of an eye witness one named subsequently,: ha- bitual reserve concerning himself &C.,
 counts for his silence.-Camb Bib. The
 giving of one name suggesting a per-
 sonal reserve in regard to the other. -Lange. Looked upon Jesus: Eye
 steadily and continuously Greeted to-
 ward Him.-Lange. As He walked:
 Took leave after coming to an under
 standing respecting their conduct to- ward each other.-Ibid. Next day: Up-
 on the testimony of the first day the
 two disciples of John did not follow
 Jesus. Felt 1t involved departure from
 old master. Next day was the day of
 their calling and decision. Behold the
 Lamb; Disciples of John yesterday had
 heard the same words No doubt some explanation had followed. Repetition of
 words all that was necessary to cause
 the disciples to go personally to the