Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-01-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY IS.

40-MemOry Verses, 40, 41-Commen.
tary on the Days Lesson.
I. John directs two disciples to Jesus
Tvs. $500. 35. "The next day" There
were three days of testimony OF John to
Jesus: /. To the deputation from the
Sanhedrin Tvs. 1929. 2. Publicly, TO the
people Tvs. 29-3Q. .. Privately, to two
disciples Tvs $500. John stood" "Was
standing" K. V. 1.-TWO of His disciples"
Andrew ". 40) and John. the author OF
this book, who modestly avoids using his
own name.
SO. "And looking" John fixed his eyes
upon Him, singing Him out and regarding
Him with special attention "Beho,d the
Lamb of God" (The Il. V. puts a comma
after behold; an interiection not VERDI.
All the lambs hitherto offered had been
furnished by men; this one was provided
by God, as the only sufficient sacrifice for
the sin of the world. His words would be
to them equivalent to command to fol
low him. How faithful John was in his
Office as forerunner. He did not think of
his own honor or popularity, but, conscious
that he must decrease, he is anxious to
have his followers become true disciples
of Christ.
81. "They followed Jesus" They un'
derstood Johns meaning and immediately
did as they were directed. 1t would be
we'll if all would immediately follow Christ.
We should follow Him as our Redeemer,
Pattern, Guide and Shepherd. They may
not have intended to,leave Johns leader.
ship permanently. 3S. Jesus turned.
He was ready to give them a hearty wei
come. "What seek ye?" What is your
desire or reQueste Jesus knew they were
seeking Him, for He knows all hearts, but
He desired some expression from them.
Rabbi. A Jewish title of honor for men
of learning, meaning teacher. master"
Thus they at once recognized His super
iority and their ignorance. "Where dwell.
est Thouw "Where art Thou staying"
He had no permanent place of abode In
this locality.
80. Come and see." kind invitation
to them TO go with Him to His place of
abode. "The tenth hour st. John was
so impressed with the first interview with
Jesus that he remembered the hour.
III. Several other disciples called Tvs.
4O-46).-
Greek origin signifying "man" He be-
longed to Bethsaida ". Az, and was
disciple of John the Baptist. He resided
afterward at Capernaum Mark l;29). The
other was John, the writer of this account.
Peters brother" And the elder of the
two The bestowment of this designation
on Andrew shows that this gospel was
written when Peters name was widely
recognized d. Gle fndeth first" Or.
W 1t is supposed that at the same time
Andrew went to find his brother Simon,
John also went and found his brother
James and brought him to Christ, but An
drew found his brother first. This was a
true missionary spirit. Gods salvation is
fhatf .-.i,N u,s
are always anxious to bring others Into the
same holy relation Found the Messias."
He speaks exultingiy. Aroused by Johns
faithful testimony concerning the coming
Messiah they were ready to receive Him
when they saw few true marks of His
Messiahship. Being interpreted" Mes
sias is the Hebrew word and Christ is its
Greek Interpretation.
A. Brought him" Andrew thrice
brings others to Jesus: l. Simon. ,. The
lad with the loaves (chap. 6:S, 81. 3.
Certain Greeks John l2:2O-22). in these
three incidents John gives the key to his
character. 'Beheld him Jesus at once
knew Simon better than Simon knew him.
self "Cephas-stone." Petros, or Peter,
has the same meaning in Greek that &C.
him to describe his character, which was
"stiff, hardy and resolute." The new name,
referring to character, is a promise that
fitfulness shall be changed to steadfastness.
az "The day following" This, according
to Farrar, was the fourth day after His
return from the wilderness Jesus started
on His return to Galilee, and ION the jour
ney fell in with another young fisherman,
Philip of Bethsada" Follow Me-" This
command, issued only by our Lord Him
self, was addressed to but one outside the
circle of the apostles. the rich young man
whom Jesus loved Mark lO:2D.
A. "Bethsaida" "The house of nets"
so called because inhabited by fishermen.
There were two places by this name A.
Nathaniel" Elsewhere called Bartho;o-
new He lived at Cana in Galilee, where
our Lord performed His first miracle. "Of
whom Moses-and the prophets did write"
See Gen 3:l5; 22:lS; Deut 1918; Isa Az;
IA Jer 23:5; Eek 1928; Dan. 9:2t;
Micah So; Zech. 6:l2; Nal. 81. &c.
"Good-out of Nazareth" The question
sprang from mere dread of mistake in
matter so vital. He knew that Beth,es
hem micah 5:2) and not Nazareth was to
be the birthplace of the Messiah 1t has
usually been considered that His answer
was proverbial, but it may merely have I'M
piled. Nazareth, that obscure and lire
putcd town in its little, untrodden valley
Nathanael's objections arose from ignor.
ance. Come ard see" The same reply
given by Jesus ". 39) Philip could not
solve the difficulty, but he could show Ma.
thanael how to get rid of it.
III. Christ's interview with Nathaniel
Tvs. 47-5D. A. "No guile" The expires.
sion implies true heart, really convert
ed man, genuine son of Abraham by
faith, as well as son according to the
flesh. 4S. Under the fig tree" The
Jewish writers often speak of the shade
of the fig tree as the place of meditation
and prayer. Probably it was in some such
Jesus, that Nathaniel won his title OF
40. Chou art" etc These words are
the outburst of heart convinced at once
that Jesus was the Messiah. We can
hardly suppose that Nathaniel clearly I'M
derstood the nature of Christ's kingdom
at this time, but that he saw that Jesus
was the Christ we cannot doubt. so.
Greater things" Thou shalt see far
greater proofs of My divinity and Messiah
ship. 81. Verify, verify" The double
verify" used twenty-five times in this
gospel and nowhere else, introduces truths
of great Importance. Heaven open," etc.
The ladder which Jacob saw (Gen. 2S:12)
was symbol of the intercourse which
would be opened between heaven and
earth in the new dispensation. Prayers
and holy intercession should ascend;
blessings and holy communions, reveal
tons, miracles, powers and gifts of the
Holy Ghost should descend; blessings of
which angels are but the messengers and
symbols "Son Of Man" This expression
is used about eighty times in the four Cos
pels by Christ Of Himself as the Messiah.
Street Shaving in CnIna.
The tOpSy-turvy methods of China