The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-01-12
Jesus Wins His First Disciples.

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the beginning" of the Christian
Church. The interest ordinarily at
taching to the start of things is in
this instance greatly enhanced by the
sacred character of the institution, Its
phenomenal history, and its world
wide and beneficent effects. The story
of the call of the first disciples is here
told with charming frank ness
and simplicity. The circumstances
has been aptly called the cradle of
the Church.
Jesus Himself had just come from
the wilderness and the naked and
arid mountains of malediction." In
that awful solitude, He had been
with God for forty days. Glimpses
aud suggestions of the exercises of
his soul are given us. He had strug-
gled out into an understanding of His
Divine mission, more or less clear. He
had accepted it right royalty. He
had developed a general plan of pro-
cedure to which He faithfully adher-
ed to the close of His career.
1t was no fortuitous incident that
Jesus came to the place where John
was baptiZing. He came to the fords
of the Jordan as to human quarry,
from which he could select living
stones as the foundation of that spir-
itual structure He intended to rear.
Nor was He disappointed. He found
five out twelve of His apostles there.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus
coming, he recognized Him as the Mes
siah, the latchet of whose shoes he
felt himself unworthy to unloose. He
gave the Master respectful, but at
the same time joyous, welcome, and
unequivocally 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, BE
hold the Lamb of God" A brief SEN
tence but long enough to tell the
story of the Divine paternity and
pity. The next day, on the reappear-
ance of Jesus mot accidental, but de-
signed, John repeated his significant
exclamation with even increa sed EN-
phasis. 1t was a practical dismission
of his own disciples, concerning which
John and Jesus may have consulted
and arrived at an understa nding. 1t
is as John had been saying to his own
followers, whoever wishes to leave
me now and attach himself to this
greater Teacher, is at a 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, en-
courages them with look and word.
They are drawn to Him, as iron to
the magnet. Under the fresh-cut
boughs of pilgrim 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 there was kind
led in the human soul of Jesus that
love which made John evermore His
bosom companion. Andrew coveted
his brothers supe rior abilities for the
service of his new-found Master. He
rested not until he had communicate
ed to him his momentous find" and
had brought him to Jesus. The next
day he saw the addition of the fourth
disciple in the person of Philip. who
showed the spirit of true convert
by Immediately bringing another to
Jesus in the person of the guileless
Israelite, Nathaniel bartholomew.
From this circumstance the para
graph has been well called chapter
of eurekas, series of findings-Jesus
finds disciples They find their
friends. I'VE have found" one of
the most imp essive declarations of
the Bible.
rlosaic 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
personal reserve in regard to the
other.-Lange. Looked upon Jesus:
Eye steadily and continuously direct
ed toward Him.-Lange. AS He
walked: Took leave after coming to
an understanding respecting their
conduct toward each other.-Ibid.
Next day: Upon the testimony of the
first day tie two disciples of John did
not follow Jesus. Felt it involved de-
parture from old master Next day
was the day of their calling and de-
cision. 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 dis
ciples to go personally to the Lord
Ton0o EoIlnWo1 Tao,,o