The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-18
International SundaySchool
 Lesson
Fir.t esaater. Lesson iii. January 10,
 1908. John 1, 19-94.

JESUS AND HIS FIRST DtsCtfLEs'
 Origins aiwaes fsseinate. Every DOCK
 of Genesis is attractive. This Is the
 'beginning' of the Christian Cnurcn !.
 The interest ordinarily attaching to the
 start of things Is in this instance greatly enhanced by the scored charac-
 ter of the institution. It's phenomenal
 history and it's worldwide and behe-
 ficent eaects The story of the eau or
 the first disciple Is here told with a
 charming frankness and simplicity !:
 The circumstance has been aptly called
 the cradle of the Church.
 Jesus Himself had just come from
 the wilderness and the naked and arid
 mountains of maledictson. In tha!
 awful solititude He had been with God
 for forty days. Glimpses and sugges- tions of the exercises of his soul arc given us. He had struggled out into an undertaking of His Divine mission more or less clear. He had accepted 1t right royalty. He had developed 2 general plan of procedure to which he faithfully adhered to the close Of ms career.
 It was no fortuitous incident that Jesus came to the place where John was baptizing. He came to the foros of the Jordan as to human quarry from which He could select living stones as the foundation of that spirit ual structure He intended to rear. NoI was He disappointed. He found nVe out of 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 unworth to unloose. He gave the Master a respectful, But at the same time a joyous welcome. and unequivo- cally cast the full weight of his phe- nomenal Influence upon the side Of the new Teacher, no shade of jealousy crossed his noble heart. Looking and pointing. he cried, Behold the Lano of 0odp' A brief sentence, but long enough to tell the story of the Divine paternity and pity. The next day. on l the reappearance of Jesus (not acci- dental, but designed), John repeated his significant exclamation with even in- creased emphasis. It was practical dismission of his own disciples, con corning which John and Jesus may have consulted and arrived at an un- derstanding. It is as if John had been saying to his own followers, Who ever wishes to. leave me now and at tach himself to this greater Teacher Is at full liberty to do so." Two ot the choicest spirits among h;s converts take the hint and separate themselves forever ftom JohR to follow Jesus. The
 Nazarene hears their footsteps. and, turning. encourages them with look and word. They are drawn to Him, as iron to the magnet. Under tlee fresh- cut boughs of a 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 un- kfolds to them the principles of His kingdom. Then and there was kindled in the human soul Of Jesus that love which made John eyernore His bosom companion. Andrew coveted his broth- CTS superior abilities for the service Of his new-found Master. He rested not until he had communicated 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 a trfle convert by immediately bring. | ing another to Jesus In the person o: | the guileless Israeiite. Nathanael (Bar' | thoIomew).
 l From this circumstance the para | graph has been well called a chapter | of eurekas, series of findings--Jesui | finds disciples. They find their friends | We have found!"--one Of the mosi | impressive declarations of the Bible. 1 The Teachers Lantern. There were calls and "calls'--caili | in Judea and afterwards in Galilee | PreIim inary and final calls. When thi | is bornk in mind there is no conflict il l accounts. Discrepancies are in appear
 ance only.