The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JANUARY 10.

37-Commentary on the Lesson,
TIME.-February, A.D.27. PLACE
BY the Jordan.
EXPOSITION.-I, Beholding jesus
35, SO. A great preacher with a con-
gregation of two men, bat it was one
of the most important sermons that
John the Baptizer ever preached. 1t
laid the foundation Of that group
of men. the Apostles, to whom We
owe all our knowledge of Christ
and the Gospel. Little did John
realize how much was involved in the
testimony he gave that day, but.
faithful man that he was, he gave 1t.
and it is bearing fruit still. 1t was
looking intently upon Jesus as He
walked (R. V. v. 36) that made John
burst forth into this exultant and
meaningful cry. If we fix our eyes
upon Him we will cry the same, I'M.
less, alas, our eyes are sightless. 20
Andrew, o John, look" he cries.
there goes the Lamb Of God, the
lamb of Gods own providing (Gen..
22:8), the lamb that takes away all
mans guilt, the lamb typified in the
Passover and every o. T. sacrifice"
II. Following Jesus, 81, SS. The
result of Johns testimony was start
ling but delightful. John and An.
drew at once turned their backs on
John and followed Jesus. John, great
man, was pleased to be thus deserted
(Jno. 3:26-30). Three steps Of Chris.
tian experience-they heard, they
looked, they followed. Other steps.
come shortly. We too must first look
at Jesus as the Lamb if we would fol-
low Him as our example. 1t is by
the look, not by the following, that
we are saved lisa. 45:22; Jno. 3:14,
Is; CT. NJ. 21:9). We must first be-
lieve in what Jesus has done (Jno.
1890; Ro. 3:25), before we ask.
what would Jesus do?" and try to-
initiate it, But it is by following that
we demonstrate that we really Lave
looked and are saved mark 1852;
/ Jno. 2:6). Johns simple, Short.
sincere testimony has sent the young
men to follow Jesus and thus turned
the world upside down. Oh tho
power of Holy Ghost testimony (cf.s
Jno. 4:39).
III. Abiding with Jesus, SO, 49,.
From following Jesus the two men go,.
on to abiding with Him. This is how;
it came about: AS soon as they be-
gan to follow, Jesus turned and gazed
at them as they followed. What a
look it was, so penetrating, SO ten
der, so full Of encouragement. One
of them at least never forgot it. His5
story of it here in the very phraseol-
ogy employed reproduces It. Then
there comes a question as searching.
as the look, What seek ye?" They
did not clearly know themselves, but
there were deep yearnings in their
heart that never had been satisfied,
and He was the Lamb of God" and
would surely satisfy. They want tos
know Him better, so they timidly ask,
Teacher, where do you live?" hardly
daring to Say bluntly, 1--WE want to gos
to your school," Men seek such vari-
Gus things when they start to follow
Jesus, pardon for sin, healing for the
body, loaves and fishes. Happy the.
man who seeks Just Himself: What
are youLseeking? Jesus reply went
to not merely the hea : of the ques-
tion, but to-, their hearts DESIRE:
Come, and ye shall see" What
moment of JOY it was when Jesus
said that. And He is saying it to-day
to every one who wishes to come. to,
Him. Come" He says (Jno. 6:37;;.:
Rev. 22:17; Matt. 11:2S).
". Bringing others to Jesus, 40.-
%. No sooner had Andrew really
found Jesus, but he started right of
and got his own brother and brought
him to Jesus. The clear implication
I, l., &l,4% T1L,
This was just as it should be; as soon
as we find Jesus we should go right
off and bring some one else, and the.
best one to begin with is our own
brother. Andrew did a great work
in bringing his brother to Jesus, for
it was this brother who preached the
great sermon on the day of Pente-
cost. Andrews testimony was light
to the point. I'VE lave found the.
Messiah" he said 1t was his per-
sonal conversation with Jesus that
had settled his mind on this point. tt
will settle any mans mind. A season
of personal communion with Jesus Is.
worth tons OF apologetic literature.
Andrew did not stop with giving his
testimony, "he brought him to Jesus
Never stop short Of that. Jesus
looked Peter through and through.
He saw what he now was and said,
Thou art Simon the son of Jona."
He saw what he was to become.
gThou shalt be called Cephas" Crock
mani. 1t was faith in the Rock that
was to transform ordinary Simon into
extraordinary Rock-man IL q, Cor.
1914; Matt. 6-1S; 1 Jno. 5:5).
Jesus "findeth Philip" He went to-
Galilee in part for that purpose. 1t
was worth while. Short was the
summons, follow Me-" Philip did
not know all it involved, but he
obeyed. The influence of his towns.
men, Andrew and Peter, may have
had much to do with the prompt re-
sponse Philip was student of O. T..
scripture and an exact man ". 45).
Philip at once hunts up Nathaniel.
Everybody in this lesson who found
Jesus seemed to go at once for some
one else. Nathaniel was decidedly
skeptical about Jesus being the
Christ. Indeed he did not believe He
could be any good, coming from Naza-
reth. But he was sincere ". 40 and
when Philip enters into 10 argument,
but says, come and see," he came
and saw. When you say to the aver
age skeptic, come and let me make
you acquainted with Jesus they
won't come.