Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-01-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JANUARY 10.
Subject: Jesus and His First Disciples,

Subject: Jesus anu HIS f1fSt DlSClplcS,
John 1866 - Golden Text,
John 1:45-Commit Verses 35.
37-Commentary on the Lesson.
TINIE.--February A. DIT. PLACE.
by the Jordan.
EXPOSITION.-I. Beholding Jesus,
35, 80. A great preacher with con-
gregation of two men, but 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 wo
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 It,
and it is bearing fruit still. 1t was
looking intently upon Jesus as He
walked (R. V. " 36) that made John
burst forth into this eXultant and
meaningful cry. II 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:S), the lamb that takes away all
mans guilt, the lamb typifled in the
Passover and every o. r. sacrifice"
il. Following Jesus, 81, 3S. 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
Ono. 3:2G-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 tho following, that
we are saved lisa. 1929; Jno. 3:14,
Is; CT. M. 21:9). We must first be-
leve in what Jesus has done Ono.
1890; Ro. $3.50, before we ask,
"what would Jesus do?" and try to
initiate It, But it ic by following that
we demonstrate that we really nave
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 the
power of Holy Ghost testimony (cf.
Jno. 4:30.
iii. Abiding with Jesus, 3S, 30.
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 Sazcd
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 1t. His
story OF it here in the very phraseol-
ogy employed reproduces it. Then
there comes question as searching
rs the look, What seek YEP" They
did not clearly know themselves, but
there were deep warnings in their
heart that never had been satisfied.
and He was the Lamb of God" and
would surely satisfy. They want 10
know Him better. so they timidly ask.
Teacher, where do You live?" hardly
daring to say bluntly, "wc want to go
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
arc you seeking? Jesus reply went
to not merely the heat of the qucs-
ton, but TO their hearts desire,
Come. and yo shall see" What
moment of JOY II was when Jesus
said that. And He IS saying it to-day
to every one who wishes to come to
Him. Come" He says Ono. 6:37;
Rev. 22;17; Matt. 11:2S).
". bringing others TO Jesus, 10
81. No sooner had Andrew really
found Jesus, but he started right off
and got his own brother and brought
him TO Jesus. The clear implication
of the text is that Jchn did the same.
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 tho
great sermon on the day of Pente-
cost. Andrews testimony was tight
to the point. 1--WE have found the
Messiah he said. 1t was his per-
sonal conversation with Jesus that
had settled his mind on this point 1t
will settle any mans mind. A season
of personal communion with Jesus Is
worth tons OF apologize 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 iona"
He saw what he was to become,
Thou shalt be called Cephas" Crock
mani. It was faith in the Rock that
was to transform ordinary Simon into
extraordinary Rockman Il Cor.
1914; Matt. 16:16-1S; l Jno. $50.
Jesus "fndeth 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-
spouse. Philip was student of o. T.
scripture and an exact man ". 49,.
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 ". 4O and
when Philip enters into no 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.