Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-19
Lesson for January II
FIRST DISCIPLE OF THE LORD
JESUS.
LESSON TEXT-John 1.35-49

fifteen times in this first chapter. John |
was witness to the Son of Man. This |
term, "Son of Man." occurs eighty
times in the gospel. The words "Come
and see," or their equivalents, occur
nine times in this lesson. This is a
great invitation lesson. It would be
interesting if the scholars would tell
what the voices are which say,
"Come." and those which are urging |
them to ''stay" away from God. Beth
abara was probably two miles from
the fords of the Jordan, where John
baptized. Jesus was thirty years old,
just entering upon his ministry. Ii
berius Caesar was the emperor and
Pontius PLATE the governor of Judea.
I. The Son of Man Attracts Men.
wv. 35-39) not by his ethical teachings
nor alone by his works and his charac-
ter, but what he was and inspired in
others attracted men to Jesus (John 10:
41). Crowds still gathered around the
baptizer who changed the hearts of
men as by a SPELL" John, the Bap-
tiZer, brought terror to men. He broke
through the crust of self-righteousness
and Indifference, and compelled men
to see their reed of forgiveness and
of new life, but the time had come
when John must step aside, and Jesus
ito increase" to begin his ministry.
Four successive days are noticed in
this chapter. Andrew ". 40), and
| doubtless the apostle John, who wrote
this account, were the two disciples
! Nv. 35) to whom John, the Baptizer,
speaks. 1t is interesting to note the
different kinds of men who were at
tracted to Jesus; the aggressive Peter,
the reflective Thomas, the practical
Judas. He had what the souls Of
men needed, and they followed him.
Aware of their questioning, Jesus
turns to them with the question:
what think ye?" the first recorded
words of his public ministry. This is
a great testing question of every mans
life. What is the aim and purpose of
your life? Jesus, the kingdom of God,
goodness, righteousness, usefulness or
on the other hand selfishness, worldli-
ness, success, ambition, money, pleas
urea These disciples who had listened
to this testimony of the baptizer, re-
piled that they wanted to know where
he dwelt, implying that they would
like to talk with him and discuss the
problems which were arising in their
minds. Three steps of Christian expe-
rience are here suggested. These two
disciples heard, they looked and they
followed. Other steps must come
shortly, but we must first look at Jesus
as the Lamb, if we are to follow him
! as our example. We must believe
what he has done (Rom. $3.50 before
we can ask what would Jesus do or
try to initiate him. 1t is by following
that we demonstrate that we have real
ly looked unto him and been saved.
Teachers should pray for the same eff
fective Holy Ghost witnessing as that
given by John John :39). The Son
/, of Man uses men to be his tools; the
Son of Man must and does use human
: agencies. Men are saved through
saved men QI Cor. 5:1S). This work
is effective through those that follow
". 80, and it is made permanent
through those who abide ". 29). The
!. great principle of all missions. of all
n Christian activities is to work through
!. the hearing. ear, the believing heart
h the confessing mouth. This work is
!. made effective, through those who fol
. low (see Rom. 10 :14.J The result OF
n this interview appears to be that they
. were convinced that Jesus was the
Messiah, and were filed with an i'm
pulse to spread the good news. This
interview was not the end, for they re
mained with Jesus, and it was the be
ginning of lifelong abiding in hin
= which transformed their lives ant
hearts.
II. The Son of Man Cares for Hi'
4 Own. wv. 39-42). The instruction
o which they received from abiding will
II him impelled them, as we have ALREADY
, Indicated, to go out and spread tht
II good news. The greatest act in th'
r. life of Andrew was the bringing of hi
l. brother Peter to Jesus. Jesus changed
h Peters name, and gave him a proph
Il ecy of his future life and career. H,
saw the possibilities within him
though it took much instruction, bite
D. experiences, prayer and long abidin;
g with Jesus before he attained to thos
e possibilities. 1t is this passage whicl
e gave rise to the organization of tn
Brotherhood of st. Andrew, which ha
adopted, first, the "Rule of Prayer,
I that of daily prayer for the spread O
| Christ's kingdom among young men
| | D,,1o of !
make an earnest effort each week t
bring at least one young man With
the hearing of the gospel of Jesu
| Christ. On the morrow Jesus woul
| go forth to Galilee, that is to the Eas
| side, across the Jordan river, and O
the way he found Philip. 1t was Phil
who asked the question, "Show us tn
Father" and of whom the questio
/ was asked as to the resources suff
n cient to feed the hungering multitud
II John 6:5). John, the Evangelis
alone tells US about Philip. Philip sa,
not only the resources of Jesus, but b
saw union of the law of the prophet
4 ". 45) in this Jesus and therefor
could and did invite his brother t
4 Jesus.
Il Christianity would soon fill the cart
d if Christians would put forth the pc
q sonal effort here suggested.
III This was the plan of evangelism
%I the world which Jesus used with til
Sl first six of his disciples and it hs
!; never yet been improved upon but tt
- witnesses must know and be alb
v truthfully to say: "Come and see."
Nathaniel ". 46) repeated a prove1
~ of the country, "Can any good thir
+b come out of Nazareth?" Philips rep
was: "Come and see," and to h
- amazement Jesus reveals not only h
n, character but his supernatural power
- whereupOn NathanieFs reply was
a "Thou art the Son of God, the Kir
'e of Israel" ". 49). Jesus, seeing h
faith, promised that he should see sti
greater things wv 30 51)