Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:36
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
36. looking upon ] having looked on with a fixed penetrating gaze. Comp. Joh 1:42; Mar 10:21; Mar 10:27; Luk 20:17; Luk 22:61.
Behold the Lamb of God ] This seems to shew that these disciples were present the previous day ( Joh 1:19): hence there was no need to say more than this. This appears to have been the last meeting between the Baptist and Christ.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Looking upon Jesus … – Fixing his eyes intently upon him. Singling him out and regarding him with special attention. Contemplating him as the long-expected Messiah and Deliverer of the world. In this way all ministers should fix the eye upon the Son of God, and direct all others to him.
As he walked – While Jesus was walking.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Joh 1:36
Behold the Lamb of God!–This is the main business of the preacher.
Had John been an eloquent declaimer of repentance merely, he would have missed his life-work. As the stars called the Pointers always point to the Pole Star, so must ministers point to the Redeemer. The Baptists eye was fastened on the Master, while he pointed to the Master. They preach Christ best who see Him best.
I. LEARN THAT CHRIST IS THE LAMB OF GOD.
1. He is the chief of all sacrifices, the term of God often signifying greatest, noblest.
(1) Because it contains all others.
(2) Because it does really and for ever what the others only typified.
2. He is the Lamb of Gods appointing;
3. Of Gods providing;
4. Of Gods offering;
5. Of Gods setting forth to the sons of men (Rom 3:25).
II. CONTEMPLATE JESUS UNDER THAT CHARACTER.
1. Christ, as the atoning sacrifice, ought to be the principal object of every believers thoughts
2. This is the grandest subject of thought in the universe. What are the sciences, the classics, poetry, in comparison?
3. No subject so well balances the soul as this. Other themes disturb the mental equilibrium, and overload one faculty at the expense of others.
4. This is the most needful subject of contemplation. Other things may be forgotten without serious damage.
III. GATHER INSTRUCTION FROM JESUS UNDER THAT ASPECT.
1. Doctrinal.
(1) The evil of sin.
(2) The magnitude of Gods love.
2. Experimental. Sin vanishes when Christ appears, and grief and fear.
IV. Behold the Lamb of God WITH REVERENCE, as do angels and glorified spirits. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Beholding the Lamb of God
I. WHAT ARE WE TO SEE WHEN WE LOOK ON JESUS? With what eyes? Time was when men saw Him with their natural eyes, and He was an offence. Time will be when every eye shall see Him, and He will be to many a terror. In heaven He is seen with glorified eyes. To us now He may be seen with the eye of faith. Using this, not having seen Him, we love Him and receive life from Him. What is the sight?
1. The great Creator (Joh 1:1).
2. The great Creator manifested in the flesh.
3. The Divine fulness for the salvation of men.
(1) The full expiation of sin.
(2) All the grace to be communicated to His saints.
(3) Grace for grace.
(4) All supplies necessary for living and dying, obeying and suffering, endurance and triumph, progress and perfection.
II. FOR WHAT ENDS ARE WE TO CONTEMPLATE HIM.
1. That we may have tenderness of heart under sin. Here is a sight to soften stony hearts.
2. That we may have relief under conviction of sin. If He can take away the sin of the world, He can take away a world of sin in you.
3. That we may have courage and patience under all suffering. As He was in the world, so must we be.
4. That we may not stagger at the promises through unbelief. The Messianic prophecies were fulfilled in Him. Shall we, then, disbelieve that those which concern us will bebroken. (A. Beith, D. D.)
The Lamb of God
I. SEEN.
1. By whom? By the Forerunner, who had been preparing His way; as all will–first here in spirit, afterwards in body; first by faith, and afterwards by sight; who by humility, faith, and desire, make themselves ready for His coming (Mat 5:8; Joh 16:16; 1Jn 3:2).
2. When? On the day after the preceding vision. Christ seldom puts His followers off with one sight of Himself: view follows upon view, according to growth in seeing and desiring.
3. Where? On the rivers bank, as He was separating Himself from the Baptist to commence His own work. Christ is best seen at a distance from His servants.
4. Why? To be pointed out. For this same reason Christ appears to His servants now.
II. POINTED OUT.
1. In what character? As the Lamb of God. Suggestive of
(1) Personal innocence or sinlessness.
(2) The meek and unresisting patience with which he should carry on His work.
(3) The propitiatory character of His mission:–the three main themes of the gospel ministry.
2. In what manner? With a Behold: to indicate
(1) The importance of the announcement.
(2) The earnestness of the herald.
(3) The liveliness of mind with which the announcement should be welcomed.
3. With what intention? To send men to Christ.
4. With what result? Two of his disciples follow Christ (Isaiah Iv. 11).
III. Followed.
1. Promptly. Delay imprudent and dangerous. If Christ be what the Baptist says, there is no time to be lost.
2. Inquiringly. This is all that Christ desires at first. The chief complaint is that men reject Him without examining His credentials.
3. Finally. So will all who seek Him with the whole heart.
4. Exemplarily. They led the way to a larger movement.
Lessons:
1. The proper business of the Christian ministry: to point out Christ to the world, and to point the world to Christ.
2. The necessary qualification of the ministry: to behold Christ, and have a personal insight into the character and work of the Saviour.
3. The encouraging reward of the ministry: to behold disciples going over to and following the Saviour. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.)
The Lamb of God
I. THE IMPORT OF THE APPELLATION.
1. It had respect to the personal character of Christ. He was a perfect pattern of
(1) innocence, and
(2) patience. It was thus that He illustrated, in His own example, the nature and genius of the gospel dispensation, as superior to every other.
2. It had a distinct reference to the great design of His appearance and death. It marks out His sacrificial character, prefigured by the legal offerings, more particularly the paschal lamb, the most ancient and important.
(1) The passover commemorated a great deliverance, and prefigured a greater.
(2) The passover averted an inevitable destruction; so did the sacrifice of Christ.
(3) In both cases there is no natural connection between the means and the end; the benefit is moral, not physical. The sprinkling blood was simply of Divine appointment, as a sign to arrest the progress of the destroying angel. So between the sacrifice of Christ and the expiation of guilt the relation is moral, resulting from the will of God.
(4) The personal qualities in the two victims are similar. The lamb was to be without spot or blemish; so was Christ.
(5) The blood of the one had to be sprinkled, so that of the Other must be applied.
(6) While many of the legal sacrifices were offered by individuals, the paschal lamb was required to be slain and offered by the whole congregation of Israel, it being understood that he who neglected this important sacrifice, would lose its benefit–would be cut off from the congregation. Behold [here] the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world!
(7) The time of slaying in both eases was the evening.
(8) Not a bone was broken in either.
(9) The paschal lamb was prepared by fire, signifying the agonies of the Lamb of God. How strangely mistaken, therefore, those who represent Christs death as an example or a martyrdom for truth.
II. THE SPIRIT AND DESIGN OF THE EXCLAMATION. It expresses the claim of Christ to attention from beings of every order.
1. Those who remain, as sinners, in their original character and state. There are three qualities which entitle an object to our regard:
(1) Intrinsic greatness–e.g., the wonders of the material world; those of the intellectual and moral universe; but here is something incomparably greater–Incarnate Deity.
(2) Novelty. What so original as the Invisible Creator clothed in mortal flesh; the Ancient of Days cradled as an Infant; He who upholdeth all things sinking under a weight of suffering; the Lord of Glory expiring on the cross; the Light of the world sustaining an awful eclipse; the Sun of Righteousness immerged in the shadow of death?
(3) Usefulness. The Lamb of God is the only Saviour.
2. Those who have repented and believed. The efficacy of this sacrifice covers all the needs of the spiritual life.
3. The redeemed in the world of glory. They owe their position and their continuance in it to the Lamb of God.
4. The holy angels, who may probably be secured in that felicity to which saints are promoted, by the mediation of Jesus Christ.
5. God Himself. To Him the Redeemer is an object of complacency and satisfaction. (Robert Hall.)
Christs whole character must be studied
If you wish to look at a portrait of Raphaels, what would you think to see only the forehead uncovered, and then only the eyes, and so on, until all the features had been separately seen? Could you gain a true idea of the picture as a whole? Yet this is the way men look at the picture of Christ in the gospels, reading a few verses and mottoes here and there, and never considering the life in its wholeness and harmony. (H. W. Beecher.)
A two-fold use of the eyes
It is a beautiful remark of an old divine, that eyes are made for two things at least; first, to look with, and next, to weep with. The eye which looks to the pierced One is the eye which weeps for Him. Oh soul, when thou comest to look where all eyes should look, even to Him who was pierced, then thine eye begins to weep for that for which all eyes should weep, even the sin which slew thy Saviour! There is no saving repentance except within sight of the cross.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 36. And looking upon Jesus] Attentively beholding, , from , into, and , to look – to view with steadfastness and attention. He who desires to discover the glories and excellencies of this Lamb of God, must thus look on him. At first sight, he appears only as a man among men, and as dying in testimony to the truth, as many others have died. But, on a more attentive consideration, he appears to be no less than God manifest in the flesh, and, by his death, making an atonement for the sin of the world.
Behold the Lamb of God!] By this the Baptist designed to direct the attention of his own disciples to Jesus, not only as the great sacrifice for the sin of the world, but also as the complete teacher of heavenly truth.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
36. lookinghaving fixed hiseyes, with significant gaze, on Jesus.
as he walkedbut notnow to him. To have done this once (see on Joh1:29) was humility enough [BENGEL].
Behold, &c.Therepetition of that wonderful proclamation, in identical terms andwithout another word, could only have been meant as a gentle hint togo after Himas they did.
Joh1:37-51. FIRSTGATHERING OFDISCIPLESJOHNANDREW, SIMON,PHILIP, NATHANAEL.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And looking upon Jesus as he walked,…. Either by them; or as he was going from them to his lodgings; it being toward the close of the day, when John had finished his work for that day, and the people were departing home: John fixed his eyes intently on Christ, with great pleasure and delight, and pointing at him,
he saith, behold the Lamb of God; as in Joh 1:29, where it is added, “which taketh away the sin of the world”; and which the Ethiopic version subjoins here.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He looked (). First aorist active participle of , antecedent action before (says).
As he walked (). Present active participle in dative case after and like in verse 29 vividly pictures the rapture of John in this vision of Jesus, so far as we know the third and last glimpse of Jesus by John (the baptism, verse 29, and here).
Saith (). Historical present, change from before. He repeats part of the tribute in verse 29.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And looking upon Jesus as he walked,” (kai emblepsas to lesou peripatounti) “And while looking at Jesus walking,” as He was walking and strolling along.
2) “He saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” (legei ide ho amnostou theou) “He says (to them) just look, the Lamb of God,” that is Him, as in Joh 1:29. John the Baptist and the Redeeming Lamb of God here met for the last time, on this earth, as Jesus had now entered upon His public ministry to ”increase,” while John the Baptist was “to decrease,” Joh 3:30. John there pointed Andrew and the writer of this Gospel to leave him and follow Jesus thereafter, which they did, Act 1:21-22.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
36. Behold the Lamb of God! Hence appears more clearly what I have already stated, that when John perceived that he was approaching the end of his course, he labored incessantly to resign his office to Christ. His firmness too gives greater credit to his testimony. But by insisting so earnestly, during many successive days, in repeating the commendation of Christ, he shows that his own course was nearly finished. Here we see also how small and low the beginning of the Church was. John, indeed, prepared disciples for Christ, but it is only now that Christ begins to collect a Church. He has no more than two men who are mean and unknown, but this even contributes to illustrate his glory, that within a short period, without human aid, and without a strong hand, he spreads his kingdom in a wonderful and incredible manner. We ought also to observe what is the chief object to which John directs the attention of men; it is, to find in Christ the forgiveness of sins. And as Christ had presented himself to the disciples for the express purpose that they might come to him, so no when they come, he gently encourages and exhorts them; for he does not wait until they first address him, but asks, What do you seek? This kind and gracious invitation, which was once made to two persons, now belongs to all. We ought not therefore to fear that Christ will withdraw from us or refuse to us easy access, provided that he sees us desirous to come to him; but, on the contrary, he will stretch out his hand to assist our endeavors. And how will not he meet those who come to him, who seeks at a distance those who are wandering and astray, that he may bring them back to the right road?
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(36) And looking upon.Better, and he looked upon Jesus as He was walking, and saith. The word looked upon expresses a fixed, earnest gaze. (Comp. Joh. 1:42; Mat. 19:26; Mar. 10:21; Mar. 10:27; &c.) At this look, all the old thoughts in their fulness come crowding back. Yes. It is He. Behold the Lamb of God!
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36. As he walked Yesterday Jesus was coming fresh from his victory in the Temptation unto John; as if to signify, though silently, that the time to be attested had now come; and nobly did the Baptist then answer it. Jesus is to-day passing, as if in contemplative silence; and the Baptist points his two disciples to the Lamb. For so doing he will lose willingly, though perhaps sadly, his two disciples.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Joh 1:36. And looking upon Jesus Looking steadfastly on Jesus, seems the exact signification of the original . See on Joh 1:29.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Ver. 36. Behold the Lamb of God ] Eximius ille agnus et singularis, that notable Lamb, typed out by the paschal lamb, and by that lamb that was the daily morning and evening sacrifice in the temple; that Lamb without blemish of original corruption, and without spot of actual transgression,1Pe 1:191Pe 1:19 . A lamb in his passion, but a lion in his resurrection, Rev 5:5 , to whom every man is bound to send a lamb (in token of homage) as unto “the Ruler of the whole earth,” Isa 16:1 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 1:36 . The Baptist, , having gazed at, or contemplated (see Mat 6:26 , , and especially Mar 14:67 , ) Jesus as He walked, evidently not towards John as on the previous day, but away from him. without the added clause of Joh 1:29 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
looking upon = having fixed his gaze on. Greek. emblepo. App-133. Occurs in John only here, and Joh 1:42.
walked = was walking about.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 1:36. , as He walked) He was not now coming to John, as He was, Joh 1:29 : for [to have come] oftener, would not have been becoming. To have done so once was condescension enough.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 1:36
Joh 1:36
and he looked upon Jesus as he walked,-[Jesus, passing by or in sight, John beheld him.]
and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!-[The lamb was slain to save the first-born of Israel when the first-born of Egypt was destroyed, and at every Passover feast a lamb was slain by every family of Israel. In the types of Judaism the lamb was slain pointing forward to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. He came to die as a sacrifice to take away the sins that man had committed and to lead him to live a holy life.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Behold: Joh 1:29, Isa 45:22, Isa 65:1, Isa 65:2, Heb 12:2, 1Pe 1:19, 1Pe 1:20
Reciprocal: Gen 22:8 – General Exo 12:3 – take to Lev 1:3 – a male Lev 4:32 – a lamb Mar 11:31 – Why Joh 1:7 – a witness Joh 1:41 – first Joh 12:21 – we would Act 13:25 – whom 1Co 5:7 – Christ Rev 5:6 – a Lamb Rev 7:10 – unto
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Following Christ
Joh 1:36-51
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
We delight in the study of John the Baptist. Christ said that he was the greatest man born of woman, yet he was not self-centered or proud. Had he been so, he had not been great.
1. John was a man who magnified Christ, and not himself. To the populace, as he preached, he never made any statements that would call attention to himself. His one passion seemed to center in magnifying the Lord. He plainly and positively told forth that he was not the Light. He just as emphatically said that the One who was to come after him was preferred before him. He confessed, and denied not, saying, “I am not the Christ.” He claimed to be only a voice crying in the wilderness.
As we enter this exposition we would particularly stress that statement of John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Would that all of us would take this attitude of self-abasement.
We should never glory in men. Neither should we glory in the flesh. We should never mangify others, never ourselves.
2. Two of John’s disciples left him to walk with Christ. When John saw Christ coming he bare record that He was the Son of God. The next day after he stood with these two disciples, and, as Jesus appeared, John said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” This seemed to be, on John’s part, a suggestion that these disciples should walk with the Lord. They certainly felt that way, for when they heard John speak they followed Jesus.
Is it not true that we should always be ready to leave all men, as well as all things, in order to follow our Lord?
Lord. I hear Thy loving call
To leave my all;
Gladly follow I Thy way,
Let come what may;
Father, mother, sister, wife,
And e’en my life
On Thine altar all are laid:
My vow is made.
All are subject now to Thee,
Thine own to be.
We can remember how our Lord said on one occasion, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” We should be willing to say, “I am Thine, and all that I have is Thine.” When we ponder who Christ is, and what He has done for us, we should be willing gladly to bow our head, and wear His yoke; immediately willing to be His bondslave, with no reservations whatsoever.
3. They followed Christ. Perhaps you will allow us to make a suggestive statement. As they left John to walk with the Lord, they did not know everything that lay ahead of Him. They did not know what following Christ might mean to them in the future. They followed one step at a time.
Perhaps, you remember this little verse:
“One step I see before me,
It is all I need to know
For o’er each step of my onward path
He makes new light to glow.”
There is another suggestion that comes to us. They not only followed Him step by step, but they followed Him in step. That is. they kept step with Christ. This is what we need to do. Where He goes, we should go. If we were out of step with our Master, we would surely meet disaster.
I. JESUS SAW THEM FOLLOWING (Joh 1:38)
This statement in the first clause of our verse is worth more than a casual look. It suggests several things to us.
1. The eyes of the Lord are upon those who seek His face. Jesus read their minds. He knew they had followed Him, and He knew why they followed Him.
Somehow or other, we are sure that, to this hour, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who diligently seek His face. His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those who seek Him, or who follow Him.
Christians who wander into bypaths bring sorrow to the Lord, and they make it impossible for the Lord to bless them. Christians who leave all to follow Him make it possible for the Lord to shower His best upon them.
2. What are the blessings which come to those who follow after the Lord? We might note a few of these.
(1) Christ said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This was literally true in the disciples. It will be true of us. If we follow Him He will place us in definite and positive service for Him.
(2) When we follow Christ we have the promise of His best. This was no small thing to the disciples. They walked with Him, and the result was that they heard His messages; they saw His miracles. They had all those beneficent results which come to us from contact with those who are greater than we are.
(3) They were promised a wonderful inheritance. Christ said, “Ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” They who followed Christ in the hour of His humiliation, are destined to follow Him in the hour of His glorification. “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth” (Rev 14:4).
II. WHAT SEEK YE? (Joh 1:38, s.c)
The question which God asked in the Garden of Eden was, “Where art thou?” The question which the wise men asked at the birth of Jesus, was, “Where is He that is born king of the Jews?” The question which Christ asked in this study is “What seek ye?” Sometimes God is seeking us. Sometimes we are seeking Him. However, the Lord wants to know why we seek Him, and what we seek Him for.
1. What think ye of Christ? Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and God the Son. John had so heralded Him when he bare, record to Christ. Jesus now was seeking to know what the attitude of the two disciples was toward Him. The same thing is asked years later when He said, “What think ye of Christ? whose Son is He?”
He had the same thing in mind when He said to the disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?” Afterward He asked, “Whom say ye that I am?” Before Christ would accept us as His followers He must know whether we faith Him as God.
2. What want ye of Christ? You believe that Christ is God, why do you want to follow Him? This is very vital. Some of those who followed Christ followed Him for no other reason than because they thought He was about to be a deliverer of Israel and a monarch on His throne.
You will remember how one said on one occasion, “I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.” The Lord, however, replied, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” We must decide whether we want to follow Christ in His sufferings, or in His reign. If we would enter into the latter, we must be willing to follow in the former. “What seek ye” is still a vital question.
III. WHERE DWELLEST THOU? (Joh 1:38, l.c.)
There are so many avenues which come to our mind in this question, we would like to suggest them to you.
The two disciples, of course, who walked with Jesus and called Him “Rabbi” (which is to say, Master), did not mean everything that we suggest. We are taking the question out of its setting, and we want to ponder it step by step.
1. Christ first of all dwelt with the Father. He was with the Father from time immemorial. He spoke of the glory which He had with the Father before the world was. That is where He did dwell.
2. Christ dwelt among men. He came forth from the Father, and He came into the world. “Where dwellest Thou?” First, in Heaven, He dwelt in light; then on earth He dwelt in darkness. Formerly He dwelt with the Father; then He dwelt with men. In this we find that He humbled Himself. He became in fashion like as a man. Where did He dwell? His first earthly dwelling place was in a manger in Bethlehem; the second was in Nazareth, where as a lad He wrought in a carpenter’s shop. Wherever He dwelt on earth He dwelt in humiliation with no place that He could call His own. He was among men as one who served. He ate with the publicans and with the sinners. He died between two thieves.
3. Christ now dwells at the Father’s right hand. From the Mount of Olives He ascended, and sat down on the Father’s throne. Stephen saw Him there as He stood to receive him. He now dwells in Heaven for us. He is our Intercessor. He is there managing our affairs.
4. Christ will dwell once more upon the earth as King. We love the expression: “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.” This speaks of the time of His Second Advent. It is then that He will radiate from Jerusalem the blessings and glory of His presence to the ends of the earth.
IV. COME AND SEE (Joh 1:39, f.c)
The disciples sought the Lord. He welcomed their search, and bade them to “Come and see.”
1. “Come and see.” The Lord Jesus was willing to bear inspection. He was not moving under false colors. He was not making a false claim.
Unto this hour, God, our Lord, is willing for us to put Him, and all that He is, everything that He says, to the test. Of old, He said, “Prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts.” We love the expression, “Come and see.”
2. “Come * * and * * rest.” Here is another cry which the Lord made on a different occasion. He said unto the multitudes, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The two disciples said to Christ, “Where dwellest Thou?” He said to them, “Come and see.” He seemed also to say, “Come * * and * * rest.” “Come and abide.” “Come and find in Me a Saviour, a Friend, a Keeper.
3. “Come and dine.” When we go into a home, we may go on a visit to see and to learn more of a friend. We may go seeking closer contact with one we love. We may go to rest, or to relax in their dwelling, but “come and dine,” is the sweetest statement of all.
This was made on the occasion when Christ, in risen glory, called to His disciples, “Have ye any meat?” They replied, “We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.” Jesus said to them, “Let down your nets for a draught.” We well know the story, and how when they at last came to shore Jesus said, “Come and dine.”
We may come to see, or to rest, or to dine. To us the last of the three is the best. There is something around the “table” that surpasses any other contact that we have with our friends. “Come and dine” is also an expression which leads us to believe that in Christ is our abundant supply.
V. THEY CAME AND SAW AND ABODE (Joh 1:39)
Our text says, “They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” Let us take these three statements one at a time.
1. They came. Christ said, “Come,” and they came. Christ still says, “Come,” but many come not. We delight in the hymn, “Just as I am without one plea * * O Lamb of God, I come.”
All day long Christ gave His invitation unto Israel. He asked them to come unto Him, but they were a disobedient and gainsaying people, and they would not hear His voice. We read in Joh 5:1-47 how Christ said, “Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” Almost the last call of the Bible is, “Whosoever will,” let him come. Why is it that such a loving invitation is so often refused?
2. They saw. Had they not come they never would have seen, but they came, and they saw where He dwelt. We can almost hear the shepherds after the angels left them, saying one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see * *.” So they came. They saw the Babe lying in the manger. They saw Mary, His mother, and they departed with great joy, declaring His glory. If we only come, we will see in Him the One altogether lovely.
3. They abode with Him that day. To come is good; to see, is better; to abide, is best. So many of our earthly fellowships are but for a day, but here is a fellowship which may be, and should be, forever. The Lord said, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” We rejoice in the word of I Thessalonians for “ever be with the Lord.” They abode with Him for a day. That was just the first step. These same two abode with Him for three and a half years until He went to be with the Father, and by and by they went to abide with Him forever.
VI. HE BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS (Joh 1:40-41)
Joh 1:40 tells us, “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.” Joh 1:41 says, “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
He first went and sought him,
To Jesus he brought him:
‘Twas Andrew brought Peter that day;
When Jesus hailed Peter,
He then detailed Peter,
And called him to service that day.
1. He sought his brother. In after years Christ said, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.” One of the first things we should do when we are saved is to find our brother, or our sister, father, or mother, and bring them to Christ.
2. He brought his brother. It is not enough to seek. We must bring. Christ said, “Go, * * and compel them to come in.” In the Book of Mark we read of a young man who was borne of four who brought him to Jesus. We must go out where they are, and then we must bring them in. He found the sheep that went astray. He placed it upon His shoulders and brought it home.
3. He testified concerning Christ. First he sought, then he brought, but that is not all. He said to his brother, “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
Here was Andrew’s announcement as to whom Christ was. It gives us an inside view of Andrew’s faith.
VII. THOU ART * * THOU SHALT BE (Joh 1:42)
“And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
1. Christ’s knowledge of what is in man. As Christ beheld Peter He knew him, knew him far better than Peter knew himself. He could look at him, and say to him, “Thou art Simon the Son of Jona.” There is no doubt but that Christ played upon the fact of Peter’s characteristic willfulness. God does know us altogether. There is not a thought in our mind, nor a word upon our lips, but that He knows them all.
2. Christ’s knowledge of what we shall be. To Peter Christ said, “Thou shalt be.” “Thou art Simon * * thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” The Lord took Peter for better, and not for worse.
It was a long stretch from Simon to Cephas, from the rugged, rough, and willful son of Jona, to the settled, established Cephas, the son of God. Thank God, our Lord undertakes in our behalf.
3. Changed like unto his Lord. Jesus Christ is spoken of continually in the Word of God as a stone. He was the “Stone which the builders rejected.” He is now the chief Cornerstone, the Stone which is the head of the corner. When He speaks of the Church, He says, “Upon this Rock I will build my Church.” When we come to Christ we come to Him, “a stone disallowed” indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious.
The Holy Spirit is changing us from glory to glory into the image of our Lord and Master, changing us into a “stone.”
AN ILLUSTRATION
John Baptist knew that his life would be brief. Yet, how filled it was with service.
CLOSE WRITING
“When men have much to say in a letter, and perceive that they have little paper left, they write closely.” Looking at the shortness of life, and the much that has to be written upon its tablets, it becomes us also to do much in a short space, and so to write closely, “No day without a line,” is a good motto for a Christian. A thoroughly useful life is multum in parvo: it is necessarily little, for it is but a span; but how much may be crowded into it for God, our souls, the Church, our families, and our fellows! We cannot afford wide blanks of idleness; we should not only live by the day but by the twenty minutes, as Wesley did. He did not keep a diary, but a horary; and each hour was divided into three parts. So scanty is our space that we must condense, and leave out superfluous matter; giving room only to that which is weighty, and of the first importance.
Lord, whether I live long or not, I leave to Thee; but help me to live while I live, that I may live much. Thou canst give life more abundantly; let me receive it. and let my life be filled, yea, packed and crammed, with all manner of holy thoughts and words and deeds to Thy glory.
-Chas. H. Spurgeon.
Fuente: Neighbour’s Wells of Living Water
6
The Lamb of God. This phrase was significant especially to the Jews, because they were familiar with the national practice of offering animal sacrifices.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1:36 {16} And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
(16) Christ is set before us to follow, not as a vain shadow, but as our Mediator.