the desire of ages-第21章

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uld　He　have　taught　humility？　how　could　He　have　presented　such　cutting　truths　as　in　the　Sermon　on　the　Mount？　Where　would　have　been　the　hope　of　the　lowly　in　life　had　Jesus　come　to　dwell　as　a　king　among　men？

To　the　multitude；　however；　it　seemed　impossible　that　the　One　designated　by　John　should　be　associated　with　their　lofty　anticipations。　Thus　many　were　disappointed；　and　greatly　perplexed。

The　words　which　the　priests　and　rabbis　so　much　desired　to　hear；　that　Jesus　would　now　restore　the　kingdom　to　Israel；　had　not　been　spoken。　For　such　a　king　they　had　been　waiting　and　watching；　such　a　king　they　were　ready　to　receive。　But　one　who　sought　to　establish　in　their　hearts　a　kingdom　of　righteousness　and　peace；　they　would　not　accept。

On　the　following　day；　while　two　disciples　were　standing　near；　John　again　saw　Jesus　among　the　people。　Again　the　face　of　the　prophet　was　lighted　up　with　glory　from　the　Unseen；　as　he　cried；　〃Behold　the　Lamb　of　God！〃　The　words　thrilled　the　hearts　of　the　disciples。　They　did　not　fully　understand　them。　What　meant　the　name　that　John　had　given　Him；〃the　Lamb　of　God〃？　John　himself　had　not　explained　it。

Leaving　John；　they　went　to　seek　Jesus。　One　of　the　two　was　Andrew；　the　brother　of　Simon；　the　other　was　John　the　evangelist。　These　were　Christ's　first　disciples。　Moved　by　an　irresistible　impulse；　they　followed　Jesus；anxious　to　speak　with　Him；　yet　awed　and　silent；　lost　in　the　overwhelming　significance　of　the　thought；　〃Is　this　the　Messiah？〃

Jesus　knew　that　the　disciples　were　following　Him。　They　were　the　first　fruits　of　His　ministry；　and　there　was　joy　in　the　heart　of　the　divine　Teacher　as　these　souls　responded　to　His　grace。　Yet　turning；　He　asked　only；　〃What　seek　ye？〃　He　would　leave　them　free　to　turn　back　or　to　speak　of　their　desire。

Of　one　purpose　only　were　they　conscious。　One　presence　filled　their　thought。　They　exclaimed；　〃Rabbi；　。　。　。　where　dwellest　Thou？〃　In　a　brief　interview　by　the　wayside　they　could　not　receive　that　for　which　they　longed。　They　desired　to　be　alone　with　Jesus；　to　sit　at　His　feet；　and　hear　His　words。

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〃He　saith　unto　them；　Come　and　see。　They　came　and　saw　where　He　dwelt；　and　abode　with　Him　that　day。〃

If　John　and　Andrew　had　possessed　the　unbelieving　spirit　of　the　priests　and　rulers；　they　would　not　have　been　found　as　learners　at　the　feet　of　Jesus。　They　would　have　come　to　Him　as　critics；　to　judge　His　words。　Many　thus　close　the　door　to　the　most　precious　opportunities。　But　not　so　did　these　first　disciples。　They　had　responded　to　the　Holy　Spirit's　call　in　the　preaching　of　John　the　Baptist。　Now　they　recognized　the　voice　of　the　heavenly　Teacher。　To　them　the　words　of　Jesus　were　full　of　freshness　and　truth　and　beauty。　A　divine　illumination　was　shed　upon　the　teaching　of　the　Old　Testament　Scriptures。　The　many…sided　themes　of　truth　stood　out　in　new　light。

It　is　contrition　and　faith　and　love　that　enable　the　soul　to　receive　wisdom　from　heaven。　Faith　working　by　love　is　the　key　of　knowledge；　and　everyone　that　loveth　〃knoweth　God。〃　1　John　4：7。

The　disciple　John　was　a　man　of　earnest　and　deep　affection；　ardent；　yet　contemplative。　He　had　begun　to　discern　the　glory　of　Christ；not　the　worldly　pomp　and　power　for　which　he　had　been　taught　to　hope；　but　〃the　glory　as　of　the　Only…begotten　of　the　Father；　full　of　grace　and　truth。〃　John　1：14。　He　was　absorbed　in　contemplation　of　the　wondrous　theme。

Andrew　sought　to　impart　the　joy　that　filled　his　heart。　Going　in　search　of　his　brother　Simon；　he　cried；　〃We　have　found　the　Messias。〃　Simon　waited　for　no　second　bidding。　He　also　had　heard　the　preaching　of　John　the　Baptist；　and　he　hastened　to　the　Saviour。　The　eye　of　Christ　rested　upon　him；　reading　his　character　and　his　life　history。　His　impulsive　nature；　his　loving；　sympathetic　heart；　his　ambition　and　self…confidence；　the　history　of　his　fall；　his　repentance；　his　labors；　and　his　martyr　death；the　Saviour　read　it　all；　and　He　said；　〃Thou　art　Simon　the　son　of　Jona：　thou　shalt　be　called　Cephas；　which　is　by　interpretation；　A　stone。〃

〃The　day　following　Jesus　would　go　forth　into　Galilee；　and　findeth　Philip；　and　saith　unto　him；　Follow　Me。〃　Philip　obeyed　the　command；　and　straightway　he　also　became　a　worker　for　Christ。

Philip　called　Nathanael。　The　latter　had　been　among　the　throng　when　the　Baptist　pointed　to　Jesus　as　the　Lamb　of　God。　As　Nathanael　looked　upon　Jesus；　he　was　disappointed。　Could　this　man；　who　bore　the　marks　of　toil　and　poverty；　be　the　Messiah？　Yet　Nathanael　could　not　decide　to　reject　Jesus；　for　the　message　of　John　had　brought　conviction　to　his　heart。

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At　the　time　when　Philip　called　him；　Nathanael　had　withdrawn　to　a　quiet　grove　to　meditate　upon　the　announcement　of　John　and　the　prophecies　concerning　the　Messiah。　He　prayed　that　if　the　one　announced　by　John　was　the　deliverer；　it　might　be　made　known　to　him；　and　the　Holy　Spirit　rested　upon　him　with　assurance　that　God　had　visited　His　people　and　raised　up　a　horn　of　salvation　for　them。　Philip　knew　that　his　friend　was　searching　the　prophecies；　and　while　Nathanael　was　praying　under　a　fig　tree；　Philip　discovered　his　retreat。　They　had　often　prayed　together　in　this　secluded　spot　hidden　by　the　foliage。

The　message；　〃We　have　found　Him；　of　whom　Moses　in　the　law；　and　the　prophets；　did　write；〃　seemed　to　Nathanael　a　direct　answer　to　his　prayer。　But　Philip　had　yet　a　trembling　faith。　He　added　doubtfully；　〃Jesus　of　Nazareth；　the　son　of　Joseph。〃　Again　prejudice　arose　in　Nathanael's　heart。　He　exclaimed；　〃Can　there　any　good　thing　come　out　of　Nazareth？〃

Philip　entered　into　no　controversy。　He　said；　〃Come　and　see。　Jesus　saw　Nathanael　coming　to　Him；　and　saith　of　him；　Behold　an　Israelite　indeed；　in　whom　is　no　guile！〃　In　surprise　Nathanael　exclaimed；　〃Whence　knowest　Thou　me？　Jesus　answered　and　said　unto　him；　Before　that　Philip　called　thee；　when　thou　wast　under　the　fig　tree；　I　saw　thee。〃

It　was　enough。　The　divine　Spirit　that　had　borne　witness　to　Nathanael　in　his　solitary　prayer　under　the　fig　tree　now　spoke　to　him　in　the　words　of　Jesus。　Though　in　doubt；　and　yielding　somewhat　to　prejudice；　Nathanael　had　come　to　Christ　with　an　honest　desire　for　truth；　and　now　his　desire　was　met。　His　faith　went　beyond　that　of　the　one　who　had　brought　him　to　Jesus。　He　answered　and　said；　〃Rabbi；　Thou　art　the　Son　of　God；　Thou　art　the　King　of　Israel。〃

If　Nathanael　had　trusted　to　the　rabbis　for　guidance；　he　would　never　have　found　Jesus。　It　was　by　seeing　and　judging　for　himself　that　he

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became　a　disciple。　So　in　the　case　of　many　today　whom　prejudice　withholds　from　good。　How　different　would　be　the　result　if　they　would　〃come　and　see〃！

While　they　trust　to　the　guidance　of　human　authority；　none　will　come　to　a　saving　knowledge　of　the　truth。　Like　Nathanael；　we　need　to　study　God's　word　for　ourselves；　and　pray　for　the　enlightenment　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　He　who　saw　Nathanael　under　the　fig　tree　will　see　us　in　the　secret　place　of　prayer。　Angels　from　the　world　of　light　are　near　to　those　who　in　humility　seek　for　divine　guidance。

With　the　calling　of　John　and　Andrew　and　Simon；　of　Philip　and　Nathanael；　began　the　foundation　of　the　Christian　church。　John　directed　two　of　his　disciples　to　Christ。　Then　one　of　these；　Andrew；　found　his　brother；　and　called　him　to　the　Saviour。　Philip　was　then　called；　and　he　went　in　search　of　Nathanael。　These　examples　should　teach　us　the　importance　of　personal　effort；　of　making　direct　appeals　to　our　kindred；　friends；　and　neighbors。　There　are　those　who　for　a　lifetime　have　professed　to　be　acquainted　with　Christ；　yet　who　have　never　made　a　personal　effort　to　bring　even　one　soul　to　the　Saviour。　They　leave　all　the　work　for　the　minister。　He　may　be　well　qualified　for　his　calling；　but　he　cannot　do　that　which　God　has　left　for　the　members　of　the　church。

There　are　many　who　need　the　ministration　of　loving　Christian　hearts。　Many　have　gone　down　to　ruin　who　might　have　been　saved　if　their　neighbors；　common　men　and　women；　had　put　forth　personal　effort　for　them。　Many　are　waiting　to　be　personally　addressed。　In　the　very　family；　the　neighborhood；　the　town；　where　we　live；　there　is　work　for　us　to　do　as　missionaries　for　Christ。　If　we　are　Christians；　this　work　will　be　our　delight。　No　sooner　is　one　converted　than　there　is　born　within　him　a　desire　to　make　known　to　others　what　a　precious　friend　he　has　found　in　Jesus。　The　saving　and　sanctifying　truth　cannot　be　shut　up　in　his　heart。

All　who　are　consecrated　to　God　will　be　channels　of　light。　God　makes　them　His　agents　to　communicate　to　others　the　riches　of　His　grace。　His　promise　is；　〃I　will　make　them　and　the　places　round　about　My　hill　a　blessing；　and　I　will　cause　the　shower　to　come　down　in　his　season；　there　shall　be　showers　of　blessing。〃　Ezek。　34：26。

Philip　said　to　Nathanael；　〃Come　and　see。〃　He　did　not　ask　him　to　accept　another's　testimony；　but　to　behold　Christ　for　himself。　Now　that　Jesus　has　ascended　to　heaven；　His　disciples　are　His　representatives　among　men；　and　one　of　the　most　effective　ways　of　winning　souls　to　Him　is　in

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exemplifying　His　character　in　our　daily　life。　Our　influence　upon　others　depends　not　so　much　upon　what　we　say　as　upon　what　we　are。　Men　may　combat　and　defy　our　logic；　they　may　resist　our　appeals；　but　a　life　of　disinterested　love　is　an　argument　they　cannot　gainsay。　A　consistent　life；　characterized　by　the　meekness　of　Christ；　is　a　power　in　the　world。

The　teaching　of　Christ　was　the　expression　of　an　inwrought　conviction　and　experience；　and　those　who　learn　of　Him　become　teachers　after　the　divine　order。　The　word　of　God；　spoken　by　one　who　is　himself　sanctified　through　it；　has　a　life…giving　power　that　makes　it　attractive　to　the　hearers；　and　convicts　them　that　it　is　a　living　reality。　When　one　has　received　the　truth　in　the　love　of　it；　he　will　make　this　manifest　in　the　persuasion　of　his　manner　and　the　tones　of　his　voice。　He　makes　known　that　which　he　himself　has　heard；　seen；　and　handled　of　the　word　of　life；　that　others　may　have　fellowship　with　him　through　the　knowledge　of　Christ。　His　testimony；　from　lips　touched　with　a　live　coal　from　off　the　altar；　is　truth　to　the　receptive　heart；　and　works　sanctification　upon　the　character。

And　he　who　seeks　to　give　light　to　others　will　himself　be　blessed。　〃There　shall　be　showers　of　blessing。〃　〃He　that　watereth　shall　be　watered　also　himself。〃　Prov。　11：25。　God　could　have　reached　His　object　in　saving　sinners　without　our　aid；　but　in　order　for　us　to　develop　a　character　like　Christ's；　we　must　share　in　His　work。　In　order　to　enter　into　His　joy；the　joy　of　seeing　souls　redeemed　by　His　sacrifice；we　must　participate　in　His　labors　for　their　redemption。

Nathanael's　first　expression　of　his　faith；　so　full　and　earnest　and　sincere；　fell　like　music　on　the　ears　of　Jesus。　And　He　〃answered　and　said　unto　him；　Because　I　said　unto　thee；　I　saw　thee　under　the　fig　tree；　believest　thou？　thou　shalt　see　greater　things　than　these。〃　The　Saviour　looked　forward　with　joy　to　His　work　in　preaching　good　tidings　to　the　meek；　binding　up　the　brokenhearted；　and　proclaiming　liberty　to　the　captives　of　Satan。　At　thought　of　the　precious　blessings　He　had　brought　to　men；　Jesus　added；　〃Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　Hereafter　ye　shall　see　heaven　open；　and　the　angels　of　God　ascending　and　descending　upon　the　Son　of　man。〃

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