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nly； as his glance swept over the throng； his eye kindled； his face was lighted up； his whole being was stirred with deep emotion。 With outstretched hands he cried； 〃I baptize in water： in the midst of you standeth One whom ye know not； even He that cometh after me； the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose。〃 John 1：27； R。 V。； margin。
The message was distinct and unequivocal； to be carried back to the Sanhedrin。 The words of John could apply to no other than the long…promised One。 The Messiah was among them！ In amazement priests and rulers gazed about them； hoping to discover Him of whom John had spoken。 But He was not distinguishable among the throng。
When at the baptism of Jesus； John pointed to Him as the Lamb of God； a new light was shed upon the Messiah's work。 The prophet's mind was directed to the words of Isaiah； 〃He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter。〃 Isa。 53：7。 During the weeks that followed； John with new interest studied the prophecies and the teaching of the sacrificial service。 He did not distinguish clearly the two phases of Christ's work；as a suffering sacrifice and a conquering king；but he saw that His
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coming had a deeper significance than priests or people had discerned。 When he beheld Jesus among the throng on His return from the desert； he confidently looked for Him to give the people some sign of His true character。 Almost impatiently he waited to hear the Saviour declare His mission； but no word was spoken； no sign given。 Jesus did not respond to the Baptist's announcement of Him； but mingled with the disciples of John； giving no outward evidence of His special work； and taking no measures to bring Himself to notice。
The next day John sees Jesus coming。 With the light of the glory of God resting upon him； the prophet stretches out his hands； declaring； 〃Behold the Lamb of God； which taketh away the sin of the world！ This is He of whom I said； After me cometh a man which is become before me。 。 。 。 And I knew Him not； but that He should be made manifest to Israel； for this cause came I baptizing in water。 。 。 。 I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven； and it abode upon Him。 And I knew Him not： but He that sent me to baptize in water； He said unto me； Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending； and abiding upon Him； the same is He that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit。 And I have seen； and have borne witness that this is the Son of God。〃 John 1：29…34； R。 V。； margin。
Was this the Christ？ With awe and wonder the people looked upon the One just declared to be the Son of God。 They had been deeply moved by the words of John。 He had spoken to them in the name of God。 They had listened to him day after day as he reproved their sins； and daily the conviction that he was sent of Heaven had strengthened。 But who was this One greater than John the Baptist？ In His dress and bearing there was nothing that betokened rank。 He was apparently a simple personage； clad like themselves in the humble garments of the poor。
There were in the throng some who at Christ's baptism had beheld the divine glory； and had heard the voice of God。 But since that time the Saviour's appearance had greatly changed。 At His baptism they had seen His countenance transfigured in the light of heaven； now； pale； worn； and emaciated； He had been recognized only by the prophet John。
But as the people looked upon Him； they saw a face where divine compassion was blended with conscious power。 Every glance of the eye； every feature of the countenance； was marked with humility； and expressive of unutterable love。 He seemed to be surrounded by an
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atmosphere of spiritual influence。 While His manners were gentle and unassuming； He impressed men with a sense of power that was hidden； yet could not be wholly concealed。 Was this the One for whom Israel had so long waited？
Jesus came in poverty and humiliation； that He might be our example as well as our Redeemer。 If He had appeared with kingly pomp； how could 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 th