John 1:29-42

John 1:29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of god, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John lost no time. He had no sooner discovered the Saviour than he bore witness of him. «The next day.» As soon as ever his eyes lighted upon Jesus, he had his testimony ready for him. «Behold!» said he, «the Lamb of God.»

John 1:30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me: And I knew him not: but that he should manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not:

At first.

John 1:33. But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record, that this is the Son of God.

Notice how very clear John is. There is no mistaking him. He repeated himself lest there should be any possibility of an error, and he gives the detail of the mode by which he recognized the Saviour, in order that all might be persuaded to accept Jesus as in very truth the Messiah and the Son of God, so that we are to preach very plainly not with enticing words of men's wisdom, but with demonstration of the Spirit and with power. What have we to conceal? Nay, we have everything to reveal and our business is that men should be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, and should come and put their trust in him

John 1:35. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples: And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God?

There is no objection to preaching the same sermon twice if it be on such a matter as this. «Behold the Lamb of God,» he said one day, and the next day he did not vary the phraseology. He had no new metaphor no new figure with which to set forth Christ, but, as striking a nail upon the head and the same nail will help to fasten it, and may do more service than bringing out a new nail, so he gets to the same word and the same subject «Behold the Lamb of God.»

John 1:37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

They went beyond their teacher. And oh! what a mercy it is if our hearers can go Christward far beyond us. John was well content to be left behind if they followed Jesus; and so may any minister of Christ rejoice if his people will follow Jesus, even if they go far beyond his attainments.

John 1:38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?

Christ wants intelligent followers: so he asks the question, «What seek ye?»

John 1:38. They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see,

Which is often his answer to enquirers «Come and see.» «Oh! taste and see that the Lord is good.» Learn by experience. Do not merely hear what I say, but come and see.

John 1:39. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus,

This is how the kingdom began to grow by individual effort. «Andrew findeth Simon»: one convert must bring another: «and he brought him to Jesus.»

John 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,

There was a meaning in the change of names, for there was about to be a change of character the timid son of a dove soon to become a very rock for the Church.

This exposition consisted of readings from Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 25-31. Joh 1:29-42.