Part 3 (2/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: STREET SCENE IN NAZARETH _From Photograph_ Page 55]

His preaching was bold, clear, earnest, and forcible. Many yielded to the power of his preaching. They were baptized by him; for this reason he was known as St. John the Baptist, or the Baptizer.

John of Galilee was one of those who obeyed the injunction ”Repent ye.”

With all his lovable qualities which we have imagined in his childhood--his refinement, his faithfulness in his home and synagogue, and his honest toil--he saw that within himself which was not right in the sight of G.o.d. He repented of his sins and sought forgiveness. A lovely character became more lovely still, to be known as the loving and beloved one. He was ready to welcome the Messiah of whom the Baptist told. He had no fears that another Judas of Galilee had arisen. He believed that the promises concerning the coming One were being fulfilled. He was a faithful disciple of the prophet and forerunner, to whom he must have been a great joy, but who was ready to have him, whenever the time should come, transfer his following to the Lord of them both. For how long a period the two Johns continued together, we do not know, but it was drawing to its close.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VISIT OF MARY TO ELISABETH _Old Engraving_ Page 58]

_CHAPTER X_

_The Messiah Found_

”They found Him not, those youths of n.o.ble soul; Long seeking, wandering, watching on life's sh.o.r.e, Reasoning, aspiring, yearning for the light.

”But years pa.s.sed on; and lo! the Charmer came, Pure, simple, sweet, as comes the silver dew, And the world knew Him not,--He walked alone, Encircled only by His trusting few.”

--_H.B. Stowe_.

”We”--Andrew and John--”have found the Messiah.”--_Andrew to Peter_.

”We”--Andrew and Peter, James and John, and Philip--”have found Him, of Whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth.”--_Philip to Nathanael_.

”The fulness of the time was come,” not only when ”G.o.d sent forth His Son,” but ”when the Son should reveal Himself to the world.” So Jesus came forth from His retirement in Nazareth to enter on His public ministry.

”Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan, unto John to be baptized of him.” What a meeting! Probably the first in their lives. It is no marvel that John said, ”I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?” But he obeyed Jesus' bidding, ”Suffer it to be so now.” ”So He was baptized of John in Jordan.” Then followed the prayer of the Son of G.o.d; and then ”the Spirit of G.o.d descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him”; and then the voice of the Father, saying, ”Thou art my beloved Son: in Thee I am well pleased.” Let us remember that voice: we shall hear it again.

And then for forty days and forty nights Jesus was hidden completely from the face of man, alone on the Mount of Temptation, with wild beasts, until ministering angels come to Him from heaven.

He returned to the region where the Baptist was preaching. ”John seeth Jesus coming to him.” His eye is turned away from the mult.i.tude thronging about him, and is fastened upon Jesus only. His thought is of Him of whom Isaiah wrote long before--”He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.” Pointing to Jesus he exclaims, ”Behold the Lamb of G.o.d which taketh away the sin of the world!”

The Galilean disciples were doubtless present, and were deeply moved by their Master's exclamation. Because of their previous training in their homes, and in the wilderness with the prophet, it must have kindled in them deeper emotion than it did in any others of that astonished throng.

But it was to become deeper still. This was especially true of two of them.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WILDERNESS OF JUDEA _From Photograph_ Page 59]

The next day, probably a Sabbath, was to become a memorable day in the history of the two and of their master. It was a morning hour. We think of the three as alone, before the mult.i.tudes had gathered, or the day's ministry of preaching and baptizing had begun. They walked along the bank of the river communing together of Him whom they had seen the day before. In the distance John saw the Figure again. In awe and reverence, and with a fixed gaze, ”John was standing, and two of his disciples; and he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of G.o.d!”

The exclamation was in part that which they had heard in the presence of the mult.i.tude; but that was not enough. It was as if John had said, ”Behold the Messiah for whom our nation has waited so long; Him of whom our Scriptures have told us; Who has been the theme in our homes from childhood; of whom I have been the prophet and herald. He it is of whom I have taught you, my disciples, as you have followed me in the wilderness until I now can bid you behold Him. Henceforth follow Him.”

John says that one of the two was Andrew. There is no doubt that the other was himself. We shall notice in his writings that he never uses his own name. This incident is our first definite knowledge of him. All we have said hitherto is what we think must have been true, judging from circ.u.mstances of which we do know, and from his character revealed after this time.

We long to know whether ”Jesus as He walked” came near the Baptist, and with what salutation they met, and what were their parting words, for this seems to be the last time of their meeting. If Mary and Salome were sisters, and Elizabeth was their cousin--as we use the term--John of Galilee and Jesus were related to John the Baptist in the same way. But there was a closer relations.h.i.+p than that of family. In this Jesus was the connecting link between the two Johns. ”One on each side of Christ”--this was their joy and their glory. One was the last prophet to proclaim His coming: the other was to be the last evangelist to tell the story of His life on the earth.

When the Baptist the second time uttered the cry, ”Behold the Lamb of G.o.d!” ”the two disciples heard Him speak and followed Jesus.” Their old master saw them turn from him without a jealous, but with a gladsome thought. Encouraged by him, and drawn by Jesus, with reverential awe, in solemn silence or with subdued tone, they timidly walked in the footsteps of the newly revealed Master. The quickened ear before them detected their footsteps or conversation. ”Jesus turned and saw them following,” as if to welcome their approach, and give them courage. He then asked them a question, ”What seek ye?” It was not asked because He was ignorant, but to encourage them in familiar conversation, as He did at other times. Their answer was another question, ”Rabbi, where abidest Thou?” They longed for a fuller opportunity than that on the road to be taught by Him. ”Come and see,” was His welcome reply. ”They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” First by a look, then a question, then an invitation, then hospitality, they were drawn to Him, and into His service.

<script>