Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

where he dwelt, and abode with him that day; for it was about the tenth hour.

As he said to them, so, in effect, he says to all; "Come and see." Come, and Come, and you shall see, whatever you can desire. But come, is a hard word. Come as an undone sinner, sounds heavily in our ears.

These disciples, probably John, the writer of this gospel, and Andrew, came and found such sweetness in him that their souls were knit to him ever after. Let us not think in our hearts that it might be so with us, if we were to have a sight of him, and hear him speak. We do hear him in his word, and he is always in, and with it, to make it effectual.

40. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

Andrew made it his business to find Peter. He could not keep what he had found, to himself. This was brotherly kindness indeed!

He told him that he and John had found Messias, and in him he afterwards learnt that they found all that sinful man wanted; forgiveness, a new heart, and a sure title to heaven. This was a happy finding, and it is recorded to put us upon a careful seeking. Let us not deceive ourselves; one is not to be expected without the other.

42. And he brought him to Jesus.

Let each of us, first, bring himself to Jesus, and then we shall endeavour to bring others to him.

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.

He knew Simon, called him by his name, and told him what he would be, (firm as a rock,) before Simon knew

anything of him. He knows this hour what we are, whether friends or foes, and it behoves us greatly to know ourselves.

SECTION VI.

Chap. i. ver. 43—51.

PHILIP AND NATHANAEL CALLED.

43. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

He

Jesus proceeded to enter upon his ministry: he would go forth, that is, his whole will was to the work. found Philip, and he must find us; and it is our fault if we are not found of him. Jesus commanded Philip to follow him as a disciple; probably, not yet as an apostle. We may assure ourselves that this is a call to every one of us.

44. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

See how forward they are to spread the good news, and how it runs from one to another.

46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?

The fact gives the answer, yes; the best good thing that ever was in the world. How would Nathanael be ashamed of his weak saying, when he knew how ready Jesus was to acknowledge the little good that was in him!

46. Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

And accordingly he went to see with his own eyes. Our knowledge of Christ must be our own proper knowledge.

Hearing of him, without going to him ourselves, is nothing.

47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

The meaning is not, in whom there is no sin; for there never was a man upon earth without guile. But Christ knew him to be sincere, that he would immediately give up all his prejudice, and acknowledge the truth.

48. Nathanael saith unto him, 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.

Perhaps under strong, and very sincere workings of mind concerning Christ. We know that we are always before his all-seeing eye. The best thing we can do for ourselves, under this conviction, is to be always thinking that his eye is upon us.

49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the king of Israel.

Here is the proof of Nathanael's sincerity; and whatever we think of ourselves, we have none till we make this confession. It is not to be with the mouth only; away with this common deceit.

50. Jesus 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.

This is the experience of every true Christian. He is always improving and coming to the sight and knowledge of greater things.

51. And he saith unto him, 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.

They would soon have a proof, by the power attending his ministry, that heaven was open to him. We have a good warrant for carrying this farther. The angels of

God minister to every son of man, who is an heir of salvation. Heb. i. 14.

SECTION VII.

Chap. ii. ver. 1—11.

CHRIST TURNETH WATER INTO WINE.

1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee ; and the mother of Jesus was there.

The third day is spoken of with reference to the circumstances last mentioned in the former chapter.

2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

Christ made them sufficient recompense for the respect they showed him, not only by supplying them with wine, but by the miracle leading them to a higher knowledge of himself. We may observe that Jesus was no discourager of feasting at proper times; of all excess we are sure he was. His business was everywhere, and he was always intent upon it, and knew what use to make of every оссаsion for the good of others.

[ocr errors]

3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

She might say this by a divine impulse; or, to make trial of him, knowing his time was at hand, and supposing what he would do.

4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

The word woman sounds rather harsh to us, but with the Jews it was a more civil appellation. "What have I to do with thee?" Though, in other things, he was subject to his parents, Luke ii. 51; yet in what concerned his office, he knew not Mary as a mother. How absurdly

do the papists pray to her to command her son, when she neither hears them, nor ever had any command over him in the things of God. This is our example in like cases. Nay, we are positively commanded to hate father and mother, or disregard them as much as if we did, when they would turn us from God. "Mine hour is not yet come," of entering publicly on my ministry. At verse the twelfth, it is said, "After this he went down to Capernaum," when he entered solemnly on his ministry, not before, as we learn from Matt. iv. 12-17; Mark i. 14; Luke iv. 14.

5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Hear what Mary saith. We shall be no losers by doing whatsoever he bids us.

6. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

These were for their accustomed washings, in which they were very scrupulous. Mark vii. 2—5.

7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

Either for a more plentiful supply of wine, as a sign that Christ was about to fill and exhilarate them with his gifts, who should believe in him; or, that the vessels being full, the water might be more easily seen, and the change of it into wine might admit of no doubt.

8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they hare it.

9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water which was made wine, and knew not whence it was; (but the servants which drew the water knew ;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine: and when men are well drunk, then that which is worse but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

We are to observe, that these words, "Thou hast kept

« VorigeDoorgaan »