These verses ought always to be interesting to every true Christian. They describe the first beginnings of the Christian Church. Yast as that church is now, there was a time when it consisted of only two weak raenibers. The calling of those two members is described in the passage which is now before our eyes.
We see, for one thing, in these verses, what good is done hy continually testifying of Christ.
The first time that John the Baptist cried, " Behold the Lamb of God," no result appears to have followed. We are not told of any who heard, inquired, and believed. But when he repeated the same words the next day, we read that two of His disciples "heard him speak and fol- lowed Jesus." They were received most graciously by Him whom they followed. "They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day." Truly it was a day in their lives most eventful, and most blessed ! From that day they became fast and firm disciples of the new-found Messiah. They took up the cross. They continued with Him in His temptations. They followed Him whitherso- ever He went. One of them at least, if not both, became a chosen apostle, and a master builder in the Christian temple. And all was owing to John the Baptist's testi- mony, " Behold the lamb of God." That testimony was a little seed. But it bore mighty fruits.
This simple story is a pattern of the way in which good has been done to souls in every age of the Christian Church. By such testimony as that before us, and by none else, men and women are converted and saved. It is by exalting Christ, not the church, — Christ, not the sacra- ments,— Christ, not the ministry, — it is by this means that hearts are moved, and sinners are turned to God. To the world such testimony may seem weakness and foolishness. Yet, like the ram's horns, before whose blast the walls of Jericho fell down, this testimony is mighty to the pulling
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down of strongholds. The stoiy of the crucified Lamb of God has proved in every age, the power of God unto sal- vation. Those who have done most for Christ's cause in every part Df the world, have been men like John the Baptist. They have not cried, Behold me, or Behold the church, or Behold the ordinances, but " Behold the Lamb." If souls are to be saved, men must be pointed directly t( Christ.
One thing, however, must never be forgotten. There must be patient continuance in preaching and teaching the truth, if we want good to be done. Christ must be set forth again and again, as the " Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." The story of grace must be told repeatedly, — line upon line, and precept upon precept. It is the constant dropping w^hich wears away the stone. The promise shall never be broken, that " God's word shall not return unto him void." (Isai. Iv. 11.) But it is nowhere said that it shall do good the very first time that it is preached. It was not the first proclamation of John the Baptist, but the second, which made Andrew and his com- panion follow Jesus.
We see, for another thing, lohat good a believer may do to others^ by speaking to them about Christ.
No sooner does Andrew become a disciple, than he tells iiis brother Simon what a discovery he has made. Like one who has unexpectedly heard good tidings, he hastens to impart it to the one nearest and dearest to him. He says- to his brother, ""We have found the Messias," and he " brings him to elesus." Who can tell what might have happened if Andrew had been of a silent, reserved, and uncommunicative spirit, like many a Christian in the present day ? Who can tell but his brother might Jiave lived and died a fisherman on the Galilean lake? But happily for Simon, Andrew was not a man of this sort. He was one whose heart was so full that he must speak.