1·emoved by the Racrlfice. "The sin of the world." (1) It iR the Rin, not the sins. (rt) '!'his does not signify original sin as tho root-sin of the world; but sin in the ma 8 s regarded in its unity as the common guilt and corruption of the world. (b) It doe~ not refer merely lo the punishment of sin, for the Lamb of God secures by hiH sacrifice the complete extirpation of sin. (2) It is the sin of the world. (a) Not the sin of the Jews, but of the Gentiles also; for it had been said long before to Abraham," In thy ee~tl she.II e.!l the families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. xii. 3). (b) The Baptist, in usmg the smgule.r number, thought, not so much of the extent, as of the nature of sin. The ein of the world is the sin that belongs to the world as such-which is of the world from the world. On the world's side there is nothing but sin; on God's side nothin; 0 but the Lamb of God. See how God overcomes with good the evil of the world. II. Tm: REDEEMER IS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN HHI PERSON. "This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is become before me: for he was before me." These words now meet us for the third time. The human and Divine natures are exhibited in one ~entence. Th~ Baptist believed in the pre-existence of the Messiah. II!, THE EXTRAORDJNARY MODE IN WHICH THE REDEEMER WAS IDENTIFIED BY JOHN HI.MBELF. 1. "I knew him not." Yet John must have !mown him, for else he could not have hesitated as he did about baptizing our Lord. "I have need to be bap- tized of theo, and comest thou to me?" (Matt. iii. 14). The son of Elisabeth must have personally known the Son of Mary. The Baptist means that he did not know him as Messiah, and the descent of the Spirit upon Jesu.q, which he immediately records, points to the method and circumstances of the revelation. 2. Jesus Wa8 revealed to the Baptist by the descent of tlie Spirit upon him as a dove. (1) The sign-the descent and abiding of the dove upon Jesus-was seen by the Baptist as an actual fact, and signi- fied the actual consecration of the Redeemer to his .Divine work. (2) The two bap- tisms-the baptism in water, and the baptism in the Holy Ghost. (a) John's baptism was (a.) "that he might be made manifest in Israel;" (/3) it was "unto repentance for remission of sins "-not that it effected such a remission, for John had no such power, and never claimed it-but it pointed to that which could alone take away sin. (b) Christ's baptism was not (a.) the baptism which he was to institute for the Christian Church,-it was not a baptism of water; (fl) nor was it a baptism which any man can give, whether priest or minister; (-y) nor was it a baptism for miraculons gifts at Pente- cost; (3) but it was a baptism of regene.rating grace-such a baptism as the dying thief received, though not baptized with water, such a baptism as Simon Magus never received, though he was admitted into the communion of the Church by the ministers ~~~ • • IV. THE IMPORTANCE OF TllE TIEC0RD JUST MADE BY THE BAPTIST. "And I have seen, and I havo borne witness that this is the Son of God." The vision is regarded as still present and remaining in its blessed results. He sets forth the abiding record that Jesus is tho Son of God as well as the Son of man, therefore a Divine Being.
Vers. 35-40.-Thefirst gathering of disciples to Jesus. We traoe in these words the first beginnings of the Christian Church. It began with two disciples, Andrew and John; and the first disciples became the first preachers. I. THE BAPTIST'S RENEWED TESTIMONY TO CHRIST. "Behold the Lamb of God!" 1. John and the Redeemer had now met/or the last time; and the Baptist was already preparing for the change in their relative positions implied in the entrance of Jesus upon public life. "He must increase, but I must decrease." 2. His last testimony was but a repetition of his first testimony. "Behold the Lamb of God!" (1) This was but a little seed, but it had a mighty growth. (2) The doctrine -0f Christ crucified is for every age the power of God to salvation .. (:!) We need to repeat the l!lllile truth, perhaps in a difforent form, to produce the due effect of the gospel. II. 'rHE EFFECT OF THJS RENEWED TESTIMONY. '!'he two disciples of John "followed" Jesus. '!'his was the decisive act that determined their destiny for ever. The words of John excited their wonder, their admiration, their desire for further knowledge. 1. They seek a more intimate lcnowledge of Jesus. The Saviour, seeing them follow him, asked them, ""What seek ye?" As he knew their hearts, the words were evidently spoken both t ) eLcoure.ge ond to stimulate to further inquiry. They answer," Wbere fi2 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [err. 1. 1-51.