The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 192

clwellest thou?" They de11ired a private interview that they might have a deeper insight into his character and mission. 'l'hey sought a Person rather than a gift. 2. The Lord fitlly gratifies their desfre, and satisfies all their hopes. " Come and see." (1) The interview we.s not postponed till the day after, 'l'he Lord bids them come o.t once. His salvation is e. present blessing. (2) lt was e. protracted interview. "'l'hey ea.me and EaW where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was the tenth hour;" the.t is, t-en in the forenoon. (a) There was full time to satisfy all their doubts and answer all thei: questions. (b) The day was a turning-point in their lives; and there- fore they fix with exe.ct.ness the very limits of their stay with Jesus. (3) The inter- Yiew he.d a Ee.tisfact-0ry result. The exclamation of Andrew to his brother Simon, "We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ;" attests the blessed discovery. (a) The discovery of Jesus implied a previous seeking. (b) It was ta1expected. (c) It was joyful. (a) It was final. III. THE INTEREST A~"D IMPORTANCE OF ANDREW'S CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESIIIP, "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother." 1. He was a'Tl1,()ng the first called to be Christ's disciple.~. He is therefore one nf the two first members of the Christian Church. 2. Mark liis priority to Peter. That apostle to whom the Church of Rome assigns the primo.cy, was not the first to accept or follow Christ. Vers. 41, 42.-The reception of Peter by Christ. Andrew's first action is to make his discovery of the Messiah known to his brother. l. MARK THE PROMPT ZEAL, TBE QUIET HELPFULNESS, THE YEARNING FAITH, OF A:KDREW. " He first findeth his own brother Simon "-implying that he afterwards found John's brother, Ja.mes, for a like object--" and brought him to Jesus." 1. Andrew follow, a natural instinct in carrying the glad tidings of salvation to his brother. Simon was one of the nearest and the dearest in life. It was an instinct of grace likewise that Andrew should desire his brother to share in the blessings of the common salvation. 2. How much good is eften done by the private suggestion or inquiry of a Christian j,·iend ! 3. Trhat 'lTWmentous consequences flowed from .Andrew's loving act! He was uot (1) the writer of an Epistle, (2) nor the founder of a Church, (3) but the opener of a new career to one of the greatest of the apostles. He was the instrument by whom Peter was first led into the paths of truth, and on that account is to be held in " ever- lasting remembrance." (4) Our last notice of Andrew is equally characteristic of him, for, if he found Peter first, he found others afterwards. It was he and Philip who introduced the Greek strangers to Christ (eh. xii. 20). II. MAE.K TIIE MODE OF oun LoRD's RECEPl'ION OF PETER. "Thou art Simon, the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." 1. Our Lord knew Peters characf,er. The Jews regarded the knowledge of the hearts of men as an attribute of the Messiah. 2. The change of name implies a change of cha- racter or position. So it was in the cases of Abraham, Sarah, and Jacob. The Master here takes possession of his servant, and consecrates him at once and wholly to his service. 3. TJ.e n= Cephas-by which Peter was exclusively known to the Corin- thians, and, perhaps, to other Chu!ches-1mplies stre"!flth of c~aracter_, vig~ur of resolution, and the power of aggruswn, which had their place side by side with an honest-hearted impulsiveness. 4. The selection of disciples, like Peter and .fodrew, for the propagation of the gospel,, wnlearned as they were in the worlcfs scholarship, is a powerful evidence of the troth of Christianity. Vers. 43, 44.-17ie caJJ,ing of Philip. Jesue was now leaving Beth_a;°y beyon~ Jordan for Galilee; and as he was about tn set out, he summoned Philip, a Gahlaiaa, to discipleship. I. THE cALL OF CHB.IBT TO PHILIP. "He findeth Philip, and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me." 1. Tl,e birtl,place of Philip. He was a native of the district of Beth- i;aida, and belonged to the city of Andrew and Peter, and must ther~fo~e have been acquainted with tbem. Probahly through them was be first brou~ht w1thi;D- ~he sphere of Christ's influence. It was natural that our Lord should seek Ins first d1Sc1ples from tl,e di.strict which was to become t.he scene of his fullest ministry. Philip is a Jew, though he bears a Greek name. 2. Mark in what different ways our Lord draws cm. 1. 1-61.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 51