The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 201

secure Hs highest good. But hunger is not enough to secure our satisfaction; there must be bread to corre8pond with, to supply, the want. So the heart may yearn to little purpose unless the Divine heart of the Savionr respond to the yearn in 0a. Now, Jesus is willing to be found, and, indeed, came to earth in order that in him th e favour, fellowship, and life of God might be made accessible to man. From the beginnina of his ministry he welcomed all who sought him. And still his promise is, "Seek, and ye shall find;" "Come unto me, ... and ye shall find rest." 3. The Spirit of God is tl,e Divine Guide that leads the soul to the Saviour. A Divine influence prompts the spiritual quest, sets the glorious Object of that quest before the vision, and urges to a fervent and immediate application for blessing. II. THE VALUE OF THIS DIBCOVEUY. Christ is the Treasure hidden, the Pearl of price. 1. They who find him find the mind and heart of the God in whom "we Jive and move and have our being." As bimon and Nathanael soon found that the Rabbi of Nazareth was the Son of God; so many who have been prejudiced against Jesus have learned how unjust were their prejudices. Time has revealed to them the fulness from which they have received grace for grace. 2. They find in Christ supply for all their wants and satisfaction for all their cravings. He becomes to those who tind him, not only Prophet, Priest, and King, but also Counsellor, Friend, and Brother. III. THE RESULT OF THIS DISCOVERY. 1. Joy. Finding Christ is being foun<l. by Christ; and, as he rejoices over the lost ones who are found, so they rejoice in him whom to find is life eternal. 2. Proclamation. It is a discovery which the discoverer cannot keep to himself. In this narrative we observe the happy finders of the Messiah com- municating to kindred and to friends their unspeakable happiness. The impulse of glowing benevolence urges to the spiritual ministry of compassion, and thus soul after soul is brought to enter upon that pursuit which is ever rewarded by success and satisfaction.-T. Vers. 45-51.-'.IVie candid disciple. Nathanael is a person of whom we know but very little. That he was of Cana, that he was probably the same as Bartholomew, that, after the resurrection of Jesus, he was in company with Peter upon the Lake of Genne- 11areth,-this is all we are told concerning him, except what we learn from this p38sage. Our chief interest in him, therefore, lies in his call to the discipleship of the Lord. I. MORAL PREPARATION FOR DISCIPLESHIP. Like many of Christ's friends, Nathanael was disciplined and fitted beforehand for the new fellowship. 1. He was devont, medi- tative, and prayerful. It seems likely that," under the fig tree," he was engaged in the study of the Scriptures and in prayer. 2. A true and spiritual, and not merely a nominal, a national, Israelite. There were many descended from Abraham who were not Abraham's children spiritually. This man was a true '' prince with God "--one worthy of his privileges aud his name. 3. Guileless; not indeed free frnm sin, but transparent in character-candid, open to the light, anxious to be holy and to find God. Such training as this was the best preparative for Christian discipleship. II. INTELLECTUAL PREJUDICE AGAINST DISCIPLESHIP. This state of mind is not incompatible with that already described. Nathanael was not eager to welcome the new Teacher and Leader of men. Morally cultured though he was, he resented the supposition that the Messiah could spring out of a town so small, insi~nificant, and despised as Nazareth. His first inclination was to discredit the witness, and to smile at the sudden enthusiasm of his friend Andrew. And in this Nathanael did but antici- pate the action of the Jews, who were offended at what they deemed the weakness of the cross, and of the Gentiles, who were offended at what they deemed its folly. It is not only bad men whose prejudices keep them from Christ; good men have their pre- judices-prejudices not to be overcome by reasoning, but which will yield to the demonstration of personal experience. III. DECISIVE l\lEANS BRINGING ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP. Several steps are here taken, which deserve to be carefully followed. 1. The mediation and testimony of a friend. 2. The invitation to a personal interview with Jesus, accepted as readily as it was wisely suggested. 3. The evident insight possessed by Jesus into human character. He needed not that any man should tell him; he kuew immediately what was the character of him who was introduced to him. 4. The revelation of the man's heart to himself b;y th11 authority of th11 Divin@ Rabbi. Others standing by could not fathom  62 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. JOHN. [cu. 1. 1-61.