John’s testimony reaches out far beyond the Messiah in Israel, and we see now the effect of his ministry. “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and, looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:35-3735Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (John 1:35‑37)). It is not always the clearest statement of the truth which most acts on others, for nothing speaks so powerfully as the expression of the heart’s delight in an object that is worthy. So it was now. The greatest of woman-born acknowledges the Savior with unaffected homage, and his own disciples that heard him speak follow Jesus. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:3030He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)). And so it ought to be. Not John, but Jesus is the center: a man, but also God, for none other could be such without detracting from the divine glory. Jesus maintains that glory, but this as man too. Wonderful truth! John was the servant of God’s purpose, and his mission was thus best executed when his disciples followed Jesus. He must be the one exclusive and attractive center for all that know Him, and John’s work was to prepare the way before Him. So here his ministry gathers to Jesus.
Where He Dwelt
But if in the Gospel of Matthew the Lord has a city (which we can name), if not a home, here in the Book of John it is unnoticed where He dwelt. The disciples heard His voice, came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day, but for others it is unnamed and unknown. We can understand that so it should be with One who was not only God in man on earth, but also wholly rejected of the world. And so it is with those that are His: “Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not” (1 John 3:11Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)).
Nor does the work stop there or then. “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. 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” (John 1:40-4240One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. 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. (John 1:40‑42)). Deeply interesting are these glimpses at the first introduction to Jesus of those souls who, receiving Him, found life eternal in Him and were called afterward to be foundations of that building which would be God’s habitation in the Spirit. But all here concentrates in the person of Jesus, to whom Simon is brought by his brother, one of the first two whose souls were drawn to Him, however little they appreciated His glory. Yet was it a divine work, and Simon’s coming was answered with a knowledge of past and present and future that told out who and what He was, who now spoke to man on earth in grace.
The Acknowledged Center
Here the same principle reappears. Jesus, the image of the invisible God, the only perfect manifestation of God, is the acknowledged center beyond all rivalry. He was to die, as this Gospel relates (John 11), to gather in one the scattered children of God, as He will by-and-by gather all things in heaven and all things on earth under His headship (Eph. 1). But then His person could not but be the one center of attraction to everyone who saw by faith, as it was entitled to be for every creature. Only He was come not only to declare God and show us the Father in Himself the Son, but to take all on the ground of His death and resurrection, having perfectly glorified God in respect of the sin which had ruined all, and thereon to take His place in heaven, the glorified Head over all things to the church, His body on earth, as we know now. On this, however, as involving the revelation of God’s counsels and of the mystery hidden from ages and from generations, I do not enter, as it would carry us rather to the epistles of Paul, the vessel chosen for disclosing these heavenly wonders.
Our business now is with John, who lets us see the Lord on earth, a man but very God, and so drawing to Himself the hearts of all taught of God. Had He not been God, it would have been robbery not only from God but sometimes also from man. But not so: All the fullness dwelt in Him — dwelt in Him bodily. He was therefore from the beginning the divine center for saints on earth, as afterward, when He was the exalted Man, He became the center on high, to whom as Head the Spirit united them as members of His body. This last could not be till redemption made it possible according to grace, but on the basis of righteousness.
Gathered to Him
“The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter” (John 1:44-4544Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip 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. (John 1:44‑45)). It is an immense thing to be delivered by Jesus from one’s own will or from the attachment of the heart to the will of a man stronger than ourselves—an immense thing to know that we have found in Him, not the Messiah merely, but the center of all God’s revelations, plans and counsels, so that we are gathering with Him because we are gathering to Him. All else, whatever the plea or pretension, is but scattering, and therefore labor in vain.
But we need more and find more in Jesus, who deigns to be not only our center but our “way,” on earth indeed, but not of the world as He is not, for He is no less than the truth and the life. What a blessing in such a world! It is now a wilderness where is no way, but He is the way. Here are snares to seduce, there dangers to affright. Above them says the voice of Jesus, “Follow Me.” None other is safe. The best of His servants may err, as all have. But even were it not so, He says, “Follow Me.” Christian, hesitate no more. Follow Jesus. You will find a deeper and better fellowship with those that are His, but this by following Him whom they follow. Only look well to it that it be according to the Word, not your own thoughts and feelings. Search your motives according to the light where you walk. “If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” But singleness is secured by looking to Jesus, not to ourselves or others. We have seen enough of ourselves when we have judged ourselves before God. Let us follow Jesus: To Him only and absolutely, a divine person on earth, it is due. It is the true dignity of a saint; it is the only security of him who has still to watch against the sin that is in him; it is the path of genuine humility and of real love. In this shall we be sure of the guidance of the Spirit who is here to glorify Him, taking of His and showing them to us.
W. Kelly (adapted)