JESUS MAKES HIS FIRST DISCIPLES.
(Bethany beyond Jordan, Spring A. D. 27.) JOHN 1: 35-51
John the Baptist is with two of his disciples, Andrew and probably John the author, when they see Jesus walking by. When John comments, "Behold, the Lamb of God," the two follow Jesus. Jesus asks them what they seek, and they ask where he is staying. They follow him home and stay with him the rest of the day.
My questions--why do they want to see where he's staying? What does that have to do with anything? Are they fickle that they jump from John to Jesus, or it more that the action is just concise, and they respect John's comment? John clearly put Jesus far above himself.
I like Jon Courson's comment in this regard:
"As the disciples of John shift their allegiance to Jesus Christ, we see that the purpose of his preaching was not to draw people to himself, but to push people to Jesus. Such needs to be the purpose of your service as well. As you talk with people, your focus should not be on denominations or personalities. Your intent should always be to nudge people closer to Jesus."Andrew found his brother Simon (Peter) and brought him to Jesus who comments Simon shall be called Cephas which means stone.
Section 22
JESUS WORKS HIS FIRST MIRACLE AT CANA IN GALILEE
JOHN 2: 1-11
Christ was to come in a way different from that of John Baptist, who came neither eating nor drinking, Mat_11:18, Mat_11:19. It is the wisdom of the prudent to study how to improve conversation rather than how to decline it.-Matthew Henry
Note, [1.] We ought to be concerned for the wants and straits of our friends, and not seek our own things only. [2.] In our own and our friends' straits it is our wisdom and duty to apply ourselves to Christ by prayer. [3.] In our addresses to Christ, we must not prescribe to him, but humbly spread our case before him, and then refer ourselves to him to do as he pleases.-Matthew Henry
In creating wine Jesus did no more than as Creator and Renewer of the earth he had always done. From the beginning God has always so created or replenished the earth as to allow the possibility of excess.-Fourfold Gospel
We should note also that it was a sign. The value of the miracle was in what it signified, not in what it wrought. It manifested the glory of Christ, part of which glory is his power to change the worse into the better, the simpler into the richer. It is the [118] glory of Christ that he can transform sinners into his own likeness-and his disciples believed on him. [In this chapter John as a disciple three times gives us a disciple's point of view as to Christ's miracles; here, and at verse 17 and at verse 22. They implanted faith in those whose hearts were right before God (John 5:38).-Fourfold Gospel
Section 23
JESUS' FIRST RESIDENCE AT CAPERNAUM
JOHN 2: 12
This notice of the brief sojourn of Jesus at Capernaum throws light on several things: 1. It shows where Jesus spent most of his time between his baptism and the first passover. 2. It helps to explain how the nobleman, who afterwards sought him at Cana, became acquainted with him. 3. It prepares us to look for his first visit to Nazareth at a later period. 4. It also explains why Jesus sought Capernaum as his place of residence after leaving Nazareth. Moreover, it shows that the natural ties of kindred were not immediately snapped by Christ. Until he went up to the first passover, he abode with his mother and his brethren. -Fourfold Gospel
"The short visit Christ made to Capernaum, Joh_2:12. It was a large and populous city, about a day's journey from Cana; it is called his own city (Mat_9:1), because he made it his head-quarters in Galilee, and what little rest he had was there. It was a place of concourse...." -Matthew Henry
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