THE WITNESSES
FIRST SIGN
79
AND
1st day. - The testimony of John to those sent to him from the
Sanhedrin. - The Lord, the Coming One, Who was preferred
before him (19-28).
2nd day. - The testimony of John to all who attended. - His baptizing at
Bethabara. The Lamb of God. The Son of God. He who
baptizeth with Holy Spirit (29-34).
3rd day. - The testimony of John - The Lamb of God, and Andrew -
The Messiah (35-42).
4th day. - The testimony of Philip and Nathanael. - Him of Whom
Moses wrote. The Son of God. The Son of man. The King
of Israel (43-51).
We have considered the testimony of John the Baptist on the first
and second days: we have now to hear the testimony given by others
on the two following days. First let us discover the structure, so that
the salient features may be made manifest.
A 35. The next day. John and the two disciples. They followed Him.
a 36. The Lamb of God.
B1 36-39. JOHN'S .
b 38. Rabbi.
TESTIMONY
c 39. Come and see.
d 41. Findeth Simon.
B2 40-42. ANDREW'S .
e 41. We have found the Messiah.
TESTIMONY
A 43. The next day. Jesus and Philip. Follow Me.
B1 43-46. PHILIP'S .
d 45. Findeth Nathanael.
TESTIMONY
e 45. We have found Him.
c 46 Come and see.
B2 46-51. NATHANAEL'S b 49. Rabbi.
TESTIMONY a 49-51. Son of God. Son of Man. King
of Israel.
The keen speaker or preacher, desirous of giving out the best that
the Lord has given him, is often sensitive about repeating himself. We
speak feelingly on this matter for we have several times hesitated to go
over the ground already traversed, yet, for the sake of some newcomer,
we have risked incurring the censure of mere repetition, only to find
afterwards that the help directed towards the one was welcome to not a
few. Paul has given his testimony to this same thing in Philippians 3:1,
and John the Baptist exemplifies it in the following passage: