---

I. SEEN.

1. By whom? By the Forerunner, who had been preparing His way; as all will — first here in spirit, afterwards in body; first by faith, and afterwards by sight; who by humility, faith, and desire, make themselves ready for His coming (Matthew 5:8; John 16:16; 1 John 3:2).

2. When? On the day after the preceding vision. Christ seldom puts His followers off with one sight of Himself: view follows upon view, according to growth in seeing and desiring.

3. Where? On the river's bank, as He was separating Himself from the Baptist to commence His own work. Christ is best seen at a distance from His servants.

4. Why? To be pointed out. For this same reason Christ appears to His servants now.

II. POINTED OUT.

1. In what character? As the Lamb of God. Suggestive of —

(1)  Personal innocence or sinlessness.

(2)  The meek and unresisting patience with which he should carry on His work.

(3)  The propitiatory character of His mission: — the three main themes of the gospel ministry.

2. In what manner? With a Behold: to indicate —

(1)  The importance of the announcement.

(2)  The earnestness of the herald.

(3)  The liveliness of mind with which the announcement should be welcomed.

3. With what intention? To send men to Christ.

4. With what result? Two of his disciples follow Christ (Isaiah Iv. 11).

III. Followed.

1. Promptly. Delay imprudent and dangerous. If Christ be what the Baptist says, there is no time to be lost.

2. Inquiringly. This is all that Christ desires at first. The chief complaint is that men reject Him without examining His credentials.

3. Finally. So will all who seek Him with the whole heart.

4. Exemplarily. They led the way to a larger movement.Lessons:

1. The proper business of the Christian ministry: to point out Christ to the world, and to point the world to Christ.

2. The necessary qualification of the ministry: to behold Christ, and have a personal insight into the character and work of the Saviour.

3. The encouraging reward of the ministry: to behold disciples going over to and following the Saviour.

(T. Whitelaw, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

WEB: and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"