THE SEEKING CHRIST. This is a chapter of seeking and finding. Christ asks Andrew and John, “Whom seek ye?” Andrew “findeth his own brother and saith unto him, We have found.” Then, again, Jesus finds Philip, and Philip Nathaniel, and both the Messias. There are two kinds of finding: a casual stumbling on the thing we were not looking for, and that which is the result of seeking. Thus Jesus found Philip, who was un-expectant and undesirous. That is what Christ often does. There are men, like the merchantman seeking goodly pearls, seeking what they want in a hundred different places, and then, when expectancy has died down into despair and apathy, the veil is withdrawn and Jesus seen there beside them. But there are others, like Paul and like Matthew, on whom Christ lays a sudden hand and blesses without their seeking. And so in this story He will welcome Andrew and John when they come seeking. But when these are won, there remains that other way by which He drew Philip to His heart by the sudden revelation of His love.
1. Whether we seek Him or no, Christ is seeking every man. “The Son of Man is come to seek,” etc.
2. He seeks us each in a thousand ways--by the motion of His spirit-stirring conviction; by our restlessness and dissatisfaction; by disappointment and losses; by the brightness and goodness of earthly providences.
II. THE WORD OF AUTHORITY. Sheep follow a shepherd, travellers a guide, soldiers their captains. This is a call to accept Him as a teacher, but the whole context shows that they recognized Him as the Messiah. So it is more: it is a call to
1. Faith.
2. Obedience.
3. Imitation.
4. Communion.
III. THE SILENTLY AND SWIFTLY OBEDIENT DISCIPLE. Philip says nothing, but he yields.
1. How quickly a soul may be won or lost. Philip’s decision was trembling in the balance. It might have gone the other way. A moment settled it. Objections to instantaneous conversions are unphilosophical. Hesitations may be long, but decisions are matters of an instant.
2. Why people are kept back from yielding to Christ’s invitation.
(1) Other duties which seem more important.
(2) The non-conviction of the need of a guide.
These are excuses, not reasons, manufactured to cover a decision which has been taken before on grounds which it is not convenient to bring up to the service. Follow Christ.
This is
1. Safe.
2. Right.
3. Blessed. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
Moral imitation
I. MAN’S MORAL CHARACTER DETERMINES HIS DESTINY. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” in his
1. Experience, whether happy or miserable.
2. Prospects, whether terrific or inviting.
3. Influence, whether useful or pernicious.
4. Relations.
(1) To God, whether approved or condemned.
(2) To the universe, whether a blessing or a curse.
II. MAN’S MORAL CHARACTER IS FORMED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF IMITATION. This is seen in children, and the Romans, recognizing this, placed in their vestibules the busts of great men, so that the young might be reminded of their virtues. The seed of a child’s action is not teaching, but deeds.
III. THE FORMATION OF A GOOD CHARACTER REQUIRES A PERFECT MODEL. Sir Joshua Reynolds found after years of study that he had been imitating, not Titian, whom he desired to make his model, but a forger. After this he resolved to make nature his model, and thus became a great master of his art. According to his model, so will a man be. One reason why human character is so depraved is because the perfect model is little known and less appreciated.
IV. THE ONLY PERFECT MODEL IS JESUS CHRIST. Who is the most imitable character?
1. He who has the strongest power to command admiration.
2. He who is most transparent in character.
3. He who is most unchangeable in the spirit which animates him.
Conclusion: Follow Me.
1. This is an epitome of the moral laws of God.
2. Herein is man’s life and perfection.
3. Imitate Christ by inbreathing His moral spirit. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
The call of St. Philip
No trumpet summoned the soldiers of the Cross to the battle-field; no hand like that at Belshazzar’s feast came forth to beckon him; no miracle made them take up a distinctive post. And, yet, what a call this was! how noble, singular, useful, profitable I Such a call came to Judas, and he sold it.
I. THE ORIGIN OF THIS CALL WAS THE WILL OF CHRIST. Jesus “goes forth” in search of every sinner. But the mere “going forth” of Christ is not enough. There must be an exercise of His secret power. This power is pervasive, leavening, and so works upon man’s free-will that it comes into union with the heavenly will. Without this there can be no discipleship.
II. THE POSITION IN WHICH THIS CALL PLACES THE PERSON BY WHOM IT IS RECOGNIZED AND OBEYED. It makes him follower, and when man becomes a follower
1. He abridges his right over himself, his property, time, etc.
2. He sets aside his own wisdom, and accepts that of His Master.
3. He follows always, even unto the end.
III. IN THIS CALL THERE IS
1. Exclusiveness, jealous refusal to admit of any division of the heart.
2. Mystery.
(1) It separates us from the nothingness and delusions of the world.
(2) It joins us to the invisible and heavenly.
(3) It opens up new hopes, scenes, and sources of immeasurable wealth. (P. B. Power, M. A.)
Delaying Christian profession
The command is for instant obedience. A common objection is, “I have no confidence in my future strength. I must wait until I am stronger before I profess to have devoted my whole life to Christ.” Reply
I. YOU ARE LIVING ONLY IN THE PRESENT. The future is not. For you there may be no earthly future, for you may die to-night. Your responsibility is for the now.
II. DUTIES WILL COME NOT IN THE MASS, BUT ONE BY ONE. Strength for each is all you will need.
III. YOU WILL GROW STRONG FOR COMING DUTIES ONLY AS YOU PERFORM PRESENT ONES. No one can step to the top of the pyramids; but he can climb one block; and from that he can reach another. Says Robert Browning: “I see a duty and do it not, and therefore see no higher.”
IV. GOD’S GRACE IS PROMISED ONLY FOR TIME OF NEED. No man to-day can be prepared for tomorrow’s duties.
V. GOD’S STRENGTH IS OUR ONLY STRENGTH, AND THAT IS PLEDGED. “I will be with you even to the end of the world.” He “will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape.” (Homiletic Monthly.)
The motive for following Christ
It is related in the annals Of the Ottoman Empire that when Amurath
II. died, which was very suddenly, his son and destined successor, Mohammed, was about a day’s journey distant in Asia Minor. Every day of interregnum in that fierce and turbulent monarchy is attended with peril. The death of the deceased Sultan was therefore concealed, and a secret message despatched to the prince to hasten at once to the capital. On receiving the message he leaped on a powerful Arab charger, and turning to his attendants, said, “Let him who loves me, follow!” This prince afterwards became one of the most powerful sovereigns of the Ottoman line. Those who approved their courage and loyalty by following him in this critical moment of his fortunes, were magnificently rewarded. There is another Prince--the Prince of peace--who says to those around Him, “Let him who loves Me, follow.”
The method of following Christ
Faith includes works; loyalty involves service; love carries devotedness. It is not merely that, if we have trust in another, we ought to conform our conduct to the directions or suggestions or wishes or example of the trusted one; but it is that, if our trust is a reality, it will show itself in our conduct. It is folly for a child to tell of his love for his mother if he has no regard to her wishes; it is folly for a patient to say that he believes in his physician if he pays no attention to that physician’s prescription; it is folly for a soldier to say that he is devoted to a commander whom he will not obey in the heat of a campaign; it is folly for a man to say he has faith in Jesus if he does not seek to follow Jesus. Jesus says, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” (H. G.Trumbull, D. D.)
