1928 Young Mens Corner - page 3

YOUNG MEN’S CORNER.

3

and work of the Greater than John. The choosing of the disciples, recorded in chapter 1., completes. the preparatory steps to the actual ministry of the. Lord Jesus.

Chapter 2. records the Lord’s first miracle, which, as well as giving proof of His power and divinity, also points to the fact that He had now definitely begun to fulfil that for which He was sent.

Some slight attempt was made to place in correct order the events at this time in the life of the Lord Jesus.  There are four important events as to the order of which we could not attain to oneness of mind.  What is the correct order of the following?  (1) The baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3. 13-17; Mark 1. 0-11; Luke 3. 21-22). (2) The temptation of the Lord in the wilderness (Matthew 4. 1-11: Mark 1. 12-13; Luke 4. 1-13).

(3) John’s pointing out of the Lamb of God (John 1. 29-36).  (4)

The choosing of the twelve disciples.  There  is no doubt that the Lord’s baptism is the first event. " In those days Jesus came from Nazareth (Matthew 3. 13, " from Galilee ") of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. " (Mark 1. 9. ) Then follows the temptation in the wilderness--note the " then " of Matthew 4. 1, and " straightway " of Mark 1. 12.  The Lord returns from the forty days’ temptation in the wilderness and John bears witness to Him.  The choosing- of the twelve is a later event, of which we read in Luke 6. 12 and elsewhere. Notice the three days in John 1. and 2.  I. " On the morrow " and " again on trie morrow. "  II. " On the morrow He was minded to go forth into Galilee. "  III.  " The third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. " These days follow the days of the temptation. --J. M. ] John mentions neither the baptism nor the temptation: but the words of chapter 1. from verse 29 on, belong to a period at least after the baptism, for the Baptist here states that God had shown him, by the appointed sign, that this One was His well-beloved Son.

J. BAIRD.

From BARROW. --" And the Word became flesh. " Such are the words of sublime simplicity with which John informs us of the stupendous fact of the incarnation.

" The Word was God "; hence we see " God manifest in flesh. "  He was with the Father ere time began; He was, and is, eternal.  As to His power He is the Creator and Upholder of all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1. 3), and as to His attributes, " In Him was life. "  It was an essential part of His Godhead, not only to be life in Himself, but to be the Giver both of life and light.

It is this One, then, Who has become flesh, and, as the apostle says, " dwelt among us, " and concerning whom he could write, "That which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning"

the Word of life. " (1 John 1. 1. ) [Note how John in his epistle speaks of " That which " not " He whom. "--J. M. ]

He came forth from God in order to tell of God.

He had dwelt with the Father before times eternal, and He alone was able to reveal Him (see Matthew 11. 27. )

Thus, briefly, we are introduced to the One Who is the theme of the book: " The Son of God. " And though " He came unto His own (things), they that were His own (people) received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become children of God. "

We have noted that the Lord Jesus is spoken of as the