The First Five Disciples

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John 1:35-51

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;…

Order is heaven's first law, but variety is the second. We see this —

1. In creation.

2. In providence.

3. In the work of grace. The operation is ever the same in kind, but different in manner. Here are four different methods of conversion.

I. THE FIRST TWO DISCIPLES WERE THE FRUITS OF PREACHING.

1. The preacher —

(1) Was divinely illuminated, as all gospel preachers must be.

(2) Was unsuccessful at first, but tried the same message again and succeeded.

(3) His subject was the only effective one — Christ the sin-bearer.

2. The process of conversion.

(1) A spirit of inquiry was stirred up. They followed Christ as searchers, at His back. Christ turns round and faces them. He looks upon them, and then puts the modest question, the first words He spoke. It was a comprehensive question, too: "What seek ye?" Pardon, peace, purity, truth? "Come and see," and you shall have them all. The best way to be convinced of the power of the gospel is to try it.

II. THE THIRD DISCIPLE WAS BROUGHT IN BY PRIVATE INSTRUMENTALITY.

1. The agent, Andrew.

(1) As soon as a man is found by Christ, he begins to find others.

(2) "First" implies that he did not give it up afterwards.

(3) Relationship has a stern demand on our individual effort. Our first business is at home.

(4) Simon was worth ten Andrews. We may be very deficient in talent, and yet be the means of bringing a great man to Christ.

(5) Andrew's testimony was modest. "We." He gives the other disciple his share of the discovery. But it was positive also. Not "I think," or "trust," but "we have."

2. The process.

(1) Christ describes Simon's present state — "the son of the timid dove" — explaining what he was.

(2) He gave him a new name, indicative of the nature His grace would give. This is the general plan of conversion. Nature is discovered and grace imparted; the old name supplanted by the new.

III. THE FOURTH DISCIPLE WAS CALLED DIRECTLY BY THE VOICE OF JESUS. So are all men, for the voice of John or the voice of Andrew is the voice of Christ speaking through them; but in some cases there is no apparent instrumentality. Colonel Gardner was about to perpetrate a crime but was stopped on the brink of it by sovereign grace without any apparent instrumentality.

1. Christ spoke but two words.

2. To follow Christ is the picture of Christian discipleship in every form. Follow Christ —

(1)  In doctrine.

(2)  In faith.

(3)  In action.

(4)  In ordinances.

IV. THE FIFTH DISCIPLE WAS A COMPOSITE CASE. There was —

1. Preparation of heart "under the fig tree."

2. Philip's instrumentality.

3. Christ's Divine word which convinced Nathanael and led him to put his trust in the Messiah.

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