"This man came for a witness to give witness of the Light,
that all men might believe through Him."
(St. John I. 7).
_1st. Prelude._ "John stood and two of his disciples and beholding JESUS
walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God." (verses 35, 36).
_2nd. Prelude._ Grace so to hear his testimony that we follow JESUS.
POINT I. "THAT HE MAY BE MADE MANIFEST THEREFORE AM I COME" (verse 31).
This was all John wanted, all he cared about, it was his vocation, it
was the point of his long years of mortification, the reason for his
preaching and baptism; he was a man of one idea--the Christ is coming, I
must manifest Him to the people. This man came for a witness to give
testimony of the Light (verse 7). When the people wondering asked him:
Art thou the Christ? Art thou Elias? Art thou the prophet? his answer
was: No, I am only a voice proclaiming His coming. I, He? Oh, no, I am
not worthy to be His slave. He is the Light, the Light of the whole
world. "I saw the Spirit coming down as a dove from Heaven and He
remained upon Him.... And I saw; and I gave testimony that this is the
_Son of God_" (verses 32-34).
Let me look at my preparation for His coming this Advent and see whether
I am in any way following in the footsteps of the great Precursor. Can I
be said to be a person of one idea--that of manifesting my Lord to
others? When people want to make much of me and my work and ask who I
am, is my one thought to turn their eyes from me to Him Who is coming?
Am I really persuaded that I am only here to make Him manifest? _Is_ He
being made manifest to others through me? Do those with whom I come in
contact leave me, with a greater knowledge of Him, with a greater desire
for His coming, with more anxiety about the salvation of their souls and
with more zeal for that of others? Do my words and deeds, does my very
manner, speak to them of Him and make them think of Him? "Art thou the
Christ?" In one sense, yes, for I am or ought to be another Christ
(_alter Christus_), living His life, doing His work and representing Him
in the world.