Jesus has thus found five disciples—John and Andrew, Simon, Phillip, and Nathanael. It was the dawn of the new covenant—a quiet, still, fragrant hour. In deep sleep lay nearly all the inhabitants of Judea; the true Israelites, who had heard the voice of the harbinger of morning, who were waiting for redemption, they beheld the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings. The Bridegroom came, He beheld the Bride and knew her; the Bride saw Him, and with trusting love and joy responded to His voice. Meek and lowly appeared the King of peace, His royalty concealed, His dignity veiled; but the people given to Him by the Father were drawn to Him by an irresistible attraction. Prepared by God, through His Word and ordinances and messengers, prepared above all by the inward, silent, deep influences of His grace, they found in Jesus the fulfillment of all prophecy—the prophecy written in the Word, the prophecy of expectation and earnest longing written by the Spirit on their heart. 

   Reader, has the Lord planted thee also in a garden, even the congregation of believers, where His gospel is known, preached, believed, enjoyed?—has He spoken to thy conscience by prosperity and adversity?—has He roused within thee terrors of the law, and expectations of salvation, peace, life?—has He instructed thee, line upon line, precept upon precept—led thee to seek, to think, to pray?—has He allowed thee, in the preaching of His Word, in the faith of a mother, or wife, or friend, so see, as it were darkly, a Divine, gracious, and powerful Redeemer?—and has it stirred within thee a desire after like faith and love and communion? Then, hear again the message of John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God!” and remain no longer in the school of the Baptist, in the outer court, but follow the invitation of Jesus, “Come and see!” Enter into His fellowship, be His disciple, believe, and behold the heavens open. Be not afraid of the question, “What seekest thou?” but answer, “When thou saidst to me, Seek my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” 

Jesus And The Sinner - Adolph Saphir