nd set
going in men's hearts and lives. John was a worthy voice, and his
tones rang out with clarion clearness for truth and for God's kingdom.
It was his mission to go in advance of the King, and tell men that he
was coming, calling them to prepare the way before him. This he did;
and when the King came, John's work was done.

The deputation asked him also why he was baptizing if he was neither
the Christ nor Elijah. Again John honored his friend by saying, "I
baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
he it is, who coming after me is preferred be fore me, whose shoe's
latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John set the pattern for
friendship for Christ for all time. It is,--

"None of self, and all of thee."

It is pitiable to see how some among the Master's followers fail to
learn this lesson. They contend for high places, where they may have
prominence among men, where their names shall have honor. The only
truly great in Christ's sight are those who forget self that they may
honor their Lord. John said he was not worthy to unloose the
shoe-latchet of his friend, so great, so kingly, so worthy was that
friend. He said his own work was only external, while the One standing
unrecognized among the people had power to reach their hearts. It were
well if every follower of Christ understood so perfectly the place of
his own work with relation to Christ's.

Another of John's testimonies to Jesus was made a little later, perhaps
as Jesus returned after his temptation. Pointing to a young man who
was approaching, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world." It was a high honor which in these words John
gave to his friend. That friend was the bearer of the world's sin and
of its sorrow. It is not likely that at this early stage John knew of
the cross on which Jesus should die for the world. In some way,
however, he saw a vision of Jesus saving his people from their sin, and
so proclaimed him to the circle that stood round him. He proclaimed
him also as the Son of God, thus adding yet another honor to his friend.

A day or two later John again pointed Jesus out to two of his own
disciples as the Lamb of God, and then bade them leave him and go after
the Messiah. This is another mark of John's noble friendship for
Jesus,--he gave up his own disciples that they might go after the new
Master. It is not easy to do this. It takes a brave man to sen