. His influence is everywhere. He is likest Jesus of all the
disciples. His influence is slowly spreading among men. We see it in
the enlarging spirit of love among Christians, in the increase of
philanthropy, in the growing sentiment that war must cease among
Christian nations, all disputes to be settled by arbitration, and in
the feeling of universal brotherhood which is softening all true men's
hearts toward each other.

It cannot but be intensely interesting to trace the story of the
friendship of Jesus and John, for it was in this hallowed friendship
that John learned all that he gave the world in his life and words. We
are able to fix its beginning--when Jesus and John met for the first
time. One day John the Baptist was standing by the Jordan with two of
his disciples. One of these was Andrew; and the other we know was
John--we know it because in John's own Gospel, where the incident is
recorded, no name is given. The two young men had not yet seen Jesus;
but the Baptist knew him, and pointed him out as he passed by, saying,
"Behold the Lamb of God!"

The two young men went after Jesus, no doubt eager to speak with him.
Hearing their footsteps behind him, he turned, and asked them what they
sought. They asked, "Rabbi, where abidest thou?" He said, "Come, and
ye shall see." They gladly accepted the invitation, went with him to
his lodgings, and remained until the close of the day. We have no
account of what took place during those happy hours. It would be
interesting to know what Jesus said to his visitors, but not a word of
the conversation has been preserved. We may be sure, however, that the
visit made a deep impression on John.

Most days in our lives are unmarked by any special event. There are
thousands of them that seem just alike, with their common routine.
Once or twice, however, in the lifetime of almost every person, there
is a day which is made forever memorable by some event or
occurrence,--the first meeting with one who fills a large place in
one's after years, a compact of sacred friendship, a revealing of some
new truth, a decision which brought rich blessing, or some other
experience which set the day forever apart among all days.

John lived to be a very old man; but to his latest years he must have
remembered the day when he first met Jesus, and began with him the
friendship which brought him such blessing. We may be sure that as at
their first meeting the soul of Jonathan wa