T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S “ N o w th e r e s to o d b y t h e c r o s s o f J e s n s h is m o th e r , a n d h is m o th e r ’s s is t e r ; H a r y , th e w ife o f C le o p h a s , a n d M a r y M a g d a le n e . W h e n J e s n s t h e r e fo r e s a w h is m o th e r , a n d t h e d is c ip le s ta n d in g b y , w h o m h e lo v e d , h e s a it h n n to h is m o th e r , W o m a n ; b e h o ld t h y s o n ! T h e n s a it h h e to t h e d is c ip le , B e h o ld t h y m o th e r ! A n d fr o m t h a t h o u r . t h a t d is c ip le t o o k h e r u n to h is o w n h o m e .” (5) THE CONSISTENT L IFE . The Gospel of John, th e Epistles w ritten by John, and th e Revelation all bear testim ony to his faithfulness to th e tru st comm itted to him as an apos tle. In the Book of Acts he is as sociated w ith Peter. He was in the upper room on th e day of Pentecost (Acts 1 :1 3 ). He was w ith P eter a t the healing of th e lame man (Acts 3 :3 ). We find P eter and John boldly pro claim ing th e Gospel in Acts 4:8-21, for which they were comm itted to prison, rejoicing th a t they were counted wor thy to suffer for His name, and later, they were chosen to confirm th e believ ers in Samaria, afte r th e Gospel had been preached to them by Philip (Acts 8:14-25). The last view we have of th is dis ciple “whom Jesus loved” is on th e Isle of Patmos to which he had been ban ished because of his testimony for Jesus Christ. W hat th a t testim ony was may be ascertained from the Gospel w ritten by him, and from his epistles; (John 1:14) “ A n d t h e W o r d w a s m a d e fle s h a n d d w e lt a m o n g u s , a n d w e b e h e ld h is g lo r y , th e g lo r y a s o f t h e o n ly b e g o t te n o f th e F a t h e r , f u ll o f g r a c e a n d t r u t h .” (1 John 1:2) “ F o r th e lif e w a s m a n ife s t e d , a n d w e h a v e s e e n i t , and- b e a r w it n e s s a n d s h e w u n to y o u t h a t e te r n a l l if e , w h ic h w a s w it h th e F a t h e r , a n d w a s m a n ife s t e d u n to u s .” John gloried not in his apostleship, but in his suffering w ith ,Je s u s Christ (Rev. 1 :9 ). He takes his position as one of th e believers, " I John, you b ro ther and companion.” He does not call him self th e chief of the apostles, nor seek to lord it over his brethren. How could he in th e presence of such a vision of th e glorified Christ?
732
“ A n d so w a s a ls o J a m e s a n d J o h n , th e s o n s o f Z e b e d e e , w h ic h w e r e p a r tn e r s o f S im o n . A n d J e s n s s a id u n to S im o n , F e a r n o t; fr o m h e n c e fo r th th o n s h a lt c a tc h m e n . A n d w h e n t h e y h a d b r o u g h t t h e ir s h ip s to la n d , T h e y fo r s o o k a l l a n d fo llo w e d h im .” (Matt. 4:18, 22) (3) THE CLOSE FELLOWSHIP. John was one of the th ree disciples who were chosen to enjoy close com munion w ith Jesus, and on th ree im p o rtan t occasions witnessed th e power, glory and suffering of Jesus. F irst a t th e raising of the daughter of Ja iru s (Mark 5:35-42)} again in Mark 9:2-9 when Jesus was transfigured upon the m ountain; and, th e th ird tim e in Matt. 26:36-38 when He took th em ap art from th e rest of th e disciples to be w ith Him in th e g reat tem ptation, in which they so sadly failed Him. One of the sweetest of the pictures of th is relationship between Jesus and John is found in the upper room th e last night of our Lord’s earth ly life, recorded in John 13:23 “ N o w th e r e w a s le a n in g on J e s n s ’ b o s o m , o n e o f H is d is c ip le s , w h o m J e s n s lo v e d .” While th e company reclined on couches and were partak ing of the Pass- over Feast, Jo h n ’s head was upon th e bosom of th e Son of God— the Saviour of th e world. This scene is so n atu ral and so realistic th a t it brings God’s Son into our vision and comprehension in a relationship Signally sweet and gives us a suggestion of th e loving h eart of John who was led to seek such close relationship. (4) THE CHOSEN SON. The choice of John to take his place as a son to th e mother of Jesus cannbt fail to throw light upon his character. W hat a privilege it must have been to him to devote his life in connection w ith his m inistry to t h e . sacred ta sk com m itted to him by the dying Saviour! (John 19:25, 27)
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker