John
John
Greeting and God's richest blessing be multiplied unto you through this joy time of our lives. It is hard to believe that school is already out and summer is now in full swing. There will be come special events throughout the summer, so watch your text messages for updates!
As the school year ends, we also come to the end of our journey through the lives of the Apostles of our Lord. We have examined the lives and character of eleven of these saints. There is but one to go. It may sound somewhat trite, but we have in many ways saved the best until last. We are living in a time of anticipation of our Lord’s great love for us. That He would give such a gift as His Son is beyond our comprehension. The last of the twelve Apostles is the one which best exemplifies the word "Love." It is the Apostle John.
Much of what was said of the Apostle James can be said of this young disciple of Jesus, for John was the younger brother of James. He was the youngest of all the Apostles and while James was the first to be martyred, John was the only one of the twelve to die a natural death. He was a son of Zebedee, called along with His brother, the "sons of thunder." His mother was named Salome. She was the one who came to Jesus with a special request that her two sons be permitted to sit on His right and left in His glory. Salome was at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified. She was there giving support to her sister Mary, the mother of our Lord. Salome was an aunt to Jesus and thus, John was a cousin of our Savior.
John was a fisherman with his father. Zebedee was a man of some financial stability. He owned more than one boat, and he had hired servants to assist in the business. This was possibly what made it possible for John to spend time away from the family business. We know this happened because John was a disciple of John the Baptist. He was among those who gathered on the banks of the Jordan river and heard John's message of repentance and forgiveness. He, like others, was probably baptized by John. He listened attentively to the messages of judgment and wrath proclaimed by the great prophet of God. He also listened to the words of hope and promise that One was coming. When the day came and Jesus walk by and the Baptist proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God," John heard the words and responded in faith. He left the Baptist and followed Jesus. John was very likely the other disciple with Andrew, who was also His cousin.
John knew the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. He knew that the sacrificed Passover lamb pointed to the Lamb to come. This sacrificed, resurrected, victorious Lamb is the focal point of the Revelation of St. John as the Lamb is proclaimed to be victorious over His enemies and shares His victory with all who believe in Him.
John's life was a multifaceted life. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist. He then followed the Lamb of God and was one of the first disciples called by Jesus. He then spent three years being taught by Jesus concerning who He was and what He was going to do. Following the Ascension of Jesus, John spent some seventy years as an Apostle, sent forth by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, the Gospel.
Love is a key theme of John's writings. Both the love of God for us; "For God so loved the world", and our love for God; "If you love Me, keep my commandments." As an aged man and the Pastor of the Church of Ephesus it is said that John was led into the midst of the congregation to answer inquiries of the faith. He would always answer with the same sentence, "Little children love one another." When the people became impatient of this invariable admonition and asked why it was always the same, John would reply that it was the commandment of our Lord, and if this alone was observed, it would be sufficient.
Another key theme in John's life as well as his writings is the theme "witness." John's life was one of witness to Jesus. Witness in word and deed. Witness in times of great joy, such as the day of Pentecost, and in times of great distress, such as his exile on the island of Patmos. John never lost sight of the One to whom he belonged. He was bought and paid for by the blood Jesus shed upon the cross of Calvary.
John was there at the cross. While other Apostles possibly looked on from afar, it was John who sat at the foot of the cross with the women. Nothing could keep him away from the Jesus whom he loved. John had been one of the inner circle; Peter, James, & John. He has been with Jesus at the most intimate and important times. He was on the mount of Transfiguration. He was at Jarius's house when his daughter was brought back to life. John was in the upper room as Jesus spoke of a betrayer. John laid his head on Jesus’ breast, a true sign of love and affection. And it was to John alone Jesus revealed the betrayer during the Last Supper. Nothing could keep John from the cross!
He sat here watching as the life blood of Jesus poured out of His hands and feet. When Jesus spoke, John listened! And when Jesus turned His attention to the care of His mother Mary, John was ready and willing. When Jesus was laid in Joseph's tomb, John took Mary to his home. Mary lived under the care of John until her death.
In the early years after John's death as the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament were being assembled the Gospel writers were pictured by various symbols. John was pictured as an eagle. The most noble of all the birds, soaring above all in, strength and might. John spent some seventy years witnessing to the love of Jesus Christ. Today the Church still uses the symbol of the eagle for John. Endowed with strength and grace it soars above all the rest to reveal the truth.
If we are to learn anything from John it should be this one truth. This one young son of a fisherman became the closest, most intimate friend Jesus had upon this earth. The intimate friendship was mutual. The love Jesus had for John was returned to Him. John was there as one Jesus could depend on in the midst of difficult times. Throughout his life John knew he could depend on Jesus to be there for him. Nothing could keep John away from the cross! Nothing could take away from John what Jesus had done for him at Calvary. Just as Jesus was an intimate friend and Savior to John, so also, He desires to be with us.
At His table He invites us to come and be one with Him. John leaned his head on Jesus’ chest during that great meal. Jesus invites us weekly to come and receive Him in bread and wine in a way John only later came to understand. As we live out our lives, we do so with the knowledge that Jesus is one with us and we can depend on Him. Just as we can count on Him, He desires to use us and be able to count on us as we live in His love and witness of Him.
It was said of John by those who were his disciples in the first century that after being released from the island of Patmos he returned to Ephesus. There he fell asleep and passed once more to the presence of his Master - this time forever. May the same be said of us, that when our life is over, we are but once more with the Lord!
So ends the lives of the twelve Apostles of our Lord. May we learn and follow and enter where they have gone before! Amen!
Greeting and God's richest blessing be multiplied unto you through this joy time of our lives. It is hard to believe that school is already out and summer is now in full swing. There will be come special events throughout the summer, so watch your text messages for updates!
As the school year ends, we also come to the end of our journey through the lives of the Apostles of our Lord. We have examined the lives and character of eleven of these saints. There is but one to go. It may sound somewhat trite, but we have in many ways saved the best until last. We are living in a time of anticipation of our Lord’s great love for us. That He would give such a gift as His Son is beyond our comprehension. The last of the twelve Apostles is the one which best exemplifies the word "Love." It is the Apostle John.
Much of what was said of the Apostle James can be said of this young disciple of Jesus, for John was the younger brother of James. He was the youngest of all the Apostles and while James was the first to be martyred, John was the only one of the twelve to die a natural death. He was a son of Zebedee, called along with His brother, the "sons of thunder." His mother was named Salome. She was the one who came to Jesus with a special request that her two sons be permitted to sit on His right and left in His glory. Salome was at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified. She was there giving support to her sister Mary, the mother of our Lord. Salome was an aunt to Jesus and thus, John was a cousin of our Savior.
John was a fisherman with his father. Zebedee was a man of some financial stability. He owned more than one boat, and he had hired servants to assist in the business. This was possibly what made it possible for John to spend time away from the family business. We know this happened because John was a disciple of John the Baptist. He was among those who gathered on the banks of the Jordan river and heard John's message of repentance and forgiveness. He, like others, was probably baptized by John. He listened attentively to the messages of judgment and wrath proclaimed by the great prophet of God. He also listened to the words of hope and promise that One was coming. When the day came and Jesus walk by and the Baptist proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God," John heard the words and responded in faith. He left the Baptist and followed Jesus. John was very likely the other disciple with Andrew, who was also His cousin.
John knew the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. He knew that the sacrificed Passover lamb pointed to the Lamb to come. This sacrificed, resurrected, victorious Lamb is the focal point of the Revelation of St. John as the Lamb is proclaimed to be victorious over His enemies and shares His victory with all who believe in Him.
John's life was a multifaceted life. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist. He then followed the Lamb of God and was one of the first disciples called by Jesus. He then spent three years being taught by Jesus concerning who He was and what He was going to do. Following the Ascension of Jesus, John spent some seventy years as an Apostle, sent forth by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, the Gospel.
Love is a key theme of John's writings. Both the love of God for us; "For God so loved the world", and our love for God; "If you love Me, keep my commandments." As an aged man and the Pastor of the Church of Ephesus it is said that John was led into the midst of the congregation to answer inquiries of the faith. He would always answer with the same sentence, "Little children love one another." When the people became impatient of this invariable admonition and asked why it was always the same, John would reply that it was the commandment of our Lord, and if this alone was observed, it would be sufficient.
Another key theme in John's life as well as his writings is the theme "witness." John's life was one of witness to Jesus. Witness in word and deed. Witness in times of great joy, such as the day of Pentecost, and in times of great distress, such as his exile on the island of Patmos. John never lost sight of the One to whom he belonged. He was bought and paid for by the blood Jesus shed upon the cross of Calvary.
John was there at the cross. While other Apostles possibly looked on from afar, it was John who sat at the foot of the cross with the women. Nothing could keep him away from the Jesus whom he loved. John had been one of the inner circle; Peter, James, & John. He has been with Jesus at the most intimate and important times. He was on the mount of Transfiguration. He was at Jarius's house when his daughter was brought back to life. John was in the upper room as Jesus spoke of a betrayer. John laid his head on Jesus’ breast, a true sign of love and affection. And it was to John alone Jesus revealed the betrayer during the Last Supper. Nothing could keep John from the cross!
He sat here watching as the life blood of Jesus poured out of His hands and feet. When Jesus spoke, John listened! And when Jesus turned His attention to the care of His mother Mary, John was ready and willing. When Jesus was laid in Joseph's tomb, John took Mary to his home. Mary lived under the care of John until her death.
In the early years after John's death as the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament were being assembled the Gospel writers were pictured by various symbols. John was pictured as an eagle. The most noble of all the birds, soaring above all in, strength and might. John spent some seventy years witnessing to the love of Jesus Christ. Today the Church still uses the symbol of the eagle for John. Endowed with strength and grace it soars above all the rest to reveal the truth.
If we are to learn anything from John it should be this one truth. This one young son of a fisherman became the closest, most intimate friend Jesus had upon this earth. The intimate friendship was mutual. The love Jesus had for John was returned to Him. John was there as one Jesus could depend on in the midst of difficult times. Throughout his life John knew he could depend on Jesus to be there for him. Nothing could keep John away from the cross! Nothing could take away from John what Jesus had done for him at Calvary. Just as Jesus was an intimate friend and Savior to John, so also, He desires to be with us.
At His table He invites us to come and be one with Him. John leaned his head on Jesus’ chest during that great meal. Jesus invites us weekly to come and receive Him in bread and wine in a way John only later came to understand. As we live out our lives, we do so with the knowledge that Jesus is one with us and we can depend on Him. Just as we can count on Him, He desires to use us and be able to count on us as we live in His love and witness of Him.
It was said of John by those who were his disciples in the first century that after being released from the island of Patmos he returned to Ephesus. There he fell asleep and passed once more to the presence of his Master - this time forever. May the same be said of us, that when our life is over, we are but once more with the Lord!
So ends the lives of the twelve Apostles of our Lord. May we learn and follow and enter where they have gone before! Amen!
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