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JOHN
(Study on the Twelve Apostles)
(MBC - Wednesday PM, April 12, 2023
Since we already studied James, the brother of John both are sons of Zebedee, it is assume that there are lot of things that we already know about John.
Read Matthew 4:21, and identify who is the brother of John? ________________________
Matthew 4:21 “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.”
Let us assume that the first name mentioned between James and John was the older brother, if that so, was John older or younger than his brother James? (Matthew 4:21; Matthew 10:2) ________________________
Matthew 4:21 “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.”
Matthew 10:2 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;”
Read Matthew 4:21, then name the father of James and John? __________________________
Matthew 4:21 “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.”
Read Matthew 4:21, tell us the occupation of John? ___________________________________
Matthew 4:21 “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.”
The Apostle John, the brother of James, the sons of Zebedee was different from another important man in John 1:6 who was also named John. This man is John the Baptist.
There are differences between John the Apostle and John the Baptist:
1. John the Apostle had a brother named James, while John the Baptist had no brother
2. John the Apostle was a fisherman as his occupation while John the Baptist was a great prophet
3. John the Apostle was one of 12 disciples of Jesus while John the Baptist was not one of the 12 disciples of Jesus
4. John the Apostle died as an old man many years after Jesus went to the cross to be crucified, while John the Baptist died when his head was removed by Herod before Jesus went to the cross to be crucified.
5. John the Apostle is the writer of books of the bible, while John the Baptist did not write books of the bible.
It was notable that the writer of the book of the Gospel of John never mentions his name when he refers to himself, it is therefore highly possible that the unnamed disciple mentioned with Andrew in John 1:35-39 was the Apostle John. Besides, the Apostle John who was once a disciple of John the Baptist, has a history of life similar on the life of Andrew.
John 1:35-39 “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”
I – CLOSENESS OF JOHN THE APOSTLE AND JESUS
As we previously studied James the brother of John, we discussed about the inner circle which was made up of three men, namely Peter, James and John. Out of seventy disciples of Jesus, He chooses 12 of them and called the Apostles, and out of 12, there were three men who were in the inner circle. There were times when these three men were taken by the Lord Jesus to go to certain places and these three men were allowed to do certain things that the other nine disciples were not allowed to do. Out of these three men in the inner circle, the Apostle John seemed to be the one disciple who was always nearest to His Lord. Of all the sheep of Jesus Christ, it is the Apostle John seemed who stay closest to the Great Shepherd the Lord Jesus.
Reasons why John the Apostle is the nearest and closest Apostle to Jesus Christ:
1. Because John was sensitively aware that His Savior Jesus loved him so much.
Read John 13:23 then complete the words in the verse.
John 13:23 “Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom ___________ _________ ."”
It was repeatedly mentioned that John is the disciple whom the Lord Jesus loved. (John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7, 20, 24).
John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”
John 20:2 “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”
John 21:7, 20, 24 “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.”
Normally, the Shepherd loves all of His Sheep, whom He cares, guides, protects and nourishes, but not all of the sheep truly appreciate well or fully realize the love of the Shepherd. John the Apostle knew and believed and understand that His Shepherd the Lord Jesus loved Him so much. Do you know, believe and convince that Jesus loved you so much? It is not easy for you to get closer or draw near to a person if you are not really sure that someone truly loves you? John the Apostle drew closer and closer to the Lord because John knew that Jesus truly loved His soul very much.
Because John was closest to His Lord Jesus when all of the disciples sat around the table on the night before Jesus died on the cross (John 13:23).
2. Read John 13:23 then complete the words in the verse.
John 13:23 “Now there was _________ on ________ __________ one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
3. Because John was at the foot of the cross and closer and nearer so that Jesus could talk to him while He was hung on the cross (John 19:26-27).
John 19:26-27 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
4. Because John had a strong desire to stay closer to the Jesus His King.
Although John like his brother James was a son of ambitious. John was constrained by his pride and ambition that he wanted to sit right next to Jesus (Mark 10:35-37). John the Apostle do not want much distance be in the midst between him and His Lord.
Mark 10:35-37 “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.”
5. Because John was given the privilege to be the writer of five books of the Bible more than any other eleven disciples were given a privilege to write.
Write down the five books written by John the Apostle:
1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________
4. ___________________________________
5. ___________________________________
The five books are: Gospel of John, I John, II John, III John, Revelation
6. Because John was very sensitively aware about the resurrection of His Lord.
Read John 20:2-8 and give the name of the disciple who first understand the meaning of the empty tomb? __________
John 20:2-8 “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.”
Read John 21:1-7 and who was the disciple who first recognize the Lord Jesus? __________________
John 21:1-7 “After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.”
The Lesson God wants us to learn is that God desires every believer to stay closer and closer and come nearer and nearer to the Lord.
What will you need to do in order to draw near to God? __________________
Do you sometimes feel that God seems in a distance far away from you? ________________
What is the reason that sometimes there is a distance between the believer and the Lord Jesus? _________________
What is the lesson you learned from various verses given below about being closer and nearer to God? ______________
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
(Be a person who have a broken heart and contrite spirit)
Psalm 119:150-151 “They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.”
(Be a person who follow the truth that are the commandments of God).
Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
(Be a person that always call upon God in truth).
James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
(Be a person with a clean hands, purified hearts and faith-focused on God).
- - - - - TO BE CONTINUED - - - - - II – CAPTURED GLIMPSES AT JOHN THE APOSTLE
There is no much details about the Apostle John in the Bible. We can learn about John through different pieces find in the book of the gospels and in the book of Acts.
Read Luke 9:49 what is the man doing when John saw him? ____________________ .
Luke 9:49 “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.”
The word “devils” refers to the “demons”. In whose Name was this man casting out devils? _________________
Is this man who was casting out devils in Jesus name was being stop by John and others? _____________________
Luke 9:49 “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.”
What is the reason why John and others are trying to stop this man from casting out devils? ______________________
Luke 9:49 “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.”
Can you say that John is right when he forbad a man from casting out devils? ___________________
Luke 9:49 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you."
According to Jesus was this man an enemy (“against us”) or an ally (“for us”)? __________________________
Luke 9:49 “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.”
This John’s mistake of forbidding a man from casting out devils in the Name of Christ was copied by many. Many people assumes that if someone is not of their group or their church, therefore that someone must not be serving Christ. Many think that unless people wear the identity with the uniform, no one can be a soldier of Jesus Christ. So, these people trying to stop whosoever who will not serve Christ the same the way they serve. These people reasoned in their mind that if someone does not follow them in every way, then how can that person be expected following Jesus Christ.
Let us suppose that your church is a member of particular association with other Bible believing churches. But there were also other Bible believing churches who are not part of a member of that particular association where your church is a member. This does not mean that all other churches who were not part of that particular association are not really serving Christ? ____________________ Do you think that every Christian must be condemned because those Christian does not attend churches that are part of the association or religious denomination where your church is part of? ______
What are some mistakes that people of today committed like the mistake of John? _____________________ .
We do not forbid them to serve God, but we fellowship them not.
We need to be always be reminded no Church has an absolute summary or collection of all wisdom and people may be right without agreeing with our stand. The important is that sin must be opposed and condemned, the gospel preached and the Satan’s kingdom pulled down, in spite the ministerial work of God may not be done exactly the way we work it out or the way we expect it. It would be very possible that a man was a truly dedicated and wholeheartedly followers of Jesus, but has not seen things exactly just as the way we see things. Most importantly, we must be grateful and joyful in praising God if there are souls that got saved and transformed and Jesus Christ is honored, magnified, exalted, disregarding who is the preacher of that church and what Church that Preacher belongs. Blessed are those people like Paul who said in Philippians 1:18 “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” Blessed are those people like Moses who said in Numbers 11:29, “And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord'S people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!”
We are an independent fundamental Baptist, we strong hold on that position, and we are openly, raised up our position against charismatic movement, liberalism, modernism, ecumenism in other words we applied the biblical separation against disobedient brethren, worldly separation, and ecclesiastical separation. We also separated from some churches who have some stand which is against the bible, applied and agree with the woman’s preacher, politicism, homosexuality, and some unbiblical doctrines hold by some charismatic and Pentecostal denomination about healing, speaking in tongues, no eternal security. On the other hand, there are some fundamental churches, who do not hold exactly what we stand for like their belief on tithing, foundation of the church, Christmas belief, church name such as bible church, gospel church or Christian church without bearing the name Baptist as long as they do not violate the biblical doctrines of fundamentalism such as biblical inerrancy of infallibility of the Scriptures, nature divine of Jesus Christ, virgin birth of Christ, resurrection of Christ, and pretribulation, pre-millennial return of Christ.
What is the assignment given by Jesus to Peter and John that they have to prepare when Jesus sent them?
Luke 22:8 “And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.”
We have a glimpse here that Jesus assigned Peter and John to prepare the Passover, which is a relevant picture of the suffering of Christ at the cross, his crucifixion, his death, burial and resurrection (the gospel).
When John asked the Lord a key question in Luke 22:9-13, what is it? ____________________
Luke 22:9-13 “And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.”
Peter and John are close companion and often mentioned together:
1. Peter and John both discover the empty tomb
John 20:1-10 “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.”
2. Peter and John both hear the Lord speak about their future
John 21:18-22 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”
3. Peter and John both are together when the lame man is healed
Acts 3:11 “And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.”
4. Peter and John both are tested for preaching the gospel.
Acts 4:1-22 “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.”
We do not find fundamental churches, had their administration the way we administer, exact preaching the way we do, exact program the way we have, so we agree with as long as the fundamental doctrines are taught, biblical separation applied, and gospel of Christ preached.
- - - - - TO BE CONTINUED - - - - -
III – CHANGES THROUGH LEARNING OF JOHN THE APOSTLE
Jesus gives the surname Boanerges to James and John which Jesus called them the “sons of thunder” in Mark 3:17.
Mark 3:17 “And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
James and John were never tolerating whosoever seemed do something wrong or become enemy of their Lord. These two men were intolerant because they completely misunderstood the Love of the Lord even for all the enemies of God according to Luke 9:56.
Luke 9:56 “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”
James and John were easily affected, that is why they have the desire to destroy quickly the Samaritans as the specified enemies of the Lord Jesus mentioned in Luke 9:51-55.
Luke 9:51-55 “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.”
In Luke 9:56 we see that the Lord Jesus rebuked John. Please write word the missing words in the blank space.
Luke 9:56 “For the Son of man is not come to ___________ men's lives, but to _____________ them. And they went to another village.”
Let us find out if John had learned and understood the very reason why Christ came into the world. To do that let us read the writings of John.
Did John learned why was Christ sent? (John 3:17) ____________________________
John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Did John learned why did Christ come? (John 12:47) ___________________________
John 12:47 “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
Did John leaned why did the Father send the Son? (I John 4:14) __________________
I John 4:14 “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
The true mark of a wise man is that he can makes mistakes, but that he learns from his mistakes!
John leaned and understood the lesson of love from Jesus, and John learned it well and he proved it on his writings.
By God’s grace, John the son of thunder who was sometime very zealous and angry that wants to throw lightning bolts at anyone who is not in tuned with all he wants or anyone who disagree with him, was now a changed man. John, who was before the son of thunder, but due to what he learned from Jesus now became the John, the apostle of love.
Would you please take a look quickly through the book of I John, then find verses which speak on the important subject of love. You can find many verses that speak of love especially in I John 4.
Write down all the verses you picked: _____________________________________________________.
The good lover man is a good hater man. Anyone who loves the truth, also hate the error. Now, John was a good lover and John was a good hater. John hated that which was false and that which was wrong. John never tolerate error even for just a minute. Read how John loves the truth and hate the errors in I John 4:1-6.
I John 4:1-6 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error”
John who was before the son of thunder, but learned love from Jesus and become the Apostle of Love, did not lose any of his thunder but simply hate evil, when that which was wrong and that which was false came. See what the Bible says and complete the verse in Psalm 97:10.
Psalm 97:10, "Ye that _____________ the LORD, __________________evil."
Psalm 97:10 “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
Irenaeus who lived in 2nd century said that one day John the Apostle saw a false teacher named Cerinthus in the public bath and then John fled saying, "Let us flee, for Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within." We are not actually sure for we do not valid evidence that John really made this statement to flee from Cerinthus the enemy of the truth, however it reminds us that John was a man who really loved the truth and hated that which was against the truth. John the lover of the truth and the hater that which was error. How about you, are you a truth lover and error hater?
Paul described that James (half-brother of Jesus, the writer of the epistle of James), Cephas (who was Peter) and John the Apostle as those pillars. Read Paul said in Galatians 2:9 regarding these three then put the answer.
Galatians 2:9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be ______________.
Galatians 2:9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Obviously, when it comes to a building, nothing is more important than a pillar. Read the story of Samson who took hold of the pillars to learned how important are the pillars in Judges 16:29-30.
Judges 16:29-30 “And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.”
Truly, the building would collapse without the pillar. Thus, James the brother of Jesus, Peter, and John were key man in the early church. John the changed man, the apostle of love, the lover of truth and hater of error, was a key man in the early church, he belongs to a pillar of the church.
Again, Paul described these pillars Peter, James and John to be foundational men in Ephesians 2:20.
Ephesians 2:20 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”
God gave us His Holy Word, the Bible through these men who were pillars, as foundational men, and there is no greater foundation than this. They were all dead and gone, but the foundation, the Word of God still stands.
IV – CONCLUSION OF THE LIFE OF JOHN THE APOSTLE
Let us learn some things about John’s later life.
John was probably born about 1-5 A.D. and if this was correct, therefore John lived to be about 90 or 95 years old. John was the only among the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ who did not died as a martyr as far as we know like many theologians believed. It was sometime during the end of the first century and during the early part of the reign of Emperor Trajan who began to reign in 98 A.D. that John the Apostle died.
John suffers persecution for his beloved Savior Jesus Christ, even though John was the only disciple among the twelve who was not martyr.
1. In Acts 4, John was arrested with Peter for the preaching the gospel of Christ.
2. In Acts 5:18, 40, John as arrested with the other apostles and beaten.
Acts 5:18, 40 “And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
3. In John 16:1-4, 33, as a proof that there have been many other persecutions that we are not told about.
John 16:1-4, 33 “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
4. During the first century persecution, John was sent bound to Rome according to a tradition. John was condemned to be cast into a caldron of boiling oil under the order from Emperor Domitian. It’s amazing that the boiling oil did no harm for John, God really worked a miracle. Now, we are not sure whether this particular occurrence really happened. But what we know is that God promised to protect His apostles (Mark 16:18).
Mark 16:18 “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
God reminds us that God still had work for John to do and a believer cannot die until his work is done. So, the boiling oil did not harm John and John did not die.
5. In a little island called Patmos was the place where John was exiled or banished
Revelation 1:9 “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
In island of Patmos, John wrote the book of Revelation, and it was also the place where God showed John some amazing things that will happen in the future (Revelation 1:1).
Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”
The last disciple to die was John. And the first disciple to die was _________________.
Acts 12:1-2 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Notice, James the brother of John was the first disciple to die, while John the younger was the last to die.
This shows and reminds us that God has a different plan for each believer. God has a different plan for James and God had a different plan for John. God prepared; a perfect unique designed plan fitted for each individual.
God had a different plan for John and Peter in John 21:18-22
John 21:18-22 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”
The important lesson we need to learn is that do not expect God deals with you the same way God deals with others believers. Sometimes, God allows somethings happened to you that God does not allow to happen to other believers. God knows what is best for you and God knows what is best for others.
Whatever God’s plan for you, just trust God, remove your eyes from others and have faith in God, follow and look unto Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
John 21:21-22 “Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”
Do you have learned some lessons from the life of John?
Are there ways that John was a good example for you to follow?
Do you learn something from some of the mistakes of John?
Are you like John, and is John like you in certain ways?
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