Part 16 (2/2)

As we have noticed, Matthew, Mark and Luke had already written their Gospels. But there was abundant reason for John's writing the fourth Gospel. We need not doubt the tradition that he was urged to do so by the disciples, elders and bishops of the early Church. They had heard him tell much concerning Christ of which the first three Evangelists had not told. These things were too precious to be forgotten, or to be changed by frequent repet.i.tion after his lips were silent. That must be soon, for he was very old, having long pa.s.sed the limit of human age.

They had listened to the story of the early call of the disciples, and of the first miracle at Cana, and of the night visit of Nicodemus to Jesus, and of the talk by the well of Samaria with the Samaritaness, and of the was.h.i.+ng of the disciples' feet, and of many other things which Jesus said and did of which no one had written. In John's talks with Christians, and his preaching in their churches, he explained fully and simply the teachings of Jesus, as no one else had done, or could do.

They longed for a record of them, that they might read it themselves, and leave it to their children, and those who never could hear the words from his lips.

So St. John wrote his Gospel, giving to his first readers his great reason,--”These are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G.o.d; and that believing ye may have life in His name.”

For the writing of his first Epistle he also gives a reason, saying,--”That which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled concerning the word of life, ... that ... declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellows.h.i.+p with us.”

Through these words John draws us very near to his Lord and ours, Whom we behold through his eyes, and hear through his ears. We almost feel the grasp of a divine yet human hand.

The great theme is the love of G.o.d, or as Luther expresses it, ”The main substance of this Epistle relates to love.” John's Gospel abounds in declarations and ill.u.s.tration of this greatest of truths, but it does not contain the phrase in this Epistle in which he sums up the whole Gospel, ”G.o.d IS LOVE.” Because of John's deep sense of G.o.d's love, and because of the depth of his own love, the Beloved Apostle is called, The Apostle of Love.

John's second Epistle should be of special interest to the young. From it we infer that there were two Christian homes, in each of which John took delight. The mothers were sisters. His letter is addressed to ”The elect lady”--or as she is sometimes called the Lady Electa--and her children. John tells of his love and that of others for them,--Mother and children--because of their Christian character. He tells of his great joy because of the children ”walking in the truth”--living as children should live who have learned of the teachings of Christ.

From the group of children around him in the home where he wrote, he sends messages to their aunt, saying, ”The children of thine elect sister salute thee.” How the children of Electa must have prized that letter! How little they thought that nineteen hundred years after they received it, other children would read it, and think how happy were those who had the Apostle John for their friend.

This letter is one of the things that revealed his child-like spirit. We remember the time when he did not have that spirit. At last he did have it because he became so much like his Master who loved the little ones, and taught His disciples to do the same.

John thought of the child-spirit as the Christ-spirit, whether it was in the old or the young. He called all who had it children. He called those to whom he ministered in his old age his little children. This he does in the last sentence of his last letter to the Christian church,--”My little children, guard yourselves from idols.”

Because of his own child-like spirit and his seeking to cultivate it in others, and because of his manifest interest in children, he may be called the Apostle of Childhood.

There is a beautiful tradition concerning him, that in his old age, when he was too feeble to walk to the church or to preach, he was carried thither, and said again and again,--”Little children, love one another.”

Some said, ”Master, why dost thou always say this?” He replied, ”It is the Lord's command, and if this alone is done, it is enough.” Of his death at the probable age of about one hundred nothing is known. It is claimed that there is a sacred spot somewhere among the tangled thickets of Mt. Prion which looks down on Ephesus where his body was laid.

There is a tradition, inconsistent with the supposition that Mary died in Jerusalem, that she accompanied John to Ephesus and was buried near him; her eyes having been closed by him on whom her Son had looked with dimming vision, commending her to his loving care.

No magnificent tomb marks the place of John's burial. None is needed.

But there are richer and abundant memorials of St. John the Divine--an imperishable name because that of the Beloved Disciple of Him Whose name is above every name.

_CHAPTER x.x.xII_

_A Retrospect_

How wonderful and charming a history is that of St. John! Our glimpses of him have been few and often-times indistinct; but they have been enough in number and clearness to reveal a n.o.ble and lovable character.

We saw him first on the sea-sh.o.r.e of Gennesaret, not differing from any other Galilean boy. We watched him playing and fis.h.i.+ng with his Bethsaidan companions, none of them thinking of how long their friends.h.i.+p would be continued, or in what new and strange circ.u.mstances of joy and sorrow, hope and fear, disappointment and glad surprises, that companions.h.i.+p would become closer and closer.

We saw John in his rambles about his home, amid scenes beautiful in themselves, which became sacred because of what he there beheld and heard.

We discovered his relations.h.i.+p to a child in Nazareth whom he did not know at first as the most wonderful being in the world.

We entered his home and visited the school where he was taught of Him who was called the coming Messiah; but who had already come, though his parents and teachers knew it not.

We followed him as a Jewish boy into the Temple, whose glories were to become more glorious in his manhood by what he beheld therein.

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