Part 17 (1/2)
We saw him on the Jordan, standing with his kindred and namesake, who pointed him to Jesus as the Messiah for whom he had been looking. From that hour we have known him as a disciple of Jesus, later as one of his twelve Apostles, then one of the chosen three, then the one--the beloved Disciple.
Through his eyes we have beheld the wonderful works of our Lord: with his ears we have heard the most wonderful words ever spoken to man. We have caught glimpses of him in most wonderful scenes which he was almost the only one to behold--amid the glories of the transfiguration, in the death-chamber changed to that of life, in the shadows of Gethsemane.
We have learned through John the sacredness of human friends.h.i.+ps, made closer and holier by friends.h.i.+p with the loved and loving Lord. He has been our guide to the Upper Room of joy and sadness; to the Priestly Palace of suffering and of shame; to the cross of agony and death; to the tomb of surprise and exaltation; to the mount of final blessing and ascension.
[Ill.u.s.tration: PERGAMOS AND THE RUINS OF THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN _Old Engraving_ Page 233]
John saw what kings and prophets longed to see, but died without the sight--the Messiah come. He witnessed probably all the miracles of Jesus, from his first in Cana as a guest, to his last on the sea-sh.o.r.e as a host--the signs of divine power inspired by pity and love. He looked upon the enthusiastic but mistaken throng who in Galilee would force upon Jesus an unwelcome crown; then upon the mult.i.tudes who hailed him with hosannas on Olivet; then the maddened crowd who shouted through the streets of Jerusalem, ”Crucify Him.” He witnessed Christ's movements when the mult.i.tudes gathered about Him for instruction and healing, and when he withdrew from them to pray. His eyes were dazzled by the brightness of the transfiguration as he looked upon the form which at last was enshrouded in darkness on Calvary. With another vision he beheld that form in Heaven itself.
On the Jordan he beheld Jesus as the Lamb of G.o.d which was to be offered as a sacrifice. He saw the cross become His altar of sacrifice, and then in Heaven discerned Him as the ”Lamb as it had been slain.” He was witness of Christ's joys and sorrows, shame and suffering, humiliation and exaltation, entering into them more fully than did any other human being.
From the hour in which John stood with the Baptist who told him to behold Jesus, his eye was upon Him, until, because there was no more for him to behold of his Lord on earth, the angels asked, ”Why stand ye gazing?” Having seen Him ”lifted up” on a beclouded cross, he saw Him ”taken up” as a glorious ”cloud received Him out of sight.”
John heard wondrous things. He became familiar with his Lord's voice, its tones of instruction and exhortation, warning and reproof, invitation and affection, forgiveness and benediction, prayer and praise, depression and agony, joy and triumph. He was no careless listener to the words spoken to Jesus--those of inquiry and pleading, hypocrisy and contempt, mockery and deceit, hatred and love. Beside his Lord, he heard saintly voices, and the voice of the Father.
Much that John saw and heard when with his Lord he has made known. We imagine some things were too tender and sacred for others' ears: concerning such his lips were sealed. Other things were too precious for silence: of such he is the most distinct echo. His Gospel is often a commentary on the other three. He was an eye-witness of most of the events of which he tells. His Gospel is rich with illuminated texts.
Having the best understanding of ”the words of the Lord Jesus,” he is the fullest reporter of His teachings. Having the deepest insight into the heart of hearts of his Lord, he is its clearest revealer. While many others grasped separate truths, he placed them side by side in harmony and unity, and thus held them up and revealed them to mankind. His Lord's words were the most sacred treasures of his memory: his greatest joy was to bring them forth for others to view and admire, that they too might be inspired thereby to ”love and good works.” Without erasing aught from the pictures drawn by his fellow-Evangelists, he has added to, and filled in, and re-touched with a sympathizing hand. So familiar had he become with his Lord's countenance, with all its varied expressions, and so skilful was he in reproducing them, that his composite portrait is the most beautiful and impressive of all attempts to portray ”the human face divine.”
Standing outside of some grand cathedral, before its stained window, we mark the figures with their rich depth of color. Pa.s.sing within we see the same figures, but the outline is more distinct; the colors are richer, and with more harmonious blending. So sometimes we seem to stand with the three Evangelists outside the Gospel Cathedral; and then with John within.
Like Ruth in the field of Boaz he followed the reapers--the first three Evangelists in the field of their Lord,--to ”glean even among the sheaves.” He ”gleaned in the field until evening,” the close of the long day of his life, ”and beat out that he had gleaned,” and gave it to others. There was not need for them to ask him, ”Where hast thou gleaned?” There was only one field from which such harvest could be gathered. Rather could they say as Naomi to Ruth, ”Blessed is he that did take knowledge of thee.”
There have been more noted ill.u.s.trations of change in character than is furnished in St. John. His early life was not profligate like that of John Newton or John Bunyan. And yet the change in him was marked enough to furnish an exhibition of contrast, showing the power of Christ's teachings and example upon him, until he reached an unwonted degree of perfection. He combined the n.o.blest traits of the loftiest manhood and womanhood, with the simplicity of childhood. His human kins.h.i.+p to Jesus ill.u.s.trated but faintly the closer and tenderer relation formed by the transforming of his spirit into the likeness of Christ. This was more royal than any merely human relations.h.i.+p. It was the closest relation of which we know of the perfect Christ with imperfect man. We have watched the changes in John's spirit, and seen his imperfections smoothed away, and his character so polished that it became the brightest reflector of the image of Jesus Christ. Yet from the first there were budding virtues in him which Mary Magdalene's supposed gardener brought to perfection.
[Ill.u.s.tration: RUINS OF LAODICEA _Old Engraving_ Page 233]
In history John stands and must ever stand alone. He was one of the two who first accepted the call of Christ to come to Him: he was the last of the Apostles to repeat, in another and yet as true a sense, that invitation to mult.i.tudes of men. He was one of those two who first saw what may be called the beginning of the Christian Church, in the little booth by the Jordan: and the last one of the Twelve to remember its fuller establishments in the Upper Chamber of Jerusalem. He was the last man who had seen the last prophet who told of the coming Messiah; and was the last Evangelist to tell that He had come. He was one of the three who were the last to behold the Shechinah, and to whom came the voice of G.o.d the Father.
John was the lone disciple in the palace of the high priest, witnessing the injustice, mockery, and cruelty before Pilate; the last one with whom the Lord spoke and on whom His eye rested before His death. He was the lone disciple to gaze upon the cross and witness the dying agonies; the first to look into the deserted tomb; the first of whom we are told that he believed the Lord had risen therefrom. The last survivor of the Apostolic band, he had the fullest opportunity to witness the fulfilment of prophecies of which he was a careful student and clear interpreter.
He saw the sad close of the Jewish dispensation, and the glorious beginning of Christianity. He saw the Holy City overthrown, as Christ declared to Him on Olivet that it would be, and had a vision of the New Jerusalem of which the old was a consecrated type, at last profaned.
Of the golden Apostolic chain he was the last link binding the Church to its Lord. He was the last known human kindred of the Son of Man. The last words of inspiration were spoken to and recorded by him. He was the latest prophet, historian, and Evangelist. One of the first to say, ”I have seen the Messiah,” he was the last to say, ”I have seen the Lord.”
We have caught glimpses of St. John in the early days of Christianity, as a light and a pillar, a teacher and a guide. Sometimes for years together he has been hidden from our view, and then has emerged with a yet brighter halo around his head. We have watched him on a lonely isle gazing into heaven, beholding glories of which he gives us hints, but which he tells us he cannot fully describe.
Because of his relation to the Lord, the fisher boy unknown beyond the hamlet of Bethsaida two thousand years ago is ”spoken of” as truly as Mary of Bethany, whose memory he especially has made sacred and perpetual. Wherever the Gospel is preached he too is remembered, honored and loved.
Because of his relation to the Lord, towns in lands of which he never knew, bear his name; in which people are taught by his words and inspired by his spirit. In them many a family is known by the name St.
John. Rivers in their flow bear his name from generation to generation on earth, while he points men to the pure river ”proceeding out of the throne of G.o.d and the Lamb,” which was ”showed” him in Patmos. Societies for fraternal fellows.h.i.+p and mutual helpfulness are called after him.
St. John's day has a sacred place in the calendar. Many a rural chapel and stately city church are reminders of him. The richness of his graces, and the yet future of his saintly influence, are symbolized in the yet unfinished temple of surpa.s.sing grandeur in the City of New York,--”The Cathedral of St. John the Divine.”
From all these earthly scenes in which we have beheld him, to which history and tradition have pointed us, and from those things which are memorials of him, we turn to the Heavenly scenes which he bids us behold as they were revealed to him. Thither we follow him after all his trials and labors and triumphs of earth. With reverence and gladness for him, we listen to the voice of the Lord saying to him what He had told him to say to the Churches of Asia:--”Because thou didst overcome I give thee 'to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of G.o.d.' Thou shalt 'not be hurt with the second death.' I give thee 'a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written.' I give thee 'the morning star.' 'I will in no wise blot thy name out of the book of life!
I make you a pillar in the temple of My G.o.d.' O John, rememberest thou thy pet.i.tion and that of thy brother who has long been with Me,--'Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and one on Thy left hand in Thy glory'? Thou thoughtest that 'glory' was an earthly throne, which thou never sawest. But thou hast overcome thy pride and ambition, thy jealous and revengeful spirit. Thou hast triumphed over those who were thine enemies because thou wast My friend. Thou didst see My agonies and victories in Gethsemane and on Calvary. Thou didst take up My cry on My cross concerning My work on earth, and sound it forth,--'It is finished.' Dost thou remember My final promise to him that overcometh, which I made from this My true throne of glory, through thee, 'in the isle that is called Patmos'--precious name even here because of thy 'testimony for' Me. That promise I now fulfil in thee. O John, one of My chosen Twelve on earth; yea more, one of My chosen three; yet more, My beloved one, here in Heaven, now, 'Sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father in His throne.'”
_CHAPTER x.x.xIII_
_Legends and Traditions of St. John_