Basic HTML Version
Beloved Disciple, November 5
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
.
John is distinguished above the other apostles as “the disciple whom Jesus
loved” (
John 21:20
).... He received many tokens of the Saviour’s confidence
and love. He was one of the three permitted to witness Christ’s glory upon the
mount of transfiguration and His agony in Gethsemane, and it was to his care
that our Lord confided His mother in those last hours of anguish upon the cross
John’s was a nature that longed for love, for sympathy and companionship.
He pressed close to Jesus, sat by His side, leaned upon His breast. As a flower
the sun and dew, so did he drink in the divine light and life
The depth and fervor of John’s affection for his Master was not the cause
of Christ’s love for him, but the effect of that love. John desired to become
like Jesus, and under the transforming influence of the love of Christ he did
become meek and lowly. Self was hid in Jesus. Above all his companions, John
yielded himself to the power of that wondrous life.... John knew the Saviour
by an experimental knowledge. His Master’s lessons were graven on his soul.
When he testified of the Saviour’s grace, his simple language was eloquent with
the love that pervaded his whole being.
It was John’s deep love for Christ which led him always to desire to be close
by His side. The Saviour loved all the Twelve, but John’s was the most receptive
spirit. He was younger than the others, and with more of the child’s confiding
trust he opened his heart to Jesus. Thus he came more into sympathy with Christ,
and through him the Saviour’s deepest spiritual teaching was communicated to
the people....
John could talk of the Father’s love as no other of the disciples could. He
revealed to his fellow men that which he felt in his own soul, representing in his
character the attributes of God.... The beauty of holiness which had transformed
him shone with a Christlike radiance from his countenance. In adoration and
love he beheld the Saviour until likeness to Christ and fellowship with Him
became his one desire, and in his character was reflected the character of his
Master
[316]
6
The Acts of the Apostles, 539
.
7
Education, 87
.
8
The Acts of the Apostles, 544, 545
.
328