John the Beloved
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was casting out devils in His name. The disciples forbade the man to
work and thought they were right in doing this. But when they laid
the matter before Christ, He reproved them, saying, “Forbid him not:
for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can
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lightly speak evil of Me.”
Mark 9:39
. None who showed themselves
in any way friendly to Christ were to be repulsed. The disciples must
not indulge a narrow, exclusive spirit, but must manifest the same
far-reaching sympathy which they had seen in their Master. James and
John had thought that in checking this man they had in view the Lord’s
honor; but they began to see that they were jealous for their own. They
acknowledged their error and accepted the reproof.
The lessons of Christ, setting forth meekness and humility and
love as essential to growth in grace and a fitness for His work, were
of the highest value to John. He treasured every lesson and constantly
sought to bring his life into harmony with the divine pattern. John had
begun to discern the glory of Christ—not the worldly pomp and power
for which he had been taught to hope, but “the glory as of the Only
Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
.
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. He says, “The life was manifested, and we have seen
it.” “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.”
1 John 1:2
;
John 1:16
. John knew the Saviour by an experimental
knowledge. His Master’s lessons were graven on his soul. When he
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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.
Jesus loves those who represent the Father, and 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