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John’s Character Reflected Christ, October 29
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also
to love one another.
1 John 4:10, 11
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The confiding love and unselfish devotion manifested in the life and character
of John present lessons of untold value to the Christian church. John did not
naturally possess the loveliness of character that his later experience revealed. By
nature he had serious defects. He was not only proud, self-assertive, and ambitious
for honor, but impetuous, and resentful under injury. He and his brother were
called “sons of thunder.” Evil temper, the desire for revenge, the spirit of criticism,
were all in the beloved disciple. But beneath all this the divine Teacher discerned
the ardent, sincere, loving heart. Jesus rebuked his self-seeking, disappointed
his ambitions, tested his faith. But He revealed to him that for which his soul
longed—the beauty of holiness, the transforming power of love....
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.... 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.
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 character the attributes of God. The glory of
the Lord was expressed in his face. 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.—
The
Acts of the Apostles, 539-545
.
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