Lessons from Bible Characters
125
from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with
our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,
of the Word of life; ... that which we have seen and heard declare we
unto you.”
John lived to be very old. He witnessed the destruction of
Jerusalem and the ruin of the stately temple. The last survivor of
the disciples who had been intimately connected with the Saviour, his
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message had great influence in setting forth the fact that Jesus was
the Messiah, the Redeemer of the world. No one could doubt his
sincerity, and through his teachings many were continually turning
from unbelief.
The rulers of the Jews were filled with bitter hatred against John for
his unwavering fidelity to the cause of Christ. They declared that their
efforts against the Christians would avail nothing so long as John’s
testimony kept ringing in the ears of the people. In order that the
miracles and teachings of Jesus might be forgotten, the voice of the
bold witness must be silenced.
John was accordingly summoned to Rome to be tried for his faith.
Here before the authorities the apostle’s doctrines were misstated.
False witnesses accused him of teaching seditious heresies. By these
accusations his enemies hoped to bring about the disciple’s death.
John answered for himself in a clear and convincing manner, and
with such simplicity and candor that his words had a powerful ef-
fect. His hearers were astonished at his wisdom and eloquence. But
the more convincing his testimony, the deeper was the hatred of his
opposers. The emperor Domitian was filled with rage. He could
not dispute the reasoning of Christ’s faithful advocate, nor match the
power that attended his utterance of truth; yet he determined that he
would silence his voice.
John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil: but the Lord preserved
the life of His faithful servant, even as He preserved the three Hebrews
in the fiery furnace. As the words were spoken, “Thus perish all who
believe in that deceiver, Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” John declared, “My
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Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and his angels could devise
to humiliate and torture Him. He gave His life to save the world. I am
honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake. I am a weak, sinful
man. Christ was holy, harmless, undefiled. He did not sin, neither was