,illustration3 ,,st ,,john ,domenichino ,frontispiece ,a ,life of ,st4 ,john ,for the ,young ,,by ,,george ,,ludington ,,weed ,,author ,,of ,a ,,life ,,of ,,christ ,,for ,,the ,,young1 ,a ,,life ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul ,,for ,,the ,,young1 ,,great ,,truths ,,simply ,,told1 ,,etc41 ,,etc4 ,,philadelphia ,,george ,w4 ,,jacobs ,,co #ajc-aje ,,south ,,fifteenth ,,street ,copyright1 #aijj ,,by ,,george ,w4 ,,jacobs ,,co ,,prefatory ,,note ,the recorded incidents of the ,life of ,st4 ,john are few4 ,almost all those of which we certainly know are related in the ,gospels1 the ,acts of the ,apostles1 ,the ,epistles of ,st4 ,john1 and ,the ,revelation4 ,some of the traditions concerning him are in such harmony with what we do know that we are almost ready to accept them as historic4 ,the known events though few1 are very distinct4 ,they are the beautiful fragments of a great picture4 ,the plan of this volume does not include those which pertain to him in common with the twelve disciples4 ,such a record would practically involve the story of the life of our ,lord4 ,this is limited to those events in which his name is mentioned1 or his person otherwise indicated2 to those in which he was a certain or implied actor2 to those in which we may suppose from his character and relations he had a special interest2 to those narratives whose fulness of detail makes the impression that they are given by an eye-witness2 to those in which a deeper impression was made on him than on his fellow-disciples1 or where he showed a deeper insight than they into the teachings of the ,lord1 and is a clearer interpreter2 to those records which add to1 or throw light upon1 those of the other three ,evangelists2 and especially to those things which reveal his peculiar relation to ,jesus ,christ4 ,another limitation of this volume is its adaptation1 in language1 selection of subjects and general treatment1 to young people1 for whom it is believed no life of ,john1 at any rate of recent date1 has been prepared4 ,it is designed especially for those between the ages of ten and twenty1 though the facts recorded may be of value to all4 ,the attempt is made to trace the way by which ,john was led to1 and then by1 ,christ4 ,we first see him as a boy with ,jewish surroundings1 taught to expect the ,messiah1 then watching for ,his coming1 then rejoicing in finding ,him1 then faithful and loving in serving ,him2 becoming the most loved of ,his chosen ones4 ,we see the ,christ through ,john's eyes1 and listen to the ,great ,teacher with his ears4 ,christ and ,john are the central figures in the scenes here recorded4 ,the full table of contents suggests the variety and scope of the topics presented4 ,in the mind of the writer the interest of many of the scenes described has been greatly deepened by memories of the paths in which he has followed in the footsteps of the ,master and ,his disciple4 ,the many quotations of words1 phrases and texts--which are from the ,revised ,version--are designed to direct the young to ,scripture forms with which they should become familiar2 and sometimes to emphasize a fact or truth1 or to recall a former incident4 ,grateful acknowledgment is made especially to the works of ,farrar1 ,edersheim and ,stalker1 for facts1 and germs of thought which have been simplified in form and language for the interest and instruction of the young1 in the hope that they may thereby be led into deeper study of one of the noblest of human lives4 ,g4,l4,w4 ,philadelphia1 ,july1 #aijj4 ,,contents ,,page ,,chapter ,i ,a ,,home ,,in ,,the ,,blessed ,,land1 ,,by ,,the ,,sacred ,,sea ,a ,fitting ,study for the ,young--,the ,glory of all ,lands--,divisions of ,palestine--,galilee--,people of ,galilee--,gennesaret and its ,surroundings--,comparisons--,jewish ,sayings--,mc,cheyne--,towns1 ,villages and ,palaces--,fisheries--,bethsaida #ai ,,chapter ,,ii ,,five ,,boys ,,of ,,bethsaida--,,rambles ,,about ,,home ,five ,apostles of ,jesus--,two ,pair of ,brothers--,salome--,brothers ,indeed--,views from a ,hilltop--,view of the ,lake--,poetic ,description--,rambles ,north of the ,lake--,on the ,west--,keble's ,poem--,answer to the ,poet's ,question--,the ,sower--,object ,lessons of the ,great ,teacher--,mount of ,beatitudes--,nature's ,influence on ,john--,philip #bd ,,chapter ,,iii ,,john',s ,,royal ,,kindred ,salome and ,mary ,sisters--,john and ,jesus ,cousins--,visit to ,bethsaida--,visit to ,nazareth--,a ,picture of the ,boy ,jesus--,the ,picture a ,help--,a ,phrase to ,remember--,a ,kinsman of ,john and ,jesus--,education--,the ,messiah #ca ,,chapter ,,iv ,,the ,,great ,,expectation ,,in ,,john',s ,,day ,prophecy ,concerning the ,messiah--,jewish ,mistakes--,roman ,conquest--,judas of ,galilee--,the ,five ,bethsaidan ,boys--,john and ,peter #ce ,,chapter ,v ,,early ,,influences ,,on ,,character ,special ,influences on the ,five--,scripture ,students--,rabbi ,like ,simeon1 or a ,teacher--,prophetess ,like ,anna--,home ,teaching--,from the ,five to ,two--,salome and ,her ,sons--,review--,boyhood ,traits--,imperfections--,perfection #ci ,,chapter ,,vi ,,first ,,visit ,,in ,,jerusalem ,jewish ,boy at ,twelve--,interest in the ,first ,pilgrimage--,john's ,journey--,the ,jordan ,ford--,city1 ,temple and ,altar--,john and ,saul--,silent ,years--,parental ,thoughts ,concerning ,john #dd ,,chapter ,,vii ,,john',s ,,view ,,of ,,the ,,coming ,,messiah ,john's ,old ,testament ,studies--,first ,gospel ,promise--,promises to ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob--,promise to ,david--,mary and ,immanuel--,names and ,titles of the ,messiah--,john's ,misreading of the ,old ,testament--,christ's ,sufferings #dh ,,chapter ,,viii ,,jesus ,,the ,,hidden ,,messiah ,the ,infancy of ,jesus ,forgotten--,our ,ignorance of ,christ's ,childhood--,the ,boy in the ,temple--,the ,carpenter's ,silent ,years #ec ,,chapter ,,ix ,,the ,,prophet ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,high ,elizabeth and ,her ,john--,a ,father's ,prophecy--,the ,prophet in the ,wilderness--,young ,men of ,galilee--,the ,hermit--,his ,galilean ,disciples--,his ,public ,ministry--,his ,hearers--,his ,preaching--,st4 ,john the ,baptist--,st4 ,john of ,galilee #eg ,,chapter ,x ,,the ,,messiah ,,found ,jesus from ,galilee to ,jordan--,baptism of ,jesus--,temptation--,behold the ,lamb of ,god--,andrew and ,john with the ,baptist--,our ,first ,knowledge of ,john of ,galilee--,parting of the ,baptist and ,jesus--,the ,two ,st4 ,johns and ,jesus--,following ,jesus in the ,way--,blessed ,invitation ,accepted--,precious ,memories--,change of ,discipleship--,silence of ,john--,disciples at ,emmaus--,brothers ,brought to ,jesus--,memorials of ,andrew--,john's ,memories of ,his ,first ,day with ,jesus--,philip--,nathanael--,jesus' ,first ,disciples--,john the ,nearest to ,him #fc ,,chapter ,,xi ,,john ,a ,,wedding ,,guest ,invited ,guests to a ,marriage ,feast--,words of ,mary and ,jesus ,concerning ,wine--,three ,commands of ,jesus--,first ,miracle--,belshazzar's ,feast--,believing ,disciples--,believing ,samaritans--,what ,john ,might ,have ,written--,first ,miracle1 for ,innocent ,joy--,john and ,mary at the ,feast--,mary's ,thoughts of ,john and ,her ,sons--,her ,thoughts of ,jesus #gb ,,chapter ,,xii ,,john ,,and ,,nicodemus ,reasons for a ,night ,visit to ,jesus--,john's ,possible ,abode in ,jerusalem--,nicodemus ,goes ,thither--,his ,conversation ,with ,jesus--,seven ,great ,truths--,golden ,text of the ,bible--,golden ,truth of ,john--,tradition of ,nicodemus #gi ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,st4 ,,john ,,and ,,the ,,samaritaness ,john's ,record--,with the ,master--,valley and ,well--,a ,personal ,privilege--,john ,with ,jesus at the ,well--,memories of the ,region--,abraham--,thoughts of the ,future--,a ,samaritaness--,strange ,request--,living ,water--,greater than ,jacob--,difference in ,waters--,woman's ,request--,jesus a ,prophet--,place and ,spirit of ,true ,worship--,messiah ,cometh--,john an ,earnest ,listener--,jesus' ,revelation of ,himself--,changed ,name for the ,well--,wonder of the ,disciples--,the ,samaritaness a ,gospel ,messenger--,unknown ,meat--,john's ,watchful ,eye--,his ,story of the ,well--,a ,memorable ,hour for ,him #hd ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,the ,,chosen ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,chosen ,,three ,,of ,,the ,,chosen ,,twelve ,two ,pair of ,brothers ,mending ,nets--,call of ,four ,disciples--,fishers of ,men--,a ,partner in ,fishing--,followers of ,him--,true ,brothers--,family ,ties--,the ,twelve ,chosen--,first ,disciples1 ,first ,apostles--,the ,inner ,circles--,peter and ,john--,john--,aaron's ,breastplate--,apostolic ,stones #ib ,,chapter ,,xv ,,john ,,in ,,the ,,home ,,of ,,jairus ,a ,father's ,cry--,reason for ,hope--,sad ,message--,strength of ,faith--,fear ,not--,curious ,crowd--,the ,twelve and the ,three--,jealousy--,ambition--,a ,coming ,change--,john ,one of ,three--,tahtha ,cumi--,a ,lesson for ,john--,a ,future ,scene--,influence of a ,secret #ig ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,john ,a ,,beholder ,,of ,,christ',s ,,glory ,family ,prayer--,sayings of ,men ,concerning ,jesus--,saying of ,peter--,a ,great ,need--,christ's ,prophecy of ,his ,death--,apart by ,themselves--,not ,tabor1 but ,hermon--,thoughts of the ,nine and of the ,three--,heavy with ,sleep--,answers to ,two ,prayers of ,jesus--,transfigured--,moses and ,elijah--,moses' ,shining ,face--,the ,lord's ,shining ,figure--,the ,shechinah--,a ,strange ,proposal--,voice from the ,clouds--,touch and ,word of ,jesus--,descent from ,hermon--,a ,great ,secret--,peter's ,memory of the ,transfiguration--,john's ,record--,greater than ,john the ,baptist or ,moses--,moses and the ,shechinah--,ungranted ,request1 but ,answered ,prayer--,hermon1 a ,mount of ,prayer #aja ,,chapter ,,xvii ,,st4 ,,john',s ,,imperfections ,four ,reasons for ,recording ,failings--,jealousy and ,pride--,intolerant ,spirit--,two ,questions1 ,what8 and ,who8--,first and ,last--,an ,object ,lesson--,the ,child-,spirit--,startled ,disciples--,john's ,confession--,lesson ,not ,learned--,hospitality--,samaritan ,hatred--,hospitality ,refused--,indignant ,brothers--,a ,story of ,elijah--,fiery ,spirit of ,james and ,john--,rebuked by ,jesus--,ambitious ,brothers--,mother's ,request--,sons' ,request--,sorrowing ,lord's ,reply and ,thoughts--,two ,thrones--,though ,imperfect1 a ,grand ,character #aaa ,,chapter ,,xviii ,,john ,,and ,,the ,,family ,,of ,,bethany ,john's ,view of a ,family ,group--,his ,relation to ,it--,a ,sad ,message and the ,reply--,the ,lord's ,delay and ,concealed ,purpose--,a ,possible ,thought of ,john's--,john and ,thomas--,our ,friend--,sleepeth--,john an ,eye-witness--,mary and ,jesus--,jesus ,wept--,mourning ,disciple--,glorified ,father and ,son--,jesus with ,martha at the ,tomb--,repeated ,command1 ,arise--,the ,release from the ,tomb--,john a ,companion in ,joy--,john's ,memory of ,mary--,lazarus' ,tomb and ,jesus' ,cross--,a ,tradition of ,lazarus #abj ,,chapter ,,xix ,,john',s ,,memorial ,,of ,,mary ,a ,scene in ,bethany--,an ,unfinished ,picture--,john with ,manuscripts of ,matthew and ,mark--,a ,great ,event not ,understood--,a ,joyful ,meeting--,a ,supper in ,honor--,a ,fitting ,place--,omitted ,names--,an ,unnamed ,woman ,named--,mary's ,cruse--,interested ,witnesses--,an ,unusual ,anointing--,an ,unwoven ,towel--,odor of the ,ointment--,judas the ,grumbler--,jesus' ,defence of ,mary--,a ,prophecy--,john the ,preserver of ,mary's ,name--,prophecy ,fulfilled--,judas and ,mary--,judas and the ,chief ,priests--,a ,group of ,three--,a ,sublime ,action--,a ,group of ,four #abh ,,chapter ,,xx ,,john ,a ,,herald ,,of ,,the ,,king ,the ,messiah-,king--,the ,prophetic ,colt--,the ,lord's ,need--,the ,lord's ,heralds--,hosannas--,disciples' ,thoughts--,changed ,earthly ,scenes--,lamb on ,earth and in ,heaven--,a ,prophecy ,recalled--,twice a ,herald #ach ,,chapter ,,xxi ,,with ,,the ,,master ,,on ,,olivet ,the ,lord in ,his ,temple--,his ,farewell to ,it--,admiring ,disciples--,sad ,prophecy--,the ,two ,pair of ,brothers on ,olivet--,a ,sacred ,memory--,the ,poet ,milman's ,view from ,olivet--,unanswered ,question--,the ,coming ,fall of ,jerusalem--,the ,poet ,heber's ,lament ,over ,jerusalem #adb ,,chapter ,,xxii ,,john ,a ,,provider ,,of ,,the ,,passover ,the ,betrayer--,a ,lamb and a ,place--,not ,judas1 but ,peter and ,john--,a ,secret ,sign--,the ,goodman of the ,house--,a ,new ,friendship--,upper ,room--,furnished--,prepared--,paschal ,lamb--,child ,memories--,john and the ,baptist--,temple ,worship--,obeying ,silver ,trumpets--,slaying of the ,lamb--,chant and ,response--,lamb and ,lamps--,alone with ,jesus--,jerusalem ,chamber--,john and the ,upper ,room #adh ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,,john',s ,,memories ,,of ,,the ,,upper ,,room ,the ,open ,door of the ,upper ,room--,door ,ajar--,revelation by ,john--,two ,statements by ,luke--,cause of ,contention--,john's ,relation to the ,quarrel--,sittings at the ,table--,john and ,judas ,beside ,jesus--,two ,things ,about ,jesus--,grieved ,spirit--,bethany ,recalled--,a ,great ,contrast--,love and ,reproof--,lesson ,ended--,a ,sacred ,relic--,a ,guest an ,enemy--,troubled ,spirit--,verily1 ,verily--,looking and ,doubting--,john's ,gaze--,is ,it ,i8--,peter and the ,great ,secret--,jesus' ,hint of the ,great ,secret--,meaning of the ,sop--,judas and ,satan--,departure of ,judas--,it ,was ,night--,a ,new ,name--,a ,new ,command--,farewell ,words and ,prayer and ,song--,closed ,door to be ,opened ,again #aed ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,,st4 ,,john ,,with ,,jesus ,,in ,,gethsemane ,an ,eye-witness--,departure from the ,upper ,room--,kidron--,gethsemane--,olive ,trees--,john's ,memories--,garden ,owner--,charge to the ,nine--,mt4 ,moriah--,final ,charge--,a ,prophecy--,companions in ,glory and ,sorrow--,a ,sad ,change--,john ,beside ,jesus--,sorrowful ,soul--,charge to the ,three--,jesus ,alone--,jesus ,seen and ,heard--,garden ,angel--,agonizing ,prayer--,sleeping ,disciples--,midnight ,scene--,sleeping for ,sorrow--,awakening ,call--,flesh and ,spirit--,repeated ,prayer--,victory--,arise--,path of ,prayer--,gathered ,band--,lighted ,way--,empty ,upper ,room--,john's ,contrasted ,memories--,betrayal ,sign--,warning ,cry--,unshrinking ,purpose--,the ,meeting--,traitor's ,kiss--,marred ,visage--,repeated ,question and ,answer--,two ,bands--,one ,request--,peter's ,sword--,changed ,voice--,a ,captive and ,legions of ,angels--,the ,fleeing ,disciples #afc ,,chapter ,,xxv ,,john ,,in ,,the ,,high ,,priest',s ,,palace ,flight of the ,nine--,captive ,lord--,peter and ,john ,following--,the ,palace--,disciple ,within and ,disciple ,without--,peter ,brought ,in--,the ,first ,denial--,john's ,watch of ,peter--,peter's ,tears--,his ,restlessness--,his ,sin and ,john's ,silence--,three ,turning and ,looking--,john's ,pity for ,peter--,john and ,pilate--,christ a ,king--,what is ,truth8--,the ,mocked ,king--,behold the ,man--,behold your ,king--,john the ,faithful ,watcher and ,comforter #agf ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,,john ,,the ,,lone ,,disciple ,,at ,,the ,,cross ,following the ,cross--,jesus ,bearing the ,cross--,wearing the ,thorny ,crown--,great ,multitude ,following--,daughters of ,jerusalem--,calvary--,john's ,memories--,group of ,four ,enemies--,seamless ,coat--,casting ,lots--,jesus and the ,gamblers--,three ,marys and ,salome--,john their ,companion--,a ,contrast--,other ,apostles--,john and ,salome--,a ,mother's ,love--,mary's ,thoughts--,sword of ,anguish--,comfort in ,sorrow--,lonely ,future--,loyal ,son--,new ,relation--,mary's ,return from the ,cross--,why ,john ,her ,guardian--,a ,poet's ,words to ,john--,in the ,new ,home #ahd ,,chapter ,,xxvii ,,john ,,the ,,lone ,,disciple ,,at ,,the ,,cross--,,continued ,i ,thirst--,it ,is ,finished--,the ,bowed ,head--,the ,women and ,john--,his ,anxious ,thoughts ,relieved--,pierced ,side--,two ,prophecies--,prayer in ,song--,joseph of ,arimathaea--,nicodemus--,two ,secret ,friends of ,jesus--,two ,gardens--,the ,stone ,closing the ,tomb--,two ,mourners at the ,tomb--,john's ,thoughts on ,leaving the ,tomb #aie ,,chapter ,,xxviii ,,john ,,at ,,the ,,tomb ,john and ,mary ,magdalene--,mary's ,mistaken ,inference--,her ,report to ,peter and ,john--,their ,hastening ,toward the ,tomb--,john ,alone at the ,tomb--,silent ,witnesses--,peter's ,entry and ,discovery--,john ,within the ,tomb--,the ,rolled ,napkin--,seeing and ,believing--,lingering in the ,tomb--,the ,return from the ,tomb--,weeping ,mary--,silence of ,angels--,mary and the ,angels--,jesus ,unknown to ,mary--,mary and ,rabboni--,john's ,two ,records of ,mary--,day of ,days--,evening ,benedictions--,pierced ,side--,close of ,john's ,gospel #bjd ,,chapter ,,xxix ,,what ,,shall ,,this ,,man ,,do8 ,an ,added ,chapter--,old ,scenes ,revived--,following ,peter--,stranger on the ,shore--,john and ,peter--,john's ,remembrance of the ,miracle--,fire of ,coals--,reverent ,guests--,lovest ,thou ,me8--,feed ,my ,lambs and ,sheep--,an ,interested ,listener--,a ,prophecy--,john ,following ,peter--,question and ,answer--,mistake ,corrected by ,john--,partial ,answer to ,peter's ,questions--,a ,former ,hour ,recalled #bab ,,chapter ,,xxx ,,st4 ,,john ,a ,,pillar-,,apostle ,,in ,,the ,,early ,,christian ,,church ,on a ,mount in ,galilee--,the ,great ,commission--,waiting for the ,promised ,comforter--,words of the ,baptist ,recalled--,a ,revived ,hope and a ,question--,jesus' ,reply--,the ,ascension--,angels' ,question--,the ,upper ,chamber--,luke's ,lists of the ,apostles--,the ,lord's ,mother1 ,brethren and ,sisters--,the ,day of ,pentecost--,a ,great ,miracle--,pentecostal ,gifts to ,john--,evening ,prayer--,beautiful ,gate--,lame man--,a ,gift ,better than ,alms--,john ,twice a ,prisoner--,prison ,angel--,preaching of ,philip--,john ,sent to ,samaria--,john and the ,samaritaness--,his ,changed ,spirit--,death of ,james--,the ,pillar ,apostles #bai ,,chapter ,,xxxi ,,last ,,days ,last ,record--,meeting of ,paul and ,john--,years of ,silence--,leaving ,jerusalem--,new ,home in ,ephesus--,city and ,temple--,paul and ,john--,churches of ,asia ,minor--,john in ,patmos--,solitude--,the ,lord's ,day--,aid to ,meditation--,calm and ,turmoil--,a ,voice and a ,command--,a ,contrast--,as ,one ,dead--,the ,eagle--,john's ,three ,kinds of ,writings--,the ,revelation--,john's ,gospel--,his ,first ,epistle--,the ,apostle of ,love--,his ,second ,epistle--,the ,apostle of ,childhood--,little ,children1 ,love one ,another--,john's ,death #bca ,,chapter ,,xxxii ,a ,,retrospect ,boyhood--,the ,disciple--,what ,john ,saw--,what ,he ,heard--,what ,he ,made ,known--,john a ,reflector of ,christ--,alone in ,history--,our ,glimpses of ,him--,in ,everlasting ,remembrance on ,earth--,with ,his ,lord in ,heaven #bda ,,chapter ,,xxxiii ,,legends ,,and ,,traditions ,,of ,,st4 ,,john ,st4 ,john and the ,robber-,chief--,st4 ,john and the ,partridge--,little ,children1 ,love ,one ,another--,miraculous ,preservation from ,death--,the ,empty ,grave--,the ,heaving ,grave #bea ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,st4 ,john ,domenichino4 ,frontispiece ,map of the ,land ,where ,st4 ,john ,lived #ai ,sea of ,galilee ,old ,engraving #bj ,site of ,bethsaida ,from ,photograph #bb ,calm on ,galilee ,from ,photograph #bf ,virgin1 ,infant ,jesus and ,st4 ,john 7,madonna della ,sedia7 ,raphael #cb ,christ and ,st4 ,john ,winterstein #ce ,simeon and ,anna in the ,temple ,old ,engraving #ci ,the ,boy ,john ,andrea del ,sarto #da ,jerusalem ,old ,engraving #dc ,joshua's ,host ,crossing the ,jordan ,old ,engraving #de ,the ,prophet ,isaiah ,sargent #ee ,the ,boy ,jesus in the ,temple ,h4 ,hofmann #eh ,a ,street ,scene in ,nazareth ,from ,photograph #fj ,visit of ,mary to ,elisabeth ,old ,engraving #fb ,the ,wilderness of ,judea ,from ,photograph #fd ,traditional ,place of ,christ's ,baptism ,from ,photograph #fg ,the ,baptism of ,jesus ,old ,engraving #fh ,the ,first ,disciples ,ittenbach #hc ,the ,marriage at ,cana ,old ,engraving #he ,belshazzar's ,feast ,old ,engraving #hg ,the ,hill of ,samaria ,old ,engraving #ij ,jacob's ,well ,from ,photograph #ib ,the ,miraculous ,draught of ,fishes ,old ,engraving #id ,raising the ,daughter of ,jairus ,h4 ,hofmann #ii ,the ,transfiguration ,old ,engraving #ajf ,moses on ,mt4 ,pisgah ,artist ,unknown #aji ,bethany ,old ,engraving #abj ,resurrection of ,lazarus ,old ,engraving #abf ,triumphal ,entry into ,jerusalem4 ,gustave ,dore #acc ,christ and ,st4 ,john ,ary ,scheffer #adj ,the ,last ,supper ,benjamin ,west #aef ,in ,gethsemane ,gustave ,dore #afc ,the ,valley of ,jehoshaphat ,old ,engraving #afe ,christ ,before ,caiaphas ,old ,engraving #afg ,christ ,before ,pilate 7,ecce ,homo7 ,h4 ,hofmann #agj ,christ ,bearing ,his ,cross ,h4 ,hofmann #ahe ,the ,virgin and ,st4 ,john at the ,cross ,old ,engraving #aib ,the ,descent from the ,cross ,rubens #aie ,in the ,sepulchre ,h4 ,hofmann #aii ,jesus ,appearing to ,mary ,magdalene 7,easter ,morning7 ,b4 ,plockhorst #bjb ,the ,descent of the ,spirit ,old ,engraving #bjf ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,john at the ,beautiful ,gate ,old ,engraving #baa ,ephesus ,from ,photograph #bbg ,the ,isle of ,patmos ,old ,engraving #bca ,smyrna ,old ,engraving #bcd ,pergamos and the ,ruins of the ,church of ,st4 ,john ,old ,engraving #bdb ,ruins of ,laodicea ,old ,engraving #bdf ,illustration3 ,,map ,,of ,,the ,,land ,,where ,,st4 ,,john ,,lived ,a ,life of ,st4 ,john ,,chapter ,i ,a ,home in the ,blest ,land1 by the ,sacred ,sea ,blest land of ,judaea6 ,thrice hallowed in song1 ,where the holiest of memories pilgrim like throng1 ,in the shade of thy palms1 by the shores of thy sea1 ,on the hills of the beauty1 my heart is with thee4 --,whittier4 ,a ,galilean boy1 a fisherman1 a follower of ,jesus1 one of the twelve ,apostles1 one of the favored three1 the beloved one1 the ,apostle of love1 the ,apostle of childhood1 the one of all men who gave to mankind the clearest view of ,jesus ,christ--such was ,st ,john4 ,for young people he is a fitting study4 ,to aid such is the purpose of this volume4 ,let us first glance at the land where he lived1 surrounded by influences that directed his life1 and moulded his character4 ,palestine was called by ,god ,himself ,the ,glory of ,all ,lands4 ,he made it the home of ,his people the ,jews1 who long waited for the promised time when it should have greater glory by becoming the home of the ,messiah1 the ,son of ,god4 ,before ,he was born the ,jews were conquered by the ,romans1 and governed by them instead of the ,jewish judges and kings4 ,the country was divided into three parts4 ,the southern was called ,judaea2 the middle1 ,samaria2 and the northern1 ,galilee1 which was the most beautiful part4 ,it contained the hills of ,galilee1 and the plain and sea of ,gennesaret1 hallowed by the presence of ,jesus1 and what ,he there did4 ,at the time of which we write1 two thousand years ago1 ,galilee was not inhabited wholly or chiefly by ,jews4 ,other peoples1 called ,gentiles1 were mixed with the ,jewish race which continued to cultivate the land1 and to tend the vineyards and olive-yards1 and to dwell in the fisherman's huts and moor their boats on the sandy beach4 ,some ,jews were artisans1 working at their trades in the smaller towns4 ,but there were vast crowds of foreigners whose life was a great contrast to that of the ,jews4 ,their customs were those of the nations to which they belonged4 ,they spoke their own languages4 ,they worshiped their own false gods4 ,their amusements were such as they were accustomed to in their distant homes4 ,this was especially true of the ,romans who had theatres1 chariot races1 and gladiatorial combats1 by the peaceful waters of ,galilee4 ,illustration3 ,,sea ,,of ,,galilee ,old ,engraving ,page #ba ,there were also ,greeks who had sought new homes far from their native land4 ,many ,arabians came from the deserts on swift horses1 in roving bands in search of plunder4 ,they wore brightly-colored dresses1 and flashing swords and lances1 carrying terror wherever they went4 ,egyptian travelers came with camels loaded with spices and balm4 ,the bazaars were crowded with merchandise from ,india1 ,persia and ,arabia4 ,long caravans from ,damascus passed through ,galilee1 with goods for the markets of ,tiberius on ,lake ,gennesaret1 and the more distant cities of ,jerusalem1 ,caesarea and ,alexandria4 ,the gem of ,galilee and of ,palestine itself1 is the ,lake of ,gennesaret1 or the ,sea of ,tiberius4 ,its length is twelve and three-fourths miles2 its greatest width1 seven and one-fourth2 its greatest depth1 one hundred and sixty feet4 ,on the west is the beautiful ,plain of ,galilee4 ,on the east are rounded hills2 and rugged mountains which rise nine hundred feet above the waters1 with grassy slopes1 and rocky cliffs barren and desolate4 ,bowers of olive and oleander deck the base of the hills whose sides yield abundant harvest4 ,around the lake is a level white beach of smooth sand4 ,gennesaret has been fittingly compared to a sapphire set in diamonds2 and to a mirror set in a frame of richness and beauty4 ,he hath made everything beautiful1 says ,solomon concerning ,god4 ,it is a well-known saying of ,jewish writers1 ,of all the seven seas ,god created1 ,he made choice of none but the ,lake of ,gennesaret4 ,it was called the beloved of ,god above all the waters of ,canaan4 ,the writer of this volume gratefully recalls blessed memories of ,gennesaret1 wishing his young friends could view with their own eyes those scenes which he asks them to behold through his own4 ,then could they join him in singing with the saintly ,mc,cheyne1 ,how pleasant to me thy deep blue wave1 ,o ,sea of ,galilee6 ,for the glorious ,one who came to save1 ,hath often stood by thee4 99 99 99 99 99 ,o ,saviour1 gone to ,god's right hand1 ,yet the same ,saviour still1 ,graved on ,thy heart is this lovely strand1 ,and every fragrant hill4 ,at the period of which we speak the region was full of people4 ,nine large towns1 each containing fifteen thousand inhabitants1 bordered on the lake4 ,numerous populous villages lined the shores1 or nestled in the neighboring valleys1 or were perched on the hilltops4 ,fishermen's huts--which were mere stone sheds--fringed the lake4 ,they stood in every rift of rock1 and on every knoll1 with their little cornfields and vine ledges extending to the sandy beach4 ,illustration3 ,,site ,,of ,,bethsaida ,from ,photograph ,page #bc ,on the seashore1 among the chief buildings1 were palaces for ,roman princes1 and quarters for ,roman soldiers4 ,the waters were covered with boats for pleasure1 merchandise and fishing4 ,four thousand floated at one time on the narrow lake4 ,vast quantities of fish were caught in the waters1 supplying not only the people of ,galilee1 but the populous city of ,jerusalem1 especially when crowded with pilgrims2 and were even sent to distant ports of the ,mediterranean4 ,we shall see ,john's interest in such labors4 ,on the north-western shore of ,gennesaret is a beautiful bay sheltered by hills and projecting cliffs4 ,the sight is such as would be a fisherman's delight--a little haven from storm1 with a broad beach of sand on which to moor his boats4 ,there is no place like it in the region of ,galilee4 ,close to the water's edge1 it is supposed1 was the town of ,bethsaida1 probably meaning ,house of ,fish4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,five ,boys of ,bethsaida--,rambles ,about ,home ,walking by the ,sea of ,galilee1 ,he saw two brethren1 ,simon who is called ,peter1 and ,andrew his brother4--,matt4 iv4 #ah4 ,and going on from thence1 ,he saw other two brethren1 ,james the son of ,zebedee1 and ,john his brother4--v4 #ba4 ,philip was from ,bethsaida1 of the city of ,andrew and ,peter4--,john i4 #dd4 ,bethsaida was honored as being the home of five of the ,apostles of ,jesus4 ,we know nothing definitely concerning them until their manhood4 ,we wish we knew of their childhood4 ,it is only because of their relation to ,jesus that they have been remembered4 ,had it not been for this they would1 like many other boys of ,galilee1 have lived on the shores of ,gennesaret1 fished in its waters1 died1 and been forgotten4 ,these five ,bethsaidan boys were two pairs of brothers and a friend4 ,the names of one pair were ,andrew and ,peter4 ,they were the sons of ,jonas1 a fisherman4 ,as they grew up they were engaged with him in casting the net and gathering fish1 by day or by night1 and thus securing a livelihood without thought of change of occupation4 ,it was a ,jewish custom for boys to learn a trade or business1 which was generally that of their fathers4 ,the names of the other pair of brothers were ,james and ,john4 ,their father was named ,zebedee4 ,he also was a fisherman having so much prosperity in his business that he employed servants to help him4 ,judging by what we know of the family they must have been highly respected by the people among whom they lived4 ,we do not know the exact date of ,john's birth4 ,he was probably younger than ,james1 and several years younger than ,peter4 ,the mother of ,james and ,john was named ,salome4 ,we know more of her than of her husband4 ,she was a warm friend of ,jesus1 ministering to ,him when ,he was living1 and was one of the few who cared for ,his dead body4 ,her sons seemed to be greatly attached to her4 ,all were of kindred spirit1 having like thoughts1 feelings and plans4 ,james and ,john were brothers indeed1 companions until the death of ,james separated them4 ,the feelings of boyhood must have been greatly strengthened in later scenes1 and by influences which we shall have occasion to notice4 ,as we know of them as daily companions in manhood1 we think of the intimacy and affection of boyhood4 ,it will help us to gain an idea of their companionship1 and the influences of their surroundings1 if we notice some things with which they were familiar in the region of their home4 ,standing on one of the hills behind ,bethsaida they beheld a magnificent panorama4 ,in the northeast ,hermon rose like a mighty giant1 called by the people of the land the ,kingly ,mountain4 ,they knew it by the name ,moses had given it--the goodly mountain4 ,they were to know it by the name which ,peter would give in after years1 ,the ,holy ,mount1 so called for a blessed reason of which all of them were to learn4 ,down from its snowy glittering sides a thousand streamlets blended in larger streams combining in the ,jordan1 which flowed through marshes and ,lake ,merom until it entered ,gennesaret near their home4 ,eastward1 across the lake1 the rugged cliffs of ,gadara cut off their view4 ,perhaps at this very hour the winds from ,hermon rushed through the gorges1 first ruffling the placid waters of the lake1 and then tossing them as if in rage4 ,they little thought of a coming time when they themselves would be tossed upon them until they heard a voice saying1 ,peace be still4 ,and now ,the warring winds have died away1 ,the clouds1 beneath the glancing ray1 ,melt off1 and leave the land and sea ,sleeping in bright tranquillity4 ,below1 the lake's still face ,sleeps sweetly in th' embrace ,of mountains terraced high with mossy stone4 ,illustration3 ,,calm ,,on ,,galilee ,from ,photograph ,page #bf ,in another hour they watch the more quiet movements of pleasure boats1--gay barges and royal galleys--and trading vessels1 and fishing boats1--all crowding together seemingly covering the lake4 ,as it narrows in the southern distance1 the ,jordan commences the second stage of its journey of one hundred and twenty miles through rugged gorges4 ,as it leaves the quiet lake1 we can almost hear them saying to it ,like an arrow from the quiver1 ,to the sad and lone ,dead ,sea1 ,thou art rushing1 rapid river1 ,swift1 and strong1 and silently1 ,through the dark green foliage stealing1 ,like a silver ray of light4 ,descending from the hill we may follow ,james and ,john in their rambles in the region near their home4 ,on the northern extremity of the lake1 among the colossal reeds1 and meadow grass and rushes1 they watch the little tortoises creeping among them2 and the pelicans which make them their chosen home2 and the blue and white winged jays that have strayed from the jungles through which the ,jordan has pushed its way2 and the favorite turtle-doves2 and the blue birds so light that one can rest on a blade of grass without bending it2 and the confiding larks and storks which1 not fleeing1 seem to welcome the visitors to their haunts4 ,here grow oleanders of such magnificence as is seen nowhere else in the country1 twenty feet high1 sometimes in clumps a hundred feet in circumference2 and masses of rosy red flowers1 blushing pyramids of exquisite loveliness4 ,our ramblers follow the western shore to the shallow hot stream1 where boy-like1--or manlike as ,i did--they burn their hands in trying to secure pebbles from its bottom4 ,they rest under the shade of an olive or a palm4 ,they gather walnuts which are in great abundance2 and grapes and figs1 which can be done ten months in the year2 and oranges and almonds and pomegranates4 ,they wander through meadows rich in foliage1 and gay with the brightness and richness of flowers which retain their bloom in ,galilee when they would droop in ,judaea or ,samaria4 ,we hear the poet ,keble asking them1 ,what went ye out to see ,o'er the rude1 sandy lea1 ,where stately ,jordan flows by many a palm1 ,or where ,gennesaret's wave ,delights the flowers to lave1 ,that o'er her western slope breathe airs of balm8 ,all through the summer night1 ,these blossoms red and white ,spread their soft breasts unheeding to the breeze1 ,like hermits watching still1 ,around the sacred hill1 ,where erst our ,saviour watched upon ,his knees4 ,to the poet's question ,james and ,john would answer that they went out to see the blue lupin and salvia1 the purple hyacinth1 the yellow and white crocus1 the scarlet poppy1 and gladiolus1 the flowering almond1 the crimson and pink anemone4 ,they also saw the cultivated fields1 and the sower casting his seed which fell on the hardened pathway1 or barren rocks1 or bounteous soil4 ,they watched the birds from mountain and lake gather the scattered grain4 ,they thought not of the parable into which all these would be weaved2 nor of ,him who would utter it in their hearing near where they then stood4 ,they saw the shepherds and their flocks1 the sparrows and the lilies1 that became object lessons of the ,great ,teacher yet unknown to them4 ,in their rambles they may have climbed the hill1 only seven miles from their home1 not thinking of the time when they would climb it again2 after which it would be forever known as the ,mount of ,beatitudes4 ,such were some of the charming and exciting scenes with which ,john was familiar in his early life1 and which would interest his refined and observing nature1 of which we know in his manhood4 ,they must have had an important influence in the formation of his character4 ,we have spoken of five ,bethsaidan boys--,andrew and ,peter1 ,james and ,john--and a friend4 ,his name was ,philip4 ,we know but little of him4 ,what we do know is from ,john4 ,he tells us that ,philip was of ,bethsaida1 the city of ,andrew and ,peter4 ,perhaps he was their special friend1 and so became one of the company of five1 as he afterward became one of the more glorious company of twelve4 ,we shall find three of these five in a still closer companionship4 ,they are ,peter1 ,james and ,john4 ,one of these shall have the most glorious honor of all4 ,it is ,john4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,john's ,royal ,kindred ,it seems almost certain that ,salome and ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 were sisters4 ,royal blood was in their veins4 ,they were descendants of ,david4 ,the record of their ancestry had been carefully preserved for ,god's own plans1 especially concerning ,mary1 of which plans neither of the sisters knew until revealed to her by an angel from ,god4 ,we think of them as faithful to ,him1 and ready for any service to which ,he might call them1 in the fisherman's home of ,salome1 or the carpenter's home of ,mary4 ,mary's character has been summed up in the words1 pure1 gentle and gracious4 ,salome must have had something of the same nature1 which we find again in her sons4 ,if ,salome and ,mary were sisters1 our interest in ,james and ,john deepens1 as we think of them as cousins of ,jesus4 ,this family connection may have had something to do with their years of close intimacy2 but we shall find better reason for it than in this kinship4 ,there was another relation closer and holier4 ,we wonder whether ,jesus ever visited ,bethsaida1 and played with ,his cousins on the seashore1 and gathered shells1 and dug in the sand1 and sailed on ,gennesaret1 and helped with ,his little hands to drag the net1 and was disappointed because there were no fish1 or bounded with glee because of the multitude of them4 ,we wonder whether ,james and ,john visited ,jesus in ,nazareth1 nestled among the hills of ,galilee4 ,did they go to the village well1 the same where children go to-day to draw water8 ,did ,james and ,john see how ,jesus treated ,his little mates1 and how they treated ,him--the best boy in ,nazareth8 ,did the cousins talk together of what their mothers had taught them from the ,scriptures1 especially of ,the ,great ,one whom those mothers were expecting to appear as the ,messiah8 ,did they go together to the synagogue1 and hear the ,rabbi read the prophecies which some day ,jesus1 in the same synagogue1 would say were about ,himself8 ,jesus was the flower of ,mary's family1 the flower of ,nazareth1 of ,galilee1 of the whole land1 and the whole world4 ,nazareth means flowery--a fitting name for the home of ,jesus4 ,it was rightly named4 ,so must ,james and ,john have thought if their young cousin went with them to gather daisies1 crocuses1 poppies1 tulips1 marigolds1 mignonette and lilies1 which grow so profusely around the village4 ,did they ramble among the scarlet pomegranates1 the green oaks1 the dark green palms1 the cypresses and olives that grew in the vale of ,nazareth1 and made beautiful the hills that encircled it8 ,did they climb one of them1 and gain a view of the ,mediterranean1 and look toward the region where ,john would live when his boyhood was long past1 in the service of his cousin at his side8 ,illustration3 ,,virgin1 ,,infant ,,jesus1 ,,and ,,st ,,john 7,madonna della ,sedia7 ,raphael ,page #ca ,a great artist1 ,millais1 painted a picture of the boy ,jesus1 representing ,him as cutting ,his finger with a carpenter's tool1 and running to ,his mother to have it bound up4 ,did ,john witness any such incident8 ,how little did he think of a deeper wound he was yet to behold in that same hand4 ,we cannot answer such questions4 ,these things were possible4 ,they help us to think of ,jesus as a boy1 like other boys4 ,james and ,john thought of ,him as such only until long after the days of which we are speaking4 ,while thinking of ,john and ,jesus as cousins1 we may also think of a kinsman of theirs1 a second cousin of whom we shall know more4 ,john was to have a deep interest in both of the others1 and they were to have more influence on him than all other men in the world4 ,there were some things common to them all4 ,they were ,jews4 ,according to ,jewish customs they were trained until six years of age in their own homes4 ,their library was the books of the ,old ,testament4 ,they learned much of its teachings4 ,they read the stories of ,joseph1 ,samuel and ,david4 ,at six they went to the village school1 taught by a ,rabbi4 ,some attention was paid to arithmetic1 the history of their nation1 and natural history4 ,but1 as at their homes1 the chief study was the ,scriptures4 ,they were taught especially about ,one--,of whom ,moses in the law and the prophets did write4 ,let us remember those words for we shall hear them again4 ,that ,one was called the ,messiah--,he whom we call ,jesus1 the ,christ1 the ,saviour of the world4 ,he had not then come4 ,we look back to the time when ,he did come3 those boys looked forward to the time when ,he would come4 ,the ,messiah was the great subject in the homes of the pious ,jews1 and in the synagogues where old and young worshiped on the ,sabbath4 ,illustration3 ,,christ ,,and ,,st4 ,,john ,winterstein ,page #cd ,,chapter ,,iv ,the ,great ,expectation in ,john's ,day ,moses wrote of a promise1 made centuries before the days of ,john1 to ,abraham--that in the ,messiah all the nations of the earth1--not the ,jews only--should be made happy with special blessings4 ,isaiah and other prophets wrote of the time and place and circumstances of ,his coming1 and of the wonders ,he would perform4 ,the ,jews understood that the ,messiah would descend from ,david4 ,they believed that ,he would sit upon the throne of ,david1 ruling first over the ,jews1 an earthly ruler such as ,david had been1 and then conquering their enemies2 thus being a great warrior and the king of the world4 ,but they were sadly mistaken in many of their ideas of the ,messiah4 ,they had misread many of the writings of the prophets4 ,they had given wrong meanings to right words4 ,they made real what was not so intended4 ,they overlooked prophecies about the ,messiah-,king being despised1 rejected and slain1 though ,god had commanded lambs to be slain through all those centuries to remind them of the coming ,messiah's cruel death4 ,each of those lambs was a ,lamb of ,god4 ,remember that phrase2 we shall meet it again4 ,they looked for wonders of kinds of which neither ,moses nor the prophets had written4 ,many did not understand what was meant by the kingdom of ,god in the hearts of men1 as differing from the earthly kingdom of ,david4 ,they did not understand that ,messiah's kingdom would be in the hearts of all people4 ,with such mistaken views of the ,messiah at the time of which we are writing1 the ,jews had not only the great expectation of the centuries1 but the strong belief that ,messiah was about to appear4 ,a great event had happened which made them especially anxious for ,his immediate coming4 ,the ,jewish nation had been conquered by the ,romans4 ,the ,glory of ,all ,lands was glorious only for what it had been4 ,galilee was a ,roman province which1 like those of ,judaea and ,samaria1 longed for the expected ,one to free them from the ,roman yoke1 and show ,himself to be the great ,messiah-,deliverer of the ,jews4 ,they were prepared to welcome almost any one who claimed to be ,he4 ,such an one was at hand4 ,in those days appeared a man who has been known as ,judas of ,galilee4 ,he had more zeal than wisdom4 ,in his anger and madness at the ,romans he was almost insane4 ,he was an eloquent man4 ,he roused the whole ,jewish nation4 ,multitudes welcomed him as the promised ,messiah4 ,thousands gathered around him2 many of them fishermen1 shepherds1 vine-dressers and craftsmen of ,galilee4 ,they followed him throughout the entire land with fire and sword1 laying waste cities and homesteads1 vineyards and cornfields4 ,their watchword was1 ,we have no ,lord or master1 but ,god4 ,but this rebellion against the ,roman government failed4 ,judas himself was slain4 ,villages in ,galilee--,bethsaida probably one of them--became hospitals for the wounded in battle4 ,the whole region was one of mourning for the dead4 ,there was terrible disappointment concerning ,judas of ,galilee4 ,none could say of him1 ,we have found the ,messiah4 ,we have found ,him1 of whom ,moses in the ,law1 and the prophets1 did write4 ,again think of these words2 they are yet to be spoken concerning another4 ,what the five young ,galileans of ,bethsaida saw and heard of these events must have made a deep impression on them4 ,they were old enough to be young patriots interested in their nation4 ,their sympathies would be with those trying to free their people from ,roman power4 ,perhaps their thoughts concerning ,messiah became confused by the false claims of ,judas1 the pretender1 and his deluded followers4 ,but this did not destroy their confidence in the ,scriptures4 ,they believed the prophecy it contained would yet be fulfilled4 ,at this time ,john is supposed to have been about twelve years of age4 ,had he been older1 the temperament which he afterward showed1 and which sometimes misled him1 allows us to think that he might have been drawn into the rebellion4 ,peter also in his fiery zeal might have drawn his mistaken sword4 ,they might have become comrades in war1 as they did become in peace4 ,for many years they continued their ,scripture studies1 without however gaining the full knowledge of the ,messiah and ,his kingdom1 to which at last they attained4 ,illustration3 ,,simeon ,,and ,,anna ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,old ,engraving ,page #ci ,,chapter ,v ,early ,influences on ,character ,as we trace the history of the five youthful ,bethsaidans1 it seems almost certain that some special influence or influences helped to shape their characters1 and to unite them in thought1 purpose and effort2 and so secure marked and grand results4 ,this union was not a mere coincidence4 ,nor can it be accounted for by their being of the same nation or town1 and having the same education common to ,jewish boys4 ,there was something which survived the mere associations of boyhood1 and continued to1 or was revived in1 manhood4 ,the influence whatever it was must have been special and powerful4 ,what was it8 ,in that little village were their faithful souls praying more earnestly than others1 and searching the ,scriptures more diligently1 finding spiritual meanings hidden from the common readers1 and so understanding more correctly1 even though not perfectly1 who was the true ,messiah1 and what ,he would do when ,he came8 ,or1 was there some rabbi in ,bethsaida like ,simeon in ,jerusalem1 of whom it could be said1 the ,holy ,ghost was upon him1 and he was waiting for the consolation of ,israel--the coming of the ,messiah8 ,or1 was there a teacher of the synagogue school in ,bethsaida1 instructing his pupils as no other teacher did8 ,or1 was there some aged ,anna1 like the prophetess in the ,temple1 who served ,god with fastings and prayer1 who going about the village full of thoughts concerning the ,messiah1 spake of ,him to all them that looked for ,his coming8 ,or1 was it in the homes of the five that we find that special influence8 ,did ,jonas talk with his sons as few other fathers did1 while ,andrew and ,peter listened most attentively to his words8 ,did ,zebedee and ,salome1 as ,jonas1 prepare by teaching their sons for the coming time when the two pairs of brothers should be in closer companionship than the family friendship of these ,galilean fishermen and business partnership could secure8 ,was ,peter1 full of boyish enthusiasm1 a leader of the little company2 or did ,john in quiet loveliness draw the others after himself8 ,did ,philip have such family training as had the other four1 or was he guided by the lights that came from their homes8 ,and now in thought we disband the little circle of five1 to be reunited elsewhere after many years4 ,we glance into the home of ,james and ,john4 ,we have already spoken of ,salome's royal descent1 and of the sympathy between her and her sons4 ,with what deep interest we would listen to her teachings and watch the influence on them as they talked together of ,david their ancestor1 and of how they were of the same tribe and family to which the ,messiah would belong4 ,salome understood much about ,him1 more probably than most mothers3 but she was much mistaken about what was meant by ,his ,kingdom4 ,she thought ,he would rule like ,david on an earthly throne4 ,her sons believed as she did1 and so were as sadly mistaken4 ,it was long before they discovered their mistake4 ,that was in circumstances very different from what were now in their minds4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,boy ,,john ,andrea del ,sarto ,page #da ,thus far we have attempted to restore the surroundings of ,john in his early days1 which did much in shaping his early life1 and fitting him for the great work he was to perform4 ,we have glanced at the country and town in which he lived4 ,as we see them through his eyes1 he appears the more real to us4 ,we have watched the little circle of his intimate friends1 on whom he must have had an influence1 and who influenced him4 ,we have glanced at his home with his parents and brothers4 ,we have tried to gain some idea of what and how much he had learned1 especially concerning the ,messiah4 ,we are now prepared to look at him alone1 and try to get a more distinct view of his character4 ,we are not told what kind of a boy ,john was4 ,we are told of many things he said and did when he was a man4 ,these help us to understand what he must have been when young4 ,though there be great changes in us as we grow older1 some things remain the same in kind if not in degree4 ,judging by certain things in ,john's manhood1 we form an idea of his childhood4 ,we may think of him as a lovable boy4 ,his feelings were tender4 ,he was greatly interested in events which pleased him4 ,he was quick and active4 ,he was modest and generally shy1 yet bold when determined to do anything4 ,he was not ready to tell all he felt or knew4 ,he was helpful in his father's business4 ,he thought and felt and planned much as his mother did4 ,he was thoughtful and quick to understand1 and sought explanation of what was not easily understood4 ,he was frank in all he said1 and abhorred dishonesty1 especially in one who professed to be good4 ,above all he was of a loving disposition1 and this made others love him4 ,he was beloved because he loved4 ,illustration3 ,,jerusalem ,old ,engraving ,page #dd ,yet ,john was not perfect1 as we shall see in another chapter4 ,we know of some things he said and did when a man1 which help us to understand the kinds of temptations he had in his younger days4 ,they were such as these2 contempt for others who did not think and do as he did1 judging them unjustly and unkindly1 and showing an unkind feeling toward them2 a revengeful spirit1 ready to do harm for supposed injury2 selfishness2 ambition--wanting to be in honor above others4 ,his greatest temptation was to pride4 ,but at last he overcame such temptations4 ,what was lovable in childhood became more beautiful in manhood4 ,he more nearly reached perfection than any other of whom we know--by what influence1 we shall see4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,first ,visit to ,jerusalem ,at twelve years of age a ,jewish boy was no longer thought of as a child1 but a youth4 ,before he reached that age he looked forward to an event which seemed to him very great4 ,it was his first visit to ,jerusalem4 ,peter was probably older than ,james or ,john4 ,with boyish interest they listened to the report of his first pilgrimage to the ,holy ,city4 ,when the time came for ,james to accompany him1 ,john's interest would increase as he heard his brother's story2 and much more when he could say1 ,next year ,i too shall see it all4 ,and when at last he1 probably the youngest of the five ,bethsaidan boys1 could be one of the company1 a day of gladness indeed had come4 ,with his father1 and perhaps his mother1 he joined the caravan of pilgrims1 composed chiefly of men and boys4 ,their probable route was across the ,jordan1 then southward1 through valleys and gorges1 and along mountain-sides which echoed with the ,psalms which were sung on these pilgrimages1 called ,songs of ,degrees4 ,at ,bethabara1 nearly opposite ,jericho1 the travelers recrossed the ,jordan4 ,there ,john might think of that other crossing many years before when ,joshua led the hosts of ,israel between the divided waters2 and when ,elijah smote them with his mantle1 and there was a pathway for him and ,elisha4 ,john was to add to his memories of the spot4 ,at a later day he would there witness a more glorious scene4 ,illustration3 ,,joshua',s ,,host ,,crossing ,,the ,,jordan ,old ,engraving ,page #de ,at last from the ,mount of ,olives1 at a turn in the road1 he had his first view of the ,holy ,city2 its walls and seventy towers of great height1 and the ,holy ,house--the ,temple of ,god1 with which in after years he was to become familiar4 ,there he saw for himself of what he had often heard2--the ,holy ,altar and lamb of sacrifice--reminders of the coming ,messiah2 the offering of incense2 and the many and varied forms of stately worship4 ,at the time that ,john made this visit to ,jerusalem1 there was a celebrated school known as that of ,gamaliel1 who was the most noted of the ,jewish ,rabbis1 or teachers4 ,boys were sent to him from all parts of ,palestine1 and even from distant countries in which ,jews lived4 ,there was one such boy from the town of ,tarsus1 in the ,roman province of ,cilicia in ,asia ,minor4 ,though living in a heathen city1 surrounded by idolatry1 he had received a ,jewish training in his home and in the synagogue school1 until he was old enough to go to ,jerusalem to be trained to become a ,rabbi4 ,like ,john he had learned much of the ,old ,testament ,scriptures1 but it does not appear that he had the special influences which we have imagined gave direction to the thoughts and plans of the five boys of ,galilee4 ,in his boyhood he was known as ,saul2 afterward as ,paul4 ,he and ,john in their early days differed in many things2 in the later days they became alike in the most important thoughts1 feelings1 purposes and labors of their lives4 ,and because of this they became associated with each other1 and are remembered together as among the best and greatest of mankind4 ,it is possible that ,john visited the school of ,gamaliel1 and that the boy from ,bethsaida and the one from ,tarsus met as strangers1 who would some day meet as friends indeed4 ,it is more probable that they worshiped together in the temple at the feast1 receiving the same impressions which lasted and deepened through many years1 and which we to-day have in what they wrote for the good of their fellow-men4 ,when ,john returns from ,jerusalem to his home we lose even the dim sight of him which our imagination has supplied4 ,during the silent years that follow we have two thoughts of him1--as a fisherman of ,galilee1 and as one waiting for the coming of the ,messiah4 ,his parents' only thought of him is a life of honest toil1 a comfort in their old age1 a sharer in their prosperity1 and an heir to their home and what they would leave behind4 ,they little think that he will be remembered when kings of their day are forgotten2 that two thousand years after1 lives of him will be written because of a higher relationship than that of mere cousinship to ,jesus2 and that their own names will be remembered only because ,john was their son4 ,only ,god sees in the boy playing on the seashore1 and in the fisherman of ,gennesaret1 the true greatness and honor into which ,he will guide him4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,john's ,view of the ,coming ,messiah ,in our thoughts of ,jesus we have chiefly in mind the things that happened at the time of ,his birth and afterward4 ,we read of them in the ,gospels4 ,john had the ,old ,testament only1 containing promises of what was yet to happen4 ,we have the ,new ,testament telling of their fulfilment4 ,thus far we have spoken of ,jesus as ,john knew ,him--as a boy in ,nazareth1 the son of ,mary1 and his own cousin4 ,we have also spoken of ,john's ideas of the ,messiah4 ,as yet he has not thought as we do of ,jesus and the ,messiah being the same person4 ,it is not easy for us to put ourselves in his place1 and leave out of our thoughts all the ,gospels tell us4 ,but we must do this to understand what he understood during his youth and early manhood1 respecting the ,messiah yet to come4 ,let us imagine him looking through the ,old ,testament1 especially the books of ,moses and the prophets1 and finding what is said of ,him2 and see if we can what impressions are made on this young ,bible student of prophecy4 ,his search goes back many years4 ,he finds the first ,gospel promise4 ,it was made while ,adam and ,eve1 having sinned1 were yet in the ,garden of ,eden4 ,it was the promise of a ,saviour to come from heaven to earth1 through whom they and their descendants could be saved from the power of ,satan and the consequences of sin4 ,we do not know how much our first parents understood of this coming ,one3 but we feel assured that they believed this promise1 and through repentance and faith in this ,saviour1 they at last entered a more glorious paradise than the one they lost4 ,that promise faded from the minds of many of their descendants and wickedness increased4 ,but ,god had not forgotten it4 ,john could find it renewed by him to ,abraham1 in the words1 ,in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed1--meaning that the ,messiah should be the ,saviour of all nations1 ,gentiles as well as ,jews4 ,the promise was renewed to ,isaac1 the son of ,abraham2 and then repeated to his son ,jacob1 in the same words spoken to his grandfather4 ,jacob on his dying bed told ,judah what ,god had revealed to him1 that the ,messiah should be of the tribe of which ,judah was the head4 ,many years later ,god made it known to ,david that the ,messiah should be one of his descendants4 ,this was a wonder and delight to him as he exclaimed1 ,who am ,i1 ,o ,lord ,god1 and what is mine house6 for ,thou hast spoken of ,thy servant's house for a great while to come4 ,john must have been taught by his mother that they were of the honored house of ,david4 ,they1 in common with other ,jews1 believed that the great while to come was near at hand4 ,john read in ,isaiah of her who would be the mother of the ,messiah1 without thought that she was his aunt ,mary4 ,he read that she should call her son ,immanuel1 meaning ,god with us1 without thinking this was another name for his cousin ,jesus4 ,john would find other names describing ,his character4 ,his eye would rest on such words and phrases as these--,holy ,one2 ,most ,holy2 ,most ,mighty2 ,mighty to ,save2 ,mighty ,one of ,israel2 ,redeemer2 ,your ,redeemer2 ,messiah the ,prince2 ,leader2 ,lord ,strong and ,mighty2 ,king of ,glory2 ,king over all the earth4 ,most of all ,john would think again and again of a wonderful declaration of ,isaiah1 writing as if he lived in ,john's day1 saying1 ,unto us a child is born1 unto us a ,son is given2 and the government shall be upon ,his shoulders1 and ,his name shall be called ,wonderful ,counsellor1 ,the ,mighty ,god1 ,the ,everlasting ,father1 ,the ,prince of ,peace4 ,of the exercise of ,his government and peace there shall be no end1 upon the throne of ,david4 ,had ,john known that these words of ,isaiah referred to ,jesus1 he might have repeated them1 not as a prophecy1 but with a present meaning1 saying1 ,the ,child is born6 ,as he read the prophecy of ,haggai1 uttered more than five hundred years before--,the desire of all nations shall come--he might have exclaimed1 ,he has come6 ,in ,john's reading in the ,old ,testament it seems strange to us that some things made a deeper impression on him than did others1 and that he understood some things so differently from what we do1 especially about the ,messiah's kingdom4 ,he noticed the things about ,his power and glory1 but seems to have misread or overlooked those about the dishonor1 and suffering and death that would come upon ,him4 ,we read in the fifty-third chapter of ,isaiah1 how ,he was to be despised and rejected of men1 a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief1 444 wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities1 444 brought as a lamb to the slaughter1 and as a sheep before his shearers1 444 and make ,his grave with the wicked4 ,we know that all this happened4 ,we think of a suffering ,saviour4 ,we wonder that ,john did not have such things in his mind4 ,but in this he was much like his teachers1 and most of the ,jews4 ,though1 as we have imagined1 his family and some others were more nearly right than most people1 even they did not have a full knowledge or correct understanding of all that the ,old ,testament ,scriptures taught1 concerning these things4 ,but at last ,john learned more concerning ,christ than any of them4 ,we are yet to see how this came to pass4 ,for the present we leave him in ,bethsaida1 increasing in wisdom and stature4 ,so is also his cousin in ,nazareth1 of whom let us gain a more distinct view before ,he is revealed to ,john as the ,messiah4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,jesus the ,hidden ,messiah ,there has been in this world one rare flower of ,paradise--a holy childhood growing up gradually into a holy manhood1 and always retaining in mature life the precious1 unstained memories of perfect innocence4--,h4,b4 ,stowe4 ,the aged ,simeon in the ,temple1 with the infant ,jesus in his arms1 said1 ,now lettest ,thou ,thy servant depart1 ,o ,lord1 444 in peace2 for mine eyes have seen ,thy salvation--the expected ,messiah4 ,but it was not for ,him to proclaim ,his having come4 ,the aged ,anna could not long speak of ,him to all them that looked for redemption in ,jerusalem1 or anywhere else4 ,for awhile the shepherds told their wonderful story1 and then died4 ,the angels did not continue to sing their hymn of the ,nativity over the plains of ,bethlehem4 ,the ,wise ,men returned to their own country4 ,herod died1 and none thought of the young child he sought to kill4 ,the hiding in ,egypt was followed by a longer hiding of another kind in ,nazareth4 ,the stories of those who gathered about the infant cradle were soon forgotten1 or repeated only to be disbelieved4 ,mary1 and her husband ,joseph--who acted the part of an earthly father to the heaven-born child--carried through the years the sacred secret of who and what ,jesus was4 ,we long to know something of the holy childhood4 ,we have allowed our imagination to have a little play1 but this does not satisfy our curiosity1 nor that desire which we have concerning all great men1 to know of their boyhood4 ,what did ,he do8 ,where did ,he go8 ,what was ,his life at home1 and in the village school8 ,who were ,his mates8 ,how did ,he appear among ,his brothers and sisters8 ,so strong is a desire to know of such things that stories have been invented to supply the place of positive knowledge2 but most of them are unsatisfactory1 and unlike our thoughts of ,him4 ,thus much we do know1 that1 ,he grew in wisdom and stature not only1 but also in favor with ,god and man4 ,it has been finally said2 ,only one flower of anecdote has been thrown over the wall of the hidden garden1 and it is so suggestive as to fill us with intense longing to see the garden itself4 ,but it has pleased ,god1 whose silence is no less wonderful than ,his words1 to keep it shut4 ,that one flower refers to ,jesus' visit to ,jerusalem just as ,he was passing from childhood to youth1 when ,he tarried in the ,temple with the learned ,rabbis1 asking them questions with which ,his mind was full1 and making answers which astonished them4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,prophet ,,isaiah ,sargent ,page #ej ,a most interesting question arises in connection with that visit2 ,did ,jesus then and there learn that ,he was the ,messiah8 ,when ,he asked ,his mother1 ,wist ye not that ,i must be in ,my ,father's house1 or1 about ,my ,father's business8 did ,he have a new idea of ,god as ,his ,father ,who had sent ,him into the world to do the great work which the ,messiah was to perform8 ,there were eighteen silent years between ,his first visit to ,jerusalem1 and the time when1 at thirty years of age1 he made ,himself known as the ,messiah4 ,they were spent as a village carpenter4 ,he was known as such4 ,no one suspected ,him to be anything more4 ,in ,his work ,he must have been a model of honesty and faithfulness4 ,we can believe that all ,his works were perfect1 that never was a nail driven or a line laid carelessly1 and that the toil of that carpenter's bench was as sacred to ,him as ,his teachings in the ,temple1 because it was duty4 ,in ,his home ,he was the devoted eldest son4 ,it was of that time that the poet sings to ,mary2-- ,o1 highly favored thou1 in many an hour ,spent in lone musings with thy wondrous ,son1 ,when thou didst gaze into that glorious eye1 ,and hold that mighty hand within thine own4 ,blest through those thirty years when in thy dwelling ,he lived as ,god disguised with unknown power1 ,and thou ,his sole adorer1 ,his best love1 ,trusted1 revering1 waited for ,his hour4 --,h4,b4 ,stowe4 ,joseph had probably died1 and the care of ,mary fell especially on ,jesus4 ,but in the carpenter's shop1 in the home1 and wherever ,he was1 ,he had thoughts and feelings and purposes hidden from all others4 ,they were such as no mere human being could have4 ,he was alone in the world4 ,in silence and solitude ,his communions were with ,his ,father in heaven4 ,calmness and peace filled ,his soul4 ,his great work was before ,him1 ever present to ,his thought4 ,so was ,his cross1 and the glory which should come to ,god1 and the blessedness to man1 when ,his work on earth was done4 ,as ,john long after declared1 ,he was in the world and the world knew ,him not4 ,as a great ,king ,he had come from heaven1 and was waiting for a certain one to proclaim ,his coming4 ,toward that herald let us turn and with ,john listen to his voice4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,the ,prophet of the ,most ,high ,zacharias was filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and prophesied1 saying1 444 ,yea1 and thou1 child1 shalt be called the prophet of the ,most ,high3 ,for thou shalt go before the face of the ,lord to make ready ,his ways4--,luke i4 #fg1 #gf4 ,there came a man1 sent from ,god1 whose name was ,john4 ,the same came for witness1 that he might bear witness of the light1 that all men might believe through him4--,john i4 #f1 #g4 ,he was the lamp that burneth and shineth4--,john v4 #ce4 ,in devotional pictures we see ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist and ,st4 ,john the ,baptist standing together1 one on each side of ,christ4--,mrs4 ,jameson4 ,salome and ,mary had a cousin named ,elizabeth4 ,her home was not in ,galilee1 but in ,judaea--the southern part of the ,holy ,land--probably near ,hebron1 possibly near ,jerusalem4 ,she had a son also named ,john4 ,he was so called because the angel ,gabriel1 who had told ,mary to call her son ,jesus1 had said to ,zacharias1 an aged high priest1 the husband of ,elizabeth1 concerning their son1 ,thou shalt call his name ,john4 ,this name means ,the ,gift of ,god4 ,born in their old age he seemed especially such to them4 ,he was a gift not only to his parents1 but to his country and mankind4 ,while ,zebedee and ,salome had not been told what their ,john should become1 ,zacharias and ,elizabeth had been told the future of their ,john4 ,the angel declared1 ,he shall be great4 ,had he said only this1 we might think he meant great in power1 or learning1 or in other things which men call great1 but which the ,lord does not4 ,gabriel said1 ,he shall be great in the sight of the ,lord4 ,mary visited the home of ,elizabeth and the happy cousins praised ,god for what ,he had revealed to them concerning their sons4 ,the greatness to which ,elizabeth's son was to attain was that of a prophet--greater than ,elijah1 or ,isaiah1 or any other who had lived before him4 ,with exultation ,zacharias said to him1 ,thou1 child1 shalt be called the prophet of the ,most ,high4 ,god had arranged that he should be ready to proclaim the coming ,one just before the ,messiah should appear among men4 ,for this reason he was called the ,fore-runner of the ,messiah4 ,but though ,jesus was in the world1 the time for ,his appearance as the ,messiah had not yet come4 ,john was greatly saddened by what he saw of the wickedness of men1 even those who professed to be the people of ,god1 and their unfitness to receive ,him for whom they were looking4 ,led by the ,spirit of ,god1 ,john retired to the wilderness of ,judaea1 in the region of the ,dead ,sea and the ,jordan1 for meditation and communion with ,god4 ,but he was not entirely concealed4 ,there were a few who heard of his sanctity and wisdom1 sought instruction from him1 and abode with him1 becoming his disciples4 ,he seems to have had special influence over young men4 ,our ,bethsaidan boys have now grown to be such since we saw them in their early home1 and as school and fisher boys4 ,they were now toiling at their nets with their fathers1 closer than ever in their friendship for each other1 still waiting and watching for ,him whom they had been taught from their earliest days to expect4 ,we think of their interest in the rumors concerning the prophet of ,judaea4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,boy ,,jesus ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,h4 ,hofmann ,page #ed ,as the two pair of brothers talk together1 we can hear one of them saying1 ,i must see and hear and know for myself4 ,i will lay aside my fishing1 and go to the wilderness of ,judaea4 ,to this the others reply1 as on another occasion to ,peter1 ,we also come with thee4 ,leaving the quiet shores of ,gennesaret1 they follow the road each has traveled annually since twelve years of age on his way to the feast in ,jerusalem4 ,they met the hermit in the wilderness4 ,his appearance was strange indeed4 ,his hair was long and unkempt2 his face tanned with the sun and the desert air2 his body unnourished by the simple food of locusts and wild honey4 ,his raiment was of the coarsest and cheapest cloth of camel's hair4 ,his girdle was a rough band of leather1 such as was worn by the poor1--most unlike those made of fine material1 and ornamented with needlework4 ,his whole appearance must have been a great contrast to his gentle and refined namesake from ,galilee4 ,the solemn earnestness of the prophet1 and the greatness of the truths he taught1 were well calculated to excite the greatest interest of the young ,galileans4 ,they looked upon him with increasing conviction that he was a prophet of ,god4 ,instead of returning to their homes1 they remained in ,judaea and attached themselves to him1 and became known as his disciples4 ,in their new service there was a new bond of union for themselves1 which--though they then knew it not--would lead to another yet stronger4 ,at last the word of the ,lord came unto ,john1 when he was about thirty years old1 calling him to a more public ministry4 ,so ,he came into all the country about ,jordan4 ,beginning in the south he moved northward from place to place4 ,rumors concerning the new strange prophet spread rapidly4 ,there went out to him ,jerusalem1 and all ,judaea1 and all the region round about ,jordan4 ,shepherds left their flocks and flocked around him4 ,herdsmen left their fields1 and vine-dressers their vineyards1 and ,roman soldiers their garrisons1 for the wilderness4 ,rabbis left their parchments in the synagogue1 the schoolroom and the home1 to hear the living voice of a teacher greater than any one of them4 ,self-righteous ,pharisees and common people followed them4 ,some sought the preacher only from curiosity2 some to hear the truth4 ,john's preaching was summed up in two phrases1--,repent ye1 and ,the kingdom of heaven is at hand4 ,illustration3 ,,street ,,scene ,,in ,,nazareth ,from ,photograph ,page #ee ,his preaching was bold1 clear1 earnest1 and forcible4 ,many yielded to the power of his preaching4 ,they were baptized by him2 for this reason he was known as ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 or the ,baptizer4 ,john of ,galilee was one of those who obeyed the injunction ,repent ye4 ,with all his lovable qualities which we have imagined in his childhood--his refinement1 his faithfulness in his home and synagogue1 and his honest toil--he saw that within himself which was not right in the sight of ,god4 ,he repented of his sins and sought forgiveness4 ,a lovely character became more lovely still1 to be known as the loving and beloved one4 ,he was ready to welcome the ,messiah of whom the ,baptist told4 ,he had no fears that another ,judas of ,galilee had arisen4 ,he believed that the promises concerning the coming ,one were being fulfilled4 ,he was a faithful disciple of the prophet and forerunner1 to whom he must have been a great joy1 but who was ready to have him1 whenever the time should come1 transfer his following to the ,lord of them both4 ,for how long a period the two ,johns continued together1 we do not know1 but it was drawing to its close4 ,illustration3 ,,visit ,,of ,,mary ,,to ,,elisabeth ,old ,engraving ,page #eh ,,chapter ,x ,the ,messiah ,found ,they found ,him not1 those youths of noble soul2 ,long seeking1 wandering1 watching on life's shore1 ,reasoning1 aspiring1 yearning for the light4 99 99 99 99 99 ,but years passed on2 and lo6 the ,charmer came1 ,pure1 simple1 sweet1 as comes the silver dew1 ,and the world knew ,him not1--,he walked alone1 ,encircled only by ,his trusting few4 --,h4,b4 ,stowe4 ,we--,andrew and ,john--have found the ,messiah4--,andrew to ,peter4 ,we--,andrew and ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 and ,philip--have found ,him1 of ,whom ,moses in the law1 and the prophets did write1 ,jesus of ,nazareth4--,philip to ,nathanael4 ,the fulness of the time was come1 not only when ,god sent forth ,his ,son1 but when the ,son should reveal ,himself to the world4 ,so ,jesus came forth from ,his retirement in ,nazareth to enter on ,his public ministry4 ,then cometh ,jesus from ,galilee to ,jordan1 unto ,john to be baptized of him4 ,what a meeting6 ,probably the first in their lives4 ,it is no marvel that ,john said1 ,i have need to be baptized of ,thee1 and comest ,thou to me8 ,but he obeyed ,jesus' bidding1 ,suffer it to be so now4 ,so ,he was baptized of ,john in ,jordan4 ,then followed the prayer of the ,son of ,god2 and then the ,spirit of ,god descending like a dove1 and lighting upon ,him2 and then the voice of the ,father1 saying1 ,thou art my beloved ,son3 in ,thee ,i am well pleased4 ,let us remember that voice3 we shall hear it again4 ,and then for forty days and forty nights ,jesus was hidden completely from the face of man1 alone on the ,mount of ,temptation1 with wild beasts1 until ministering angels come to ,him from heaven4 ,he returned to the region where the ,baptist was preaching4 ,john seeth ,jesus coming to him4 ,his eye is turned away from the multitude thronging about him1 and is fastened upon ,jesus only4 ,his thought is of ,him of whom ,isaiah wrote long before--,he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter4 ,pointing to ,jesus he exclaims1 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sin of the world6 ,the ,galilean disciples were doubtless present1 and were deeply moved by their ,master's exclamation4 ,because of their previous training in their homes1 and in the wilderness with the prophet1 it must have kindled in them deeper emotion than it did in any others of that astonished throng4 ,but it was to become deeper still4 ,this was especially true of two of them4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,wilderness ,,of ,,judea ,from ,photograph ,page #ei ,the next day1 probably a ,sabbath1 was to become a memorable day in the history of the two and of their master4 ,it was a morning hour4 ,we think of the three as alone1 before the multitudes had gathered1 or the day's ministry of preaching and baptizing had begun4 ,they walked along the bank of the river communing together of ,him whom they had seen the day before4 ,in the distance ,john saw the ,figure again4 ,in awe and reverence1 and with a fixed gaze1 ,john was standing1 and two of his disciples2 and he looked upon ,jesus as ,he walked1 and saith1 ,behold1 the ,lamb of ,god6 ,the exclamation was in part that which they had heard in the presence of the multitude2 but that was not enough4 ,it was as if ,john had said1 ,behold the ,messiah for whom our nation has waited so long2 ,him of whom our ,scriptures have told us2 ,who has been the theme in our homes from childhood2 of whom ,i have been the prophet and herald4 ,he it is of whom ,i have taught you1 my disciples1 as you have followed me in the wilderness until ,i now can bid you behold ,him4 ,henceforth follow ,him4 ,john says that one of the two was ,andrew4 ,there is no doubt that the other was himself4 ,we shall notice in his writings that he never uses his own name4 ,this incident is our first definite knowledge of him4 ,all we have said hitherto is what we think must have been true1 judging from circumstances of which we do know1 and from his character revealed after this time4 ,we long to know whether ,jesus as ,he walked came near the ,baptist1 and with what salutation they met1 and what were their parting words1 for this seems to be the last time of their meeting4 ,if ,mary and ,salome were sisters1 and ,elizabeth was their cousin--as we use the term--,john of ,galilee and ,jesus were related to ,john the ,baptist in the same way4 ,but there was a closer relationship than that of family4 ,in this ,jesus was the connecting link between the two ,johns4 ,one on each side of ,christ--this was their joy and their glory4 ,one was the last prophet to proclaim ,his coming3 the other was to be the last evangelist to tell the story of ,his life on the earth4 ,when the ,baptist the second time uttered the cry1 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god6 the two disciples heard ,him speak and followed ,jesus4 ,their old master saw them turn from him without a jealous1 but with a gladsome thought4 ,encouraged by him1 and drawn by ,jesus1 with reverential awe1 in solemn silence or with subdued tone1 they timidly walked in the footsteps of the newly revealed ,master4 ,the quickened ear before them detected their footsteps or conversation4 ,jesus turned and saw them following1 as if to welcome their approach1 and give them courage4 ,he then asked them a question1 ,what seek ye8 ,it was not asked because ,he was ignorant1 but to encourage them in familiar conversation1 as ,he did at other times4 ,their answer was another question1 ,rabbi1 where abidest ,thou8 ,they longed for a fuller opportunity than that on the road to be taught by ,him4 ,come and see1 was ,his welcome reply4 ,they came and saw where ,he dwelt1 and abode with ,him that day4 ,first by a look1 then a question1 then an invitation1 then hospitality1 they were drawn to ,him1 and into ,his service4 ,illustration3 ,,traditional ,,place ,,of ,,christ',s ,,baptism ,from ,photograph ,page #fc ,often in after years must ,andrew and ,john have recalled that walk with ,jesus1 and rehearsed the things that happened1 and said one to another1 ,was not our heart burning within us while ,he spake to us in the way8 ,so afterward did other two1 of ,emmaus1 when ,jesus ,himself drew near and went with them4 ,but the eyes of ,andrew and ,john were not holden that they should not know ,him4 ,the pleasing dream of years was past3 they were wakening to a glorious reality4 ,their following of ,him in that hour has been claimed to be the beginning of the ,christian ,church4 ,that day of abiding with ,jesus was the first of many days these disciples spent with ,him1 knowing ,him more and more perfectly1 and the truth which ,he alone could reveal4 ,they were then passing from the school of the ,baptist to that of the ,greatest ,teacher4 ,what was said in those sacred hours8 ,john has reported other private interviews with ,jesus1 but concerning this one his lips are sealed4 ,did he tell of his surprise and joy to learn that ,he1 ,jesus1 the son of his aunt1 ,mary1 was the ,messiah of whom his mother1 ,salome1 had taught him from his early days8 ,were there any memories of childhood--of the sandy beach of ,bethsaida1 or the hills of ,nazareth2 or1 were all such thoughts buried in newer and deeper question8 ,was there any hint of their future relation too sacred for others then to know8 ,was this the beginning of that sweet intimacy so private then1 but of which the whole world should hear in all coming time8 ,after the evening meal in ,emmaus the two disciples there rose up the same hour1 and returned to ,jerusalem1 with joyful and quickened steps to report the glad tidings of what they had seen and heard4 ,andrew and ,john were to be of the number who1 in three years1 would hail these disciples from ,emmaus4 ,like them1 ,andrew and ,john hastened away from the sheltering booth on the ,jordan bank on a like errand4 ,but they went not together1 nor to an assembled company4 ,they each went in search of his own brother--,andrew for ,peter1 and ,john for ,james4 ,andrew found his brother first4 ,afterward ,john found his3 so we infer from his narrative4 ,each carried the same tidings1 ,we have found the ,messiah6 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,baptism ,,of ,,jesus ,old ,engraving ,page #fd ,andrew is thought to have asked leave to bring his brother4 ,he brought him to ,jesus4 ,when ,john wrote that simple statement1 he did not think how much was included in it concerning ,peter and his own relation to him4 ,as little did ,andrew think to what the promptings of his brotherly affection would lead4 ,his mission seems to have been that of bringing others to ,christ--his own brother1 the lad with five loaves and two fishes1 and certain ,greeks who desired to see ,jesus4 ,john only has made note of these three incidents4 ,in so doing he has given to us the key to the character of his friend1 and caused him to be held in everlasting remembrance4 ,andrew is remembered in the cross that bears his name2 in his anniversary day2 in the choice of him for the patron saint of ,scotland2 in orders of knighthood1 and in ,christian societies of brotherhood named after him1 as an example and inspiration to the noblest of ,christian endeavor--that of bringing old and young to ,christ4 ,it is ,john alone who wrote of that memorable day on the ,jordan4 ,his impressions were deep and lasting4 ,the record of them is so fresh and minute that we seem to be perusing a notebook which was in his hands when these events were transpiring4 ,his memory is distinct of the exact location of each2 of the attitudes and movements of the actors1--as when ,john stood1 and ,jesus walked1 and ,jesus turned2 of the fixed and earnest look of ,jesus--as on ,andrew and ,john in the way1 and ,peter in the place of ,his abode4 ,john remembered the words of the ,baptist1 and of his two disciples1 and of ,jesus4 ,he remembered the day not only1 but that it was about the tenth hour when he accepted the invitation to come and see where ,jesus was tarrying4 ,all these pictures hung unfading on the walls of ,john's memory4 ,this was not strange4 ,it was the day and the hour for which he looked through all his early years1 and to which he looked back in his latest4 ,then was the beginning of a most blessed relationship1 alone in the history of mankind2 that which was to make his name immortal1 and radiant with a halo which encircles none other4 ,the day following1 ,jesus would go forth into ,galilee1 and findeth ,philip1 and saith unto him1 ,follow ,me4 ,now ,philip was of ,bethsaida1 the city of ,andrew and ,peter4 ,so writes ,john1 recalling to us the ,galilean group of ,bethsaidan boys4 ,when we became familiar with their names1 there was no prospect that the two pairs of brothers and their friend would head the roll of disciples of the ,messiah for whom they were looking4 ,but such a day had come4 ,we know not that ,philip had a brother whom he could bring to ,jesus1 as did ,andrew and ,john1 but he was as full of wonder and joy as they4 ,like them he must go in search of some one to whom he could repeat their exclamation4 ,the search was not long4 ,john tells the result4 ,philip findeth ,nathanael and saith unto him1 ,we have found ,him4 ,but this simple declaration is not enough for ,philip4 ,he recalls those ,scripture scrolls in his home and the ,rabbi's school1 and the synagogue1 that told of the coming ,messiah1 and so he exclaims1 ,we have found ,him of whom ,moses and the ,law1 and the ,prophets did write--thus repeating the phrase we were to remember till we should hear it again4 ,nathanael1 coming to ,jesus declared in wonder and admiration1 ,thou art the ,son of ,god2 ,thou art the ,king of ,israel4 ,his name was added to those of the ,galilean group4 ,the disciples now numbered five or six--,andrew1 ,john1 ,peter1 ,philip1 ,nathanael1 and probably ,james4 ,these were one half of a completed circle to surround ,jesus4 ,all but one of them were of the ,bethsaidan band4 ,john has drawn lifelike pictures of them1 more complete than those of the other apostles1--except that of ,judas1 whom he contrasts with all the rest4 ,we have thought of ,james and ,john as nearest to ,jesus in kinship4 ,we are already beginning to think of ,john as nearest in discipleship4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,john a ,wedding ,guest ,there was a marriage in ,cana of ,galilee2 and the mother of ,jesus was there3 and ,jesus also was bidden1 and ,his disciples to the marriage4 ,the mother of ,jesus saith unto ,him1 ,they have no wine4 ,the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine4 ,this beginning of ,his signs did ,jesus in ,cana of ,galilee1 and manifested ,his glory2 and ,his disciples believed on ,him4--,john ii4 #a-c1 #i1 #aa4 ,again ,john notices the very day on which occurred a remarkable event1 of which he had a vivid recollection4 ,it was the third1 as is probable1 after the departure of ,jesus from ,jordan for ,galilee4 ,he was invited to a wedding in ,cana4 ,his disciples were invited also1 we may suppose out of respect to ,him4 ,james and ,john might have been there without the rest4 ,it is possible that they were relatives of the family1 as their aunt ,mary is thought to have been4 ,she was there caring for the guests1 and what had been provided for them4 ,the marriage feast lasted several days4 ,jesus and ,his disciples were not present at the beginning4 ,after their arrival1 ,mary discovered that the wine had given out4 ,like the sister of another ,mary1 in whose house ,jesus was a guest1 she was troubled because it looked as if the family had not provided for all the company4 ,she had probably been a widow for several years1 and as ,jesus was her oldest ,son1 she had gone to ,him for advice and help when in trouble at home4 ,so now when they wanted wine1 the mother of ,jesus saith unto ,him1 ,they have no wine4 ,we are not to suppose that she intended to ask ,him to do a miracle4 ,perhaps she simply said1 ,what shall we do8 as many a housekeeper has said when in doubt4 ,he made a reply which seems harsh and unkind1 unless we understand ,his meaning1 and imagine ,his words to have been spoken in a kind tone1 and with a kind and loving look4 ,she was not offended by ,his reply4 ,thinking ,he might do something--she knew not what--she said unto the servants1 ,whatsoever ,he saith unto you1 do it4 ,it might be said of ,him at this time1 as it was at another1 ,he knew ,himself what ,he would do4 ,he gave three simple commands to the servants4 ,the first was1 ,fill the water-pots with water4 ,they did as ,mary had said1 and obeyed ,him4 ,watching them until the jars were full1 ,he said1 ,draw out now and bear unto the ruler of the feast4 ,this was probably a special friend of the family1 who with ,mary was directing it4 ,while ,jesus' command was being obeyed1 ,his first miracle was performed4 ,when the ruler had 'tasted the water now become wine1 and knew not whence it was1' 444 he called the bridegroom1 and in a playful joke praised the goodness of the wine which he imagined had purposely been kept to the last4 ,the water now become wine is the brief statement of the first of the thirty-six recorded miracles of our ,lord4 ,it was seen by the six disciples4 ,they witnessed the first of the miracles since those in the days of ,daniel1 of which they had read in their ,scriptures1 one of the last of which was at the impious feast of ,belshazzar4 ,there the holy cups from ,jerusalem were used in praising false gods of silver and gold1 in the hands of the king and his lords1 as they read the handwriting on the wall1 interpreted by ,daniel4 ,how different the feast in ,cana4 ,there was no fear there4 ,when the disciples saw the cup in the hands of the hilarious governor1 and heard his playful words1 they were not in a sportive mood4 ,theirs was that of astonishment and reverence at the miracle4 ,no ,daniel was needed to interpret the meaning of that water changed into wine4 ,john tells us what they understood thereby--that ,jesus manifested ,his glory4 ,he showed the power which belongs to ,god only4 ,john immediately adds1 ,and ,his disciples believed on ,him4 ,this is the first time they are spoken of as such4 ,as yet they were disciples only4 ,at the end of the blessed week in which they had found the ,messiah1 there had been formed a close companionship which was to become closer still4 ,but the time had not yet come for them to leave their homes and business1 and attend ,him wherever ,he went4 ,they were not yet ,apostles4 ,the marriage feast had become to them more than a social festival4 ,their ,lord had intended that it should be so4 ,their faith in ,him on the ,jordan1 was strengthened in ,cana4 ,this beginning of miracles1 says ,john4 ,what was this beginning8 ,it was not the healing of the sick1 nor raising of the dead1 nor supplying a hungry company with bread1 nor furnishing a necessary drink4 ,there was no display4 ,jesus stretched forth no rod over the water-jars1 as did ,moses over the waters of the ,nile when the same ,divine power changed them into like color1 but different substance1 and with a different purpose4 ,the first manifestation of ,his glory was for the increase of innocent joy4 ,when ,john had read the story of ,jesus in the first three ,gospels1 and found no record of this miracle1 did he not feel that there had been a great omission which he must supply8 ,nowhere else does ,jesus appear just as ,he did at that feast1 though other incidents of ,his life are in harmony with it4 ,it is sometimes said ,he graced that marriage feast1 as royalty does by mere presence4 ,but ,he did more4 ,he entered into the innocent festivities1 and helped to their success4 ,a glance into that village home is a revelation of ,jesus in social life1 and ,his interests in human friendships and relations4 ,we must remember that it was only innocent pleasures that ,he helped to increase1 in which alone we can seek the presence of ,his ,spirit1 and on which alone we can ask ,his blessing4 ,this marriage feast must have been of special interest to ,john1 if1 as is supposed1 the family was related to ,mary and probably to him4 ,this would seem to be her first meeting with ,jesus since ,he bid her farewell in ,nazareth1 and left the home of thirty years1 to be such no longer4 ,did not ,mary1 mother-like1 call ,john aside from the festive scene and say to him1 ,what has happened at the ,jordan8 tell me all about it4 ,i seem to hear ,john saying to her2 ,it is a wonderful story4 ,of some things ,i heard1 and some ,i both saw and heard4 ,you know of the ministry of your cousin ,elizabeth's son ,john--of his preaching and baptizing4 ,jesus was baptized by him4 ,immediately they both had a vision of 'the ,spirit of ,god descending upon ,him2 and lo6 a voice from heaven saying1 ,this is ,my beloved ,son4' ,then ,john was certain who ,jesus was4 ,he told the people about the vision1 saying1 ',i saw and bear record that this is the ,son of ,god4' ,and one day when my friend ,andrew and ,i were with him1 he pointed us to ,jesus saying1 ',behold the ,lamb of ,god1' whom we followed1 first to ,his abode on the ,jordan1 and then here to ,cana4 ,we were disciples of ,john1 but now are ,his disciples1 and ever shall be4 ,you know1 aunt ,mary1 how from childhood ,i had thought of ,him as my cousin ,jesus1 and loved ,him for ,his goodness4 ,from what my mother has told me1 which she must have learned from you1 there has been some beautiful mystery about ,him4 ,it is all explained now4 ,hereafter1 ,i shall love ,him more than ever1 but ,i shall think of ,him1 not so much as my cousin ,jesus1 as the ,messiah for whom we were looking1 and as the ,son of ,god4 ,how the mother-heart of ,mary must have throbbed as she listened to her nephew ,john's story of ,jesus on the ,jordan4 ,how it must have gone out toward him1 because of his thoughts about her son1 and his love for ,him4 ,how grieved she must have been as she thought of her own sons who did not believe as ,john did concerning their brother ,jesus4 ,the time was to come when ,jesus would make her think of ,john1 not so much as a nephew1 as a son4 ,in that festive hour1 ,mary too learned the lesson that human relationships to ,jesus1 however beautiful1 were giving way to other and higher4 ,the words ,he had spoken to her at the feast1 like those ,he had uttered in the ,temple in ,his boyhood1 and the things that had happened on the ,jordan1 showed her that henceforth she should think1 not so much of ,jesus as the ,son of ,mary1 as the ,son of ,god4 ,in thoughts she must have revisited the home of ,elizabeth1 whose walls1 more than thirty years before1 had echoed with her own song1 ,my soul doth magnify the ,lord1 and my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,john and ,nicodemus ,there was a man of the ,pharisees1 named ,nicodemus1 a ruler of the ,jews3 the same came unto ,him by night4 ,we speak that we do know1 and bear witness of that we have seen4--,john iii4 #a1 #b1 #aa4 ,there is ,nicodemus1 who visited ,jesus by night--to the astonishment of ,st4 ,john--but who was soon afterward ,jesus' friend4--,john ,watson4 ,the report of what passed reads1 more than almost any other in the gospels1 like notes taken at the time by one who was present4 ,we can almost put it again into the form of brief notes4444 ,we can scarcely doubt that it was the narrator ,john who was the witness that took the notes4--,alfred ,edersheim4 ,three incidents mentioned by ,john only comprise all we know of ,nicodemus4 ,in each of them he refers to him as coming to ,jesus by night4 ,that visit seems to have made a deep impression on ,john4 ,we may think of ,him as present at the interview between the ,pharisee and the ,teacher come from ,god4 ,we are not told why ,nicodemus came at a night hour4 ,perhaps he thought he could make sure of a quiet conversation1 such as he could not have in the daytime4 ,perhaps he did not want to appear too friendly to ,jesus until he knew more about ,him1 though he already had a friendly feeling toward ,him4 ,perhaps he was afraid of the ,sanhedrin1 the highest ,jewish ,court4 ,most of its members hated ,jesus and had commenced their opposition to ,him1 which was continued during ,his life1 and resulted in ,his death4 ,not so felt ,nicodemus1 though a member4 ,at a later day he opposed their unjust treatment of ,him4 ,if he did not think of ,jesus as the ,messiah1 he yet thought of ,him as a prophet1 a teacher come from ,god4 ,he was anxious to know more4 ,so cautiously and timidly he sought ,jesus in the night4 ,we suppose that1 at the time of ,jesus' death1 ,john had a home in ,jerusalem4 ,it has been thought possible that when and before he became a disciple of ,jesus he had an abode there1 attending to the business connected with the sale of fish from his home in ,galilee4 ,there ,jesus might be found in the guest-chamber on the roof of the oriental house which was reached by an outside stair4 ,nicodemus had no invitation1 such as ,andrew and ,john had to ,jesus' abode on the ,jordan1 but he had an equal welcome to ,john's home1 whither he had come on a like errand1 though with different views of ,jesus1 to learn of ,him4 ,he sees still burning in the upper chamber the night lamp of ,him whom he is to know as the light of the world4 ,he ascends the stair1 stands at the door and knocks2 and it is opened4 ,apparently without lengthy salutation1 or introduction1 he makes known his errand in the single sentence1 ,rabbi1 we know that ,thou art a teacher come from ,god1 for no man can do these signs that ,thou doest1 except ,god be with ,him4 ,he might have added1 ,what shall ,i do8 ,jesus gave a very solemn answer to his question1--,except a man be born anew1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,he taught him that doing certain things1 and not doing others1 was not enough2 he must be good4 ,to be good there must be a change of spirit4 ,as a child has a beginning of its earthly life1 he must have the beginning of a spiritual life1 or he cannot be fitted for the kingdom of ,god in this world or that which is to come4 ,that great change comes from above1 from ,god ,himself4 ,listen to some of the wonderful truths ,jesus taught to ,nicodemus4 ,they are for us as well as for him4 #a4 ,those who do not have this change of spirit must perish4 #b4 ,but none need to perish1 for eternal life has been provided4 #c4 ,this life is through the suffering and death of the ,son of ,god4 #d4 ,god gave ,his only begotten ,son to do all this4 #e4 ,god did this because ,he so loved the world4 #f4 ,this eternal life can be had only by believing on the ,son of ,god4 #g4 ,whosoever so believes may have eternal life4 ,all this is included in one sentence3 ,god so loved the world1 that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth on ,him should not perish1 but have eternal life4 ,this is the golden text of ,st4 ,john's ,gospel1 and of the whole ,bible4 ,through all the ages it has sounded1 and will sound to the end of time1 as the gospel itself4 ,john must have been a most attentive listener to all that ,jesus said4 ,this was at the beginning of ,his ,lord's ministry4 ,fresh truths easily impressed him4 ,they were the buddings of which he was to see the bloom1 of whose fruitage he would partake most abundantly1 and which he would give to others long after the echo of the ,great ,teacher's words had died in the chamber where he and ,nicodemus heard them4 ,it was long after that nightly visit that ,john wrote his account of it1 including the golden text whose keyword was ,love4 ,it is supposed that he wrote his ,epistle about the same time4 ,that text was so present in his thought that he repeated it in almost the same words3 ,herein was the ,love of ,god manifested in us1 that ,god hath sent ,his only begotten ,son into the world1 that we might live through ,him4 ,at the close of his long life1 in which he had learned much of the power and justice and holiness and goodness of ,god1 it seemed to him that all these were summed up in the one simple saying1 ,god is love4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,first ,,disciples ,ittenbach ,page #fg ,when ,john bade ,nicodemus good-night1 he could not look forward to the time1 nor to the place where we see them together again4 ,john the lone apostle with ,nicodemus and his ,lord at the beginning of ,his ministry1 is the lone apostle at the cross4 ,then and there1 he recalls the first meeting of the three as he beholds the ,rabbi approaching4 ,this is his record2 ,then came also ,nicodemus1 who at the first came to ,jesus by night4 ,there is a tradition concerning ,nicodemus that after the ,resurrection of ,jesus1 his faith in ,him was strengthened4 ,the teacher come from ,god he now believed to be the ,son of ,god4 ,the timid ,rabbi became a bold follower of the ,lord whom he once secretly sought4 ,for this he was no longer permitted to be a ruler of the ,jews4 ,he was hated1 beaten1 and driven from ,jerusalem4 ,at last he was buried by the side of the first martyr ,stephen1 who had baptized and welcomed him into the fellowship of the ,christian ,band4 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,st4 ,john and the ,samaritaness ,he cometh to a city of ,samaria1 called ,sychar4444 ,jacob's well was there4 ,jesus therefore1 being wearied with ,his journey1 sat thus on the well4 ,there cometh a woman of ,samaria to draw water4 ,jesus said unto her1 ,give ,me to drink4--,john iv4 #e-g4 ,probably ,john remained with the ,master4 ,they would scarcely have left ,him alone especially in that place2 and the whole narrative reads like one who had been present at what passed4--,edersheim4 ,the vale of ,sychar is one of the most interesting spots in the ,holy ,land4 ,jacob's well is one of the sacred sights about whose identity there is no dispute4 ,i count the ,sabbath when my tent overshadowed it one of the most memorable of my life4 ,it was a privilege to read on the spot ,john's story of the ,master tarrying there1 and of the truths there revealed4 ,john tells us that ,jesus1 on ,his way from ,judaea to ,galilee1 passed through ,samaria1 arrived at ,jacob's well1 and being wearied with ,his journey sat thus on the well1 while ,his disciples went away unto the city to buy food4 ,it is not necessary to suppose that all of the six went to the neighboring city4 ,probably ,john remained with the ,master4 ,his narrative is one of the most distinct word-paintings in the whole ,gospel story4 ,he writes like one who saw and heard all that passed1 not only when the other disciples were with him1 but also and especially what happened when they were absent from the well4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,marriage ,,at ,,cana ,old ,engraving ,page #gb ,john tells us that ,jesus was wearied with ,his journey4 ,the observing1 tender-hearted disciple saw and remembered his ,master's weariness4 ,in this simple1 brief record1 he reminds us of ,jesus' humanity1 and so how much ,he was like ourselves4 ,how much of his ,lord's weariness and suffering the sympathizing disciple was yet to witness4 ,we may think of ,john alone with ,jesus1 seated in an alcove which sheltered them from the sun4 ,they may often have been thus found in loving companionship4 ,with what delight would we read of those private interviews4 ,how sacred and precious they must have been to ,john4 ,at the well1 what subjects there were for conversation1 suggested by memories of the spot4 ,here ,abraham had erected his first altar in ,canaan to the true ,god1 whom ,jesus was about to reveal more perfectly4 ,this was the parcel of ground which ,jacob had bought1 and in which he had buried the false gods of his household4 ,here ,joseph had been a wanderer seeking his brethren4 ,this was the place which ,jacob when dying had given to his son ,joseph1 on whose tomb ,jesus and ,john looked as they talked together4 ,the twin mountains of ,ebal and ,gerizim looked down upon them1 reminders of the days of ,joshua1 when the two ,israelitish bands called to each other in solemn words1 and the valley echoed with their loud ,amen4 ,not every ,jew could have the personal interest in that well1 such as the two weary travelers could claim1 through the family records of their common ancestor even to ,abraham4 ,it was not on account of ,john that these records had been kept1 but of the ,son of ,man at his side1 whom he had learned to look upon as the ,son of ,god4 ,as they sat together ,john could not look into the future1 as his ,master could1 and think of the time when they would be in the region together with an unfriendly reception2 nor of that other time when ,john would come to it again and have a friendly reception1 but with memories only of his ,lord4 ,illustration3 ,,belshazzar',s ,,feast ,old ,engraving ,page #gd ,but their visit alone did not last until the return of ,his disciples4 ,it was suddenly interrupted4 ,there cometh a woman of ,samaria to draw water4 ,she was no fitting companion for them4 ,she was not prepared to enter into their thoughts and feelings4 ,she was an ignorant woman of the lower order of society1 sinful1 and not worthy of the respect of those who knew her4 ,give me to drink1 said ,jesus--fatigued1 hungry1 thirsty4 ,she gazed upon ,him with astonishment4 ,she knew by ,his appearance and dress that ,he was a ,jew4 ,she supposed that any such would be too full of hatred and pride to ask even such a simple favor of a ,samaritan4 ,her answer showed her surprise4 ,he gently spoke of her ignorance of ,him1 and of a richer gift than the one ,he asked1 and which ,he was ready to bestow4 ,it was living water--the grace and truth of which ,he was full4 ,changing her manner toward ,him1 and addressing ,him more respectfully1 she asked1 ,art ,thou greater than our father ,jacob8 ,she meant1 ,surely ,thou art not greater4 ,how strange this must have sounded to ,john as his eye turned from her1 to ,him before whom ,jacob would bow in adoration could he have joined that circle on the spot where he had built an altar many years before4 ,jesus explained more fully the difference between the water for which ,he had asked1 and that which ,he would give4 ,he had asked a very small favor of her2 ,he would bestow the greatest of gifts1 even eternal life4 ,not fully understanding ,him1 and yet believing ,he was some wonderful person1 she repeated ,his own request1 but with a changed meaning1--,sir1 give me this water4 ,perhaps to make her feel her sinfulness and to lead her into a better life1 ,he showed her that though ,he was a stranger1 ,he knew her past history4 ,her astonishment increased and she exclaimed1 ,sir1 ,i perceive that ,thou art a ,prophet4 ,ashamed1 she quickly changed the subject4 ,she and her people claimed that ,mount ,gerizim was the holy place of the ,holy ,land2 while the ,jews said that ,jerusalem was the place where men ought to worship4 ,she wanted the ,prophet she had so unexpectedly met to decide between them4 ,with calmness1 solemnity and earnestness1 ,he made a sublime declaration to her1 meant for ,jews1 ,samaritans and all men4 ,it was this3 ,woman1 believe me1 the hour cometh1 when neither in this mountain1 nor yet in ,jerusalem1 shall ye worship the ,father4444 ,the hour cometh1 and now is1 when the true worshipers shall worship the ,father in spirit and truth3 for such doth the ,father seek to be ,his worshipers4 ,god is a spirit3 and they that worship ,him must worship in spirit and truth4 ,but this did not satisfy her4 ,it was all so new and strange1 so different from what she and her people believed1 that she was not prepared to accept it from an unknown stranger1 though he seemed to be a prophet4 ,she thought of ,one greater than she thought ,he could be1 ,one who was wiser than any prophet then living1 or who ever had lived1 ,one who she believed was to come4 ,so1 with a sigh of disappointment1 her only reply was1 ,i know that ,messiah cometh2 444 when ,he is come1 ,he will declare unto us all things4 ,how the quickened ear of ,john must have made his heart thrill at the name ,messiah4 ,until a few weeks before1 he too had talked of ,his coming1 but already had heard ,him declare many things which no mere prophet had spoken4 ,is he not prompted to break the silence of a mere listener8 ,is not his finger already pointed toward ,jesus8 ,are not the words already on his tongue8--,o woman1 this is ,he1 when ,jesus makes the great confession he made before ,pilate1 saying to the ,samaritaness1 ,i that speak unto ,thee1 am ,he4 ,so it was that ,he whose coming the angels in their glory announced to the shepherds in ,bethlehem1 ,he whom the ,baptist proclaimed to multitudes on the ,jordan1 ,he whose glory was manifested to the company in ,cana1 made ,himself known to this low1 ignorant1 sinful1 doubting1 perplexed stranger1 in words to which all future ages would listen1 as it were with hushed breath and on their knees4 ,these words of ,jesus to the woman1 ,i am ,he1 closed their conversation1 so unexpected to her when she came with her water-pot1 in which she had lost all interest4 ,her mind and heart had been filled instead4 ,she had drawn from ,him richer supplies than ,jacob's well could ever contain4 ,from that hour she thought of it1 not so much as ,jacob's well as the ,messiah's well4 ,the disciples returning from the city1 coming within sight of ,jesus1 marveled that ,he was speaking with a woman4 ,the people then and there had a mistaken idea that to do so was very improper4 ,the disciples were the more astonished because she was a ,samaritan4 ,but they had such a sense of ,his goodness1 that they did not dare to ask1 ,why talkest ,thou with her8 ,she was interrupted in her conversation with ,jesus1 by the coming of the disciples4 ,she left her water-pot at the well4 ,too full of wonder and gratitude to stop to fill it1 or to be hindered in carrying it1 she hastened to the city with the good news of what she had seen and heard4 ,so had ,andrew and ,john each carried the good news to his brother saying1 ,we have found the ,messiah4 ,she believed she had found ,him4 ,but the good news seemed almost too good to be true1 and she wanted the men of the city to learn for themselves4 ,so she put her new belief in the form of a question1 ,is not this the ,christ8 ,a great number obeyed her call1 and believed with her that ,jesus was the ,messiah4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,hill ,,of ,,samaria ,old ,engraving ,page #hd ,meanwhile the disciples asked ,him to eat of the food they had brought4 ,but ,his deep interest in the woman1 and joy in the great change in her1 was so great that for the moment ,he felt no want of food4 ,so ,he said to them1 ,i have meat to eat that ye know not4 444 ,my meat is to do the will of ,him that sent ,me4 ,never again did the disciples marvel that their ,master talked with a woman1 or with a sinner of any kind4 ,we seem to see ,john1 weary and hungry as his ,master1 but unmindful of bodily discomforts1 because of his intense interest in what is passing4 ,his record does not give his own experiences1 but we can imagine some of them4 ,his watchful eye detects every movement and expression of his companions1--the calm1 earnest1 loving1 pitying look of ,jesus2 and the excited1 scornful1 surprised1 joyful1 constantly changing looks of the woman4 ,he first marks her pertness of manner2 then the respectful ,sir2 then the reverence for a prophet2 and at last the belief and joy in the ,messiah4 ,whether or not ,john was witness to all that passed at the well1 or whether ,jesus gave him the minute details1 or whether the ,samaritaness1 during the two days that ,jesus and ,his disciples remained in ,sychar1 told ,him all1 his story is one of the most lifelike in the ,gospels1 teaching the greatest of truths4 ,if that noon hour at ,jacob's well was a memorable one for the woman1 it was also for ,john4 ,for him ,christ was the ,well of ,truth4 ,of it he was to drink during blessed years4 ,standing nearest to it of any mortal1 receiving more than any other1 he was to give of it to multitudes thirsting for the water of life4 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,the ,chosen ,one of the ,chosen ,three of the ,chosen ,twelve ,walking by the sea of ,galilee1 ,he saw two brethren1 ,simon1 who is called ,peter1 and ,andrew his brother1 casting a net into the sea1 for they were fishers4 ,and ,he said unto them1 ,come ye after ,me1 and ,i will make you fishers of men4 ,and they straightway left the nets1 and followed ,him4 ,and going on from thence ,he saw other two brethren1 ,james the son of ,zebedee1 and ,john his brother1 in the boat with ,zebedee their father1 mending their nets1 and ,he called them4 ,and they straightway left the boat and their father1 and followed ,him4--,matt4 iv4 #ah-bb4 ,he was the ,supreme ,fisher1 and this day ,he was fishing for them4--,stalker4 ,when it was day1 ,he called ,his disciples2 and he chose from them twelve1 whom also ,he named apostles1 ,simon1 whom ,he also named ,peter1 and ,andrew his brother1 and ,james and ,john1 and ,philip4444--,luke vi4 #ac1 #ad ,jesus taketh with ,him ,peter1 and ,james1 and ,john4--,matt4 xvii4 #a4 ,one of ,his disciples1 whom ,jesus loved4--,john xiii4 #bc4 ,we know not all thy gifts1 ,but this ,christ bids us see1 ,that ,he who so loved all1 ,found more to love in thee4 ,once more we find the two pair of brothers on the shore of ,gennesaret1 not together1 but within hailing distance4 ,all night long they have toiled at fishing without any reward4 ,the morning has dawned4 ,wearied and with the marks of labor on their persons and their garments1 their empty boats drawn upon the beach1 they are mending their nets which have been torn by the waves1 and cleansing them from the sand which has been gathered instead of the fishes they sought4 ,illustration3 ,,jacob',s ,,well ,from ,photograph ,page #ia ,meanwhile a multitude of people in the neighboring field is listening to the ,master4 ,the fishermen may hear ,his voice1 but their nets must not be left in disorder2 they must be put in readiness for another trial1 which1 though they know it not1 will be most abundantly rewarded4 ,they cannot go to ,him1 but ,he comes to them with a greeting and a command1 ,follow ,me and ,i will make you fishers of men4 ,the time had come for ,him to gather ,his first disciples more closely about ,him for instruction and preparation and service in ,his kingdom4 ,they had seen proofs of ,his ,messiahship4 ,they had been with ,him long enough to know something of ,his work and teachings1 and what was included in ,his call to follow ,him4 ,they understood it meant leaving their boats and nets by which they had earned their daily bread1 and even leaving their homes1 and going with ,him wherever ,he went1 trusting ,him for support1 ready to do anything to which all this would lead them4 ,their belief in ,him1 and their love for ,him1 were enough to secure immediate obedience to the new command4 ,in their faithfulness in their duties in their former life1 in the carefulness in mending their nets1 in the patience and perseverance during the nights of fruitless toil1 in their thoughtfulness1 skill and experience in catching fish--in such things ,christ found likeness of what ,he would make them to become--fishers of men4 ,from their old business ,he would teach them lessons about the new1--of ,his power1 the abundance of ,his store1 and the great things they were to do for ,him and their fellow-men4 ,before they leave it1 ,he makes ,himself a kind of partner with them4 ,having used ,simon's boat for a pulpit for teaching1 ,he tells him to launch out into the deep and to let down his net4 ,it encloses a multitude of fishes4 ,andrew and ,james with their brothers whom they had called to ,jesus1 the first company to follow ,him from the ,jordan1 are the first to do so in a new and fuller sense from the shores of ,gennesaret1 where they first learned of ,him4 ,there is something touching in the special reference to the call of the sons of ,salome1 whose relation to ,mary first interested us in them4 ,it is said of ,jesus1 ,he saw ,james the son of ,zebedee and ,john his brother and ,he called them4 ,and they immediately left their father in the ship with the hired servants4 ,they forsook all and followed ,him4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,miraculous ,,draught ,,of ,,fishes ,old ,engraving ,page #id ,what reminders do we here have of the past6 ,james and ,john1 true brothers in childhood1 united in business in early life1 now hand in hand commence life anew4 ,having become the help1 and much more the companions of their father they must leave him to the companionship of hired servants4 ,but in this hour of sundering family ties1 the loving father and loving sons rejoice in ,jesus as their ,master whom they all willingly obey4 ,he chose twelve whom ,he called ,apostles4 ,such was the glorious company1 composed of young men1 the most honored in all earthly history1 to be ,his closest companions1 ,his missionary family4 ,during the remainder of ,his life ,he would train them2 and when leaving the world trust their faithfulness and devotion in extending ,his kingdom4 ,the two pair of brothers and their early friend ,philip are the first named of the ,apostles4 ,the early ,bethsaidan group composed almost one-half of the apostolic company4 ,but within that circle there was another4 ,three of the twelve were chosen by the ,lord for closer intimacy4 ,they were to be special witnesses of ,his greatest power1 ,his most radiant glory1 and ,his deepest sorrow upon earth4 ,they were ,peter1 ,james and ,john4 ,two of the three1 ,peter and ,john1 were to be united in special service for their ,lord while ,he was with them1 and so continue after ,he was gone4 ,but of the twelve ,jesus drew one closest to ,himself1 most loved and the most glorious of them all3 it was ,john4 ,in seeking a reason for ,christ's fixing the number of ,his disciples1 some have found a fancied one in the twelve precious stones of ,aaron's breastplate4 ,the most precious stone would represent ,john1 the chosen one of the ,great ,high ,priest4 ,in his own vision of the new ,jerusalem the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones4 ,and the wall of the city had twelve foundations1 and on them twelve names of the twelve ,apostles of the ,lamb4 ,it was that ,lamb of ,god to which he had been pointed on the ,jordan1 and to which he points us as he beholds ,him by the glassy sea4 ,as ,john read those names did he not recall the day when ,jesus chose twelve whom ,he named ,apostles8 ,,chapter ,,xv ,john in the ,home of ,jairus ,he suffered no man to follow with ,him1 save ,peter1 and ,james1 and ,john4 ,and they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue4 ,and taking the child by the hand1 ,he saith unto her1 ,talitha cumi2 which is1 being interpreted1 ,damsel ,i say unto thee1 ,arise4 ,and straightway the damsel rose up1 and walked4--,mark v4 #cg1 #ch1 #da1 #db4 ,the first scene in which we find ,john as one of the favored three is in the house of mourning4 ,it was the home of ,jairus in ,capernaum4 ,he was a ruler of the synagogue4 ,he had an only daughter1 about twelve years of age1 and she lay a dying4 ,he hastened to ,jesus1 fell at ,his feet1 worshiped ,him1 and besought ,him saying1 ,come and lay ,thy hands on her that she may be healed2 and she shall live4 ,did he not have in mind ,peter's wife's mother1 living in the same town1 and how ,jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up2 and immediately the fever left her8 ,jesus started for the house1 followed by a throng1 some doubtless full of tender sympathy for their townsman1 and some curious to see what the wonder-worker would do4 ,a messenger from ,jairus' home met him saying1 ,thy daughter is dead2 trouble not the ,master4 ,but the father's faith in ,jesus was not limited to the power to heal4 ,could not the hand that had already touched the bier of the widow's only son1 be laid on his only daughter1 with life-restoring power8 ,could not the command spoken in ,nain ,i say unto thee1 arise1 be repeated in ,capernaum1 and in like manner be obeyed8 ,without heeding the messenger's question about troubling the ,master1 he cried out yet more earnestly1 ,my daughter is even now dead2 but lay ,thy hand upon her1 and she shall live4 ,but the father's entreaty was unnecessary1 for ,jesus was already responding to the messenger's words as1 turning to ,jairus1 ,he said1 ,fear not1 only believe4 ,how eagerly the curious crowd hastened toward the ruler's home1 because of a possible miracle1 even raising the dead4 ,but they were not to be witnesses of such display of ,divine power4 ,yet even if the throng be excluded1 might not the ,twelve1 following close to ,jairus and ,jesus1 expect admission to the home8 ,what was the surprise and disappointment of nine of them to be forbidden admission by ,him whom they were following4 ,but so it was4 ,when ,he came to the house ,he suffered not any man to enter in with ,him1 save ,peter1 and ,john and ,james1 and the father of the maiden1 and her mother4 ,illustration3 ,,raising ,,the ,,daughter ,,of ,,jairus ,h4 ,hofmann ,page #ii ,this is the first we know of this distinction in the apostolic band4 ,we almost hear the nine saying1 ,why is this8 ,can it be that1 in that hour1 at the door of this house of mourning1 there was awakened the feeling of jealousy which afterward appeared8 ,did it inspire in the three a sense of superiority1 and ambition to be higher in position than the rest in the kingdom of their ,lord8 ,did ,james and ,john especially hope for promotion above the nine1 and even the ten including ,peter8 ,so it will appear4 ,but all this was to pass away when the band better understood the nature of their ,lord's kingdom1 and possessed more of ,his spirit4 ,the death-chamber was too sacred a place for numbers1 even for the nine1 whose admittance would be more fitting than that of the hired mourners whom ,jesus excluded with them4 ,he had ,his own wise reasons for the choice of the three4 ,we do not wonder that ,john was one of them4 ,with all his manifest failings--which he at last overcame--he was the most like his ,master4 ,in that death-chamber the ,lord was to show ,his gentleness and delicacy of feeling and action such as ,john could understand1 and with which he could sympathize4 ,and taking the child by the hand1 ,he saith unto her1 ,talitha1 cumi4 ,we are glad that ,mark has preserved for us the very words that must have thrilled the heart of ,john4 ,they had been interpreted1 ,my little lamb1 my pet lamb1 rise up4 ,in them was a lesson for ,john4 ,they were a revelation of his ,master's tenderness toward childhood4 ,it was a needed lesson1 which he finally learned4 ,as ,john and ,peter saw the returning life of the little maid1 and heard their ,master's command that something should be given her to eat1 they thought not of the time when they should stand together again near the same spot with the same ,master1 ,himself risen from the dead1 and hear ,him utter another command1 ,feed ,my lambs4 ,as they with ,james followed their ,lord out from the death-chamber--such no longer--and heard ,his charge that no man should know what had happened1 the very secrecy drew more distinctly the line of the inner circle about the three4 ,it was not to be erased during the ,lord's earthly sojourn with the twelve4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,john a ,beholder of ,christ's ,glory ,we beheld ,his glory1 glory as of the only begotten from the ,father4--,st4 ,john i4 #ad4 ,we were eyewitnesses of ,his majesty4 ,for ,he received from ,god the ,father honor and glory 444 when we were with ,him in the holy mount4--#b ,peter i4 #af-ah4 ,as brightest sun1 ,his face is bright2 ,his raiment1 as the light1 is white1 ,yea1 whiter than the whitest snow4 ,moses1 ,elias1 spake with ,him4 ,of deepest things1 of terrors grim1 ,of boundless bliss1 and boundless woe1 ,of pangs that none but ,christ may know4 ,a voice sublime ,i panting hear1 ,a voice that conquers grief and fear1 ,revealing all eternity2 ,revealing ,god's beloved ,son1 ,born to redeem a world undone2 ,filled with ,god's fulness from on high1 ,to gain ,god's noblest victory4 --,trans4 ,kingo of ,denmark4 ,we may think of the twelve as ,christ's family with whom ,he often prayed apart from the multitude4 ,one such occasion was in ,caesarea ,philippi4 ,the prayer was followed by two earnest and solemn questions4 ,he asked the disciples1 saying1 ,who do men say that the ,son of ,man is8 ,and they said1 ,some say ,john the ,baptist2 some1 ,elijah2 and others1 ,jeremiah or one of the prophets4 ,how strange these sayings must have sounded to ,st4 ,john and his ,jordan companions1 who had been directed by the ,baptist to their ,messiah4 ,three of them were soon to witness ,elijah's tribute to ,him1 as being more than the ,son of ,man4 ,such already had ,he become to them4 ,he was more interested in the opinions of the disciples than in those of the multitude4 ,so ,he asked with emphasis1 ,but who say ye that ,i am8 ,and ,simon ,peter answered and said1 ,thou art the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god4 ,and ,jesus answered and said unto him1 ,blessed art thou1 ,simon ,bar-,jona3 for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee1 but ,my ,father which is in heaven4 ,but in the mind of ,jesus even this blessed revelation was not enough for ,his believing yet frail disciples4 ,even the three1 the most enlightened of the twelve1 needed a clearer vision of ,him and ,his kingdom1 and strength for trials they were to endure4 ,so they needed ,his prayers4 ,from that time began ,jesus to show unto ,his disciples how that ,he must go to ,jerusalem1 and suffer many things1 444 and be killed4 ,he needed prayer also for ,himself4 ,so ,jesus taketh with ,him ,peter1 and ,james and ,john1 and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves4 ,the favored three1 who had witnessed ,his power in the raising of ,jairus' daughter1 were to be witnesses of his glory4 ,luke says ,he went up into the mountain to pray4 ,not ,tabor1--for which mistaken tradition has claimed the honor--but ,hermon was doubtless the high mountain4 ,this kingly height of the ,lebanon range was a fitting place for ,jesus the ,king4 ,the glittering splendor of its snows is a fitting emblem of ,his character4 ,it was the highest earthly spot on which ,he stood4 ,from it ,he had ,his most extensive views4 ,here ,he had ,his most exalted earthly experience4 ,peter rightly named it the ,holy ,mount because of its glory that excelleth all other mountains4 ,we do not know the thoughts or feelings or words of the nine when ,jesus taketh with ,him the three4 ,we wonder whether their wonder was at all mixed with jealousy4 ,as they saw the three apart by themselves1 their lessening forms ascending ,hermon1 and at last hidden from their view by the evening shades1 can it be that the dispute began which cast a gloom over their ,lord when ,he descended from that mountain of glory8 ,and the three themselves--what were their emotions as they looked down upon their companions in the plain below1 and upward to the height whither their ,master was bringing them4 ,did they whisper together concerning the word ,he had just spoken--that ,he must die4 ,they must have had such mingling of feelings as they never had before4 ,it was the evening after a ,sabbath4 ,at the close of the weary summer day1 after the long and steep ascent of the mountain1 and in the strong mountain air1 it is no wonder that the three disciples were weighted with sleep4 ,luke not only tells us that ,jesus went up to pray but also that ,he prayed4 ,would that ,john had recorded that prayer1 as he did those supplications in the ,upper ,room and in ,gethsemane4 ,as we understand it1 says ,edersheim1 the prayer with them had ceased1 or merged into silent prayer of each1 or ,jesus now prayed alone and apart4 ,on the banks of the ,jordan1 where ,jesus and the three had met1 while ,he was praying1 the heavens were opened1 and the dove-like form descended upon ,him1 and ,his ,father's voice was heard4 ,and now as ,he prayed1 there came an answer1 immediate and glorious3 ,he was transfigured before them4 ,the disciples though weighted with sleep1 having remained awake1 they saw ,his glory1 and the two men that stood with ,him4 ,it was many years after this vision that ,john1 speaking for the three1 testified1 ,we saw ,his glory4 ,the fashion of ,his countenance was altered4 ,his face did shine as the sun4 ,his garments became exceeding white2 so as no fuller on earth can whiten them1 white as the light1 glistering1 dazzling4 ,behold there appeared unto them ,moses and ,elijah talking with ,him4 ,how did the disciples know the ,lawgiver and the ,prophet8 ,we are not told4 ,there may have been given them some supernatural powers of discernment4 ,they may have known by the conversation between ,jesus and ,his celestial visitants1 as1 in earthly language with heavenly tone1 they spoke of ,his departure which ,he was about to accomplish at ,jerusalem1 of which ,he had told them on the plain below4 ,it was that ,moses who fifteen hundred years before came down from ,mount ,sinai with the two tables of the law in his hands1 when ,aaron and the children of ,israel stood in awe before ,his shining face4 ,but now ,he had come1 not from the mount which ,paul describes as darkness1 but unto that other whose snowy whiteness has given it the name of ,lebanon4 ,he had come from ,heaven1 to yield homage to ,him to whom ,he would sing with us1 ,my dear ,redeemer and my ,lord1 ,i read my duty in ,thy ,word2 ,but in ,thy life the ,law appears1 ,drawn out in living ,characters4 ,the children of ,israel could not look steadfastly upon ,moses for the glory of ,his face4 ,in the excellent glory by which ,peter describes the scene on ,hermon1 the whole figure of ,his ,lord was bathed in light4 ,but the glory of that vision was not yet complete4 ,a cloud1 brighter than any on which the moon was shining1 enwrapped ,jesus and ,moses and ,elijah4 ,it was no other than the ,shechinah1 once more returning to the earth1--the symbol of ,jehovah's presence4 ,this cloud overshadowed the disciples4 ,as its light gleamed upon them1 they were filled with reverential fear4 ,they were ready to do the heavenly visitors immediate and humble service4 ,but the mission of the two was ended4 ,their last words of comfort to ,jesus had been spoken4 ,if they could be detained1 it must be done quickly4 ,so1 awed and confused by the strange vision1 yet longing for its continuance1 the disciples1 ,peter being the spokesman1 proposed to make booths for their ,master and ,his two heavenly visitors4 ,but the two had gone1 and the crown of glory that had enveloped them spread to the disciples1 filling them with yet increasing awe4 ,the silence that had followed ,peter's call was broken4 ,there came a voice out of the cloud1 ,this is ,my ,beloved ,son2 hear ye ,him4 ,startled by such a response1 they fell on their face and were sore afraid4 ,they did not dare to look about them4 ,the ,cloud of ,glory lifted4 ,how long they lay prostrate and trembling1 we do not know4 ,at last a hand gently touched them4 ,it was the hand of ,jesus4 ,his voice bid them1 ,arise1 and be not afraid4 ,and when they had lifted up their eyes they saw no man1 save ,jesus only4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,transfiguration ,old ,engraving ,page #ajf ,the ,transfiguration was over4 ,its grand purpose was accomplished4 ,master and disciples were prepared for the labors and trials to which they must return4 ,the night ended4 ,as the morning sun glistened on the peaks of ,hermon1 while darkness yet overspread the plain below1 ,jesus descended with the three1 to the nine awaiting their return4 ,and as they were coming down from the mountain1 ,he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen1 save when the ,son of ,man should have risen again from the dead4 ,and they kept the saying1 questioning among themselves what the raising again from the dead should mean4 ,peter's and ,john's memories of that vision of their ,lord were ever distinct and precious4 ,when it was no longer a secret1 ,peter wrote in ecstasy of the hour in which they were eyewitnesses of ,his majesty1 444 when they were with ,him in the holy mount4 ,let us notice the record by ,john4 ,in the beginning of his gospel he says ,the ,word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us4 ,by this he means that the ,son of ,god became a man1 and lived among men who witnessed ,his life4 ,but of all the events of that life which ,john had seen1 there was a special one in his mind1 which not all men had witnessed4 ,so he adds1 ,we beheld ,his glory4 ,this probably refers to the ,transfiguration and the ,shechinah1 which he and ,peter and ,james had seen4 ,and then he thinks of how much greater ,jesus was than ,john the ,baptist1 a man sent from ,god1 to bear witness of ,him4 ,he thinks also of the great ,lawgiver of whom he says1 the ,law was given through ,moses2 grace and truth came by ,jesus ,christ4 ,we imagine that ever after the ,transfiguration1 ,john thought of ,moses and the ,shechinah together4 ,had he with his companions been permitted to build three tabernacles or booths1 one for ,moses1 what delightful visits ,john would have made him there1 like that one which he had made in the abode of ,jesus on the banks of the ,jordan4 ,illustration3 ,,moses ,,on ,,mt4 ,,pisgah ,artist ,unknown ,page #aji ,i seem to hear ,moses telling ,john something of his own history when on the earth1 and teaching him lessons from it in words like these3 ,this is not the first time ,i have heard the ,lord's voice1 from out this cloud of glory4 ,out of the burning bush ,he called me1 ',moses1 ,moses4' ,at ,sinai ,he said1 ',lo1 ,i come unto thee in a thick cloud4' ,and again ,he appeared in 'a pillar of a cloud1' and said1 ',behold thou shall sleep with thy fathers4' ,i saw not that cloud again on earth until you beheld it4 ,my thoughts were about death4 ,i prayed about it1 not as your ,master and mine has done in preparation therefor1 but that ,i might not then die4 ,this was my prayer3 ',let me go over ,i pray ,thee and see the good land that is beyond ,jordan1 that goodly mountain1 and ,lebanon1'--the very mountain where we now are4 ,but the ,lord would not hear me4 ,i prayed yet again more earnestly1 and the ,lord said unto me1 ',let it suffice thee2 speak no more unto me of this matter4' ,from yonder mountain of ,nebo ,he showed me all the land we now see from ,hermon2 and then ,i died4 ,the ,lord buried me in yonder land of ,moab4 ,no man knoweth my sepulchre unto this day4 ,i died1 my great hope of forty years disappointed4 ,my repeated earnest prayer was ungranted then1 but it has not been unanswered4 ,this 'goodly' ,lebanon1 to which ,i looked from ,nebo with longing eyes1 is more 'goodly' now than when it sadly faded from my dying vision4 ,you1 ,john1 are one of the witnesses to the answer to my dying prayer4 ,never did the ,shechinah at ,horeb1 or ,sinai1 or the ,tabernacle1 seem so resplendent as on this ,mount ,hermon4 ,here it has enwrapped ,elijah and me1 the favored two whose mission ,gabriel might have envied4 ,we were sent down from heaven to talk with ,jesus concerning ,his death1 of which ,he has told you4 ,in view of it ,he has lead you1 the favored three hither to pray4 ,it was while ,he prayed that ye 'beheld ,his glory4' ,not only for me1 but much more for ,him1 is ,hermon the mount--',the ,holy ,mount1' because the mount of ,prayer1 and therefore the mount of ,transfiguration4 ,,chapter ,,xvii ,st4 ,john's ,imperfections ,master1 we saw one casting out demons in ,thy name2 and we forbade him1 because he followeth not with us4--,john4 ,lord1 wilt ,thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven1 and consume them1 even as ,elijah did8--,james and ,john4 ,grant us that we may sit1 one on ,thy right hand1 and one on ,thy left hand1 in ,thy glory4--,james and ,john4 ,and when the ten heard it1 they began to be moved with indignation concerning ,james and ,john4--,mark x4 #da4 ,john was not perfect4 ,there were unlovely traits in his otherwise noble character4 ,it is not pleasant to write of his faults4 ,we would gladly be silent concerning them4 ,but there are four reasons for making record of them4 #a4 ,if we think of his virtues and not of his faults1 we do not have a just view of his character2 it is one-sided2 we have an imperfect picture4 #b4 ,we see how ,jesus loved him notwithstanding his imperfections4 ,while hating his sins he loved the man4 #c4 ,remembering ,john's faults1 we give him all the more credit when we see how he overcame them1 and what he became under the example and teachings of ,jesus4 #d4 ,having failings ourselves1 we are encouraged by the full and truthful story of ,john's life1 to overcome our own sins4 ,such are good reasons why the imperfections of good men like ,david and ,peter and ,john are recorded in the ,bible4 ,in speaking of ,john's boyhood1 we hinted at some of his faults4 ,let us now notice them more particularly as given by the ,evangelists4 ,sometimes he was evidently included when ,jesus rebuked the disciples for some wrong they had said or done4 ,on one occasion1 he alone is mentioned2 on two others he and his brother ,james are rebuked together4 ,the first recorded incident1 showing imperfection1 is soon after the descent from ,hermon4 ,jesus seems to have accompanied ,peter to his home in ,capernaum1 to which the other disciples followed them4 ,the favor which ,christ showed the three in taking them to the mount may have caused a feeling of pride in them1 and of jealousy in the nine4 ,pride was ,john's besetting sin1 as we shall see4 ,a great privilege had been granted him4 ,without telling the secret of ,hermon to his fellow-disciples1 he may1 by improper word or act1 or both1 have shown a feeling of superiority1 which displeased them1 as the same spirit did on another occasion4 ,at any rate1 something led to a dispute who should be the greatest in the kingdom which they believed their ,lord was to establish4 ,this was a sad revelation of the ambitious spirit of these good men4 ,it was probably on the way to ,capernaum that an incident happened in which ,john seems to have been the chief actor4 ,he exhibited a spirit of intolerance--a want of patience and forbearance toward a man whom they met4 ,he was a disciple of ,christ1 in whose power he had such faith that he was enabled to cast out evil spirits in ,his name4 ,he was doing a good work such as ,christ gave ,his apostles power to do4 ,they prided themselves in it1 and felt as if they only had a right to it4 ,so ,john1 speaking for the rest1 as if he had authority1 forbade this man to use the power any more4 ,on their reaching the house of ,peter1 ,jesus asked1 ,what was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way8 ,perceiving that ,he knew their thoughts1 they were silent with shame1 until one of them1 yet unconquered by ,his question of reproof1 asked ,him ,who is the greatest8 ,he did not answer the question immediately4 ,as if in preparation for something special1 ,he sat down and called the twelve about ,him2 ,he uttered one reported sentence1 ,if any man would be first1 he shall be last of all1 and minister of all4 ,and then ,he called a little child to ,him and set him in the midst of them4 ,it was ,his object lesson4 ,through it ,he rebuked and taught them4 ,he made childhood a test of character4 ,with solemnity and earnestness ,he declared1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,except ye turn and become as little children1 ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,that child-spirit included simplicity1 meekness1 harmlessness1 obedience1 dutifulness1 trustfulness and1 especially at this time1 humility4 ,the ,lord's declaration must have startled the disciples4 ,they thought of themselves as ,his chosen ones1 superior to others1 having special powers1 and destined to special honors which none other might claim4 ,in a spirit contrary to ,his declaration1 they were contending who should be the greatest in ,his kingdom4 ,he revealed to them1 then and there1 the nature of that kingdom which they had so greatly misunderstood4 ,upon one at least1 ,christ's lesson was not altogether lost4 ,that was ,john4 ,he recalled his proud and unjust treatment of the humble man whom he had forbidden to do good work in the name of ,christ4 ,he saw that his own spirit had been contrary to that of which ,christ had just spoken4 ,he finally confessed his fault4 ,but the lesson of his ,master was not perfectly learned1 or if learned1 was not1 as we shall see1 perfectly obeyed4 ,though the beloved1 he was still an imperfect1 disciple1 as is shown in another incident4 ,at the time when ,jesus lived1 and in the country where ,he journeyed1 travelers were generally welcomed as guests in any home4 ,though strangers1 they were treated as friends4 ,this was a necessary kindness because there were no hotels such as we have in our day and country4 ,but to this hospitality there was a noted exception4 ,we have noticed the hatred of the ,samaritans to the ,jews4 ,this was especially shown to pilgrims going up to ,jerusalem to attend the feasts4 ,jesus was on ,his last journey thither4 ,as ever1 ,he was teaching and healing on the way4 ,his own heart was burdened with the thought of what ,he was to endure1 but ,he was steadfast in ,his purpose to reach the ,holy ,city1 willing there to suffer and to die4 ,nearing the first ,samaritan village1 ,he sent messengers before ,him to prepare for ,himself and ,his company4 ,even the common hospitality was refused1 and that in a most unfriendly manner4 ,the ,master was treated as a teacher of falsehood4 ,even the kind healer was not permitted to enter the village4 ,he was a ,jew on ,his way to ,jerusalem4 ,in the minds of the villagers1 this was more than enough to balance all the good in ,him4 ,james and ,john especially were indignant at the unkind treatment4 ,they felt keenly the insult to their ,lord1 whom they believed was on ,his way to ,jerusalem to establish ,his ,kingdom1 and was worthy of the most generous hospitality and the sincerest homage4 ,they had a fresh remembrance of the glory in which they had seen ,him on the ,holy ,mount in company with ,elijah4 ,they were reminded of that prophet's experience more than nine hundred years before4 ,it was this3 ,ahaziah1 a king of ,israel1 was seriously injured by a fall from the balcony of his house4 ,he sent to inquire of the false god ,baal-zebub whether he should recover4 ,god sent ,elijah to reprove him for his idolatry and insult to ,himself4 ,the king sent a captain with fifty men to seize the prophet1 but they were consumed by fire from heaven4 ,another captain and his fifty men were also destroyed in like manner4 ,such a punishment ,james and ,john would call down on the ,samaritans4 ,they felt that it would be just4 ,if fitting for the enemies of ,elijah1 how much more for those of ,jesus4 ,they were ready to give the command which ,god permitted ,elijah to give1 if ,jesus would allow them to do likewise4 ,and so1 being displeased1 provoked1 revengeful1 with a fiery spirit1 they said to ,him1 ,lord1 wilt ,thou that we command fire to come down from heaven1 and consume them1 even as ,elijah did8 ,but ,jesus turned and rebuked them1 and said1 ,ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of4 ,it was contrary to the spirit of meekness and love manifest in ,his declaration to them1 ,the ,son of ,man is not come to destroy men's lives1 but to save them4 ,and so ,he inspired them with another spirit1 as ,he quietly led them to another village4 ,we sadly turn to another scene in which imperfection in the beloved disciple is especially revealed4 ,the favored brothers had not yet learned perfectly the lesson of humility which their ,lord had tried to teach them4 ,they were still devoted to ,him1 following ,him1 loving ,him4 ,but they still misunderstood what ,he said about ,his death1 and ,his kingdom1 in which they hoped for the most honored places4 ,they wanted to be assured of promotion above their fellow-disciples4 ,they were earnest in an unholy desire4 ,they had a bold1 ambitious request to make of the ,lord4 ,it was the chief occasion on which their pride was revealed4 ,we have two accounts of it4 ,in one of them the mother ,salome appears as the speaker4 ,she brings her sons to ,jesus1 prostrates herself before ,him1 and offers this petition1 ,grant that these my two sons may sit1 the one on ,thy right hand1 and the other on ,thy left1 in ,thy ,kingdom4 ,she had a loving mother's pride4 ,she was the aunt of ,jesus1 and perhaps felt that because of this relationship1 her sons had a right which the other ,apostles could not claim4 ,she had given them to ,his service1 and had proved her own love and devotion to ,him by following ,him with other women of ,galilee1 ministering to ,his comforts4 ,meanwhile ,james and ,john1 according to another account1 themselves urged their mother's request saying1 ,grant unto us that we may sit1 one on ,thy right hand1 and one on ,thy left hand1 in ,thy glory4 ,mother and sons shared in the spirit of self-seeking and self-exaltation4 ,but we must not forget that it was faith in ,him as the ,messiah1 and in ,his coming glory1 that led them to show it1 though in a mistaken way4 ,in sorrow and tenderness1 and pity for their ignorance1 ,jesus replied1 ,ye know not what ye ask4 ,while ,his eye rested on them1 ,his thoughts were on another scene4 ,it was a cross with ,himself upon it1 and a malefactor on each side1 instead of the brothers in their pride4 ,as ,john at last stood by it1 did he recall the hour of his mistaken ambitious request1 which had never been repeated4 ,there had been no need that the ,lord should say to him1 as to ,moses1 ,ask me not again1 yet like ,moses1 he was to receive a most glorious answer in another form4 ,in his pride1 with an earthly throne in mind1 he had asked1 ,grant that ,i may sit with ,thee in ,thy glory8 ,having conquered his unholy ambition there was fulfilled in him the promise of ,his ,lord in glory1 ,to him that overcometh will ,i grant to sit with ,me on ,my throne4 ,the time came when there was no longer occasion for the other ten apostles to be moved with indignation concerning ,james and ,john1 because of their pride and ambitious seeking4 ,this ,john is the disciple whom1 with all his imperfections1 ,jesus loved most of all2 this the man known as the most lovable of men2 this the one who well-nigh reached human perfection through his ardent and ever increasing love for ,jesus2 this the one who is called the ,apostle of ,love4 ,,chapter ,,xviii ,john and the ,family of ,bethany ,he entered into a certain village2 and a certain woman named ,martha received him into her house4 ,and she had a sister called ,mary1 which also sat at the ,lord's feet1 and heard ,his word4--,luke x4 #ch1 #ci4 ,now a certain man was sick1 ,lazarus of ,bethany1 of the village of ,mary and her sister ,martha4--,john xi4 #a4 ,now ,jesus loved ,martha1 and her sister1 and ,lazarus4--v4 #e4 ,jesus 444 said1 444 ,lazarus is dead4--v4 #ad4 ,jesus wept4--v4 #ce4 ,he cried with a loud voice1 ,lazarus1 come forth4 ,he that was dead came forth4--vs4 #dc1 #dd4 ,as he 7,john7 gives us so much more than the synoptists about the family at ,bethany1 we may infer that he was a more intimate friend of ,lazarus and his sisters4--,a4 ,plummer1 ,d4,d4 ,in four sentences ,luke draws an unfinished picture of a family group1 whose memory has become especially precious because of what ,john has added to it4 ,his probable familiarity with the family made this possible4 ,no wonder if he felt that the original picture must be enlarged and retouched4 ,the place where that family lived had become to him too sacred a spot to be called simply a certain village4 ,martha was more than a certain woman1 who though hospitable1 was distracted in her housekeeping4 ,mary was fairer than ,luke had painted her4 ,john had seen her do more than sit at ,jesus' feet4 ,he manifestly felt that the resurrection of ,lazarus was too great an event to be omitted from the gospel story1 as it was by the other ,evangelists who1 when they wrote1 might have endangered the life of ,him whom the ,jews sought to destroy4 ,john's heart demanded a stronger tribute to ,mary than ,matthew or ,mark had given4 ,let him be our guide to the blessed home4 ,with his eyes let us see ,jesus' relation to it1 and with his ears listen to the ,master's words there spoken4 ,illustration3 ,,bethany ,old ,engraving ,page #abj ,as he opens the door we see a family of wealth1 refinement1 hospitality and affection4 ,its members are of kindred spirit with him3 and so would be attracted to him1 and he to them4 ,but there was a special bond of union4 ,now ,jesus loved ,martha and her sister and ,lazarus4 ,such is the tender passing remark of ,john who elsewhere calls himself the disciple whom ,jesus loved4 ,these four form a group of special objects of ,christ's affection4 ,they ardently loved ,him4 ,we may suppose that ,john's relation to the family of ,bethany was closer than that of any other disciple4 ,this fitted him to make us familiar with their characters1 and many incidents of their home4 ,john was with ,jesus in ,bethany in ,peraea1 when there came the sad1 brief1 confiding message from ,mary and ,martha1 ,lord1 behold1 he whom ,thou lovest is sick4 ,doubtless it touched the heart of the apostle as well as that of his ,master1 whose response he records3 ,this sickness is not unto death1 but for the glory of ,god1 that the ,son of ,god may be glorified thereby4 ,we are reminded of ,john's own words concerning the change of water into wine3 ,this beginning of miracles did ,jesus in ,cana of ,galilee1 and manifested forth ,his glory4 ,jesus' plan for ,lazarus included a delay of two days in ,bethany of ,peraea4 ,meanwhile ,his heart went out toward ,bethany in ,judaea4 ,so did ,john's4 ,but1 though ,jesus tarried1 it can be said1 as on another occasion1 ,he ,himself knew what ,he would do4 ,while ,john was wondering1 waiting and watching1 perhaps he remembered how the nobleman's son was healed in ,capernaum when ,jesus was in ,cana1 and thought it possible that the messenger would be told to say to the sisters1 ,thy brother liveth4 ,when at last ,jesus proposed to ,his disciples that they all go to ,judaea1 ,john's love may have contended for a moment with fear1 as they protested1 because of danger from ,his enemies3 but it was for a moment only4 ,when ,jesus said1 ,let us go unto him1 we almost wonder that it was not ,john the loving1 nor ,peter the bold1 but ,thomas the sometimes unready1 that said concerning ,jesus1 ,let us also go that we may die with ,him4 ,but we imagine that ,john was the readiest to go1 and kept the closest to his ,master in the pathway to ,bethany in ,judaea4 ,our friend ,lazarus sleepeth1 said ,jesus4 ,though all of the disciples were thus addressed1 we think of ,john as especially including ,jesus and himself in that word our1 because of the nearness of their relation to the afflicted family4 ,and then that other word sleepeth--it must have carried him1 as well as ,james and ,peter1 back to the home of ,jairus1 where they heard the same voice to which they were now listening say1 ,the child is not dead but sleepeth4 ,we almost wonder that the three did not turn to their fellow-disciples and say that ,jesus had spoken of the death of ,lazarus1 while they thought that ,he spake of taking rest in sleep4 ,but evidently not so2 and when ,jesus said unto them plainly1 ,lazarus is dead1 doubtless ,john was the saddest of them all1 because of his special interest in him4 ,the full record--the only one of what transpired in that sad1 joyful home--shows how closely ,john watched every movement of ,jesus and the sisters1 and how carefully he noted what they said4 ,we may give credit to his memory1 even with the aid which he says was promised the disciples in their remembrance4 ,he notes the coming of ,martha to meet ,jesus1 while ,mary sat still in the house2 ,martha's plaintive cry1 ,lord1 if ,thou hadst been here1 my brother had not died2 the conversation between her and ,jesus concerning the resurrection2 the sudden change from it to ,his asking for ,mary2 ,martha's return to the house and whispering in her sister's ear1 ,the ,master is come and calleth for thee2 the hurried obedience to the call--all these incidents are recorded by ,john with the particularity and vividness of an eyewitness4 ,it appears as if ,jesus would not perform the intended miracle until the arrival of ,mary4 ,john's account of their meeting is full of pathos4 ,he watches her coming1 notices the moment she catches sight of ,him through her tears1 and her first act of falling down at ,his feet1 and her repetition of ,martha's cry1 ,lord1 if thou hadst been here my brother had not died4 ,he looks into the faces of both as ,jesus sees her weeping4 ,he contrasts ,mary's real and deep sorrow with the outward and heartless outcries of pretended grief1 at which ,jesus groans in spirit1 because a seeming mockery in the presence of ,his loving friend4 ,john measures the depth of the ,lord's troubled spirit by ,his outward movements4 ,he opens to us ,his heart of hearts in the brief1 tender record1 ,jesus wept4 ,where in the whole story of ,his life do we gain a keener sense of ,his humanity1 especially ,his tenderness and sympathy4 ,what a revelation we would have missed if ,john had been silent1 but the emotion of ,his own heart had been too deep to allow any such omission4 ,jesus wept4 ,as ,professor ,austin ,phelps declares1 ,the shortest verse in the ,bible is crowded with suggestions4 ,while ,john is our guide to the tomb of ,lazarus1 and more than that1 the sincere mourner with the afflicted sisters1 he is yet more the disciple of ,jesus1 receiving new and lasting impressions of divine truth and of his ,master1 which are embodied in his story4 ,john recorded seven miracles of our ,lord4 ,the first was that of turning water into wine4 ,the last was the raising of ,lazarus4 ,in both of them ,he points us to the same glorious purpose4 ,he says that in the first1 ,christ manifested forth ,his glory1 and that the second was for the glory of ,god1 that the ,son of ,god might be glorified thereby4 ,and now standing with ,martha by the yet unopened tomb1 ,john hears their ,lord remind her of ,his assurance that if she believed1 she should see the glory of ,god4 ,that hour had come4 ,the ,lord had commanded1 ,take ye away the stone4 ,john was most attentive to every act of the passing scene4 ,his eyes glanced from the stone to his ,lord4 ,as soon as the command concerning it was obeyed ,jesus lifted ,his eyes upward1 and said1 ,father--calling upon ,him with whom ,he was to be glorified4 ,john had stood at the bedside of the only daughter of ,jairus1 and heard the command1 ,damsel1 ,i say unto thee1 ,arise4 ,by the bier of the widow's only son he had probably heard that other1 ,young man1 ,i say unto thee1 ,arise4 ,and now standing by the open door of the tomb of the only brother1 was ,he not listening for a like command8 ,he had not long to wait4 ,the prayer of his ,lord was ended4 ,the tone of prayer was changed to that of command4 ,he cried with a loud voice1 ,lazarus come forth4 ,and he that was dead came forth4 ,john describes his appearance4 ,he was bound hand and foot with grave clothes1 and his face was bound about with a napkin4 ,when ,jesus saith unto them1 ,loose him and let him go--away from the excitement and curiosity of the heartless mourners--who was so ready as ,john to obey the command1 while welcoming his friend back to life8 ,who could so fittingly escort him from the darkened tomb to the relighted home1 with the sisters still weeping--but for joy4 ,in ,john's old age when he recalled this resurrection scene1 he seems to have had a special memory of the younger sister's sorrow4 ,he speaks of the ,jews which came to ,mary in the hour of her sadness4 ,but ,his memory of that resurrection day was tinged with gloom4 ,he traced back1 from the cross on ,calvary to the tomb in ,bethany1 the way by which his ,lord had been led by ,his enemies4 ,from that day forth they took counsel together for to put ,him to death4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,lazarus ,old ,engraving ,page #abf ,it is tradition1 not ,john1 which tells us concerning ,lazarus that the first question which he asked ,christ after ,he was restored to life was whether ,he must die again2 and that being told that he must1 he was never more seen to smile4 ,but ,john1 better than tradition1 tells of another scene in which we imagine his smiles were not restrained4 ,to it let us turn4 ,,chapter ,,xix ,john's ,memorial of ,mary ,when ,jesus was in ,bethany1 444 there came unto ,him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment1 and she poured it upon his head1 as ,he sat at meat4--,matt4 xxvi4 #f1 #g4 ,verily ,i say unto you1 wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world1 that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her4--,matt4 xxvi4 #ac4 ,it was that ,mary which anointed the ,lord with ointment1 and wiped ,his feet with her hair4--,john xi4 #b4 ,there is something touchingly fraternal in the momentary pleasure which ,he 7,christ7 appears to have taken in the gift of the alabaster box4--,austin ,phelps4 ,her eyes are homes of silent prayer1 ,nor other thought her mind admits ,but1 he was dead1 and there he sits1 ,and ,he that brought him back is there4 ,then one deep love doth supersede ,all other1 when her ardent gaze ,rose from the living brother's face1 ,and rests upon the life indeed4 --,tennyson4 ,that is an impressive picture drawn by ,saints ,matthew and ,mark1 of a scene in ,bethany1 where an unnamed woman brought a flask of ointment which she poured on the head of ,jesus1 thus exciting murmuring and indignation against her1 who was defended by ,him1 with assurance of perpetual remembrance of her deed4 ,yet a comparison of the accounts of these two ,evangelists with the story given by ,john1 suggest the thought that he was not satisfied with the picture4 ,his remembrance of the things that happened before and after that scene1 his friendship for the family of ,bethany1 his understanding of the ,master's feelings and thoughts1 his sense of justice to himself and to his fellow-disciples1 the omission of an important figure in the grouping1 and especially his tender sympathy for the unnamed heroine of the story--these things demanded in his mind additions and re-touchings to make the picture complete4 ,let us imagine ourselves before him while he is reading the manuscripts of ,matthew and ,mark1 long after they were written4 ,he tells us of incidents1 unmentioned by them1 that enlarge and make clearer our view of the scene4 ,we note the impressions we may suppose were made on him at the time of the event1 and were still fresh in his old age when he tells the story4 ,i remember distinctly--so he might say--this scene in ,bethany1 both what these two writers report1 and what they do not4 ,the hour was drawing near when my ,lord must die4 ,so ,he had told me2 but somehow ,i did not understand that this must be4 ,it seems strange to me now that ,i did not1 as well as one of my friends did1 who realized the nearness of the sad hour4 ,i had arrived with ,him at ,bethany 'where ,lazarus was which had been dead1 whom ,he raised from the dead4' ,it was a great joy to meet again the friend whom ,i had welcomed from the tomb4 ,it is true1 as here written by ,mark1 that ,jesus sat at meat4 ,but this does not tell the whole story4 ,the people of ,bethany wished to unite in doing ,him honor3 ,so they made ,him a supper there4 ,it was fitting that it should be in the house of ,simon whom ,jesus had healed from leprosy1 and who was probably a relative or special friend of the family loved by ,jesus4 ,i wonder that their names do not appear in the story given by these two ,evangelists3 ,i could not forget them4 ,i remember how ,martha served at the table1 as if in her own home1 seeming more of a hostess than a guest2 and how ,lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with ,him who had bid him rise from the tomb2 and how ,mary showed her gratitude for her brother's restoration1 and love for his ,restorer4 ,to me that supper loses half its interest without the mention of these names1 so suggestive of near relation to the ,lord4 ,here ,i read1 ,there came unto ,him a woman4 ,that is indeed true2 but ,i find no hint of who this unknown woman was4 ,could ,matthew probably present1 have forgotten it8 ,had ,mark absent1 never been told8 ,matthew says she had an alabaster cruse of precious ointment1 which ,mark explains was spikenard very costly4 ,this also is truly said1 for ,i learned that ,mary 444 took a pound of ointment of spikenard very precious4 ,this she could well afford4 ,some have suggested that perhaps1 like oriental girls of fashion1 she had bought it in her pride1 but after coming under the influence of ,jesus1 had left it unused4 ,but ,i am more inclined to believe she intended it from the first as an expression of overflowing love4 ,mark says she broke the cruse4 ,i remember1 as she crushed the neck of it1 all eyes were turned upon her1 watching her movements4 ,lazarus1 reclining at the table1 gazed upon her with brotherly interest2 and ,martha1 moving around it glanced at her with sisterly affection4 ,there was one man whose expression was something more than curiosity4 ,in it there was a shade of displeasure4 ,these two ,evangelists tell that ,mary poured the ointment upon and over the head of ,jesus4 ,this was a common custom in rendering honor and adoration4 ,but it did not satisfy ,mary1 if the ,lord could only say with ,david1 ,thou anointest my head4 ,her anointing was so profuse that ,he could say1--as ,matthew testifies that ,he did--,she poured this ointment upon ,my body4 ,but ,i would testify to another act1 fuller yet of meaning4 ,she anointed the feet of ,jesus4 ,this meant far more than the washing of feet1 as an humble act of hospitality and honor4 ,it was an unusual act of adoration4 ,i saw bathed in spikenard what ,i have since seen bathed in blood4 ,but that was not all4 ,making of her long tresses a fine but unwoven towel1 she wiped ,his feet with her hair2 kneeling in devotion where she had loved to sit in learning4 ,i noticed the glowing rapture in her face1 and an occasional glance into that of her ,lord1 unmindful of the presence of all others1 while ,he looked kindly upon her4 ,it was then that ,i discovered that the house was filled with the odor of the ointment4 ,but1 alas1 not so with the perfume of her deed4 ,there were some that had indignation among themselves1 444 and they murmured against her3 so says ,mark4 ,when the disciples saw ,mary's deed they had indignation3 so says ,matthew4 ,it is true that signs of dissatisfaction came from the group of the disciples1 but it is the voice of one of them that has ever since rung in my ears1 to whom the unworthy grumbling should be assigned4 ,in justice to the disciples he should not be unnamed4 ,mary was still in the act of her devotion to ,jesus4 ,but ,judas ,iscariot1 one of ,his disciples1 which should betray ,him1 saith1 ',why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence1 and given to the poor8' ,this he said1 not because he cared for the poor--not he--but because he was a thief and1 having the bag1 took away what was put therein4 ,he it was who from the first showed displeasure at ,mary's act4 ,his words were both an exclamation and a question1 a sort of soliloquy1 and yet addressed to anybody who might hear and answer3 but they needed no answer4 ,it was too late to gather up the ointment already used1 and sell it for the poor or for any other purpose4 ,but ,judas' purpose ,i well understand4 ,i see through his hypocrisy now more clearly than ,i did then4 ,illustration3 ,,triumphal ,,entry ,,into ,,jerusalem ,gustave ,dore ,page #ach ,with the sharp1 reproving voice of ,judas1 ,mary glanced into his angry face4 ,this would have filled her with terror had she not immediately looked into that of ,jesus beaming upon her4 ,one hand of ,his was over her1 as if in protection and benediction1 while the other waved in a reproving gesture4 ,as ,i read how ,he answered the question of ,judas with another1 ,why trouble ye her8 and then commanded1 ,let her alone2 and then declared1 ,she hath wrought a good work upon me1 ,i recall the changing expressions of ,his face1 and ,his tones of indignation and affection4 ,i was startled by the reason ,he gave for letting her alone1--that she might preserve what remained of the ointment1 not for the poor1 but to be used for ,his burial1 near at hand4 ,she it was of whom ,i have spoken who understood better than ,i or any of my fellow-apostles1 that our ,lord's life was nearing its end4 ,i find here in the records of ,matthew and ,mark the assurance of the ,lord concerning the unnamed woman of whom they have written4 ,it is this1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ',wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world1 that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her4' ,let it be known that this woman was ,mary of ,bethany1 then at ,jesus' feet4 ,henceforth let her name be linked with her deed4 ,thus ends the words we have imagined ,st4 ,john might have spoken with the ,gospels of ,matthew and ,mark in his hand4 ,the additions to their story are suggested by his own ,gospel4 ,he has drawn a beautiful picture of ,mary1 in brighter colors and more delicate shades than has any other4 ,to him artists are chiefly indebted for their ideas of her4 ,his own character was so completely in harmony with hers that he understood what his fellows did not4 ,by them she was misjudged and condemned2 he saw and admired the sweetness of her spirit1 and the purity and nobleness of her motive4 ,upon the monument reared by other ,evangelists1 he inserted her name4 ,in her he saw a reflection of her ,lord and his4 ,his memory and his record alone secured for her in particular the fulfilment of the ,lord's prophecy concerning the remembrance of her deed4 ,every ,christian home in the whole world has been1 or will be1 filled with the spiritual fragrance of her offering4 ,but the prophecy is more than fulfilled4 ,that which she hath done is not only spoken of1 for in many a home inspired by her spirit1 her name has been given as a memorial of her whom ,john distinguished from all others as that ,mary which anointed the ,lord with ointment and wiped ,his feet with her hair4 ,it was of ,mary that ,jesus said1 ,she hath done what she could4 ,john's picture of her is all the brighter because of his dark background of ,judas4 ,he has forever associated their names in contrast4 ,in his mind1 the anointing was ever suggestive of the betrayal4 ,he remembered how the thief asked his hypocritical question at the moment of the greatest perfume2 and how ,judas was planning the betrayal while ,mary was meditating on the death to which it would lead4 ,it appears almost certain that ,judas1 stung by the ,lord's reproof of him and defence of ,mary1 ready to sell his ,lord's body for a less sum than he valued the ointment1 turned from the feast in anger1 hastening to the chief priest with the cursed question and promise1 ,what will ye give me1 and ,i will deliver ,him unto you8 ,wheresoever the gospel is preached throughout the whole world1 that also which this man hath done is spoken of--but not for a memorial of him4 ,john's picture of ,mary1 ,judas and ,jesus is a most suggestive grouping4 ,what harmony and contrast6 ,what light and shade6 ,what revelation of love and hate1 of friendship and enmity1 of devotion and sacrilege6 ,to no other scene does ,christ sustain quite the same relation4 ,the friendship of ,his first feast--that of ,cana--is deeper and tenderer in ,his last1 at ,bethany4 ,there is something sublime in this ,son of ,god having all power1 pleading with ,judas that ,mary might be permitted to continue her service of love for ,him4 ,add ,john's own likeness to the three at whom we have been looking1 and what a grouping we have--,jesus with ,his loved ,mary1 and ,john the most beautiful illustration of human friendship1 and ,judas the betrayer4 ,let imagination complete what no artist has attempted4 ,when ,john recalls the odors of ,mary's ointment filling the house1 he seems to catch a refrain from ,solomon's song1 and addresses it to her1--,thine ointments have a goodly fragrance2 thy name is as ointment poured forth2 therefore do the maidens love thee4 ,it is not the maidens alone1 especially the ,marys of ,christendom1 that love her1 but all to whom the gospel is preached1 who join in ,john's refrain1 while thanking him for his memorial of her4 ,,chapter ,,xx ,john a ,herald of the ,king ,,prophecy3 ,rejoice greatly1 ,o daughter of ,zion2 shout1 ,o daughter of ,jerusalem3 behold1 thy ,king cometh unto thee3 444 lowly1 and riding upon 444 a colt4--,zech4 ix4 #i4 ,,prophecy ,,fulfilled3 ,he sent two of his disciples1 saying1 ,go your way into the village over against you2 in the which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied3 444 loose him1 and bring him4444 ,and they brought him to ,jesus3 and they threw their garments upon the colt1 and set ,jesus thereon4--,luke xix4 #cj1 #ce4 ,,prophecy ,,understood3 ,these things understood not ,his disciples at the first3 but when ,jesus was glorified1 then remembered they that these things were written of ,him1 and that they had done these things unto ,him4--,john xii4 #af4 ,daughter of ,zion6 ,virgin ,queen6 ,rejoice6 ,clap the glad hand and lift th' exulting voice6 ,he comes1--but not in regal splendor drest1 ,the haughty diadem1 the ,tyrian vest2 ,not arm'd in flame1 all glorious from afar1 ,of hosts the chieftain1 and the lord of war3 ,messiah comes6--let furious discord cease2 ,be peace on earth before the ,prince of ,peace6 --,heber's ,palestine4 ,zechariah foretold the coming of ,christ five hundred years before the angels over ,bethlehem heralded ,his birth4 ,the prophets saw ,him as the ,messiah-king1 but not such a ruler as most of the ,jews of ,christ's day expected4 ,even the disciples1 believing ,him to be the ,messiah1 had mistaken views of ,his kingdom4 ,yet ,he was the ,king foretold by the prophets2 the ,son of ,david who sang of ,him as the ,king and as the ,lord's anointed2 the ,messiah or ,christ2 the king of the ,jews not only1 but of all men4 ,as such ,he would make a triumphal entry into the ,city of the ,great ,king4 ,this would not be in the pride and pomp of an earthly conqueror1 but in the lowly manner which ,zechariah had foretold4 ,all the accounts of ,jesus' journeyings leave the impression that ,he went a-foot4 ,only once do we know that ,he rode2 that was in fulfilment of prophecy4 ,that prophecy ,he purposed to fulfil the day after the feast of ,bethany4 ,this was intended by ,christ to be ,his royal and ,messianic entry into ,jerusalem4 ,the hour had come4 ,a colt unused1 and so fitted by custom for sacred purposes1 was ready for ,his use4 ,having left the village ,he sent two of ,his disciples to bring it to ,him4 ,these two are understood to be ,peter and ,john1 for whose united service ,he would soon call again4 ,we may think of the owner of the colt as friendly toward their ,master4 ,when told by the disciples1 ,the ,lord hath need of him1 he was ready to serve ,him by the loan of his beast4 ,that need--whatever the owner or the disciples thought--was not so much to aid in ,christ's journey as to make true the prophetic words concerning ,him1 ,thy ,king cometh 444 riding upon 444 a colt4 ,the two disciples brought him to ,jesus1 and they threw their garments upon the colt1 and set ,jesus thereon4 ,we may think of ,peter and ,john1 having arranged for the royal ride1 as heralds of their ,lord1 leading the procession from ,bethany1 and the first to greet with signal and shout the other coming from ,jerusalem4 ,beside their ,king1 perhaps leading the colt on which they had placed ,him1 they would be the first to tread where a very great multitude spread their garments in the way1 and others branches from the trees1 and yet others layers of leaves which they had cut from the fields--thus carpeting the road winding around the slope of ,olivet4 ,were not ,peter and ,john leaders in song when at the descent at the ,mount of ,olives the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise ,god1 and especially when the ,city of ,david came into view8 ,the joyful strains were from the ,psalms of ,david--,hosanna to the ,son of ,david1 ,hosanna in the ,highest ,blessed is the kingdom that cometh1 the kingdom of our ,father ,david4 ,blessed is the ,king that cometh in the name of the ,lord2 peace in heaven1 and glory in the highest4 ,illustration3 ,,christ ,,and ,,st4 ,,john ,ary ,scheffer ,page #aee ,in that last strain it would almost seem as if the angelic song of thirty-three years before1 over the plain of ,bethlehem1 had not yet died away1 and was echoed from ,olivet4 ,in that hour did ,john and ,james have thoughts about sitting one on the right hand and the other on the left in a kingdom which seemed near at hand8 ,did they and the other disciples1 who had been disappointed because their ,lord had refused on the shore of ,galilee to be made king1 imagine that ,he certainly would now be willing to be crowned in ,jerusalem8 ,when ,john wrote his account of the triumphal entry into ,jerusalem1 he recalled the prophecy concerning it4 ,it is claimed that he speaks of himself and ,peter in particular when he says1 ,these things understood not the disciples at first2 but when ,jesus was glorified1 then remembered they that these things were written1 and that they had done these things unto ,him4 ,this was a frank confession of his own dulness and ignorance3 it is also an assurance of his later wisdom4 ,we see ,john on the highway of ,olivet1 a chosen disciple to aid ,his ,lord in the hour of ,his earthly glory4 ,we shall see him1 even down to old age1 in a yet nobler sense1 a ,herald of the ,king4 ,,chapter ,,xxi ,with the ,master on ,olivet ,some spake of the ,temple1 how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings4--,luke xxi4 #e4 ,one of ,his disciples saith unto ,him1 ,master1 behold1 what manner of stones and what manner of buildings6 ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,seest thou these great buildings8 ,there shall not be left here one stone upon another1 which shall not be thrown down4 ,as ,he sat on the ,mount of ,olives over against the ,temple1 ,peter and ,james and ,john and ,andrew asked ,him privately1 ,tell us1 when shall these things be8 and1 ,what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished8--,mark xiii4 #a-d4 ,the ,temple was the most sacred of all places1 even before the ,lord of the ,temple entered it4 ,his presence became its chiefest glory4 ,in the hour when the waiting ,simeon at last could there say he had seen the ,lord's ,christ1 it had a new consecration1 and a beauty which its richness of materials and adornments had never given4 ,in the hour when ,he there said to ,his mother1 ,wist ye not that ,i must be in ,my ,father's ,house8 or1 ,i must be about ,my ,father's business1 it was more consecrated still4 ,twice ,he had cleansed it from the profanation of unholy worshipers4 ,within it ,he had spoken as no man had ever done4 ,it had been a theatre of ,his divine power4 ,that was a sad and solemn hour in the last week of ,his life when1 as ,matthew says1 ,jesus went out and departed from the ,temple4 ,that was ,his farewell to it4 ,with sadness ,he thought not only that ,he would never return to it for a blessed ministry of word and healing1 but that the place itself would be destroyed4 ,as ,he led ,his disciples from it1 their minds were also upon the ,holy ,house3 but their thoughts were not ,his thoughts4 ,they had long been familiar with its magnificence1 from the day when each of them1 at twelve years of age1 for the first time had gazed upon it in wonder and admiration4 ,we do not know why1 as they were turning away from it and walked toward ,olivet1 some spake of the ,temple1 how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings1 nor why one of ,his disciples saith unto ,him1 ,master1 behold what manner of stones1 and what manner of buildings6 ,but so they did4 ,doubtless they were surprised and disappointed that the ,lord did not respond with like spirit to their enthusiastic exclamations4 ,were not such richness and beauty worthy of even ,his admiration8 ,why ,his momentary silence8 ,why ,his sadness of expression1 as ,he looked toward the ,temple1 beholding it as they bid ,him do1 but manifestly with different purpose and feeling from what they intended8 ,his appearance seemed most inconsistent with the glorious view4 ,his response was startling1--,seest thou these great buildings8 ,there shall not be left here one stone upon another1 which shall not be thrown down4 ,the astonished disciples were silenced1 but an unspoken question was in the minds of some of them4 ,christ turned aside and ascended the mountain1 taking with ,him the chosen three1 ,peter1 ,james and ,john4 ,on this occasion ,andrew is added to the private company4 ,once more we see by themselves the two pair of brothers with whom in their boyhood we became familiar in ,bethsaida4 ,we are reminded of the days when they sat together on the sea-shore1 the time when they were watching for the coming of the ,messiah with whom they now sat on the ,mount of ,olives over against the ,temple4 ,two days before1 in the road below ,he had also prophesied of the destruction of the city1 as ,he gazed upon it through ,his tears4 ,now ,he was on the summit1 directly opposite the ,temple1 from which the city was spread out before ,him4 ,to me it is still a delight in thought1 as it was in reality1 to stand where they sat1 and look down upon the same ,temple area1 and think of the ,holy and ,beautiful ,house1 as it appeared before the sad prophecy had been fulfilled4 ,on this spot the poet ,milman makes ,titus to stand just before the destruction of ,jerusalem1 with determination and yet with misgiving1 looking down on the city in its pride and the ,temple in its gorgeousness1 and saying3 ,yon proud ,city6 ,as on our ,olive-crowned hill we stand1 ,where ,kidron at our feet its scanty waters ,distills from stone to stone with gentle motion1 ,as through a valley sacred to sweet ,peace1 ,how boldly doth it front us6 ,how majestically6 ,like as a luxurious vineyard1 the hillside ,is hung with marble fabrics1 line o'er line1 ,terrace o'er terrace1 nearer still1 and nearer ,to the blue ,heavens4 ,here bright and sumptuous palaces1 ,with cool and verdant gardens interspersed2 ,here towers of war that frown in massy strength2 ,while over all hangs the rich purple eve1 ,as conscious of its being her last farewell ,of light and glory to the fated city4 ,and as our clouds of battle1 dust and smoke ,are melted into air1 behold the ,temple ,in undisturbed and lone serenity1 ,finding itself a solemn sanctuary ,in the profound of ,heaven6 ,it stands before us ,a mount of snow1 fettered with golden pinnacles6 ,the very sun1 as though he worshiped there1 ,lingers upon the gilded cedar roofs2 ,and down the long and branching porticoes1 ,on every flowery1 sculptured capital1 ,glitters the homage of ,his parting beams4 4444 ,the sight might almost win ,the offended majesty of ,rome to mercy4 ,but ,roman majesty was not to be won to mercy4 ,to the ,twelve1 ,christ had foretold the destruction of the city4 ,and now when the four were alone with ,him1 they asked ,him privately1 tell us when shall these things be4 ,for wise reasons ,jesus did not tell4 ,but one of them at least would learn both when and what these things would be4 ,this was ,john4 ,his tender and loving heart was to bleed with the horrible story of the fall of ,jerusalem4 ,there hunger and famine would be so dire that mothers would slay and devour their own children4 ,multitudes would die of disease and pestilence4 ,rage and madness would make the city like a cage of wild beasts4 ,thousands would be carried away into captivity4 ,the most beautiful youths would be kept to show the triumph of their conqueror4 ,some of them would be doomed to work in chains in ,egyptian mines4 ,young boys and girls would be sold as slaves4 ,many would be slain by wild beasts and gladiators4 ,saddest of all would be the ,temple scenes4 ,though ,titus command its preservation his infuriated soldiery will not spare it4 ,on its altar there would be no sacrifice because no priest to offer it4 ,that altar would be heaped with the slain4 ,streams of blood would flow through the temple courts1 and thousands of women perish in its blazing corridors4 ,the time was to come when ,john1 recalling his question on ,olivet and his ,lord's prophecy concerning ,jerusalem1 could say1 ,all is o'er1 ,her grandeur and her guilt4 ,was he the one of the disciples who hailed the ,master1 saying1 ,behold what manner of stones1 and what manner of buildings68 ,if so1 with what emotions he must have recalled his exclamation after the prophecy of their destruction had been fulfilled4 ,outliving all his fellow-apostles the time came when he could stand alone where once he stood with ,peter and ,james and ,andrew1 not asking questions ,when shall these things be8 and1 ,what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished8 but repeating the lament of ,bishop ,heber over ,jerusalem in ruins3 ,reft of thy son1 amid thy foes forlorn1 ,mourn1 widow'd ,queen2 forgotten ,zion1 mourn4 ,is this thy place1 sad city1 this thy throne1 ,where the wild desert rears its craggy stone2 ,where suns unblessed their angry luster fling1 ,and way-worn pilgrims seek the scanty spring8 ,where now thy pomp1 which kings with envy viewed8 ,where now thy might which all those kings subdued8 ,no martial myriads muster in thy gate2 ,no suppliant nations in thy temple wait2 ,no prophet bards1 thy glittering courts among1 ,wake the full lyre1 and swell the tide of song3 ,but lawless force and meagre want are there1 ,and the quick-darting eye of restless fear1 ,while cold oblivion1 'mid thy ruins laid1 ,folds its dank wing beneath the ivy shade4 ,,chapter ,,xxii ,john a ,provider for the ,passover ,he sent ,peter and ,john1 saying1 ,go and make ready for us the ,passover1 that we may eat4--,luke xxii4 #h4 ,and they went 444 and they made ready the ,passover4--v4 #ac4 ,the last time we saw ,judas was when he left the feast of ,bethany1 murmuring at ,mary's deed1 angry at the ,lord's defence of her1 and plotting against ,him4 ,from that time ,he sought opportunity to betray ,him4 ,the day 444 came on which the ,passover must be sacrificed4 ,a lamb must be provided and slain in the ,temple for ,jesus and ,his disciples4 ,moreover a place must be provided for them to eat it4 ,this preparation would naturally fall on ,judas1 the treasurer of the company1 whom at a later hour the disciples thought ,jesus instructed to buy some things for the feast4 ,the place in ,jesus' mind was yet a secret1 unknown to the disciples1 including ,judas who could not therefore reveal it to ,his enemies4 ,who shall be entrusted with the service which ,he needed1 and be in sympathy with ,him in the solemn approaching hour8 ,not ,judas4 ,the two who had been the heralds of the ,king should be ,his messengers4 ,so ,he sent ,peter and ,john saying1 ,go and make ready for us the ,passover that we may eat4 ,again and again we shall find ,peter and ,john together in circumstances of joy and sorrow1 trial and triumph4 ,their first question was a very natural one1 ,where wilt ,thou that we make ready8 ,the ,lord's secret was not at once revealed4 ,he gave them a sign by which their question would be answered--another proof of ,his divine fore-knowledge4 ,he told them to go into the city1 entering which they would find a man bearing a pitcher of water4 ,him they were to follow to the house he entered1 and tell its owner of ,his purpose to keep the ,passover there4 ,in a furnished room they were to prepare for ,his coming4 ,they were full of curiosity1 but had no doubt concerning the result of their errand4 ,they trusted ,him who had entrusted them with it4 ,soon at the public fountain they were watching for the servant who should be their guide4 ,having done as ,jesus appointed them1 they found as ,he said unto them4 ,as instructed they said unto the goodman of the house1 ,the ,master saith unto thee1 ,where is the guest-chamber where ,i shall eat the ,passover with ,my disciples8 ,the goodman of the house is the only name by which this owner has been known4 ,some have thought ,he was ,joseph of ,arimathaea2 others the ,father of ,saint ,mark2 others ,mark himself4 ,it is the name by which ,jesus has called ,him2 that is honor enough4 ,without doubt he was a friend of the ,lord4 ,perhaps like ,nicodemus he had come to ,him privately for instruction4 ,he was ready to do what he could for ,his necessities when homeless in ,jerusalem4 ,he was ready to give ,him a place of protection when1 that very night1 ,his enemies were seeking ,his life4 ,peter and ,john may never have met this unnamed disciple before4 ,if so1 it was doubtless the beginning of an acquaintance close and tender between them and him who was the last host of the ,lord1 and the first host of ,his ,church4 ,he showed them a large upper room4 ,it was probably reached1 as in many oriental houses1 by outside stairs4 ,it was the choicest and most retired room4 ,the goodman led the disciples into it4 ,they found it furnished with a table1 and couches around it on which ,jesus and ,his company could recline4 ,but this probably was not all4 ,the table was prepared with some of the provisions required for the feast4 ,these included the cakes of unleavened bread1 the five kinds of bitter herbs1 and the wine mixed with water for the four cups which it was the custom to use4 ,but there was something more which ,peter and ,john must do to make ready for the feast4 ,it was the most important thing of all4 ,it was to prepare the ,paschal ,lamb4 ,with such a lamb they had been familiar from childhood4 ,as their fathers brought it into their homes1 and their mothers roasted it1 and parents and children gathered about it in solemn worship1 the ,bethsaidan boys had no thought of the day when the ,messiah would bid them prepare for the feast of which ,he ,himself would be the host1 at the only time apparently when ,he acted as such4 ,when ,john was pointed by the ,baptist to ,jesus1 he had no thought that ,he would prepare the last ,lamb for ,him whom ,he was to see sacrificed as the ,lamb of ,god4 ,no wonder that ,jesus sent ,peter and ,john to make ready1 instead of ,judas the usual provider1 who in the same hour sought opportunity to betray ,him4 ,we follow them from the house of the goodman toward the ,temple4 ,nearing it they listen with mournful solemnity to the chanting of the eighty-first ,psalm1 with its exhortation to praise1--,sing aloud unto ,god our strength4 ,blow up the trumpet in the new moon1 in the time appointed1 on the solemn feast day4 ,then they listen for the threefold blast of the silver trumpets4 ,by this they know that the hour has come for the slaying of the lambs4 ,peter and ,john enter the court of the priests1 and slay their lamb whose blood is caught by a priest in a golden bowl1 and carried to the ,great ,altar4 ,of this they must have been reminded a few hours later when ,christ spoke of ,his own blood shed for the remission of sins4 ,john must have remembered it when he saw and wrote of the blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of his ,lord4 ,while the lamb is being slain the priests are chanting1 and the people responding1 ,hallelujah3 ,blessed is ,he that cometh in the ,name of the ,lord4 ,the lamb of sacrifice1 slain and cleansed and roasted1 is carried by the two disciples on staves to the upper room4 ,after lighting the festive lamps1 they have obeyed their ,lord's command1 ,make ready the ,passover4 ,meanwhile ,he and the remaining ten1 as the sun is setting1 descend the ,mount of ,olives1 from which ,he takes ,his last view of the holy but fated city4 ,the disciples follow ,him1 still awed by what ,he had told them of its fate1 and with forebodings of what awaited ,him and them4 ,among them was the traitor carrying his terrible secret1 bent on its awful purpose which is unknown to the nine1 but well known to the ,master4 ,thus they go to the upper room where ,peter and ,john are ready to receive them4 ,in ,jesus' message to the goodman ,he said1 ,i will keep the ,passover at thy house with ,my disciples4 ,they were ,his family4 ,he chose to be alone with them4 ,not even the mothers ,mary and ,salome1 nor ,nicodemus on this night1 nor the family of ,bethany1 could be of ,his company4 ,no ,mary was here to anoint ,his feet with ointment2 nor woman who had been a sinner to bathe them with her tears4 ,lazarus was not one of them that sat with them2 nor did ,martha serve4 ,it was the twelve whom ,he had chosen1 and who had continued with ,him4 ,it was to ,his apostolic family that ,he said1 ,with desire ,i have desired to eat this ,passover with you before ,i suffer4 ,and so ,he sat down with the twelve alone1 the only time--as is supposed--that ,he ever ate the ,passover meal with ,his disciples4 ,that room became of special interest to ,john4 ,sent by his ,master to find it1 he was mysteriously guided thither4 ,there he was welcomed by the good owner of the house1 who united with him in preparation for the most memorable feast ever held4 ,it is there that we see him in closest companionship with his ,lord4 ,it was the place in ,jesus' mind when ,he said1 ,go and make ready for us the ,passover4 ,where shall we go8 asked ,john4 ,he found answer when he entered that upper room4 ,because of his relation thereto it has been called ,st4 ,john's ,room--more sacred than any ,jerusalem ,chamber1 so named1 or any ,st4 ,john's ,cathedral6 ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,john's ,memories of the ,upper ,room ,when the hour was come1 ,he sat down1 and the apostles with him4--,luke xxii4 #ad4 ,there was at the table reclining in ,jesus' bosom one of ,his disciples1 whom ,jesus loved4--,john xiii4 #bc4 ,three ,evangelists leave the door of the upper room standing ajar4 ,through it we can see much that is passing1 and hear much that is said4 ,john coming after them opens it wide1 thus enlarging our view and increasing our knowledge4 ,luke says of ,jesus1 ,he sat down and the apostles with ,him4 ,that is a very simple statement4 ,we might suppose all was done in quietness and harmony4 ,but he tells us of a sad incident which happened1 probably in connection with it4 ,there arose also a contention among them which of them is accounted to be greatest4 ,the question in dispute was possibly the order in which they should sit at the table4 ,they still had the spirit of the ,pharisees who claimed that such order should be according to rank4 ,we wonder how ,john felt4 ,did he have any part in that contention2 or had he put away all such ambition since the ,lord had reproved him and his brother ,james for it8 ,or was his near relation to the ,lord so well understood that there was no question by anybody where ,john might sit--next to the ,master8 ,let us notice the manner of sitting at meals4 ,the table was surrounded by a divan on which the guests reclined on their left side1 with the head nearest the table1 and the feet extending outward4 ,there was at the table reclining in ,jesus' bosom one of ,his disciples1 whom ,jesus loved4 ,this is the first time ,john thus speaks of himself4 ,he never uses his own name4 ,his place was at the right of the ,lord4 ,there he reclined during the meal1 once changing his position1 as we shall see4 ,judas was probably next to ,jesus on ,his left4 ,this allowed them to talk together without others knowing what they said4 ,john begins his story of the upper room as a supplement to ,luke's record of the contention4 ,he first tells two things about ,jesus1--,his knowledge that ,his hour was come that ,he should depart out of this world unto the ,father1 and ,his great and constant love for ,his disciples4 ,with these two thoughts in mind1 how grieved ,he must have been at the ambitious spirit of the ,apostles4 ,he had once given them a lesson of humility1 using a little child for an object lesson4 ,that lesson was not yet learned2 or if learned was not yet put into practice4 ,so ,he gave them another object lesson1 having still more meaning than the first4 ,but before making record of it ,john1 as at the supper in ,bethany1 points to ,judas4 ,we are reminded of the traitor's purpose formed while ,mary anointed and wiped ,jesus' feet4 ,so awful was that purpose1 so full of hatred and deceit1 that ,john now tells us it was the devil himself who put into the heart of ,judas 444 to betray ,him4 ,humanity had fallen1 but not so low4 ,john seems to have well understood his ,master's thoughts and interpreted ,his actions in giving the second object lesson4 ,he noticed carefully1 and remembered long and distinctly1 every act4 ,was there ever drawn a more powerful picture in contrast than in these words1--,jesus1 knowing that the ,father had given all things into ,his hands1 and that ,he came forth from ,god1 and goeth unto ,god1 riseth from supper1 and layeth aside ,his garments2 and ,he took a towel1 and girded ,himself4 ,then ,he poureth water into the basin1 and began to wash the disciples' feet1 and to wipe them with the towel wherewith ,he was girded4 ,this was the service of a common slave4 ,it is easy to imagine the silent astonishment of the disciples4 ,the purpose of ,jesus could not be mistaken4 ,it was a reproof for their contention4 ,the object lesson was ended4 ,john continued to closely watch ,his movements1 as he took the garments ,he had laid aside and resumed ,his seat at the table4 ,the very towel with which the ,lord had girded ,himself1 found a lasting place in ,john's memory1 worthy of mention as the instrument of humble service4 ,what a sacred relic1 if preserved1 it would have become--more worthy of a place in ,st4 ,peter's in ,rome than the pretended handkerchief of ,veronica4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,last ,,supper ,benjamin ,west ,page #aeh ,christ's treatment of one of the disciples at the feet-washing left a deep impression on ,john's mind4 ,with sadness and indefiniteness the ,lord said1 ,he that eateth ,my bread lifted up his heel against ,me3 one who accepts ,my hospitality and partakes of the proofs of ,my friendship is ,my enemy4 ,for that one whoever it might be1 known only to himself and to ,jesus1 it was a most solemn call to even yet turn from his evil purpose4 ,but the faithless one betrayed no sign2 nor did ,jesus betray him even with a glance which would have been a revelation to ,john's observant eye4 ,it is ,john who tells us that as they sat at the table ,jesus 444 was troubled in spirit4 ,the apostle closest to ,him in position and sympathy would be the first to detect that special trouble1 and the greatness of it1 even before the cause of it was known4 ,but that was not long4 ,jesus said1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you that one of you shall betray ,me4 ,such is ,john's record of ,christ's declaration4 ,it is in ,his ,gospel alone that we find the double ,verily introducing ,christ's words1 thus giving a deeper emphasis and solemnity than appears in the other ,evangelists4 ,a comparison of this declaration of ,christ as given by the four1 illustrates this fact4 ,john immediately follows this statement of the betrayal with another1 peculiar to himself4 ,its shows his close observation at the time1 and the permanence of his impression4 ,what he noticed would furnish a grand subject for the most skilful artist1 beneath whose picture might be written1 ,the disciples looked one on another1 doubting of whom ,he spake4 ,as ,john gazed upon them1 raising themselves on their divans1 looking first one way1 then another1 from one familiar face to another1 exchanging glances of inquiry and doubt1 each distrustful of himself and his fellow1 he beheld what angels might have looked upon with even deeper interest4 ,there has been no other occasion1 nor can there be1 for such facial expressions--a blending of surprise1 consternation1 fear and sorrow4 ,was ,john one of those who began to question among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing8 ,did he take his turn as one by one they began to say1 444 ,is it ,i1 ,lord8 ,if so it must have been in the faintest whisper2 and so the blessed answer1 ,no4 ,but we must believe that ,jesus and ,john understood each other too well for any such question and answer4 ,the definite answer was not yet given to any one by the ,master1 yet with an awful warning1 ,he repeated ,his prediction of the betrayal4 ,peter was impatient to ask ,jesus another question4 ,at other times he was bold to speak1 but now he was awed into silence4 ,yet he felt that he must know4 ,the great secret must be revealed4 ,there was one through whom it might possibly be done4 ,so while the disciples looked one on another1 ,peter gazed on ,john with an earnest1 inquiring look1 feeling that the beloved disciple might relieve the awful suspense4 ,peter therefore beckoneth to him1 and saith unto him1 ,tell us who it is of whom ,he speaketh4 ,so ,he1 leaning back1 as he was1 on ,jesus' breast1 saith unto ,him1 ,lord1 who is it8 ,jesus therefore answereth1 ,he it is for whom ,i shall dip the sop and give it him4 ,did ,john on one side of ,jesus hear the whispered question of ,judas on the other1 ,is it ,i1 ,rabbi8 ,he watched for the sign which ,jesus said ,he would give4 ,the morsel was given to ,judas4 ,that was more than a sign1 more than kindness to an unworthy guest2 it was the last of thousands of loving acts to one whom ,jesus had chosen1 taught and warned--yet was a traitor4 ,of that moment ,john makes special note4 ,having told us that at the beginning of the supper the devil 444 put into the heart of ,judas 444 to betray1 he says1 ,after the sop1 ,satan entered into him4 ,as he saw ,judas1 with a heart of stone and without a trembling hand1 coolly take the morsel from that hand of love1 he realized that the evil one had indeed taken possession of him whose heart he had stirred at the feast of ,bethany4 ,it must have been a relief to ,john when he heard the ,lord bid ,judas depart1 though no man at the table knew for what intent4 ,he then having received the sop went out straightway1--out from that most consecrated room2 out from the companionship of the ,apostles in which he had proved himself unfit to share2 out from the most hallowed associations of earth2 out from the most inspiring influences with which man was ever blessed2 out from the teachings1 warnings1 invitations and loving care of his only ,saviour4 ,when ,satan entered into him1 he went out from the presence of ,christ1 as ,cain went out from the presence of the ,lord4 ,as ,john spoke of the departure1 no wonder he added1 ,it was night4 ,his words mean to us more than the darkness outside that room illumined by the lamp which ,peter and ,john had lighted4 ,they are suggestive of the darkness of the traitor's soul1 contrasted with the ,light of the ,world in that room1 to whose blessed beams he then closed his eyes forever4 ,night--the darkest night--was the most fitting symbol for the deeds to follow4 ,possessed by ,satan1 ,judas went out to be guide to them that took ,jesus4 ,to them1 two hours later1 ,he who was the ,light of the ,world said1 ,this is your hour and the power of darkness4 ,it was when he was gone out that ,christ called the disciples by a new name1 and gave them a new commandment4 ,in both of them ,john took a special interest which he showed long after4 ,that name was ,little ,children4 ,the word which ,christ used had a peculiar meaning4 ,this is the only time we know of ,his ever using it4 ,it was an expression of the tenderest affection for ,his family1 so soon to be orphaned by ,his death4 ,when ,john wrote his ,epistles1 he often used the same word1 whose special meaning he had learned from his ,lord1 to show his own love for his fellow-,christians4 ,the new commandment was this--,that ye love one another2 as ,i have loved you1 that ye also love one another4 ,the command itself was not new1 for it had been given through ,moses1 and repeated by ,christ1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 ,but ,christ gave the disciples a new reason or motive for obeying it4 ,they were to love one another because of ,his love for them4 ,as ,john grew older he became a beautiful example of one who obeyed the command4 ,in his old age he urged such obedience1 saying1 ,if ,god so loved us1 we ought also to love one another4 ,through the door of the ,upper ,room left ajar by three ,evangelists1 we catch glimpses of the group around the table of the ,last ,supper4 ,through it as opened wide by ,john we hear the voice of ,jesus as ,he utters ,his farewell words4 ,he comforts ,his disciples and tells of heavenly mansions4 ,he gives ,his peace in their tribulations4 ,he promises the ,holy ,spirit as a ,comforter4 ,he closes ,his address1 even in this hour of sadness and apparent defeat1 with these wonderful words1 ,be of good cheer2 ,i have overcome the world4 ,and now as ,john still holds open the door1 we hear the voice of prayer1 such as nowhere else has been offered4 ,it is ended4 ,there are moments of silence1 followed by a song of praise4 ,then ,john closes the door of the ,upper ,room1 which we believe was opened again as the earliest home of the ,christian ,church4 ,there we shall see him again with those who1 because of his experience with his ,lord in that consecrated place1 gave him the name of ,the ,bosom ,disciple4 ,illustration3 ,,in ,,gethsemane ,gustave ,dore ,page #afc ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,with ,jesus in ,gethsemane ,he went forth with ,his disciples over the brook ,kidron1 where was a garden4--,john xviii4 #a4 ,then cometh ,jesus with them unto a place called ,gethsemane1 and saith unto ,his disciples1 ,sit ye here while ,i go yonder and pray4--,matt4 xxvi4 #cf4 ,and ,he taketh with ,him ,peter and ,james and ,john1 444 and ,he saith unto them1 444 abide ye here1 and watch4--,mark xiv4 #cc1 #cd4 ,and ,he went forward a little1 and fell on the ground1 and prayed4 v4 #ce4 ,john was our leader to the ,upper ,room4 ,and now he guides us from it1 saying1 ,jesus 444 went forth with ,his disciples4 ,that phrase went forth may suggest to us much more than mere departure4 ,the banquet of love was over4 ,the ,lord's cup of blessing and remembrance had been drunk by ,his little children1 as ,he affectionately called them4 ,he was now to drink the cup the ,father was giving ,his ,son--a mysterious cup of sorrow4 ,it was probably at the midnight hour that ,jesus went forth the last time from ,jerusalem1 which ,he had crowned with ,his goodness1 but which had crowned ,him with many crowns of sorrow4 ,other ,evangelists tell us that ,he went to the ,mount of ,olives1 to a place called ,gethsemane4 ,john shows us the way thither1 and what kind of a place it was4 ,jesus went over the ravine of the ,kidron1 in the valley of ,jehoshaphat4 ,at this season of the year it was not1 as at other times1 a dry water-bed1 but a swollen1 rushing torrent1 fitting emblem of the waters of sorrow through which ,he was passing4 ,whether the name ,kidron refers to the dark color of its waters1 or the gloom of the ravine through which they flow1 or the sombre green of its overshadowing cedars1 it will ever be a reminder of the darker gloom that overshadowed ,john and ,his ,master1 as they crossed that stream together to meet the powers of darkness in the hour which ,jesus called their own4 ,the garden of ,gethsemane was an enclosed piece of ground4 ,we are not to think of it as a garden of flowers1 or of vegetables1 but as having a variety of flowering shrubs1 and of fruit-trees1 especially olive4 ,it might properly be called an orchard4 ,on the spot now claimed to be the garden1 there are several very old gnarled olive-trees4 ,having stood beneath them1 ,i would be glad to believe that they had sheltered my ,lord4 ,but ,i remember that when the prophecy concerning ,jerusalem was fulfilled1 the most sacred trees of our world were destroyed4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,valley ,,of ,,jehoshaphat ,old ,engraving ,page #afd ,who was the owner of that sacred garden8 ,he must have known what happened there ofttimes4 ,perhaps1 like the goodman of the house in ,jerusalem1 he was a disciple of ,jesus1 and provided this quiet retreat for the living ,christ1 in the same spirit with which ,joseph of ,arimathaea provided a garden for ,him when ,he was dead4 ,to these two gardens ,john is our only guide4 ,from the one he fled with ,peter in fear and sadness3 to the other he hastened with ,peter in anxiety followed by gladness4 ,when at the foot of ,hermon1 ,jesus left nine of ,his disciples to await ,his return4 ,now one was no longer numbered among them1 as ,peter afterward said of him who was guide to them that took ,jesus4 ,at the entrance to the garden ,jesus paused and said to eight1 ,sit ye here while ,i go yonder and pray4 ,so had ,abraham nineteen hundred years before1 pointing to ,mount ,moriah1 visible from ,olivet in the moonlight1 said unto his young men1 ,abide ye here 444 and ,i and the lad will go yonder and worship4 ,that very night ,jesus was to ascend that very ,mount on ,his way as a sacrifice1 without any angel to stay the sacrificial hand4 ,at the garden gate there was no formal farewell1 but a solemn final charge1 ,pray that ye enter not into temptation4 ,jesus knew that the hour had come in which should be fulfilled ,zechariah's prophecy4 ,sadly ,he had declared in the ,upper ,room1 ,all ye shall be offended because of ,me this night2 for it is written1 ,i will smite the ,shepherd1 and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad4 ,he dreads to be entirely alone4 ,he longs for companionship4 ,he craves sympathy4 ,in whose heart is it the tenderest and deepest8 ,there is no guessing here4 ,the names are already on our lips4 ,answer is found in the home of ,jairus and on ,hermon4 ,those whom ,he had led into the one1 and apart onto the other1 ,he would have alone with ,him in the garden4 ,so ,he taketh with ,him ,peter and ,james and ,john4 ,these companions of ,his glory shall also be of ,his sorrow4 ,as ,jesus advanced into the garden1 the three discovered a change in ,him--a contrast to the calmness of the ,upper ,room and the assurances of victory with which ,he had left it4 ,he began to be sore amazed and sorrowful and troubled1 and to be very heavy4 ,we have seen ,john apparently quicker than others to detect his ,lord's thoughts and emotions4 ,we imagine him walking closest to ,his side1 and watching as closely every change of ,his countenance and every motion that revealed the inward struggle4 ,and so when ,jesus broke the silence1 he was somewhat prepared to hear ,him say to the three1 ,my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death4 ,illustration3 ,,christ ,,before ,,caiaphas ,old ,engraving ,page #agf ,the moment had come when ,he must deny ,himself even the little comfort and strength of the immediate presence of the three4 ,so saying1 ,tarry ye here and watch with ,me1 ,he turned away4 ,they must not follow ,him to the spot of ,his greatest conflict4 ,there ,he must be alone1 beyond the reach of human help1 however strong or loving4 ,even that which ,he had found in the few moments since leaving the garden entrance must end4 ,their eyes followed ,him where they might not follow in ,his steps4 ,it was not far4 ,he went forward a little4 ,he was parted from them about a stone's cast--probably forty or fifty yards4 ,this separation implies sorrow4 ,they were near enough to watch ,his every movement as ,he kneeled down and fell on ,his face to the ground ,they were near enough to hear the passionate cry of love and agony1 ,o1 ,my ,father4 ,this is the only time we know of ,his using this personal pronoun in prayer to ,his ,father4 ,he thus showed the intensity of ,his feeling1 and longing for that sympathy and help which the ,father alone could give4 ,on ,hermon the glories of the ,transfiguration were almost hidden from the three disciples by their closing eyes4 ,and now weariness overcame them in the garden4 ,they too fell to the ground1 but not in prayer4 ,they tarried indeed1 but could no longer watch4 ,they had seen ,moses and ,elijah with their ,lord on the ,holy ,mount1 but probably did not see the blessed watcher in the garden when there appeared unto ,him an angel from heaven strengthening ,him in body and soul4 ,so had angels come and ministered unto the ,lord of angels and men in the temptation in the wilderness4 ,being in agony ,he prayed more earnestly until mingled blood and sweat fell upon the ground4 ,the heavenly visitants on ,mount ,hermon in glory had talked with ,him of ,his decease now at hand4 ,the cup of sorrow was fuller now than then4 ,he prayed the ,father that if possible it might pass from ,him4 ,then the angel must have told ,him that this could not be if ,he would become the ,saviour of men4 ,he uttered the words whose meaning we cannot fully know1 ,not ,my will1 but ,thine1 be done4 ,the angelic presence did not make ,him unmindful of the three4 ,he rose up from ,his prayer1 and turned from the spot moistened by the drops of ,his agony4 ,with the traces of them upon ,his brow1 ,he came unto the disciples4 ,how much of pathos in the simple record1 ,he found them sleeping4 ,without heavenly or earthly companionship1 ,his loneliness is complete4 ',tis midnight2 and from all around1 ,the ,saviour wrestles 'lone with fears2 ,e'en that disciple whom ,he loved1 ,heeds not ,his ,master's griefs and tears4 ,the head that reclined so lovingly on the bosom of the ,lord in the ,upper ,room now wearily rests on the dewy grass of ,gethsemane4 ,the eyes that looked so tenderly into ,his1 and the ear that listened so anxiously for ,his whisper1 are closed4 ,as ,jesus stood by the three recumbent forms held by deep sleep1 and gazed by the pale moonlight into their faces which showed a troubled slumber1 ,he knew they were sleeping for sorrow4 ,in silence ,he looked upon them until ,his eye fastened--not on the beloved ,john--but on him who an hour ago had boasted of faithfulness to ,his ,lord4 ,the last utterance they had heard before being lost in slumber was that of agonizing prayer to the ,father4 ,the first that awakened them was sad and tender reproof--,simon1 sleepest thou8 ,couldest thou not watch one hour8 ,in the ,master's words and tones were mingled reproach and sympathy4 ,in tenderness ,he added1 ,the spirit indeed is willing1 but the flesh is weak4 ,because of the spirit ,he pardoned the flesh4 ,the question1 ,why sleep ye8 was to the three1 as well as the charge1 ,rise and pray1 that ye enter not into temptation4 ,let imagination fill out the outline drawn by the ,evangelists3--,he went away again the second time and prayed2 ,he came and found them asleep again2 ,he left them and went away again and prayed the third time2 and ,he cometh a third time and saith unto them1 ',sleep on now and take your rest4' ,if we may suppose any period of rest1 it was soon broken by the cry1 ,arise1 let us be going2 behold he that betrayeth ,me is at hand4 ,they need watch no longer4 ,their ,lord's threefold struggle was over4 ,he was victor in ,gethsemane1 even as ,john beheld ,him three years before1 just after ,his threefold conflict in the wilderness4 ,as they rose from the ground the inner circle that had separated them1 not only from the other ,apostles but from all other men1 was erased4 ,we do not find them alone with their ,lord again4 ,they rose and joined the eight at the garden gate4 ,recalling ,gethsemane we sing to ,jesus1 ,thyself the path of prayer hast trod4 ,the most sacred path of prayer in all the world was in ,gethsemane4 ,it was only a stone's cast in length4 ,the ,lord trod it six times in passing between the place where ,he said to the three1 tarry ye here1 and that where ,he kneeled down and prayed4 ,one angel knows the spot4 ,would that he could reveal it unto us4 ,illustration3 ,,christ ,,before ,,pilate 7,ecce ,homo7 ,h4 ,hofmann ,page #ahb ,when ,jesus was praying and the three were sleeping1 ,judas reported himself at the ,high-,priestly ,palace1 ready to be the guide of the band to arrest his ,master4 ,there were the ,temple-guard with their staves1 and soldiers with their swords1 and members of the ,sanhedrin1 ready to aid in carrying out the plot arranged with the betrayer4 ,it was midnight--fit hour for their deed of darkness4 ,the full moon shone brightly in the clear atmosphere2 yet they bore torches and lamps upon poles1 to light up any dark ravine or shaded nook in which they imagined ,jesus might be hiding4 ,if any cord of love had ever bound ,judas to his ,master1 it was broken4 ,that very night he had fled from the ,upper ,room1 which became especially radiant with love after his departure4 ,to that room we believe he returned with his murdering band4 ,but the closing hymn had been sung1 and the ,passover lamps extinguished two or three hours before4 ,the consecrated place was not to be profaned with murderous intent4 ,another place must be sought for the victim of hate and destruction4 ,john in his old age recalled precious memories of it1 because ,jesus ofttimes resorted thither with ,his disciples4 ,but he had a remembrance of another kind4 ,it is when speaking of this midnight hour that he says1 ,judas also which betrayed ,him knew the place4 ,thither he led his band--to ,gethsemane4 ,lo1 he that betrayeth ,me is at hand1 said ,jesus to the three1 as ,he saw the gleams of the torches of the coming multitude4 ,his captors were many1 but ,his thought was especially on one--,his betrayer4 ,again ,john reads for us the mind of ,jesus1 as he did when the ,lord and ,master washed the disciples' feet4 ,he would have us understand the calmness of the fixed purpose of ,jesus to meet without shrinking the terrible trial before ,him1 and to do this voluntarily--not because of any power of ,his approaching captors4 ,knowing all things that were coming upon ,him1 ,he went forth to meet them--especially him who at that moment was uppermost in ,his thought4 ,john now understood that last1 mysterious bidding of the ,lord to ,judas1 with which ,he dismissed him from the table--,that thou doest1 do quickly4 ,he now knew for what intent ,he spake this unto him4 ,it was not to buy things needed for the feast1 nor to give to the poor4 ,it was to betray ,him4 ,what a scene was that--,jesus going forth1 the three following ,him2 and ,judas in advance1 yet in sight of his band1 coming to meet ,him4 ,hail1 ,rabbi1 was the traitor's salute4 ,and then on this solemn ,passover night1 in this consecrated place1 just hallowed by angelic presence1 interrupting the ,lord's devotions1 rushing upon holiness and infinite goodness1 with pretended fellowship and reverence1 profaning and repeating--as if with gush of emotion--the symbol of affection1 ,judas covered the face of ,jesus with kisses4 ,how deep the sting on this human face divine1 already defaced by the bloody sweat1 and to be yet more by the mocking reed1 and smiting hand and piercing thorn4 ,the vision of the prophet seven hundred years before becomes a reality--,his visage was so marred more than any man4 ,but nothing went so close to ,his heart as the profanation of this kiss4 ,according to ,john's account1 ,judas' kiss was an unnecessary signal4 ,jesus ,himself leaving the traitor1 advanced toward the band1 with a question which must have startled the ,apostles1 as well as the traitor and his company--,whom seek ye8 ,the contemptuous reply1 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 did not disturb ,his calmness as ,he said1 ,i am ,he1 and repeated ,his question1 ,whom seek ye8 ,nor was that infinite calmness disturbed by the deeper contempt in the repeated answer1 ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,they had come with weapons of defence1 but they were as useless as the betrayal kiss1 especially when some of them1 awed by ,his presence and words1 went backward and fell to the ground4 ,we have seen ,jesus going forward from ,his company and meeting ,judas going forward from his4 ,we must now think of ,judas joining his band1 and the eleven disciples surrounding their ,lord4 ,john has preserved the only request made of the captors by the ,master4 ,it was not for ,himself1 but for ,his disciples2--,if therefore ye seek ,me1 let these go their way4 ,three ,evangelists tell that one of the disciples struck a servant of the high priest and cut off an ear4 ,luke the physician says it was the right ear1 and that ,christ touched it and healed it4 ,john gives the disciple's name1 which it was not prudent for the other ,evangelists to do when ,peter1 who struck the blow1 was still living4 ,he also preserves the name of the servant1 ,malchus--the last one on whom he saw the ,great ,physician perform a healing act1 showing divine power and compassion4 ,john records the ,lord's reproof to ,peter1 ,put up thy sword into the sheath2 the cup which ,my ,father hath given ,me1 shall ,i not drink it8 ,can this firm voice be the same which an hour ago1 a stone's cast from these two disciples1 said beseechingly1 ,o ,my ,father1 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from ,me4 ,yea1 verily1 for ,he had added to the prayer1 ,not as ,i will1 but as ,thou wilt4 ,thus does ,john's record concerning ,peter testify to the triumph of his ,lord4 ,but he also notes the immediate effect of ,peter's mistaken zeal4 ,the captain and officers bound ,him4 ,that was a strange1 humiliating sight1 especially in connection with the ,lord's words to ,peter while returning the sword to its sheath1 ,thinkest thou that ,i cannot beseech ,my ,father1 and ,he shall even now send ,me more than twelve legions of angels8 ,wonderful words6 fitting to be the last of the ,lord's utterances to a disciple in ,gethsemane4 ,with burning and just indignation at ,his being bound1 ,jesus turned to ,his captors1 saying1 ,are ye come out as against a robber1 to seize ,me8 ,as they closed around ,him ,his disciples were terrified with the fear of a like fate4 ,and they all left ,him and fled4 ,prophecy was fulfilled2 the ,shepherd was smitten2 the sheep were scattered4 ,without the voice of friend or foe1 the garden of ,olivet was silent4 ,one had left it who1 outliving his companions1 gives us hints of his lone meditations4 ,the beloved disciple cherished memories of joyous yet sad ,gethsemane4 ,he it was who longest remembered1 and who alone preserved the prophecy in the ,upper ,room1 so soon fulfilled--,ye shall be scattered every man to his own1 and shall leave ,me alone4 ,in ,george ,herbert's words we hear the ,master cry1 ,all ,my disciples fly6 fear put a bar ,betwixt ,my friends and ,me2 they leave the star ,which brought the ,wise ,men from the ,east from far4 ,was ever grief like ,mine6 ,,chapter ,,xxv ,john in the ,high ,priest's ,palace ,and they that had taken ,jesus led ,him away to the house of ,caiaphas the high priest1 where the scribes and the elders were gathered together4--,matt4 xxvi4 #eg4 ,simon ,peter followed ,jesus1 and so did another disciple4 ,that disciple 444 entered in with ,jesus into the court of the high priest2 but ,peter was standing at the door without4 ,so the other disciple 444 went out 444 and brought in ,peter4--,john xviii4 #ae1 #af4 ,everywhere we find these two ,apostles1 ,peter and ,john1 in great harmony together4--,chrysostom4 ,bow down before thy ,king1 ,my soul6 ,earth's kings1 before ,him bow ye down2 ,before ,him monarchs humbly roll1-- ,height1 might1 and splendor1 throne and crown4 ,he in the mystic ,land divine ,the sceptre wields with valiant hand4 ,in vain dark1 evil powers combine1-- ,he1 victor1 rules the better ,land4 --,ingleman4--,trans4 ,hymns of ,denmark4 ,it is probable that ,st4 ,john attended ,christ through all the weary stages of ,his double trial--before the ecclesiastical and the civil authorities--and that1 after a night thus spent1 he accompanied the procession in the forenoon to the place of execution1 and witnessed everything that followed4--,stalker4 ,we know not what became of nine of the disciples fleeing from ,gethsemane2 whether they first hid among the bushes and olive-trees1 and escaped into the country2 or took refuge in the neighboring tombs2 or stole their way to some secret room where the goodman of the house furnished them protection2 or scattered in terror each in his lonely way4 ,the captive ,lord was dragged along the highway where ,peter and ,john had been for a single hour the ,heralds of the ,king4 ,over the ,kidron1 up the slope of ,moriah1 through the gate near the sacred ,temple1 along the streets of the ,holy ,city1 ,he was led as a robber to the high-priestly palace4 ,three ,evangelists tell us1 ,peter followed afar off4 ,but love soon overcame his fears4 ,he was not long alone4 ,john says1 ,simon ,peter followed ,jesus and so did another disciple4 ,we cannot doubt who was ,peter's companion as he turned from his flight4 ,they went both together1 as two days later they ran on another errand4 ,in the shadows of the olive-trees along the roadside1 or of the houses of the city1 they followed the hurrying band which they overtook by the time it reached the palace gate4 ,john did not outrun ,peter1 who was probably the leader4 ,but at the gate they were separated4 ,we must not think that this palace was like an ,american house4 ,the entrance to it was through a great arched gateway4 ,this was closed with a large door or gate1 in which there was a small entrance called a wicket gate1 through which people passed4 ,these gates opened into a broad passage or square court4 ,around it on three sides the house was built4 ,all rooms upstairs and down looked into it4 ,one large room1 forming one side1 was separated from it1 not by a wall1 but by a row of pillars4 ,being thus opened it was easy to see what was passing in the room or the court4 ,that disciple1 who accompanied ,peter to the gate1 was known unto the high priest and entered in with ,jesus into the court of the high priest4 ,but ,peter was standing at the door without4 ,john was doubtless familiar with the place and the servants1 and went in with the crowd4 ,he kept as near as he could to his ,master during the dark hours of ,his trial1 as he was to do during the yet darker hours at the cross4 ,but the disciple within could not forget the one without4 ,they must not be separated in their common sorrow4 ,peter too must show by his presence his continued love for his ,master4 ,he must have opportunity to show in the palace something of the faithfulness of which he had boasted in the ,upper ,room1 though it had faltered in ,gethsemane4 ,then went out that other disciple which was known unto the high priest and spake unto her that kept the door1 and brought in ,peter4 ,that doorkeeper was not ,rhoda--she who with a different spirit joyfully answered ,peter's knocking at another door--but was a pert maiden who1 sympathizing with the enemies of ,jesus1 saith unto ,peter1 ,art thou also one of this man's disciples8 ,she understood that ,john was such4 ,her contempt was aimed at them both4 ,but it was not her question so much as ,peter's answer--,i am not--that startled ,john4 ,was it for this denial that he had gained admission for his friend8 ,it would have been better far if ,peter had been kept standing at the door without though it was cold1 than to be brought into the court of temptation and sin1 where he sat with the servants in his curiosity to see the end1 warming himself at the fire they had kindled4 ,meanwhile we think of ,john hastening back to the judgment hall1 from which he anxiously watched the movements of ,peter walking in the counsel of the ungodly1 and standing in the way of sinners1 and sitting in the seat of the scornful4 ,poor ,peter6 ,he fears to look into any man's face1 or to have any one look into his4 ,he has obeyed the ,master's bidding1 ,put up thy sword into the sheath1 but ,malchus has not forgotten it2 nor has his kinsman who saw ,peter in the garden with ,jesus1--though he may have forgotten the healing of ,malchus' ear by his prisoner4 ,three ,evangelists tell how ,peter sat with the enemies of ,jesus4 ,john tells how at different times he stood among them4 ,thus does he report as an eye-witness1 and show his own watchfulness of ,peter's restlessness2--of the conflicting emotions of shame and fear1 the scornful frown1 the enforced and deceiving smile1 the defiant look1 the vain effort to appear indifferent1 and the storm of anger4 ,amazed at the first denial1 shocked at the second1 horrified at the third1 what were ,john's feelings when one was with an oath1 and with another he began to curse and to swear4 ,but concerning this climax of ,peter's sin1 ,john is silent4 ,it finds no place in his story4 ,at last the ,lord turned and looked upon ,peter1 either from the hall1 or as ,he was being led from it4 ,at the same moment1 ,peter turned and looked upon ,him4 ,we imagine ,john turning and looking upon them both1 marking the grief of the one1 and the sense of guilt and shame of the other4 ,but he knew the loving1 though erring disciple so well that he need not be told that when ,peter went out he wept bitterly4 ,we almost see ,john himself weeping bitterly over his friend's fall2 then comforting him when they met again1 with assurances of the ,lord's love and forgiveness4 ,john's next record of their being together shows them united in feeling1 purpose and action for their ,lord4 ,there was another toward whom ,john's watchful eyes turned during the long and painful watches of that night4 ,the picture of him is not complete without this ,apostle's records4 ,art thou the ,king of the ,jews8 asked ,pilate of ,jesus4 ,such ,john had thought ,him to be4 ,for three years he had waited to see ,him assume ,his throne4 ,he has preserved the ,lord's answer1--,my kingdom is not of this world4 ,this declaration contained a truth to which even the favored disciple had been partly blind4 ,was he not ready to ask with ,pilate1 though with different spirit and purpose1 ,art thou a ,king then8 ,the ,lord's answer must have meant more to the listening ,apostle than to the captious and heedless ,governor4 ,it was a declaration of the true kingship of the ,messiah-,king1--,to this end have ,i been born1 and to this end am ,i come into the world1 that ,i should bear witness unto the truth4 ,what is truth8 asked ,pilate in a careless manner1 not caring for an answer4 ,what is truth8 was the great question whose answer the ,apostle continued to seek1 concerning the ,king and the kingdom of ,him whom ,he had heard say1 ,i am the ,truth4 ,in that night he saw the ,messiah-,king crowned1 but with thorns4 ,he saw the purple robe upon ,him1 but it was the cast-off garment of a ,roman ,governor4 ,a reed1 given ,him for a sceptre1 was snatched from ,his hand to smite ,him on ,his head4 ,instead of pouring holy oil of kingly consecration1 as upon ,david's head1 ,his enemies spit upon ,him4 ,it was in mockery that they bowed the knee before ,him saying1 ,hail ,king of the ,jews4 ,there are two scenes with which ,john alone has made us familiar4 ,one is described in these words3--,then came ,jesus forth1 wearing the crown of thorns1 and the purple robe4 ,and ,pilate saith1 ,behold the man6 ,did not that word ,behold1 recall to ,john another scene--that on the ,jordan when he looked upon this same ,jesus as the ,lamb of ,god1 whom ,his enemies were about to offer unwittingly1 when ,he offered ,himself not unwillingly a sacrifice upon the cross8 ,the ,baptist's exclamation had been in adoration and joyfulness3 ,pilate's was in pity and sadness4 ,it was an appeal to humanity1 but in vain4 ,there was no pity in that maddened throng4 ,pilate turned in bitterness toward those whom he hated1 but whose evil deeds he did not dare to oppose4 ,so in irony ,pilate 444 brought forth ,jesus 444 and he saith unto the ,jews1 ,behold your ,king6 ,john was the only one who heard the three cries of ,behold--one at the beginning1 the others at the close of the ,lord's ministry4 ,how much he had beheld and heard and learned between1 concerning the ,lamb1 the ,man1 and the ,king4 ,the only earthly throne on which ,john saw ,him sit was one of mockery4 ,he did not ask to sit with ,him4 ,it was a sad yet blessed privilege to be with ,him during that night of agony--the only friendly witness to probably all of ,his sufferings4 ,while ,john's eyes were turned often and earnestly toward ,peter and ,pilate1 they were yet more on the ,lord4 ,when he went in with ,jesus into the palace1 and while he tarried with ,him1 he could do nothing--only look4 ,no angel was there as in ,gethsemane to strengthen the ,man of sorrows1 but did ,he not often look for sympathy toward that one who had leaned lovingly upon ,him a few hours before8 ,was not ,john's mere waking presence among ,his foes in the palace1 a solace which slumber had denied ,him in the garden8 ,john's eyes were not heavy now4 ,there was no need of the ,lord's bidding1 ,tarry ye here and watch with ,me4 ,love made him tarry and watch more than one hour--even through all the watches of the night4 ,then he was the ,lord's only human friend--the one silent comforter4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,john the ,lone ,disciple at the ,cross ,when they came unto the place which is called ,calvary1 there they crucified ,him4--,luke xxiii4 #cc4 ,at ,calvary poets have sung their sweetest strains1 and artists have seen their sublimest visions4--,stalker4 ,now to sorrow must ,i tune my song1 ,and set my harp to notes of saddest woe1 ,which on our dearest ,lord did seize ere long1 ,dangers1 and snares1 and wrongs1 and worse than so1 ,which ,he for us did freely undergo3 ,most perfect ,hero1 tried in heaviest plight ,of labors huge and hard1 too hard for human wight4 --,milton4--,the ,passion4 ,even careful students of the life of ,john are not together in their attempts to follow him on the day of crucifixion4 ,some think they find evidence1 chiefly in his silence concerning certain events1 that after hearing the final sentence of ,pilate condemning ,christ to be crucified1 he left the palace and joined the other disciples and faithful women and the mother of ,jesus1 and reported what he had seen and heard during the night2 and at some hour during the day visited ,calvary1 and returning to the city brought the women who stood with him at the cross3 and witnessed only what he minutely or only describes4 ,other students think he followed ,jesus from the palace to the cross1 remaining near ,him and witnessing all that transpired4 ,this is certainly in keeping with what we should expect from his peculiar relation to ,christ4 ,it is in harmony with what we do know of his movements that day4 ,so we are inclined to follow him as a constant though silent companion of ,jesus1 feeling that in keeping near him we are near to his ,lord and ours4 ,this we now do in the ,dolorous ,way1 along which ,jesus is hurried from the judgment-seat of ,pilate to the place of execution4 ,illustration3 ,,christ ,,bearing ,,his ,,cross ,h4 ,hofmann ,page #ahe ,it is ,john who uses the one phrase in the ,gospels which furnishes a tragic subject for artists1 and poets and preachers1 on which imagination dwells1 and excites our sympathies as does no other save the crucifixion itself4 ,his phrase is this1--,jesus 444 bearing the cross for ,himself4 ,we notice this all the more because of the silence of the other ,evangelists1 all of whom tell of one named ,simon who was compelled to bear the cross4 ,as ,john read their story1 there was another picture in his mind1 too fresh and vivid not to be painted also4 ,he recalled the short distance that ,christ carried the cross alone1 weakened by the agonies of the garden and the scourging of the palace1 until1 exhausted1 ,he fell beneath the burden4 ,we are not told that the crown of thorns had been removed1 though the purple robe of mockery had been4 ,so this added to ,his continued pain4 ,as ,john looked upon those instruments of suffering he heard the banter and derision of shame that always accompanied them4 ,there followed ,jesus a great multitude of the people1 whose morbid curiosity would be gratified by the coming tragedy4 ,but there were others--women who bewailed and lamented ,him4 ,it is surmised that at the moment when ,jesus could bear ,his cross no longer1 and was relieved by ,simon1 ,he turned to the weeping ,daughters of ,jerusalem following ,him1 and in tenderest sympathy told of the coming days of sorrow for them and their city1 of which ,he had told ,john and his companions on ,olivet4 ,john says that ,jesus went out 444 unto the place called the place of a skull1 which is called in ,hebrew ,golgotha4 ,the place was also called ,calvary4 ,we do not certainly know the sacred spot1 though careful students think it is north of the city1 near the ,damascus gate1 near the gardens of the ancient city1 and tombs that still remain4 ,we think of ,john revisiting it again and again while he remained in ,jerusalem1 and then in thought in his distant home where he wrote of it4 ,there1 says ,john1 they crucified ,jesus1 and with ,him two others1 on either side one1 and ,jesus in the midst4 ,how few his words1 but how full of meaning4 ,we long to know more of ,john's memories of that day--of all that he saw and felt and did4 ,they were such in kind and number as none other than he did or could have4 ,there were two contrasted groups of four each around the cross1 to which ,john calls special attention4 ,one1 the nearest to it1 was composed of ,roman soldiers1 to whom were committed the details of the crucifixion--the arrangement of the cross1 the driving of the nails1 and the elevation of the victim upon it4 ,having stripped ,jesus of ,his clothing1 according to custom they divided it among themselves2 the loose upper garment or toga to one1 the head-dress to another1 the girdle to another1 and the sandals to the last4 ,john watched the division--to every soldier a part4 ,but his interest was chiefly in the under-garment such as ,galilean peasants wore4 ,this must have been a reminder of the region from which he and ,jesus had come4 ,he thinks it worth while to describe it as without seam1 woven from the top throughout4 ,perhaps to him another reminder--of ,mary or ,salome or other ministering women by whose loving hands it had been knit4 ,if ever a garment1 because of its associations1 could be called holy1 surely it is what ,john calls the coat of ,jesus4 ,even without miraculous power1 it would be the most precious of relics4 ,we notice ,john's interest in it as he watches the soldiers' conversation of banter or pleasantry or quarrel1 in which it might become worthless by being torn asunder4 ,he remembered their parleying1 and the proposal in which it ended1--,let us not rend it1 but cast lots for it whose it shall be4 ,how far were their thoughts from his when their words recalled to him the prophecy they were unconsciously fulfilling1--,they part ,my garments among them1 and upon ,my vesture do they cast lots4 ,with what pity did ,jesus look down upon the lucky soldier--so he would be called--sporting with the coat which had protected ,him from the night winds of ,gethsemane4 ,how ,he longed to see in the bold and heartless heirs to ,his only earthly goods1 the faith of her1 who timidly touched the hem of ,his garment4 ,what a scene was that for ,john to behold6 ,what a scene for angels who had sung the glories of ,jesus' birth1 now looking down upon ,his dying agonies of shame--and upon the gambling dice of ,his murderers6 ,no marvel ,john added to the almost incredible story1 ,these things 444 the soldiers did4 ,it is at this point that we notice a sudden transition in ,john's narrative4 ,he points us from the unfriendly group of four1 to another of the same number2 saying as if by contrast1 ,but there were standing by the cross of ,jesus ,his mother1 and ,his mother's sister1 ,mary the wife of ,clopas and ,mary ,magdalene4 ,by ,his mother's sister we understand ,salome4 ,the centurion had charge of the plundering soldiers2 ,john was the guardian of the sympathizing women4 ,he had a special interest in that group1 containing his mother and aunt1 and probably another relative in ,mary the wife of ,clopas4 ,mary ,magdalene was not of this family connection1 though of kindred spirit4 ,so must ,john have felt as she stood with him at the cross1 and at a later hour when we shall see them together again4 ,in the days of the boyhood of ,john and ,jesus1 we thought of their mothers as sisters1 and of parents and children as looking for the coming ,messiah4 ,none thought of the possibilities of this hour when they would meet in ,jerusalem at the cross4 ,by it stands ,john the only one of the ,apostles4 ,judas has already gone to his own place4 ,if ,peter is following at all it is afar off4 ,the rest have not rallied from their flight enough to appear after their flight4 ,james the brother of ,john is not with him4 ,as their mother looks upon ,jesus between two robbers1 does she recall her ambitious request1 ,command that these my two sons may sit1 one on ,thy right hand1 and one on ,thy left hand8 ,she understands now the fitness of the reply she had received1--,ye know not what ye ask8 ,but ,salome and ,john are loyal to the uncrowned ,king4 ,though they may not share the glory of ,his throne1 they are yet ready to stand beneath the shameful shadow of ,his cross4 ,but another is there1--drawn by a yet stronger cord of affection4 ,she heads ,john's list of the women by the cross of ,jesus--,his mother1 whose love is so deep that it cannot forego witnessing the sight that fills her soul with agony4 ,yes1 ,mary1 thou art there4 ,now by that cross thou tak'st thy final station1 ,and shar'st the last dark trial of thy ,son2 ,not with weak tears or woman's lamentation1 ,but with high1 silent anguish1 like ,his own4 --,h4,b4 ,stowe4 ,as she stands there we seem to read her thoughts3 ,can that be ,he1 my babe of ,bethlehem1 my beautiful boy of ,nazareth1 in manhood my joy and my hope6 ,are those hands the same that have been so lovingly held in mine2 those arms1 outstretched and motionless1 the same that have so often been clasped around me6 ,oh6 that ,i might staunch ,his wounds1 and moisten ,his parched lips1 and gently lift that thorny crown from ,his bleeding brow4 ,but this cannot be4 ,there is being fulfilled ,simeon's prophecy1 uttered as he held her infant in his arms1--a foreboding which has cast a mysterious shadow on the joys of her life4 ,beside the cross in tears ,the woeful mother stood1 ,bent 'neath the weight of years1 ,and viewed ,his flowing blood2 ,her mind with grief was torn1 ,her strength was ebbing fast1 ,and through her heart forlorn1 ,the sword of ,anguish passed4 ,she can only draw yet nearer to ,his cross and give the comfort of a mother's look1 and perhaps receive the comfort of a look from ,him1 and--oh1 if it can be--a word of comfort from ,his lips for the mother-heart4 ,perhaps for a moment her thoughts are on the future1--her lonely life1 without the sympathy of her other sons who believed not on their brother4 ,oh6 that they were like ,john1 to her already more of a son than they4 ,in childhood ,jesus had been subject to her3 in youth and manhood ,he had been faithful to her4 ,in the ,temple ,he had thought of her as ,his mother1 and of ,god as ,his ,father4 ,but no exalted relation1 no greatness to which ,he had attained on earth1 had made ,him disloyal to her4 ,while claiming to be the ,son of ,god1 ,he was still the loving son of ,mary4 ,such ,he would show ,himself to be on the cross4 ,we thank ,john for the record of that moment when ,jesus 444 saw ,his mother4 ,the people stood beholding ,him1 but ,his eyes were not on them2 nor on those passing by ,his cross wagging their heads1 nor the malefactor at ,his side reviling ,him2 nor on the chief priest and scribes1 the elders and soldiers mocking ,him2 nor the rulers deriding ,him4 ,his thought was not on them1 nor even on ,himself in ,his agonies1 as ,his eyes rested keenly on ,his mother4 ,it was a deep1 tender1 earnest gaze4 ,john tells that ,jesus also saw the disciples standing by1 whom ,he loved4 ,the ,lord turned ,his head from ,his mother to ,his disciple4 ,this could be ,his only gesture pointing them one to the other4 ,the prayer for ,his murderers had apparently been uttered when ,his hands were pierced1 before the cross was raised4 ,he may have spoken once after it was elevated1 before ,he saw the two special objects of ,his love4 ,his eyes met ,his mother's4 ,she saw ,him try to speak4 ,the utterance of ,his parched lips1 with gasping breath1 was brief1 full of meaning and tenderness--,woman6 behold1 thy son6 ,then turning toward ,john ,he said1 ,behold6 thy mother6 ,in these words ,jesus committed ,his mother to ,john without asking whether he would accept the charge4 ,from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home4 ,it is a question whether or not the phrase1 from that hour1 is to be taken literally4 ,it may be that the blessed words1 mother and son1 were as a final benediction1 after which ,john led her away1 and then returned to the cross4 ,or1 it may be that the mother-heart compelled her to witness the closing scenes4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,virgin ,,and ,,st4 ,,john ,,at ,,the ,,cross ,old ,engraving ,page #aic ,if we pause long enough to inquire why ,john was chosen to be trusted with this special charge1 we can find probable answer4 ,jesus' brethren did not then believe on ,him4 ,mary's heart would go out toward him who did1 especially as he was her kindred as well as of a kindred spirit4 ,his natural character1 loving and lovable1 made him worthy of the trust4 ,apparently he was better able to support her than were any other of the ,apostles1 and perhaps even than her sons4 ,he seems to have been the only ,apostle or relative of ,mary who had a home in ,jerusalem1 where she certainly would choose to dwell among the followers of the ,lord4 ,above all ,john was the beloved disciple of ,mary's beloved son4 ,so to him we can fittingly say3 ,as in death ,he hung1 ,his mantle soft on thee ,he flung ,of filial love1 and named the son2 ,when now that earthly tie was done1 ,to thy tried faith and spotless years ,consigned ,his ,virgin ,mother's tears4 --,isaac ,williams4--,trans4 ,an4 ,latin ,hymn4 ,blessed ,john4 ,when ,jesus called ,his own mother thy mother1 didst thou not almost hear ,him call thee ,my brother8 ,one tradition says that ,john cared for ,mary in ,jerusalem for twelve years1 until her death1 before his going to ,ephesus4 ,another tradition is that she accompanied him thither and was buried there4 ,what a home was theirs1 ever fragrant with the memory of ,him whom they had loved until ,his death4 ,no incidents in ,his life1 from the hour of brightness over ,bethlehem to that of darkness over ,calvary1 was too trivial a thing for their converse4 ,that home in ,jerusalem became what the one in ,nazareth had been1 the most consecrated of earth4 ,what welcomes there of ,christians who could join with ,mary as she repeated her song of thirty-three years before1 ,my soul doth magnify the ,lord1 and my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour4 ,of her we shall gain one more distinct view--the only one4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,descent ,,from ,,the ,,cross ,rubens ,page #bjj ,,chapter ,,xxvii ,john the ,lone ,disciple at the ,cross--,continued ,three sayings on the cross reported by ,john3 ,woman1 behold1 thy son6 ,behold1 thy mother6 ,i thirst4 ,it is finished4 --,john xix4 #bf1 #bg1 #bh1 #cj4 ,of the seven sayings of ,christ on the cross1 three are preserved by ,john only2 one of love1 another of suffering1 and another of triumph4 ,the first is that to ,mary and ,john himself4 ,the second is the cry1 ,i thirst--the only one of the seven concerning the ,lord's bodily sufferings4 ,john was a most observing eyewitness1 as is shown by the details of the narrative1--the vessel full of vinegar1 the sponge filled with vinegar1 and the hyssop on which it was placed1 the movements of the soldiers as they put it to ,christ's lips1 and the manner in which ,he received it4 ,he was willing to accept it to revive ,his strength to suffer1 when ,he would not drink the wine mingled with gall that would relieve ,him from the pain ,he was willing to endure4 ,the end was drawing near4 ,the thirst had long continued4 ,he had borne it patiently for five long hours4 ,why did ,he at last utter the cry1 ,i thirst8 ,john gives the reason4 ,a prophecy was being fulfilled1 and ,jesus would have it known4 ,it was this3 ,in ,my thirst they gave ,me vinegar to drink4 ,so ,jesus1 444 that the ,scripture might be fulfilled1 saith1 ',i thirst4' ,john watched ,him as ,he took ,his last earthly draught4 ,it was probably of the sour wine for the use of the soldiers on guard4 ,what varied associations he had with wine1--the joyful festivities of ,cana1 the solemnities of the ,upper ,room1 and the sadness of ,calvary4 ,when ,jesus therefore had received the vinegar1 ,he said1 ,it is finished4 ,this is the third of the sayings of ,jesus on the cross preserved by ,john1 who was a special witness to the chief doings of his ,lord on the earth4 ,so the declaration meant more to him than to any other who heard it4 ,yet it had a fulness of meaning which even he could not fully know4 ,jesus' life on earth was finished4 ,he had perfectly obeyed the commandments of ,god4 ,the types and prophecies concerning ,him had been fulfilled4 ,his revelation of truth was completed4 ,the work of man's redemption was done4 ,on the cross ,he affirmed what ,john said ,he declared in the ,upper ,room to ,his ,father3 ,i have glorified ,thee on the earth1 having accomplished the work ,thou hast given ,me to do4 ,all four ,evangelists tell of the moment when ,jesus yielded up ,his life1 but ,john alone of the act that accompanied it as the signal thereof1 which his observant eye beheld4 ,he bowed ,his head1--not as the helpless victim of the executioner's knife upon the fatal block1 but as the ,lord of ,life who had said1 ,no one taketh it away from ,me1 but ,i lay it down of ,myself4 ,john makes mention of another incident without which the story of the crucifixion would be incomplete4 ,mary ,magdalene and other loving women had left the cross1 but were gazing toward it as they stood afar off4 ,john remained with the soldiers who were watching the bodies of the crucified4 ,the ,jews1 444 that the bodies should not remain upon the cross upon the ,sabbath1 asked of ,pilate that their legs might be broken--to hasten death--and that they might be taken away4 ,as ,john saw the soldiers break the legs of the first and of the other which was crucified with ,jesus1 with what a shudder did he see them approach ,his cross2 but what a relief to him when they saw that ,he was dead already1 and brake not ,his legs4 ,in a single clause ,john pictures a scene ever vivid in ,christian thought4 ,he knew that ,jesus gave up ,his spirit when ,he bowed ,his head4 ,the executioners pronounced ,him dead4 ,howbeit one of the soldiers--to make this certain beyond dispute--with a spear pierced ,his side1 and straightway there came out blood and water4 ,there was now no pain to excite the ,apostle's sympathy1 and yet he reports the incident as being of special importance4 ,he calls attention to the fact that he was an eye-witness1 and that there was something in it that should affect others as well as himself4 ,he says1 ,he that hath seen hath borne witness1 and his witness is true2 and he knoweth that he saith true1 that ye also may believe4 ,he explains why these incidents so deeply impressed him4 ,they recalled two prophecies of the ,old ,testament4 ,one was this1 ,a bone of ,him shall not be broken4 ,this reminded ,john of the ,paschal ,lamb which should be perfect in body2 and of ,jesus as the ,lamb of ,god1 by which name ,he had been called when pointed out to him as the ,messiah4 ,all through life ,jesus had been preserved from accident that would have broken a bone1 and in death even from the intended purpose that would have defeated the fulfilment of the prophecy4 ,the other prophecy was this1--,they shall look on ,him whom they pierced4 ,because of what ,john saw and tells1 we pray in song1 ,let the water and the blood ,from ,thy riven side which flowed1 ,be of sin the double cure3 ,cleanse me from its guilt and power4 ,illustration3 ,,in ,,the ,,sepulchre ,h4 ,hofmann ,page #bja ,john once more furnishes a contrast between ,jesus' foes and friends4 ,he says that the ,jews asked ,pilate that the bodies of the crucified might be taken away4 ,this was to the dishonored graves of malefactors4 ,john more fully than the other ,evangelists tells of ,joseph of ,arimathaea who besought ,pilate that he might take away the body of ,jesus--for honorable burial4 ,other ,evangelists tell of his being rich1 a counsellor of honorable estate1 a good man and a righteous1 who had not consented to the counsel and deed of the ,sanhedrin of which he was a member1 because he was ,jesus' disciple4 ,mark says1 ,he boldly went in unto ,pilate and asked for the body of ,jesus4 ,he had summoned courage so to do4 ,hitherto as ,john explains he had been a disciple of ,jesus1 but secretly for fear of the ,jews4 ,john implies that ,joseph was naturally timid like ,nicodemus4 ,as ,pilate had delivered ,jesus to ,his open enemies to be crucified1 he delivered the crucified body to ,joseph1 the once secret but now open friend4 ,the ,jews led him--the living ,christ--away to crucify ,him4 ,joseph came and tenderly took away ,his body from the cross4 ,there came also ,nicodemus1 says ,john1 he who at the first came to ,him by night4 ,yes1 that night which ,john could not forget1 in which to this same ,nicodemus ,jesus made known the ,gospel of ,god's love1 manifested in the gift of ,his ,son whose body in that hour these timid yet emboldened members of the ,sanhedrin took down from the cross4 ,they were sincere mourners with him who watched their tender care as they bound it in linen cloths with the spices for burial1 with no thought of a resurrection4 ,perhaps ,joseph and ,nicodemus recalled moments in the ,sanhedrin when they whispered together1 speaking kindly of ,jesus1 but were afraid to defend ,him aloud2 thus silently giving a seeming consent to evil deeds because timidity concealed their friendship4 ,but at last the very enmity and cruelty of ,his murderers emboldened them as they met at the cross4 ,it is ,john who tells us that ,jesus the night before ,his crucifixion went where was a garden into which ,he entered1 and who also says1 ,now in the place where ,he was crucified there was a garden4 ,the one was ever more suggestive to him of a coming trial2 the other of that trial past4 ,there1 in the garden--probably that of ,joseph--,john says they laid ,jesus4 ,there also were laid ,john's hopes1 which seemed forever buried when ,joseph rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre1 and departed4 ,what a contrast in his thoughts and feelings between the rolling away of the stone from the tomb of ,lazarus1 and the rolling to that of ,jesus4 ,the one told him of resurrection2 but the other of continued death2 for as he afterward confessed1 as yet he and ,peter knew not that ,jesus must rise from the dead4 ,two mourners at least lingered at the closed tomb4 ,mary ,magdalene was there1 and the other ,mary1 sitting over against the sepulchre of their ,lord1 after they beheld where ,he was laid4 ,john's parting from them at that evening hour was in sadness which was to be deepened when he met ,mary ,magdalene again4 ,it is not easy for us to put ourselves in the place of ,john1 as he turns from the tomb toward his lonely home4 ,we know what happened afterward1 but he did not know what would happen1 though his ,lord had tried to teach him4 ,he is repeating to himself the words he had heard from the cross1 ,it is finished1 but he is giving them some difference of meaning from that which ,jesus intended4 ,he is walking slowly and sadly through the streets of ,jerusalem1 dimly lighted by the moon that shone in ,gethsemane the night before upon him and his living ,lord4 ,we imagine him saying to himself3--,truly it is finished3 all is over now4 ,how disappointed ,i am4 ,i do not believe ,he intended to deceive me1 yet ,i have been deceived4 ,from early childhood ,i looked1 as ,i was taught to do1 for the coming of the ,messiah4 ,on ,jordan ,i thought ,i had found ,him4 ,he chose me for one of ,his twelve1 then one of the three1 then the one of ,his special love4 ,what a joy this has been1 brightening for three years my hopes and expectations4 ,i have seen ,him work miracles1 even raising the dead4 ,i have seen ,him defeat the plots of evil men against ,him1 and did not believe any power on earth could destroy ,him4 ,i have watched to see ,him the great and glorious ,king4 ,but to-day instead of this ,i have seen ,him crucified as the feeblest and worst of men4 ,i do remember now how ,moses and ,elijah1 when we were with them on the ,holy ,mount1 talked with ,him of ',his departure which ,he was about to accomplish at ,jerusalem4' ,but ,i did not understand them1 nor even ,himself when1 just before we ascended the ,mount1 ,he told us 'how that ,he must go to ,jerusalem and suffer many things1 444 and be killed4' ,i do not wonder that ,peter then said to ,him1 ',be it far from ,thee1 ,lord1' though the ,lord was right in rebuking him4 ,can it be only last night ,he said1 ',tarry with ,me4' ,how gladly would ,i do it now4 ,but ,he is dead1 and buried out of my sight4 ,oh that ,i might see ,him rise1 as ,i did the daughter of ,jairus4 ,oh that ,i might roll away the stone from ,his tomb as ,i helped to do from that of ,lazarus1 and see ,him come forth4 ,how gladly would ,i 'loose ,him' from ,his 'grave-bands' and remove the 'napkin bound about ,his face4' ,i know it was a mean and shameful taunt of ,his revilers when they said1 ',if ,thou art the ,son of ,god1 come down from the cross4' ,but why did ,he not do it8 ,i remember how once ,he said concerning ,his life1 'no one taketh it away from ,me4' ,but have not ,pilate and the ,jews taken it away8 ,i shall never lean upon ,his bosom again4 ,but this ,i know--,he loved me1 and ,i loved ,him1 and love ,him still4 ,the mysteries are great1 but the memories of ,him will be exceedingly precious forever4 ,illustration3 ,,jesus ,,appearing ,,to ,,mary ,,magdalene 7,easter ,morning7 ,b4 ,plockhorst ,page #bji ,poor ,john4 ,he forgot those other words of ,his ,lord concerning ,his life1--,i have power to lay it down1 and ,i have power to take it again4 ,the ,lord had done the one already3 ,he was soon to do the other1 though ,his sorrowing disciple understood it not4 ,meanwhile we leave him1 resting if possible from the weariness of the garden and the palace and ,calvary1 during that ,friday night1 which was to be followed by a day of continued sadness1 and that by another night of sorrowful restlessness4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii ,john at the ,tomb ,now on the first day of the week cometh ,mary ,magdalene early1 while it was yet dark1 unto the tomb1 and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb4 ,she runneth therefore1 and cometh to ,simon ,peter1 and to the other disciple1 whom ,jesus loved4 ,peter therefore went forth1 and the other disciple1 and they went toward the tomb4 ,simon ,peter 444 entered into the tomb4 ,then entered in therefore the other disciple also1 444 and he saw and believed4--,john xx4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #f1 #h4 ,let us take ,john for our instructor in the swiftness of love1 and ,peter for our teacher in courage4--,stalker4 ,oh1 sacred day1 sublimest day6 ,oh1 mystery unheard6 ,death's hosts that claimed ,him as their prey ,he scattered with a word2 ,and from the tomb ,he valiant came2 ,and ever blessed be ,his name4 --,kingo4 ,trans4 ,hymns of ,denmark4 ,mine eye hath found that sepulchral rock ,that was the casket of ,heav'n's richest store4 --,milton4--,the ,passion4 ,of the women who visited the tomb of ,jesus on the morning of the ,resurrection1 ,john was especially interested in ,mary ,magdalene1 from whom seven demons had gone out1 probably in his presence2 thus giving him opportunity to see the marvelous change from a most abject condition1 to grateful devotion to her ,healer1 perhaps beyond that of any other one whom ,he healed4 ,john long remembered her starting on her errand while it was yet dark4 ,so he remembered ,judas starting when it was night on his errand1 of which ,mary's was the sad result4 ,one was a deed of love which no darkness hindered3 the other was a deed of hate which no darkness prevented or concealed4 ,john had a special reason for remembering ,mary4 ,when she had seen that the stone was taken away from the tomb1 it had a different meaning to her from what it did when she and ,john saw it on ,friday evening4 ,and when she found not the body of the ,lord ,jesus1 she imagined that either friends had borne it away1 or foes had robbed the tomb4 ,in surprise1 disappointment and anxiety1 her first impulse was to make it known--to whom else than to him who had sorrowed with her at the stone-closed door8 ,so she ran--not with unwomanly haste1 but with the quickened step of woman's love--to ,simon ,peter and to the other disciple whom ,jesus loved4 ,they were both loved1 but not in the fuller sense elsewhere applied to ,john4 ,astonished at her early call1 startled at the wildness of her grief1 sharing her anxiety1 they ran both together toward the tomb from which she had so hastily come4 ,but it was an uneven race4 ,john1 younger and nimbler1 outran ,peter and came first to the tomb4 ,yet entered he not in4 ,reverence and awe make him pause where love has brought him4 ,for a few moments he is alone4 ,his earnest gaze confirms the report of ,mary that somebody has taken away the ,lord4 ,he can only ask1 ,who8 ,why8 ,where8 ,no angel gives answer4 ,still his gaze is rewarded4 ,he seeth the linen cloths lying4 ,these are silent witnesses that the precious body has not been hastily and rudely snatched away by unfriendly hands1 such as had mangled it on the cross4 ,peter arriving1 everywhere and evermore impulsive1 enters at once where ,john fears to tread4 ,he discovers what ,john had not seen1--the napkin that was upon ,his head1 not lying with the linen cloths1 but rolled up in a place by itself4 ,john does not tell whose head1 so full is he of the thought of his ,lord4 ,then entered in therefore that other disciple also1 says ,john of himself1 showing the influence of his bolder companion upon him4 ,though the napkin escaped his notice from without the tomb1 it found a prominent place in his memory after he saw it4 ,who but an eye-witness would give us such details8 ,what does he mean us to infer from the rolled napkin put away1 if not the calmness and carefulness and triumph of the ,lord of ,life as ,he tarried in ,his tomb long enough to lay aside the bandages of death4 ,when he saw the careful arrangement of the grave-cloths1 he believed that ,jesus had risen4 ,we are not to infer from his mention of himself only that ,peter did not share in this belief4 ,we can believe that ,luke does not complete the story when he says that ,peter departed to his home wondering at that which was come to pass4 ,as they came down from the ,mount of ,transfiguration they were questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead should mean4 ,as they came from the tomb they questioned no longer4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,descent ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,old ,engraving ,page #bbd ,we long for a yet fuller record than that which ,john has given of what passed when he and ,peter were within the tomb4 ,he frankly tells us that as yet they knew not the ,scriptures1 that ,he must rise again from the dead4 ,neither prophecy1 nor the ,scriptures1 nor the ,lord's repeated declarations1 had prepared them for this hour of fulfilment4 ,we imagine them lingering in the tomb1 talking of the past1 recalling the words of their ,lord1 illumined in the very darkness of ,his sepulchre1 and both wondering what the future might reveal4 ,at last they left the tomb together4 ,there was no occasion now for ,john to outrun ,peter4 ,they were calm and joyful4 ,there was nothing more to see or to do4 ,so the disciples went away again unto their own home4 ,but ,mary was standing without at the tomb weeping4 ,in these words ,john turns our thoughts from himself to her who had summoned him and ,peter1 and then followed them4 ,after they had left the sepulchre she continued standing1 bitterly weeping4 ,she could not refrain from seeking that which she had told the disciples was not there4 ,her gaze was at the very cause of her grief4 ,she stooped and looked into the tomb as ,john had done4 ,from the infancy of ,jesus to ,his death there was no ministry of angels to men1 though they ministered to ,him4 ,the ,master being by1 it behooved the servant to keep silence4 ,but the angelic voices that proclaimed ,his birth1 were heard again after ,his resurrection4 ,according to ,john's minute description ,mary beholdeth two angels in white sitting1 one at the head1 and one at the feet1 where the body of ,jesus had lain4 ,the angelic silence was broken by them both1 with the question1 ,woman1 why weepest thou--so bitterly and continuously8 ,they might have added1 ,it is all without a cause4 ,her answer was quick and brief2 and without any fear of the shining ones who lightened the gloomy tomb1 and were ready to lighten her darkened spirit4 ,her reply was the echo of her own words to ,peter and ,john1 slightly changed to show her personal loss2--,because they have taken away my ,lord1 and ,i know not where they have laid ,him4--,am ,i not wretched indeed8 ,is there not a cause8 ,why should ,i check my tears8 ,to answer was needless4 ,were not the angels in the blessed secret which was immediately revealed8 ,were they not glancing from within the tomb1 over her bowed head1 to the gently moving form without8 ,did ,mary become suddenly conscious of some presence as she turns herself back1 and beholdeth ,jesus standing1 and knew not that it was ,jesus8 ,his question seemed an echo of the angelic voices1 ,woman1 why weepest thou8 with the added question1 ,whom seekest thou8 ,this was the first utterance of the risen ,lord4 ,in the garden1 at this early hour1 who--so thought ,mary--can this be but the gardener8 ,as such she addressed ,him1 ,sir1 ,if thou hast borne ,him hence1 tell me where thou hast laid ,him1 and ,i will take ,him away4 ,we can hardly restrain a smile when we see how the strength of her love made her unmindful of the weakness that would attempt to take ,him away4 ,jesus saith unto her1 ,mary4 ,that name1 that familiar voice1 that loving tone1 sent a thrill through her heart which the name woman had failed to excite4 ,more completely she turned herself1 and saith unto ,him1 ,rabboni1 with all the devotion of her impassioned soul4 ,let us recall ,john's account of ,mary's report of her first visit to the tomb1 full of sadness--,they have taken away the ,lord1 and then in contrast place by its side his record of her second report1 full of gladness--,mary ,magdalene1 cometh and telleth the disciples1 ,i have seen the ,lord4 ,the one was a mistaken inference2 the other a blessed reality4 ,between these two utterances on the same day what revelations to them both4 ,but the end was not yet4 ,when therefore it was evening1 on that day1 the first day of the week1 and when the doors were shut where the disciples were1 for fear of the ,jews1 ,jesus came and stood in the midst1 and saith unto them1 ,peace be unto you4 ,so ,john describes the first meeting of ,jesus with the disciples after ,his resurrection4 ,he gives hints of some things of which other ,evangelists are silent4 ,with emphasis he notes that day as the day of days whose rising sun revealed resurrection glory4 ,that evening must have recalled the last one on which they had been together4 ,then the ,lord had said unto them1 ,peace ,i leave with you4 ,but the benediction had seemed almost a mockery1 because of the sorrow which followed4 ,but now it was repeated with a renewed assurance of ,his power to bestow it4 ,through fear of the ,jews they had closed the doors of probably the same ,upper ,room where they had been assembled before4 ,these doors were no barrier to ,his entry1 any more than the stone to ,his leaving ,his tomb4 ,illustration3 ,,st4 ,,peter ,,and ,,st4 ,,john ,,at ,,the ,,beautiful ,,gate ,old ,engraving ,page #bbe ,as ,john alone preserved the incident of the pierced side1 he alone tells how ,jesus showed unto them ,his 444 side1 and said to ,thomas1 at the next meeting1 ,reach hither thy hand and thrust it into ,my side2 and how this was followed by ,thomas' believing exclamation1 ,my ,lord1 and my ,god4 ,with this and the ,lord's beatitude for other believing ones1 ,john originally ended his story of the ,lord1 in these words1--,many other signs therefore did ,jesus in the presence of ,his disciples which are not written in this book3 but these are written1 that ye may believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god2 and that believing ye may have life in ,his name4 ,,chapter ,,xxix ,what ,shall ,this ,man ,do8 ,jesus manifested ,himself again to the disciples at the ,sea of ,tiberias4--,john xxi4 #a4 ,there were together ,simon ,peter 444 and the sons of ,zebedee4--v4 #b4 ,peter1 turning about1 seeth the disciple whom ,jesus loved following4--v4 #bj4 ,peter 444 saith to ,jesus1 ,lord1 and ,what shall this man do8--v4 #ba4 ,the twenty-first chapter of ,john's ,gospel is without doubt an addition1 written some time after the original ,gospel was finished4 ,why this addition8 ,to answer the question we must recall the things of which the addition tells4 ,they are of special interest in our studies of ,peter and ,john4 ,in our last chapter we were with ,john in ,jerusalem4 ,from there he carries us to the ,sea of ,tiberias4 ,he tells us that he and his brother ,james1 and ,peter1 with four others1 were there together4 ,they were near their childhood home1 where they had watched for the ,messiah1 and where1 when ,he had appeared ,he called them to leave their fishing employment1 and to become fishers of men4 ,they had been saddened by ,his death1 then gladdened by ,his resurrection4 ,he had told them to meet ,him in ,galilee4 ,and now they were waiting for ,his coming4 ,they were within sight of a boat from which perhaps some day they had fished4 ,peter1 ever active and ready to do something1 said to his companions1 ,i go a-fishing4 ,as ,john had followed him into the tomb1 he and the others followed him to the boat saying1 ,we also come with thee4 ,let ,john himself tell what happened4 ,they went forth and entered into the boat2 and that night they took nothing4 ,but when day was now breaking1 ,jesus stood on the beach3 howbeit the disciples knew not that it was ,jesus4 ,jesus therefore saith unto them1 ,children1 have ye aught to eat8 ,they answered ,him1 ,no4 ,and ,he said unto them1 ,cast the net on the right side of the boat1 and ye shall find4 ,they cast therefore1 and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes4 ,once more we are to find ,peter and ,john the prominent figures1 and see the difference between them1 ,john being the first to understand1 and ,peter the first to act4 ,when ,john saw the multitude of fishes he remembered the same thing had happened before at the beginning of ,christ's ministry4 ,looking toward the land1 and whispering to ,peter1 he said1 ,it is the ,lord4 ,so when ,simon ,peter heard that it was the ,lord1 he girt his coat about him--out of reverence for his ,master--and cast himself into the sea1 and swam or waded about one hundred yards to the beach4 ,the other disciples followed in the boat1 dragging the net with the fishes4 ,john remembered their great size1 and the number an hundred and fifty and three4 ,he says1 ,when they got out upon the land1 they see a fire of coals there4 ,did it not remind him of another fire of coals of which he had already written1 kindled in the court of the high-priestly palace where ,peter stood and warmed himself1 and near which he denied his ,lord three times8 ,if he did not recall that scene immediately1 he did very soon4 ,jesus invited the disciples to eat of the meal he had prepared4 ,as they did so they were filled with awe and reverence1 knowing that it was the ,lord4 ,in the light of the palace fire1 the ,lord turned and looked upon ,peter--that only4 ,but in the morning light on the seashore1 when they had broken their fast1 ,jesus saith to ,simon ,peter1 ,lovest thou ,me8 ,three times1 with some difference of meaning1 gently and solemnly ,he asked the question as many times as ,peter had denied ,him4 ,on ,peter's first assurance of his love ,christ gave him a new commission1 ,feed ,my lambs4 ,this was a humble work1--not so exalted as it is now--a test of ,peter's fitness for ,apostleship4 ,he was ready to accept it2 and thus he showed his fitness for the enlarged commission1 ,feed ,my sheep4 ,with what intense interest ,john must have listened to the conversation between his friend and their ,lord4 ,was he not as ready as ,peter to say1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest all things2 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee8 ,in the end ,john fulfilled the commission1 ,feed ,my lambs1 better than either ,peter or any of the other ,apostles4 ,of them all he had the most of the child-like spirit4 ,he may fittingly be called the ,apostle of ,childhood4 ,peter was told by the ,lord something about his own future1--how in faithful service for his ,master he would be persecuted1 and by what manner of death he should glorify ,god4 ,by this his crucifixion is apparently meant4 ,as ,john listened1 perhaps he wondered what his own future would be4 ,he was ready to share in service with ,peter4 ,was he not also ready to share in his fate1 whatever it might be8 ,follow ,me1 said ,jesus to ,peter4 ,they seem to have started together away from the group4 ,john felt that he must not be thus separated from his friend and his ,lord4 ,though he had not been invited to join them1 he started to do so1 as if the command to ,peter had been also for himself4 ,peter1 turning about1 seeth the disciple whom ,jesus loved following2 which also leaned back on ,his breast at the supper1 and said1 ,lord1 who is he that betrayeth ,thee8 ,as ,peter at the supper beckoned unto ,john to ask that question concerning ,judas1 is it not possible that ,john now beckoned to ,peter to ask ,christ concerning himself8 ,however this may be1 ,peter1 seeing him1 saith to ,jesus1 ,lord1 what shall this man do8 or1 as it is interpreted1 ,lord--and this man1 what8 ,it is as if he had said1 ,will ,john also die a martyr's death1 as you have said ,i shall die8 ,it is not strange that he wanted to know the future of his friend4 ,but he did not receive the answer he sought1 for ,jesus saith unto him1 ,if ,i will that he tarry till ,i come1 what is that to thee8 ,these words may mean that ,john would live to old age and escape martyrdom1 which became true4 ,but this was not the meaning which ,christians of his day put into them4 ,they had the mistaken idea that ,christ1 having ascended to ,heaven1 would soon come again4 ,they also believed that ,john would live until ,christ's second coming4 ,this saying therefore went forth among the brethren1 that that disciple should not die4 ,john was unwilling to have this mistake concerning ,christ's words repeated over and over wherever he was known4 ,so he determined to correct the false report by adding what is the twenty-first chapter of ,his ,gospel1 telling just what ,christ did say1 and the circumstances in which ,he uttered the words to ,peter concerning ,john4 ,his testimony is this3--,jesus said not unto him1 he shall not die2 but1 ,if ,i will that he tarry till ,i come1 what is that to thee8 ,follow thou ,me4 ,peter became the suffering2 ,john the waiting disciple1 tarrying a long time1 even after his friend was crucified1 and all his fellow-,apostles had died1 probably by martyrdom4 ,but after all that ,john wrote to correct the mistaken report concerning ,his death1 tradition would not let him die4 ,it affirmed that although he was thrown into a caldron of boiling oil at ,rome1 and though he was compelled to drink hemlock1 he was unharmed2 and that though he was buried1 the earth above his grave heaved with his breathing1 as if1 still living1 he was tarrying until ,christ should return4 ,what shall this man--,john--do8 asked ,peter4 ,he found partial answer in what they did together for the early ,christian ,church1 until ,john saw by what manner of death ,peter should glorify ,god4 ,and then that church found yet fuller answer in ,john's labors for it while alone he tarried long among them4 ,when ,john tells us that ,peter turned and saw him following1 we recall the hour when ,andrew and he timidly walked along the ,jordan banks1 and ,jesus turned and saw them following1 and welcomed their approach and encouraged them in familiar conversation4 ,how changed is all now6 ,john does not ask as before1 ,where dwellest ,thou8 ,nor does ,jesus bid him ,come and see4 ,he who has become the favored disciple is now better prepared than then to serve his ,master1 following in the path they had trod together1 and having an abiding sense of the blessed though unseen ,presence1 until his ,lord shall bid him1 ,come and see ,my heavenly abode1 and evermore be with ,me where ,i am1 and share at last1 without unholy ambition1 the glory of ,my ,throne4 ,,chapter ,,xxx ,st4 ,john a ,pillar-,apostle in the ,early ,christian ,church ,james and ,cephas and ,john1 they who are reputed to be pillars4--,paul4 ,gal4 ii4 #i4 ,they went up into the upper chamber where they were abiding2 both ,peter and ,john and ,james and ,andrew1 ,philip1 444--,acts i4 #ac4 ,when the day of ,pentecost was now come1 they were all together in one place4--,acts ii4 #a4 ,an angel of the ,lord by night opened the prison doors1 and brought them out4--,acts v4 #ai4 ,now when the ,apostles which were in ,jerusalem heard that ,samaria had received the word of the ,lord1 they sent unto them ,peter and ,john4--,acts viii4 #ad4 ,he 7,herod7 killed ,james the brother of ,john with the sword4--,acts xii4 #b4 ,the next place where we may think of ,john with his ,lord was on a mountain in ,galilee4 ,at least once before ,his death1 and twice after ,his resurrection1 ,he directed ,his ,disciples to meet ,him there4 ,for what purpose8 ,evidently to receive ,his final commission4 ,jesus came to them and spake unto them1 saying1 ,all authority hath been given unto ,me in ,heaven and on earth4 ,go ye therefore1 and make disciples of all the nations1 baptizing them into the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost3 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ,i commanded you3 and lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the world4 ,but the disciples were not yet prepared to fulfil this commission4 ,so ,he appointed another meeting1 to be held in ,jerusalem1 where ,he met them1 speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of ,god4 ,here the command on the mountain was limited by another--not to depart from ,jerusalem immediately4 ,wait said ,he1 for the promise of the ,father which you heard from ,me4 ,that promise we find in ,john's record3--,i will pray the ,father1 and ,he shall give you another ,comforter1 that ,he may abide with you forever4 ,the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 shall teach you all things4 ,he shall testify of ,me4 ,in the fulfilment of that promise1 the disciples were to find the preparation to go and preach4 ,for that preparation they were to wait4 ,jesus then reminds them of the assurance given by ,john the ,baptist concerning ,himself3--,he shall baptize you with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,once more ,john is carried back to the ,jordan1 and reminded of the time when he and ,jesus had been baptized4 ,all those former scenes must have been recalled when ,jesus at the final meeting in ,jerusalem declared1 ,john truly baptized with water1 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence4 ,these words revived in the disciples the hope which had died in them when ,jesus died upon the cross4 ,so1 with yet mistaken ideas1 they asked1 ,lord1 wilt ,thou at this time restore again the kingdom to ,israel8 ,john and the rest of the ,bethsaidan band1 who had heard the ,baptist say that the kingdom of ,god was at hand1 hoped that at this time it would appear4 ,but1 as when ,jesus gave no direct answer to the two pairs of brothers on ,olivet concerning the time of the destruction of ,jerusalem1 or to ,peter's question concerning ,john's future1 so now ,he avoided a direct answer to this last question4 ,he reminded them of something more important for them than knowledge of the future3 that was their own duty1--not to reign1 but to be witnesses for ,him1 first in ,jerusalem1 then throughout ,judaea1 then in ,samaria1 then unto the uttermost parts of the earth4 ,yet this could not be until they had received power after that the ,holy ,ghost had come upon them4 ,this was promised them3 they did not clearly understand what was meant3 they were waiting to see4 ,he led them out until they were over against ,bethany1--well-remembered ,bethany4 ,from there ,jesus had made ,his triumphal entry into the ,city of the ,great ,king3 from there ,he would make a more glorious entry into the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,john was not ,his herald now4 ,he1 with the other ten1 was led by ,him to witness ,his departure4 ,as ,he ascended ,olivet the last time1 did ,he not give a parting glance down the slope into the village below1 ,his eye resting on the home of those ,he loved1 made radiant for us by the search-light thrown upon it by the loved disciple at ,his side8 ,in thought did ,he not say1 ,lazarus1 ,martha1 ,mary1 farewell4 ,the lifted hands1 the parting blessing1 the luminous cloud1 and the vanishing form--such is the brief story of the ,ascension4 ,ye men of ,galilee1 why stand ye looking into ,heaven8 ,the questioners were two angels4 ,without waiting for answer1 they gave promise of ,jesus' return4 ,then returned the disciples unto ,jerusalem from the ,mount called ,olivet4 ,whither bound8 ,we are told1 ,they went up into the upper chamber4 ,no longer simply ,a large upper room to which ,jesus had told ,peter and ,john they would be guided4 ,were they not now the guide of the nine thither1 to the place where they had six weeks before prepared for the ,passover8 ,did not the goodman of the house give the ,disciples a second welcome1 and offer it to them as a temporary place for the ,christian ,church8 ,so it would appear1 for again we are told1 they were there abiding4 ,once more ,luke gives their names1 in the ,acts as he did in his ,gospel4 ,all except ,judas answered1 in that upper room1 to the roll call of the company scattered from ,gethsemane1 but reunited in a closer union4 ,in each of ,luke's lists he begins with the ,bethsaidan band4 ,but he does not preserve the same order4 ,in the latter he begins1 not with the two pairs of brothers as such--,peter and ,andrew1 ,james and ,john1--but with the ,apostles whom ,christ had drawn into ,his inner circle1 ,peter1 ,john and ,james1 naming first the two who were already becoming the acknowledged leaders of the ,christian band4 ,in that list we find the name of ,andrew recorded the last time in ,holy ,writ4 ,but the eleven were not alone3 others resorted thither for the same purpose4 ,what was that purpose8 and who were some of them8 ,this is the answer3--,these all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer1 with the women1 and ,mary the ,mother of ,jesus1 and with ,his brethren4 ,it is here1 for the last time1 that we read of ,mary1 in the ,gospels4 ,in what better place could we bid her farewell than in the room consecrated by the presence of her ,son4 ,how we rejoice with her that in that place the longing of her heart must have been satisfied as she joined with one accord in prayer 444 with ,his brethren--her sons who during ,his life had not believed on ,him4 ,what a welcome to that room did they receive from ,john1 their adopted brother6 ,may we not indulge the thought that among the women were her own daughters2 and that we hear her joyfully asking the once carping question of the ,jews concerning the carpenter's son1 but with changed meaning1 saying1 ,his sisters1 are they not all with us8 ,if so ,his ,mother called ,mary1 and ,his brethren1 and ,his sisters1 and ,john the adopted son and brother1 were at last a blessed family indeed4 ,mary on her knees with her children around her1 rejoicing in ,god her ,saviour1 of whom she had sung in the infancy of her ,son--that certainly is a fitting scene to be the last in which we behold the ,mother of ,jesus4 ,when the day of ,pentecost was now come1 they were all together in one place4 ,they were united in feeling1 purpose and devotion1 in the one place1 the home of the early ,church4 ,the hour had come for the fulfilment of the promise of their ,lord1 for which they were to tarry in ,jerusalem and wait4 ,there was a great miracle1--a sound from ,heaven as of the rushing of a mighty wind which filled the house4 ,flame-like tongues1 having the appearance of fire rested on the heads of the disciples1 who were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he gave them utterance as they spoke in languages they had not known before4 ,crowds of foreigners in the city were confounded because that every man heard them speaking in his own language4 ,on the morning of that day the ,church numbered one hundred and twenty4 ,there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls4 ,st4 ,john was one of those filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 according to the prophecy he had heard by the ,baptist1 and the promise by ,christ4 ,on him rested a fiery tongue4 ,to him the ,spirit gave utterance1 perhaps in the languages of those among whom he was to labor in ,asia ,minor1 from where some of these strangers had come4 ,he was in full sympathy with that ,christian company1 an actor with them1 a leader of them1 a pillar for them strong and immovable4 ,but the ,upper ,room was not the only place where ,john worshiped4 ,the ,temple was still a sanctuary where such as he communed with ,god4 ,the hour for the evening prayer was nearing when ,peter and ,john were going up into the ,temple4 ,they reached the ,beautiful ,gate1 which ,josephus describes as made of ,corinthian brass1 surpassing in beauty other temple gates1 even those which were overlaid with silver and gold4 ,by it they saw what doubtless they had often seen before1 a lame man who1 during most of the forty years of his life1 had been daily brought thither4 ,his weakness was a great contrast to the massive strength of the pillar against which he leaned1 as he counted the long hours and the coins he received in charity4 ,his haggard appearance and ugly deformity were a greater contrast to the richness and symmetry of the gate which was so fittingly called ,beautiful4 ,was there something especially benignant in the faces of the two ,apostles1 that encouraged the poor creature to hail them as he saw them about to go into the ,temple8 ,they were willingly detained4 ,peter1 fastening his eyes on him1 with ,john1 said1 ',look on us4' ,a gift was bestowed richer far than that for which he had hoped4 ,they were full of joy themselves1 and of pity for him1 and of a sense of the power of their ,lord1 so often exercised in their presence4 ,therefore the command1 ,in the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 walk4 ,that was a strange sight to those who had long known the beggar1 as he held ,peter with one hand and ,john with the other1 as if leading them into the ,temple1 into which he entered1 walking1 and leaping1 and praising ,god4 ,the glad shout of the healed man attracted a crowd around him1 greatly wondering4 ,the ,apostles declared that the miracle was by no power of their own1 but by that of ,jesus who had been killed1 but had risen from the dead4 ,for this they were arrested and put in prison--strange place for such men and for such a reason4 ,on the next day they were brought before the rulers who demanded by what power they had done this thing4 ,again the disciples declared it was in the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 whom the ,jews crucified1 but whom ,god had raised from the dead4 ,the rulers were amazed when they saw the boldness of ,peter and ,john4 ,they had known the power of ,jesus' words3 they saw a like power in the words of the ,apostles1 whom they were assured had been with ,him and been aided by ,him4 ,but this did not check their rage1 which was increased as they saw how many believed the ,apostles4 ,the three thousand converts on the day of ,pentecost were increased to five thousand4 ,illustration3 ,,ephesus ,from ,photograph ,page #bcb ,as leaders of the ,christian company ,peter and ,john were again put into prison--into the public jail for malefactors4 ,but the divine power which had been used through them was now used for them4 ,a solemn warning was given to the daring wickedness of the rulers4 ,when they thought their prisoners kept with all safety1 in the darkness1 behind bolted doors1 an angel of the ,lord by night opened the prison doors1 and brought them out1 and said1 ',go ye1 and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this ,life4' ,we know not the manner in which he led them out as he invisibly opened and closed the doors through which they passed1 to obey without fear the heavenly bidding4 ,with consternation the rulers heard a messenger declare1 in words almost echoing the angel's command1 ,behold the men whom ye put in prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people4 ,persecution scattered ,christians who fled from ,jerusalem1 telling wherever they went1 of ,christ as the ,saviour4 ,a deacon named ,philip preached in ,samaria with great effect4 ,now when the ,apostles which were at ,jerusalem heard that ,samaria had received the word of ,god1 they sent unto them ,peter and ,john1 who1 when they were come down1 prayed for them that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,these two were chosen because they had taken the most active part in establishing the church in ,jerusalem1 and were specially fitted for similar work elsewhere4 ,with what peculiar feelings ,john must have entered ,samaria4 ,he must have recalled a day when hot and weary he had journeyed thither with his ,lord and met the ,samaritaness at the well4 ,perhaps he now met her again1 and together they talked over that wonderful conversation which made her the first missionary to her people1 many of whom declared1 ,we know that this is indeed the ,saviour of the world4 ,did ,john on this visit enter into a village of the ,samaritans--the same where he had said1 ,lord1 wilt ,thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven and consume them8 ,is it of them that it is now said he prayed for them8 ,his fire of indignation and revenge had changed to the fire of love4 ,the pentecostal flames had rested on his head4 ,once more--only once--we find the names of ,james and ,john together4 ,one short sentence1 full of pathos1 of injustice and cruelty1 of affection and sorrow1 tells a story of the early ,church3 ,herod killed ,james the brother of ,john with the sword4 ,he was the first martyr of the ,apostles4 ,the smaller circle of the three1 and the larger one of the twelve1 is broken4 ,for these brothers we may take up ,david's lamentation over ,saul and ,jonathan1 slightly changed1 and say1 ,they were lovely and pleasant in their lives3 but in their death they were divided1--for through half a century ,john mourned the loss of his loved companion from childhood4 ,after ,james--one of the three whom ,paul named pillars--had fallen1 the other two1 ,peter and ,john1 stood for awhile side by side in strength and beauty4 ,to each of them he might have given the name ,jachin by which one of the pillars of ,solomon's temple was called1 meaning1 whom ,god strengthens4 ,peter was the next to fall1 after which ,john long stood alone1 until at last the three whom first we saw by the ,sea of ,galilee1 stood together by the glassy sea1 in each of them fulfilled the promise made through ,john1 by their ,lord1--,he that overcometh1 ,i will make him a pillar in the ,temple of my ,god1 and he shall go out thence no more4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,isle ,,of ,,patmos ,old ,engraving ,page #bcc ,,chapter ,,xxxi ,last ,days ,i ,john 444 was in the isle that is called ,patmos1 for the word of ,god1 and the testimony of ,jesus4444 ,and ,i heard behind me a great voice1 as of a trumpet saying1 ,what thou seest1 write in a book1 and send it to the seven churches4--,rev4 i4 #i-aa4 ,since ,i1 whom ,christ's mouth taught1 was bidden teach1 ,i went1 for many years1 about the world1 ,saying1 ',it was so2 so ,i heard and saw1' ,speaking as the case asked2 and men believed4 ,afterward came the message to myself ,in ,patmos ,isle4 ,i was not bidden teach1 ,but simply listen1 take a book and write1 ,nor set down other than the given word1 ,with nothing left to my arbitrament ,to choose or change2 ,i wrote1 and men believed4 ,from ,samaria ,john with ,peter returned to ,jerusalem4 ,this is the last record of him in the ,acts4 ,we have but little information concerning him after that event4 ,he suddenly disappears4 ,we have two glimpses of him which are historic1 and several through shadowy traditions4 ,there was a very important meeting in ,jerusalem to settle certain questions in which the early ,church was greatly interested1 and about which there had been much difference in judgment and feeling4 ,st4 ,paul was present4 ,he says that ,st4 ,john was there1 one of the three ,pillar-,apostles who gave to him and ,barnabas the right hands of fellowship4 ,this is the only time of which we certainly know of the meeting of these two ,apostles2 though we have imagined the possibility of ,john's visiting the school of ,gamaliel1 and worshiping in the ,temple when young ,saul was in ,jerusalem4 ,from this time1 ,a4,d41 #ej1 we lose sight of ,john and do not see him again until ,a4,d41 #fh1 in the ,isle of ,patmos4 ,as his ,lord was hidden eighteen years1 from the time of ,his boyhood visit to ,jerusalem until ,he entered on ,his public ministry1 so long ,his disciple is concealed from our view4 ,leaving ,jerusalem he probably never returned4 ,why he left we do not know4 ,it may have been because of persecutions4 ,perhaps the death of ,mary relieved him from the charge we may believe he had faithfully kept1 and thus made it possible for him to go about like other ,apostles to preach the ,gospel4 ,if so we have no hint in what direction he went4 ,he may have gone directly to ,ephesus4 ,on reaching it perhaps he found a welcome from some who had heard him speak in their own language on the day of ,pentecost4 ,it was a populous city1 wealthy and wicked4 ,its magnificent ,temple of ,diana was one of the seven wonders of the world4 ,its ruins give us a hint of its former glory4 ,all the traditions of early times make ,ephesus the home of ,st4 ,john in the latter part of his life4 ,from it as a centre he ministered to the ,churches of ,asia ,minor4 ,gospel truth found its way thither1 even before ,paul made it the centre of his third missionary tour4 ,he was driven from it1 but he left the foundation of a ,christian ,church1 upon which ,john builded4 ,there were like foundations in at least six other important cities of ,asia ,minor--,smyrna1 ,pergamum1 ,thyatira1 ,sardis1 ,philadelphia and ,laodicea4 ,the silence of the latter half of ,st4 ,john's life is broken but once1 and that by himself4 ,he tells us that he was in the isle that is called ,patmos4 ,it was not far from ,ephesus1 within a day's sail4 ,it is a huge rock1 rugged and barren1 only a few miles in length4 ,why was ,john in ,patmos8 ,he says1 for the word of ,god and the testimony of ,jesus4 ,what does he mean by this8 ,perhaps that he was led thither by circumstances of which we do not know1 or by the guidance of the ,spirit of ,god1 who there would make wonderful revelations to him4 ,but more probably he was banished thither for the preaching of the ,gospel of ,jesus1 and for being a faithful follower of ,him1 notwithstanding the persecutions of ,nero or ,domitian4 ,as told in an ancient ,latin hymn1-- ,to desert islands banished1 ,with ,god the exile dwells1 ,and sees the future glory ,his mystic writing tells4 ,the grotto of ,la ,scala may have been the spot from which he looked out upon the ,a,egean ,sea1 and upward into the heavens1 communing in solitude with his own thoughts1 or with his ,lord for whom he was there4 ,patmos was for this a fitting place1 whether he had gone there from his own choice1 or had been driven thither by the cruelty of his persecutor4 ,in such solitude did ,milton muse1 and ,bunyan dream4 ,it was the ,lord's ,day1 says ,john4 ,he alone1 and at this time only1 uses that name with which we have become familiar1 though it may have been in common use among the early ,christians4 ,it meant much to ,john1 even more than to us4 ,it was a reminder of the day when he looked into1 and then entered1 the tomb of his ,lord1 and believed that ,he had risen from the dead4 ,his meditations may have been aided by ,old ,testament ,manuscripts1 his only companions2 especially that of ,daniel1 in which it is claimed the spirit and imagery of the ,book of ,revelation is steeped4 ,what a contrast there was between the peaceful waves of ,gennesaret1 creeping silently upon the sandy beach of his childhood home1 and the breakers dashing upon the rocky coast of his exile abode in his old age6 ,how suggestive of the calm and turmoil of his life6 ,illustration3 ,,smyrna ,old ,engraving ,page #bcc ,but his musings were suddenly broken by a great voice1 as of a trumpet1 giving a command--,what thou seest1 write in a book4 ,he says1 ,i turned to see the voice that spake with me4 ,he beheld his ,lord in greater grandeur than he had seen ,him on earth1 even on ,hermon4 ,as he gazed upon the divine figure he must have exclaimed1 ,can this be ,he who used to stray1 ,a pilgrim on the world's highway1 ,oppressed by power1 and mocked by pride1 ,the ,nazarene1 the ,crucified6 ,we do not wonder that he says1--,when ,i saw ,him1 ,i fell at ,his feet as one dead4 ,so had ,paul done when the ,lord appeared to him at ,damascus4 ,john adds1 ,he laid ,his right hand upon me1 saying1 ,fear not4 ,the words seem almost an echo from the ,holy ,mount1--,jesus came and touched them1 and said1 ,arise1 and be not afraid4 ,the command to ,john was renewed1 to write--of things which he had seen1 and what he was yet to behold4 ,the early ,christians called him the ,eagle1 meaning that of all the sacred writers he had the loftiest visions of divine truth4 ,john's writings are of three kinds1 the ,book of ,the ,revelation of the secret purposes of ,god2 his ,gospel2 and his three ,epistles or letters4 ,although ,the ,revelation is the last of the books of the ,bible1 it is probably the first of those by ,john4 ,it contains messages from the ,lord in ,heaven to the seven churches in ,asia1 which we have mentioned1 concerning their virtues and their failings4 ,to each was given a special promise of reward to those who overcame sin1 and were faithful to ,christ4 ,from this ,revelation of ,john we get our imagery of ,heaven1 helping us to understand something of its glory4 ,his ,gospel is supposed to have been written next4 ,why did he write it8 ,as we have noticed1 ,matthew1 ,mark and ,luke had already written their ,gospels4 ,but there was abundant reason for ,john's writing the fourth ,gospel4 ,we need not doubt the tradition that he was urged to do so by the disciples1 elders and bishops of the early ,church4 ,they had heard him tell much concerning ,christ of which the first three ,evangelists had not told4 ,these things were too precious to be forgotten1 or to be changed by frequent repetition after his lips were silent4 ,that must be soon1 for he was very old1 having long passed the limit of human age4 ,they had listened to the story of the early call of the disciples1 and of the first miracle at ,cana1 and of the night visit of ,nicodemus to ,jesus1 and of the talk by the well of ,samaria with the ,samaritaness1 and of the washing of the disciples' feet1 and of many other things which ,jesus said and did of which no one had written4 ,in ,john's talks with ,christians1 and his preaching in their churches1 he explained fully and simply the teachings of ,jesus1 as no one else had done1 or could do4 ,they longed for a record of them1 that they might read it themselves1 and leave it to their children1 and those who never could hear the words from his lips4 ,so ,st4 ,john wrote his ,gospel1 giving to his first readers his great reason1--,these are written that ye may believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god2 and that believing ye may have life in ,his name4 ,for the writing of his first ,epistle he also gives a reason1 saying1--,that which we have heard1 that which we have seen with our eyes1 that which we beheld1 and our hands handled concerning the word of life1 444 that 444 declare we unto you also1 that ye also may have fellowship with us4 ,through these words ,john draws us very near to his ,lord and ours1 ,whom we behold through his eyes1 and hear through his ears4 ,we almost feel the grasp of a divine yet human hand4 ,the great theme is the love of ,god1 or as ,luther expresses it1 ,the main substance of this ,epistle relates to love4 ,john's ,gospel abounds in declarations and illustration of this greatest of truths1 but it does not contain the phrase in this ,epistle in which he sums up the whole ,gospel1 ,,god ,,is ,,love4 ,because of ,john's deep sense of ,god's love1 and because of the depth of his own love1 the ,beloved ,apostle is called1 ,the ,apostle of ,love4 ,john's second ,epistle should be of special interest to the young4 ,from it we infer that there were two ,christian homes1 in each of which ,john took delight4 ,the mothers were sisters4 ,his letter is addressed to ,the elect lady--or as she is sometimes called the ,lady ,electa--and her children4 ,john tells of his love and that of others for them1--,mother and children--because of their ,christian character4 ,he tells of his great joy because of the children walking in the truth--living as children should live who have learned of the teachings of ,christ4 ,from the group of children around him in the home where he wrote1 he sends messages to their aunt1 saying1 ,the children of thine elect sister salute thee4 ,how the children of ,electa must have prized that letter6 ,how little they thought that nineteen hundred years after they received it1 other children would read it1 and think how happy were those who had the ,apostle ,john for their friend4 ,this letter is one of the things that revealed his child-like spirit4 ,we remember the time when he did not have that spirit4 ,at last he did have it because he became so much like his ,master who loved the little ones1 and taught ,his disciples to do the same4 ,john thought of the child-spirit as the ,christ-spirit1 whether it was in the old or the young4 ,he called all who had it children4 ,he called those to whom he ministered in his old age his little children4 ,this he does in the last sentence of his last letter to the ,christian church1--,my little children1 guard yourselves from idols4 ,because of his own child-like spirit and his seeking to cultivate it in others1 and because of his manifest interest in children1 he may be called the ,apostle of ,childhood4 ,there is a beautiful tradition concerning him1 that in his old age1 when he was too feeble to walk to the church or to preach1 he was carried thither1 and said again and again1--,little children1 love one another4 ,some said1 ,master1 why dost thou always say this8 ,he replied1 ,it is the ,lord's command1 and if this alone is done1 it is enough4 ,of his death at the probable age of about one hundred nothing is known4 ,it is claimed that there is a sacred spot somewhere among the tangled thickets of ,mt4 ,prion which looks down on ,ephesus where his body was laid4 ,there is a tradition1 inconsistent with the supposition that ,mary died in ,jerusalem1 that she accompanied ,john to ,ephesus and was buried near him2 her eyes having been closed by him on whom her ,son had looked with dimming vision1 commending her to his loving care4 ,no magnificent tomb marks the place of ,john's burial4 ,none is needed4 ,but there are richer and abundant memorials of ,st4 ,john the ,divine--an imperishable name because that of the ,beloved ,disciple of ,him ,whose name is above every name4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii ,a ,retrospect ,how wonderful and charming a history is that of ,st4 ,john6 ,our glimpses of him have been few and often-times indistinct2 but they have been enough in number and clearness to reveal a noble and lovable character4 ,we saw him first on the sea-shore of ,gennesaret1 not differing from any other ,galilean boy4 ,we watched him playing and fishing with his ,bethsaidan companions1 none of them thinking of how long their friendship would be continued1 or in what new and strange circumstances of joy and sorrow1 hope and fear1 disappointment and glad surprises1 that companionship would become closer and closer4 ,we saw ,john in his rambles about his home1 amid scenes beautiful in themselves1 which became sacred because of what he there beheld and heard4 ,we discovered his relationship to a child in ,nazareth whom he did not know at first as the most wonderful being in the world4 ,we entered his home and visited the school where he was taught of ,him who was called the coming ,messiah2 but who had already come1 though his parents and teachers knew it not4 ,we followed him as a ,jewish boy into the ,temple1 whose glories were to become more glorious in his manhood by what he beheld therein4 ,we saw him on the ,jordan1 standing with his kindred and namesake1 who pointed him to ,jesus as the ,messiah for whom he had been looking4 ,from that hour we have known him as a disciple of ,jesus1 later as one of his twelve ,apostles1 then one of the chosen three1 then the one--the beloved ,disciple4 ,through his eyes we have beheld the wonderful works of our ,lord3 with his ears we have heard the most wonderful words ever spoken to man4 ,we have caught glimpses of him in most wonderful scenes which he was almost the only one to behold--amid the glories of the transfiguration1 in the death-chamber changed to that of life1 in the shadows of ,gethsemane4 ,we have learned through ,john the sacredness of human friendships1 made closer and holier by friendship with the loved and loving ,lord4 ,he has been our guide to the ,upper ,room of joy and sadness2 to the ,priestly ,palace of suffering and of shame2 to the cross of agony and death2 to the tomb of surprise and exaltation2 to the mount of final blessing and ascension4 ,illustration3 ,,pergamos ,,and ,,the ,,ruins ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,st4 ,,john ,old ,engraving ,page #bcc ,john saw what kings and prophets longed to see1 but died without the sight--the ,messiah come4 ,he witnessed probably all the miracles of ,jesus1 from his first in ,cana as a guest1 to his last on the sea-shore as a host--the signs of divine power inspired by pity and love4 ,he looked upon the enthusiastic but mistaken throng who in ,galilee would force upon ,jesus an unwelcome crown2 then upon the multitudes who hailed him with hosannas on ,olivet2 then the maddened crowd who shouted through the streets of ,jerusalem1 ,crucify ,him4 ,he witnessed ,christ's movements when the multitudes gathered about ,him for instruction and healing1 and when he withdrew from them to pray4 ,his eyes were dazzled by the brightness of the transfiguration as he looked upon the form which at last was enshrouded in darkness on ,calvary4 ,with another vision he beheld that form in ,heaven itself4 ,on the ,jordan he beheld ,jesus as the ,lamb of ,god which was to be offered as a sacrifice4 ,he saw the cross become ,his altar of sacrifice1 and then in ,heaven discerned ,him as the ,lamb as it had been slain4 ,he was witness of ,christ's joys and sorrows1 shame and suffering1 humiliation and exaltation1 entering into them more fully than did any other human being4 ,from the hour in which ,john stood with the ,baptist who told him to behold ,jesus1 his eye was upon ,him1 until1 because there was no more for him to behold of his ,lord on earth1 the angels asked1 ,why stand ye gazing8 ,having seen ,him lifted up on a beclouded cross1 he saw ,him taken up as a glorious cloud received ,him out of sight4 ,john heard wondrous things4 ,he became familiar with his ,lord's voice1 its tones of instruction and exhortation1 warning and reproof1 invitation and affection1 forgiveness and benediction1 prayer and praise1 depression and agony1 joy and triumph4 ,he was no careless listener to the words spoken to ,jesus--those of inquiry and pleading1 hypocrisy and contempt1 mockery and deceit1 hatred and love4 ,beside his ,lord1 he heard saintly voices1 and the voice of the ,father4 ,much that ,john saw and heard when with his ,lord he has made known4 ,we imagine some things were too tender and sacred for others' ears3 concerning such his lips were sealed4 ,other things were too precious for silence3 of such he is the most distinct echo4 ,his ,gospel is often a commentary on the other three4 ,he was an eye-witness of most of the events of which he tells4 ,his ,gospel is rich with illuminated texts4 ,having the best understanding of the words of the ,lord ,jesus1 he is the fullest reporter of ,his teachings4 ,having the deepest insight into the heart of hearts of his ,lord1 he is its clearest revealer4 ,while many others grasped separate truths1 he placed them side by side in harmony and unity1 and thus held them up and revealed them to mankind4 ,his ,lord's words were the most sacred treasures of his memory3 his greatest joy was to bring them forth for others to view and admire1 that they too might be inspired thereby to love and good works4 ,without erasing aught from the pictures drawn by his fellow-,evangelists1 he has added to1 and filled in1 and re-touched with a sympathizing hand4 ,so familiar had he become with his ,lord's countenance1 with all its varied expressions1 and so skilful was he in reproducing them1 that his composite portrait is the most beautiful and impressive of all attempts to portray the human face divine4 ,standing outside of some grand cathedral1 before its stained window1 we mark the figures with their rich depth of color4 ,passing within we see the same figures1 but the outline is more distinct2 the colors are richer1 and with more harmonious blending4 ,so sometimes we seem to stand with the three ,evangelists outside the ,gospel ,cathedral2 and then with ,john within4 ,like ,ruth in the field of ,boaz he followed the reapers--the first three ,evangelists in the field of their ,lord1--to glean even among the sheaves4 ,he gleaned in the field until evening1 the close of the long day of his life1 and beat out that he had gleaned1 and gave it to others4 ,there was not need for them to ask him1 ,where hast thou gleaned8 ,there was only one field from which such harvest could be gathered4 ,rather could they say as ,naomi to ,ruth1 ,blessed is he that did take knowledge of thee4 ,there have been more noted illustrations of change in character than is furnished in ,st4 ,john4 ,his early life was not profligate like that of ,john ,newton or ,john ,bunyan4 ,and yet the change in him was marked enough to furnish an exhibition of contrast1 showing the power of ,christ's teachings and example upon him1 until he reached an unwonted degree of perfection4 ,he combined the noblest traits of the loftiest manhood and womanhood1 with the simplicity of childhood4 ,his human kinship to ,jesus illustrated but faintly the closer and tenderer relation formed by the transforming of his spirit into the likeness of ,christ4 ,this was more royal than any merely human relationship4 ,it was the closest relation of which we know of the perfect ,christ with imperfect man4 ,we have watched the changes in ,john's spirit1 and seen his imperfections smoothed away1 and his character so polished that it became the brightest reflector of the image of ,jesus ,christ4 ,yet from the first there were budding virtues in him which ,mary ,magdalene's supposed gardener brought to perfection4 ,illustration3 ,,ruins ,,of ,,laodicea ,old ,engraving ,page #bcc ,in history ,john stands and must ever stand alone4 ,he was one of the two who first accepted the call of ,christ to come to ,him3 he was the last of the ,apostles to repeat1 in another and yet as true a sense1 that invitation to multitudes of men4 ,he was one of those two who first saw what may be called the beginning of the ,christian ,church1 in the little booth by the ,jordan3 and the last one of the ,twelve to remember its fuller establishments in the ,upper ,chamber of ,jerusalem4 ,he was the last man who had seen the last prophet who told of the coming ,messiah2 and was the last ,evangelist to tell that ,he had come4 ,he was one of the three who were the last to behold the ,shechinah1 and to whom came the voice of ,god the ,father4 ,john was the lone disciple in the palace of the high priest1 witnessing the injustice1 mockery1 and cruelty before ,pilate2 the last one with whom the ,lord spoke and on whom ,his eye rested before ,his death4 ,he was the lone disciple to gaze upon the cross and witness the dying agonies2 the first to look into the deserted tomb2 the first of whom we are told that he believed the ,lord had risen therefrom4 ,the last survivor of the ,apostolic band1 he had the fullest opportunity to witness the fulfilment of prophecies of which he was a careful student and clear interpreter4 ,he saw the sad close of the ,jewish dispensation1 and the glorious beginning of ,christianity4 ,he saw the ,holy ,city overthrown1 as ,christ declared to ,him on ,olivet that it would be1 and had a vision of the ,new ,jerusalem of which the old was a consecrated type1 at last profaned4 ,of the golden ,apostolic chain he was the last link binding the ,church to its ,lord4 ,he was the last known human kindred of the ,son of ,man4 ,the last words of inspiration were spoken to and recorded by him4 ,he was the latest prophet1 historian1 and ,evangelist4 ,one of the first to say1 ,i have seen the ,messiah1 he was the last to say1 ,i have seen the ,lord4 ,we have caught glimpses of ,st4 ,john in the early days of ,christianity1 as a light and a pillar1 a teacher and a guide4 ,sometimes for years together he has been hidden from our view1 and then has emerged with a yet brighter halo around his head4 ,we have watched him on a lonely isle gazing into heaven1 beholding glories of which he gives us hints1 but which he tells us he cannot fully describe4 ,because of his relation to the ,lord1 the fisher boy unknown beyond the hamlet of ,bethsaida two thousand years ago is spoken of as truly as ,mary of ,bethany1 whose memory he especially has made sacred and perpetual4 ,wherever the ,gospel is preached he too is remembered1 honored and loved4 ,because of his relation to the ,lord1 towns in lands of which he never knew1 bear his name2 in which people are taught by his words and inspired by his spirit4 ,in them many a family is known by the name ,st4 ,john4 ,rivers in their flow bear his name from generation to generation on earth1 while he points men to the pure river proceeding out of the throne of ,god and the ,lamb1 which was showed him in ,patmos4 ,societies for fraternal fellowship and mutual helpfulness are called after him4 ,st4 ,john's day has a sacred place in the calendar4 ,many a rural chapel and stately city church are reminders of him4 ,the richness of his graces1 and the yet future of his saintly influence1 are symbolized in the yet unfinished temple of surpassing grandeur in the ,city of ,new ,york1--,the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,john the ,divine4 ,from all these earthly scenes in which we have beheld him1 to which history and tradition have pointed us1 and from those things which are memorials of him1 we turn to the ,heavenly scenes which he bids us behold as they were revealed to him4 ,thither we follow him after all his trials and labors and triumphs of earth4 ,with reverence and gladness for him1 we listen to the voice of the ,lord saying to him what ,he had told him to say to the ,churches of ,asia3--,because thou didst overcome ,i give thee 'to eat of the tree of life1 which is in the midst of the ,paradise of ,god4' ,thou shalt 'not be hurt with the second death4' ,i give thee 'a white stone1 and upon the stone a new name written4' ,i give thee 'the morning star4' ',i will in no wise blot thy name out of the book of life6 ,i make you a pillar in the temple of ,my ,god4' ,o ,john1 rememberest thou thy petition and that of thy brother who has long been with ,me1--',grant unto us that we may sit1 one on ,thy right hand1 and one on ,thy left hand in ,thy glory'8 ,thou thoughtest that 'glory' was an earthly throne1 which thou never sawest4 ,but thou hast overcome thy pride and ambition1 thy jealous and revengeful spirit4 ,thou hast triumphed over those who were thine enemies because thou wast ,my friend4 ,thou didst see ,my agonies and victories in ,gethsemane and on ,calvary4 ,thou didst take up ,my cry on ,my cross concerning ,my work on earth1 and sound it forth1--',it is finished4' ,dost thou remember ,my final promise to him that overcometh1 which ,i made from this ,my true throne of glory1 through thee1 'in the isle that is called ,patmos'--precious name even here because of thy 'testimony for' ,me4 ,that promise ,i now fulfil in thee4 ,o ,john1 one of ,my chosen ,twelve on earth2 yea more1 one of ,my chosen three2 yet more1 ,my beloved one1 here in ,heaven1 now1 ',sit down with ,me on ,my throne1 as ,i also overcame and sat down with ,my ,father in ,his throne4' ,,chapter ,,xxxiii ,legends and ,traditions of ,st4 ,john ,after closing the history of ,st4 ,john1 we linger over the traditions that cluster about his later years4 ,they reveal the feelings of the early ,church toward him who was the last of the ,apostolic band1 and the last who had seen their ,lord4 ,there is one legend so beautiful1 so much like him1 that we can almost believe it as having a fitting place in his history4 ,it belongs to the time when he preached in the magnificent ,church which ,christians had reared for him in ,ephesus4 ,we may not credit the story that on his brow he wore a golden plate engraven with the inscription1 ,holiness to the ,lord1 but we can almost imagine it written there4 ,his memorable appearance and his tender manner1 the loving voice with which he told the story of his ,lord1 fastened all eyes upon him1 and opened all ears to his message of salvation4 ,there was one1 a young man1 who standing in the distance1 looked and listened with such eager interest as to attract the attention of the ,apostle4 ,in repentance and faith he found the peace which nothing else can give4 ,he was baptized and numbered with the ,ephesian ,christians4 ,st4 ,john took special interest in him1 training him in ,christian doctrine1 and preparing him for a useful life4 ,when the hour for ,john's banishment came1 in his anxiety for the youth1 he committed him to the care of the ,bishop of the place1 whom he charged to be faithful in teaching and spiritual guidance4 ,but the youth was exposed to many temptations from the heathen about him4 ,their songs and dances and wine again charmed him as they did before he heard the preaching of ,john4 ,he yielded to their influences1 and renounced his profession of ,christianity4 ,in the absence of the ,apostle1 the reproofs of the ,bishop only maddened him4 ,he no longer attended the services of the ,church1 or sought the companionship of ,christians4 ,having entered the paths of sin1 he wandered farther and farther therein4 ,at last he committed a crime against the government4 ,in fear of punishment he fled from ,ephesus1 and joined a company of robbers and bandits in the wild ravines of the mountains4 ,though young in years1 he was so cunning and bold in crime that he became the leader of the band4 ,inspired by his daring spirit they were ready for deeds of violence that made them the terror of the whole region4 ,on ,john's return from his exile in ,patmos to ,ephesus1 he longed to know of the welfare of the young disciple1 who had been to him as an adopted son1 ever present to his mind and heart in his lonely island4 ,the ,bishop1 with downcast eyes1 sorrow and shame1 declared1 ,he is dead4 ,how8 asked ,john1 and by what death8 ,he is dead to ,god1 said the ,bishop4 ,he has turned out wicked and abandoned1 and at last a robber4 ,john rent his garments as a sign of distress4 ,weeping he cried with a loud lamentation1 ,alas6 alas6 to what a guardian have ,i trusted our brother6 ,the tender1 faithful heart of the aged ,apostle yearned for the young man4 ,he was ready to say1 ,how can ,i give thee up6 ,he knew the mercy of ,god1 and the power of love1 human and divine2 and determined that the robber-chieftain should know it too4 ,immediately he procured a horse and guide1 and rode toward the stronghold of the robbers4 ,it was in a wild mountainous ravine1 with rushing torrents and rugged rocks overgrown with brushwood and luxuriant herbage4 ,it was a place of grandeur1 and yet of gloom--a fitting haunt for the robber-band4 ,few travelers passed that way1 and that hurriedly and in terror4 ,at last the ,apostle and his guide heard from behind the rocks the hoarse shouts of revelry4 ,but he heeded them not1 so intent was he on his errand4 ,he was seeking the prodigal1 his adopted son--who was not seeking the loving father4 ,he drew the reins of his horse1 while he told his guide that their journey was ended1 and prayed for themselves and for him whom they sought4 ,his nearness was discovered by one of the band1 who led him to the rest1 and bound his guide4 ,there was a great contrast between the old man with his snowy locks and beard1 in his humble garb2 and the younger1 the wild looking bandit with his streaming hair and loose white kilt2 between the defenceless captive1 and his captors armed with ,roman swords1 long lances1 and bows and arrows before which he seemed perfectly powerless4 ,as he looked upon their hardened features they looked into his benignant face1 and stood awed in his presence4 ,their rough manner1 words and tones were changed by his smile and even friendly greeting4 ,he made no resistance4 ,his only motion was a wave of his hand4 ,it was mightier than sword or lance or bow4 ,his only request was1 ,take me to your captain4 ,over-awed by the dignity of his manner and his calmness1 the captors obeyed their captive and silently led him to their chief4 ,in an open space the tall handsome young man was seated on his horse1 wearing bright armor and breastplate1 and holding the spear of a warrior4 ,at a glance he recognized his old master1 instructor and guide1 who had been to him as a father4 ,his first thought was1 ,why should this holy man seek me8 ,he answered his own question1 saying to himself1 ,he has come with just and angry threatenings which ,i well deserve4 ,john had been called a son of thunder4 ,as such the trembling chief thought of him1 ready to hear him pronounce an awful woe4 ,so with a mingled cry of fear and anguish1 he turned his horse and would have fled--a strange sound and sight for his fellow-robbers4 ,but ,st4 ,john had no thunder tones for him1 no threats of coming punishment4 ,the kind shepherd had found the sheep that had been lost4 ,the father had found the prodigal1 without waiting for the wanderer's return4 ,john sprang toward him4 ,he held out his arms in an affectionate manner4 ,he called him by tender names4 ,with earnest entreaty he prevailed on him to stop and listen4 ,as young ,saul1 when near ,damascus caught sight of ,jesus and heard ,his voice1 dropped from his horse to the ground2 so did the young chieftain at the sight and voice of ,st4 ,john4 ,with reverence he kneeled before him1 and in shame bowed his head to the ground4 ,like ,peter who had denied the same ,lord1 the young man wept bitterly4 ,his cries of self-reproach and his despair echoed strangely in that rocky defile4 ,as ,st4 ,john had wept for him1 he wept for himself4 ,those were truly penitential tears4 ,john still spoke encouragingly4 ,the young man lifted his head and embraced the knees of the ,apostle1 sobbing out1 ,no hope1 no pardon4 ,then remembering the deeds of his right hand1 defiled with blood1 he hid it beneath his robe4 ,st4 ,john fell on his knees before him and enfolded him in his arms4 ,he grasped the hand that had been hidden1 and bathed it in tears as if he would wash away its bloody stains1 and then kissed it1 in thought of the good he said it should yet perform4 ,that hand cast away the sword it had wielded in murder1 and lovingly1 gratefully held that of ,john1 as the ,apostle1 and the robber-chief now penitent and forgiven1 together left the wilderness2 within sight of the astonished band2 some of whom were greatly touched by what they had seen and heard1 while others were ready to scoff at what they called the weakness of their leader4 ,another tradition is a beautiful illustration of the tenderness and sympathy which we may judge was increasingly manifest in ,st4 ,john's character1 the spirit of the ,lord whose tender mercies are over all ,his works1 the spirit ,st4 ,john had seen in his ,master who noticed the sparrow falling to the ground4 ,true it is1 ,he prayeth well who loveth well ,both man1 and bird1 and beast4 ,he prayeth best who loveth best ,all things1 both great and small2 ,for the dear ,lord who loveth us1 ,he made and loveth all4 ,there was a young tame partridge in which ,st4 ,john took delight and found recreation in many an hour from which he had turned from labor for rest4 ,a young hunter anxiously seeking the great ,apostle was surprised to find him in what seemed a frivolous employment4 ,he doubted for a moment whether this could be he4 ,john asked1 ,what is that thing which thou carriest in thy hand8 ,a bow1 replied the hunter4 ,why then is it unstrung8 said ,john4 ,because1 was the answer1 were ,i to keep it always strung it would lose its spring and become useless4 ,even so1 replied the ,apostle1 be not offended at my brief relaxation1 which prevents my spirit from waxing faint4 ,we have already alluded to a tradition which is perhaps the best known of all1 and universally accepted4 ,in ,ephesus1 in extreme old age1 too infirm to walk1 ,st4 ,john was carried as a little child to the church where he had so long preached4 ,in feebleness his ministry had ended4 ,the last sermon as such had been preached4 ,he could no longer repeat the words of ,christ he had heard on the mountain1 and the sea-shore1 and in the ,temple4 ,he could no longer tell of the wonders of which he was the only surviving witness4 ,in ,christians he saw the child-spirit1 whether in old or young4 ,in his old age he was a father to all such as none other could claim to be4 ,his great theme --his only theme--was love4 ,so his only words1 again and again repeated as he faced the congregation were ,little children1 love one another4 ,and when asked why he repeated the same thing over and over1 he told them it was the ,lord's command1 and if they obeyed it1 that was enough4 ,traditions alone tell of ,st4 ,john's death4 ,one claims that as his brother ,james was the first of the ,apostles to suffer martyrdom1 he was the last4 ,others tell of miraculous preservation from death2--that he was thrown into a caldron of boiling oil1 and drank hemlock1 without any effect upon him4 ,sometimes he is pictured as holding a cup from which a viper1 representing poison1 is departing without doing him any harm4 ,there is still another story concerning his death4 ,on the last ,lord's ,day of his life1 after the ,holy ,communion1 he told some of his disciples to follow him with spades4 ,leading them to a place of burial1 he bid them dig a grave into which he placed himself1 and they buried him up to the neck4 ,then in obedience to his command they placed a cloth over his face and completed the burial4 ,with weeping they turned away and reported what had been done4 ,but his disciples felt that1 not the grave1 but the great church was the fitting place for his burial4 ,so with solemn service they went to bring his body thither4 ,but on reaching the grave they found it empty1 as he and ,peter had found the tomb of their ,lord on ,easter morning4 ,then they remembered the words of ,christ to ,peter concerning ,john1 ,if ,i will that he abide till ,i come1 what is that to thee8 ,but there is another tradition stranger still4 ,people refused to believe that ,st4 ,john was dead1 even though he had been supposed to be1 and had been buried4 ,for centuries his grave was shown at ,ephesus4 ,pilgrims visiting it beheld a wonderful sight4 ,the ground above it rose and fell1 as if the great ,apostle were still breathing as he had done for one hundred years1 while treading the earth which now guarded his immortal sleep4 ,such stories seem strange to us when we remember the chapter he wrote to correct a mistake made by those who misunderstood his ,master's word1 and believed that he would not die until the ,lord returned to the earth4 ,he probably escaped martyrdom which befell his fellow-,apostles4 ,dying1 probably in ,ephesus1 we think of him as peacefully entering the mansions of which he had heard his ,lord tell in far-off ,jerusalem nearly seventy years before4