JOHN KNEW JESUS

JOHN KNEW JESUS PROBABLY CLOSER THAN ANYBODY. He was one of the first two disciples to be called (i. 35-40): one of the first Apostles named (Matt. iv. 18-22); one of the three privileged Apostles (Mark v. 37: Matt. xvii, I: xxvi 37): one of the four who drew forth our Lord's great prophetic discourse (Mark xiii. 3); and one of the two sent to prepare the Passover (Luke xxii. 8). He was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (xiii. 23; xix. 26; xx, 2; xxi, 7,20), and to whom                                                                                 Jesus, on the cross, committed the care of His mother to John (xix. 25-27).                  John watched Jesus dying on the cross.

WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN? 

John appears three times in the Acts: in the Temple (iii. I); before the Council (iv. 13); and at Samaria (viii. 14). After the general reference to him in Acts xv. 2, 22, 23, our next contact with him is about eighteen years later (A.D ... 69). in the Book of the Revelation (i, 1,4,9), and about twent.y-~x years later still

           John lived in Galilee orginally. 

John previous to Christ

The particulars may be classified and summarized under six heads: the home and occupation of John: his discipleship and service-life; references to him in the history of the Church; the portrait of him derived from tradition: his character as reflected in his writings; and his place in the apostolic age.

THE HOME AND OCCUPATION Of JOHN His home town was Bethsaida (i. 44; Luke v. 10), and there was a family of four. the father and mother. Zebedee, and Salome, and two sons, James and John (Mark i. 19.20: xv. 40: Matt, xxvii. 56). The father and sons were fishermen (Matt. iv. 21); Salome, the mother. was ambitious for her boys I Matt, xx. 20, 21; Mark x. 35-37). Thereis clear evidence that the family was prosperous. for they had hired servants, they ministered oftheir substance. and they were influential in official quarters (Mark i. 20; Matt. xxvii, 56; Luke viii. 3; John xviii, 15.16: xix. 27!.

(ii) THE DISCIPLESHIP AND SERVICE-LIFE Of JOHN  He was first a follower of John the Baptist (i. 35. 40). and he left him to follow Christ. There appear to have been three stages in his fellowship with Christ: attachment (i, 40): discipleship (Matt. iv. 21, 22); and apostleship(Luke vi. 13, 14).

 (A.D. 95). in his Gospel, and the Epistles which bear his name.            . Jf1:{It1'O       If\ ~ v'S>

                                                                                      

DISCOURSES IN JOHN'S GOSPEL                            ee^Jt b~P.             O~p {1t ~~~

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N°one can read the Gospels carefully without noticing how different are the discourses in the Fourth Gospel from those in the Synoptics; a difference, not of expression merely, but of substance. In the Synoptics the discourses are, as Dr. Plummer says, 'simple, direct. and easily read, intelligible. inculcating, for the most part, high moral principles which are enforced and illus­trated by numerous parables and proverbs; whereas the discourses in the fourth Gospel are many and intricate, inculcating, for the most part, deep mystical truths which are enforced by a ceaseless reiteration tending to obscure the exact line of the argument, and illustrated by not a single parable, properly so-called.'

Against this view we put the saying of Matthew Arnold, that 'the doctrine and discourses of Jesus (in the Fourth Gospel) cannot in the main be the writer's, because in the main they are clearly out of his reach'; that is to say, no man could have conceived the ideas which are here recorded; they can have come only from Him who spake as never man spake (vii. 46). And Dr. James Orr says:

/'j 'The supreme guaranty of their (the Gospels) trustworthiness, is found in the narratives themselves; for who in that (or any) account could imagine a figure so unique and perfect as that of Jesus, or invent the incomparable sayings and parables that proceeded from His lips! Much of Christ's teaching is high as heaven above the minds of men still.' When, therefore, writers say that the Evangelist 'put words into the mouth of Jesus; and this is frequently said, let us remember that they are giving some man credit for something of which no man has ever been capable. Dr. Reynolds has well said: 'It is inconceivable that the author of the Gospel invented, rather than recited, marvellous utterances of the Christ; that he appealed