-On four special occasions, Jesus admitted them to experiences from which they learned precious lessons. On the occasion of the raising of Jairus's daughter (Luke 8:51), they were granted a preview of their Lord's mastery over death ... On the mount of transfiguration (Matt 17:1), they gained clearer insight into the importance of His impending death ... On the Mount of Olives (Mark 13:3), they marvelled at His prophetic discernment ... In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37), they glimpsed in the sufferings of the Saviour something of the cost of their salvation..."
—The Son of Zebedee, and brother of James
—A ‘Son of Thunder’
—A fisherman
Slide 2:Tradition says …
—Writer of John’s Gospel, Epistles and Revelation
-Differentiate between letters and Gospel.
-Don’t get hung up over authorship.
—The only disciple to die in old age of natural causes
—The eagle and the chalice
-Eagle representing the heights he climbs to in the 1st chapter of the gospel.
-Chalice (13th Century) taken from Jesus’ statement in Matt 20 “You shall drink from the same chalice as me”.Refer to our stained glass window.
Slide 3:What we learn from John
1.His willingness to follow Jesus
—Immediate (Luke 3:11)
-No debate.His heart was attuned to God.He was ready to spot the Messiah and when he did his heart responded.This is despite his great intellect (seen in the Gospel – philosophy and theology).Lesson for us with all our cerebral activity - listen in your heart and get ready to spot Jesus and respond.
—Costly (Matthew 4:22)
-Leaves his father and his boat.Family business.Turning his back on his career, inheritance and security.Potentially disappointing his family too.Clarence Jordan, founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister's church. With pride the minister pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decoration. As they stepped outside, darkness was falling, and a spotlight shone on a huge cross atop the steeple. "That cross alone cost us ten thousand dollars," the minister said with a satisfied smile. "You got cheated," said Jordan. "Times were when Christians could get them for free."
Slide 4:What we learn from John
2.His willingness to change
—From ‘Son of Thunder’ (Mark 3:17) to preacher of peace (John 16:33)
-Fiery temper?Not evident at the end of his life.He chooses to quote Jesus bidding peace.
—From arrogance (Mark 10:35-37) to humility (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7)
-Wanting best place in heaven.Not even identifying himself as the beloved until the end of the Gospel, and never naming himself.
Slide 5:What we learn from John
3.His intimacy with Jesus
—Physical (John 13:23-25)
-Our culture’s impoverished male relationships – ‘no touch’, ‘no admitting needs’, ‘no weakness’, ‘Marlboro man’.Obviously we can’t copy John in this respect because Jesus is not physically present with us.
—Emotional (John 19:26-27)
-Daily ‘hang time’ with Christ.Example for our prayer and devotional life.Dependence on Jesus for daily life.
Slide 6:What we learn from John
4.His perseverance
—At the Cross (John 19:25)
-The only disciple left.He does not waiver in his loyalty.He’s made a commitment and is going to see it through.Fred Craddock, "To give my life for Christ appears glorious.To pay the ultimate price of martyrdom. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. But the reality for most of us is that God sends us through life putting out little pieces of ourselves here and there. Listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, 'Get lost.' Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ isn't glorious. It's done in all those little acts of love, one little thing at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it's harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul."
—In exile (Revelation 1:9)
-Patmos.“Brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance.”Illus:Walter Payton, 10 miles of rushing as a running back, getting knocked down every 4.5 yards.
Slide 7:What we learn from John
5.His witness
—Gospel (John 21:24)
-A passion to share his faith.Written in order to reveal Christ so that people might believe in him.
—Letters (1 John 1:1)
—Prophecy (Revelation 1:11)
-Written to reassure people of the security of God’s plans and their ultimate destiny.
Slide 8:What we learn from John
6.His love
—45 ‘loves’ in 104 verses (1 John)
—Defines love (1 John 3:16)
-On May 2, 1962, a dramatic advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Examiner: "I don't want my husband to die in the gas chamber for a crime he did not commit. I will therefore offer my services for 10 years as a cook, maid, or housekeeper to any leading attorney who will defend him and bring about his vindication." One of San Francisco's greatest attorneys, Vincent Hallinan, read or heard about the ad and contacted Gladys Kidd, who had placed it. Her husband, Robert Lee Kidd, was about to be tried for the slaying of an elderly antique dealer. Kidd's fingerprints had been found on a bloodstained ornate sword in the victim's shop. During the trial, Hallinan proved that the antique dealer had not been killed by the sword, and that Kidd's fingerprints and blood on the sword got there because Kidd had once toyed with it while playfully dueling with a friend when they were both out shopping. The jury, after 11 hours, found Kidd to be not guilty. Attorney Hallinan refused Gladys Kidd's offer of 10 years' servitude.
