p. 21 | The Bible Year

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 21, 1916

The Bible Year

Assignment for December 24 to 31

December 24: Revelation 21, 22. December 25: John 1 to 3. December 26: John 4 to 6. December 27: John 7 to 9. December 28: John 10 to 12. December 29: John 13 to 15. December 30: John 16 to 18. December 31: John 19 to 21.

The Gospel According to John

"John, the evangelist and apostle, the younger brother of James, was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman, living at Bethsaida, on the Lake of Galilee. He appears to have been religiously brought up, and primarily a disciple of John the Baptist. He was directed by him to Jesus, whose close follower he became, being admitted to the most endearing intimacy with our Lord, and, with his brother James and Peter, selected to be a witness of the most solemn events in the Redeemer's life. He was especially characterized as the disciple whom Jesus loved. After remaining some time at Jerusalem, he resided at Ephesus, founding several churches in the neighborhood. Afterward he was banished to Patmos, where he wrote the book of Revelation. . . ."

"He was a man of ardent temperament, at times impetuous; but under the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, he became preëminently distinguished for the heavenly qualities of love, meekness, and humility. He was devotedly attached to the divine Master, standing by him at the cross, receiving his Lord's last message, and bearing witness to the terrible events of that awful period. He wrote the gospel bearing his name at Ephesus, A. D. 98, in the Greek language, nearly thirty years after the destruction of Jerusalem. . . ."

"The style of John's Gospel is simple, vivid, earnest, reverential, often full of pathos. Writing at a later date than the other evangelists, and after the destruction of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the Jewish polity, he writes under the supposition that his hearers are well acquainted with the earlier Gospels. He therefore omits all the parables recorded by the other evangelists, as also the Sermon on the Mount and the prophetic discourses. He gives an account of six miracles, five of which are peculiar to this Gospel. A large portion of John's Gospel is therefore entirely new, and the truths contained therein have been the solace, encouragement, and instruction of the church in all ages."