John as an Example of Sanctification.
By Mrs. E. G. White
JOHN was known as the "disciple whom Jesus loved." While not in any degree weak or vacillating in character, he possessed an amiable disposition, and a warm, loving heart, capable of the deepest and most earnest devotion. He seems to have enjoyed the friendship of Christ in a pre-eminent degree, and he received many tokens of his love and confidence. He was one of the three permitted to witness Christ's glory upon the mount of transfiguration and his agony in the garden of Gethsemane; and to the care of John our Lord confided his mother in those last hours of anguish upon the cross. The affection of Jesus for his beloved disciple was returned with all the strength of ardent devotion. John clung to the Master as the vine clings to the stately pillar. For his sake he braved the dangers of the judgment hall, and lingered about the cross; and at the tidings that Christ had risen, he hastened to the sepulcher, in his zeal outstripping even the impetuous Peter. John's love for his Master was not a mere human friendship, but the love of a repentant sinner, who felt that he had been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. He esteemed it the highest honor to work and suffer in the service of his Lord. His religion was of a practical character, and led him to love all for whom Christ died. He reasoned that love to God would be manifested in love to his children. "Beloved," he would often say, "if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." "We love him because he first loved us. If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?" The apostle's life was in harmony with his teachings. The love for Christ which glowed in his heart, led him to labor untiringly for his fellow-men, especially for his brethren in the Christian church. He was deeply in earnest, and his words carried with them a weight of conviction. The confiding love and unselfish devotion manifested in the life and character of John, present lessons of untold value. Some may suppose that he possessed these qualities independent of divine grace; but this is not so. The Bible record shows that he had by nature serious defects of character. He was proud and ambitious, and quick to resent slight and injury. John's love for his Lord was not the cause of Christ's love for him, but the effect of that love. John desired to become like Jesus, and under the transforming influence of the Saviour's love, he became meek and lowly of heart. Self was hid in Jesus. He was closely united to the Living Vine, and thus became a partaker of the divine nature. Such will ever be the result of communion with Christ. This is true sanctification. There may be marked defects in the character; evil temper, envy, and jealousy may bear sway; yet if the man becomes a true disciple of Jesus, the power of divine grace will make him a new creature. Christ's love transforms, sanctifies him. But when persons profess to be Christians, and their religion does not make them better men and women,—living representatives of Christ in all the relations of life,—they are none of his. At one time, with several of his brethren, John engaged in a dispute as to which of their number should be accounted greatest. They did not intend their words to reach the ear of Jesus; but he read their hearts, and embraced an opportunity to give his disciples a lesson in humility. His teaching was designed not only for the little group who listened to his words, but for the benefit of all his followers, to the close of time. "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." Those who have the Spirit of Christ will have no ambition to occupy a position above their brethren. It is those who are small in their own eyes who will be accounted great in the sight of God. "And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them; and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but Him that sent me." What a precious lesson is this for all the followers of Christ! Those who overlook the life-duties lying directly in their pathway, who neglect mercy and kindness, courtesy and love, are neglecting Christ. On one occasion John, with his brother James, came to Jesus with a request that he would honor them by permitting them to sit, one at his right hand and the other at his left hand in his glory. The Saviour answered, "Ye know not what ye ask." How little do many of us understand the true import of our prayers! Oh, Jesus knew the infinite price at which that glory must be purchased, when, "for the joy that was set before him," he "endured the cross, despising the shame." That joy was wholly unselfish. It consisted in seeing souls saved from death by his humiliation, his agony, the shedding of his blood. This was the glory that Christ was to receive, and which these two disciples had requested that they might be permitted to share. Jesus asked them, "Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can." How little did they comprehend what that baptism signified. "Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized. But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared." Jesus understood the motives which prompted the request, and thus reproved the pride and ambition of his two disciples: "Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Another time Jesus sent messengers before him into a village of the Samaritans, requesting the people to prepare refreshments for himself and his disciples. But the fact that Jesus was going to Jerusalem aroused the jealousy of the Samaritans, and instead of urging him to tarry with them, they withheld the courtesies which they would have given to a common wayfarer. Jesus never forces his presence on any, and the Samaritans lost the blessing that would have been theirs had they solicited him to be their guest. We may wonder at this rude and uncourteous treatment; but how often are we who profess to be followers of Christ, guilty of the same neglect. Do we urge Jesus to take up his abode in our hearts and in our homes? He is full of love, of grace, of blessing, and stands ready to bestow these gifts upon us; but, like the Samaritans, we are frequently content without them. The disciples were aware of their Master's purpose with reference to the Samaritans; and when they saw the coldness, jealousy, and positive disrespect shown him, they were filled with surprise and indignation. James and John were especially stirred. That He whom they so highly reverenced should be thus treated seemed to them an offense too great to be passed over without immediate punishment. These disciples asked, "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" referring to the destruction of the Syrian captains and their companies, that were sent out to take Elijah. Jesus rebuked his disciples, saying, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of, for the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." John and his fellowdisciples610were in a school, in which Christ was the teacher. Those who were ready to learn their mistakes, and anxious to improve in character, had ample opportunity. John treasured every lesson, and his growth in the graces of meekness, humility, and love was remarkable. An instructive lesson may be drawn from the striking contrast between the character of John and that of Judas. John was a living illustration of the transforming grace of God. On the other hand, Judas possessed a mere form of godliness. He professed to be a disciple of Christ, but in words and works denied him. Judas had the same precious opportunities to listen to the lessons of Christ that John had; but while John was warring against his own faults, and seeking to assimilate to Christ, Judas was violating his conscience by yielding to temptation, and was thus fastening upon himself habits of dishonesty that would end in ruin. These two disciples represent the Christian world. All profess to be Christ's followers; but while one class walk in humility and meekness, learning of Jesus, the other show that they are not doers of the word, but hearers only. One class are sanctified through the truth; the other know nothing of the transforming power of divine grace. The former are dying daily to self, and are overcoming sinful propensities, the latter are indulging their own lusts, and becoming the servants of Satan.