The Washington herald., 1909-07-03


sonahues, and OF profound spiritual phi
iosophy. which has given him a foremost
place in the han Of immortal authors
One OF the favorite traditions Of the
early church well typides the character OF
this bosom friend OF Jesus. After he had
become John the aged. and was living in
EphesUs. he was regularly borne on a
chair into the assembly Of Christians
Beebly lifting his hand In benediction. he
would say. little children, love one an
other" After a time feeling that this
exhortatiOn was rather monotOnOus. some
or the elders Ventured 70 suggest, "Ba-
ther, hast thou no other message for us7'.
There is no other message. came the
calm reply; and again the exhortatiou,
Little children. love one another"
John in youth was a -'son OF thunder"
but such is the power Of the influence Of
Jesus that this fiery. impetuous. militant
spirit became the mellowed apostle OF
love. He is a high example OF the truth
Of the modern saying. III religion has
done nothing for your temper, il has
done nothing for your soul"
The most familiar and the most potent
text IN the whole Bible is found only in
Johns Gospel: For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son.
that whosoever belIeveth IN him should
not perish. bur have everlasting life"
The character Of an author Is revealed
even by the passages he quotes. Thus II
is significant that !; was John who re-
corded the utterances Of Jesus upon the
Good Shepherd. anG upon Himself as the
Light OF the World
The prologue to the Gospel Of John Is
one Of the rare passages OF literature
which should be memorized BY every
body for its dignity. simplicity. literary
beauty, and vasJness OF content:
In the beginning was the Word. and
the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was in Tie beginning
with God All things were made through
him; and without him was not anything
made that hath been made. In him was
life; and the life was the light Of men.
And the light shineth in the darkness;
and the darkness apprehended il not
There came a man. sent from Cod whose
name was John The same came for Wit
ness, that he might bear witness OF The
light, that AL might believe through him
He was not the light. but came that ne
might bear witness Of the light There
was the true light, even the light which
lighted every man coming into the world
He was IN the world and the world
was made through him, and the world
knew him not lie came unto his own
and they that were his own received
him not But as many as received him. /
30 them gave be the right 10 become chill
dren OF God, even 20 them that believe on
his name; who We're born, not OF blood.
- -
viii OF man, but OF God. And the Word
became flesh. and dwelt among Us tsnd
we beheld his glory. glory a. OF the only
5eSottsn from The Father fun Of grace
and truth. John beareth witness % him. Z
and c17eth, saying. This was he OF whom
said. He that cOUaeth after me IS be- I
come before me: for he was before me +
For the tulness We ali received, and
grace COR grace. For the law was given
through Moses, grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ No man hath seen 1
God at any time. the only begOtten son.
who is I'm the bosom Of the Father. he
hath declared him
The wonderful farewell discoursss Of (
Jesus. wherein he barred his heart 20 the I
inner circle or HIS friends. and which I
have been the comfort and inspiration os I
-LAe NarHAN pier Ai a4A hEr%f came from kue j
pen of John. He most clearly understood /
their significance. and most vividly re- .
membe-ed them They were photo 4
Eraphed upon the sensitized plate Of his 4
spirit. and afterward produced for the 4
instruction and delight OF the ever-Wtden- /
ing circle Of the friends OF Jesus.
The miracle OF the feeding OF the $3.50 /
is reported by all Of the evaugeIists. but /
the discourse relating its significance is /
only By John. who Is ever moro /
concerned with the inner meaning OF an 4
event than with the details Of the event I
itself
John stood by the cross and received I
bis Masters dying beqUest. That is the 4
sort Of loyal love that marks true
All the intimate incidents and utter \
auces Of the sacred hours in the upper
room-the feet-washInE. the Interruptions
the perddy OF Judas-are bequeathed 20 /
US by the disciple whose point OF ooser-
walton was the breast Of his Lord So
generally. * Is Jchn who enables IS 20
become most intimate with Jesus He
takes Us through the awful scenes Of the
passion, the srial. the crucihxion and the
resurrection II Is when we follow Johns
leadership that We are quickest 10 ex-
claim concerning Jesus, My Lord and
my Cod"