Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-01
CHRISTIAN ENDEAyOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Nov. 5, 1911.

Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Nov. 5. 1911.
Topic. : Lessons from great Eves.-xI.
John.-John xxi, a-25. (Consecration meet
ing) Edited by Rev. Sherman H. Doyle.
d. D.
John had no intention of writing an
autobiography in this twenty-first
chapter of his gospel. and yet in it we
have several pen pictures OF tpe
apostle by his own hand which may
well form the basis of our study. In
these descriptions we see the apostle
himself. see him in relation to the
Apostle Peter, and also glimpse OF
the close relationship that existed be-
tween John and Jesus. From these
three standpoints we may get a clear
conception Of the true character OF
1.-THE disciple whom Jesus loved" and
one that may be able to help us in
the development Of our characters and
In the regulation Of our associations
John was a prominent disciple and
apostle of Christ. In his account OF
this post-resurrection appearance OF
Jesus in the shores of the Galilean
sea he does not mention his own
name. and in this fact we see the in
nate modesty and humility that al
ways characterized the Apostle John
Following another instinct Of his ma
ture, he refers to himself as "the dis
ciple whom Jesus loved" giving us
glimpse of the tenderness and gentle
ness of his dispositions. which he so
frequently manifested, although when
occasion demanded he could be true
Bragernes-'a son Of thunder The
gentleness of John was not an index
Of weakness. He was strong. Wig
orous, manly man, but possessing that
singular quality Of gentleness so often
noticeable in the lives of truly great
and strong men. When Jesus appeared
John was the first to recognize Him.
He said to Peter. ut Is the Lord
Here we see deep spiritual insight
the predominant characteristic of the
Apostle John AS no other be under
stood the spiritual nature of the Christ
and the meaning Of the spiritual truth.
His nature was deeply spiritual and
mystical. and through it he understood
and interpreted by his life and writ
ings the supreme truths Of Christianity
to the world
John and Peter. as no others in
Christian history. exemplify comrade-
ship in Christian faith and service.
They were the counterpart of each
other. and the very opposite character
istics of their dispositions only seemed
to bind them closer together. John
was the man Of perception and Peter
the man Of action. and thus each sup
piled what was lacking In the other.
1t was John who first recognized Jesus.
but it was Peter who first went to Him
John said unto Peter. 1T is the Lord
Now, when Simon Peter heard that ii
was the Lord he got his fishers coat
unto him and did cast himself
into the sea-" evidently to go to Christ.
John outran Peter to the empty sepul-
cher of Christ. but stood without.
while Peter when he arrived at once
went into the sepulcher. "Then went
In also that other disciple and
saw and believed" Thus John and
Peter assisted each other and in their
years of companionship and service as
disciples Of Christ have left the world
a beautiful example of what Christian
friendship and fellowship may be and
verified the poets words:
-The fellowship Of IChristianl minds
Is like to that above"
Jesus and John seem bound together
by the tenderest ties Of love. The love
of John for Jesus Is seen in the sim
plicity with which he speaks Of him
self as 1.-THE disciple whom Jesus
loved" Had his own love not been SO
strong he never would have used such
an expression to describe himself. He
loved Jesus because Jesus first loved
him. I'VE love him." he says. be
cause he first loved u.s." Essentially
of a loving disposition. 1t was natural
and that the Saviour should love him
even above the others. John il the
apostle of love. and 1.-THE greatest of
these is love" He lived the longest
OF all the apostles. dying in A. d. 90,
only two years before the beginning Of
the second Christian century. Thus
indeed he tarried till Christ came in
the coming Of His Kingdom into the
hearts Of men. His last message In
tottering cid age is said to have been.
Little children. love one another"
The life Of John should inspire us to
apprecfate and TO reciprocate the love
Of Christ and to fulfill the second Of
the two great commandments. Thou
shalt love thy neighbor AS myself"