The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-08-31
N
BY REV. T. J. SIMONS

that when the angel made his o
cement to her, and when she went
down to Nazareth after the son, Jesus,
of IL years had said in the temple Of
Jerusalem Wish we not that must
be about my fathers business" she
"pondered all these things In her
heart" John, as Jesus, came OF a
thoughtful family. John seems TO
have come nearest to the thought OF
Jesus. That is the ripest thought OF
| Jesus, as he sat nearest to him at the
last supper.
He certainly had the best chances
TO imbibe his spirit. For he leaned
upon his hosom. Also he was with
him at the raising to life of the daugh-
ter of Jarius. He saw Jesus trans
figuration and was one OF the party in
the Garden of Gethsemane during the
agony of Jesus. And at the trial and
crucifiction he was the only apostle
Immediately present. TO him Jesus
gave the care of his mother. IL was
I John was first recognized Jesus on the
sea of Galilee after the resurrection.
The character of John has been Of
ten misunderstood. He breaches the
gospel of love. His epistles have for
them the same burden. When he sat
at the last supper II was In part a
| reclining on the bosom Of Jesus. He
speaks Of himself as the one whom
| Jesus loved. He IL is who calls God,
love. And he IL is who says for God
| so loved the world" etc. And so 1t
has com about that many have had
the impression hat John was a sort
of an effeminate character. The ira
| dition of his old age at Eplusus when
| he was carried to public worship and
only repeated Little children, love
| one another has lent strength to the
| opinion.
But this is loosing sight of the rug
| ged life he had in youth-the hard
| ships and heroisms of a seafaring life.
| Though men who endure hardship may
be the g~entlest of men. But he and
his brother, called Boauergis, l. e. sons
of them. They had in their natures
some of the wildness Of Galilee. The
men of the region were often fierce
men. IL you call John weak. you for
get the spirit of Jesus who was ike
wise a Galilian by raising. Y on for
get the fierceness OF Christ's denun-
| Citations of hypocracy. This introduce
en- another thing which shows the true
character of John. The main body or
his gospel that deals with the public
ministry of Jesus, is taken up with the
record OF the fierce encounters be-
tween Jesus and "the Jews" John
has constantly picked on the intellect
ual clashes of Jesus and he repre-
sensations of the Jews. His gospel Is
distinctly proleinnic. Call to mind the
scence of the raising OF the man with
palsy when the Jews said who can
forgive sins but God only" Can you
not fairly feel the bitterness OF the
charge? John was one of those who
forbade persons to cast out devils In
the name of Jesus because he was not
one of their number. And again ne
would call down here from heaven on
others. The truth about John is that
ne was a fiery spirit which by contact
with Jesus was tanned. he was no
mere follower. He took the initiative,
He wal first one OF the followers OF
John, the Baptist, and he was one OF
the first to follow "The Lamb of God
as pointed out by John. This Is the
finest type of Christian, one who hai
spirit, but tanned and make sweet and
loving.