true; but this we know that whatever the manner or time of his death
Simon Peter died true to every trust that his Lord and Master had given
him
"He has done the work of a true man,--
Crown him, honor him, love him.
Weep over him, tears of woman,
Stoop manliest brows above him!
No duty could overtake him,
No need his will outrun;
Or ever our lips could ask him.
His hands the work had done."
Footnotes:
1. Gal. 2:7.
PART TWO--JAMES
LESSON 18
JAMES, THE SON OF ZEBEDEE
"Honor and shame from no condition rise;
Act well thy part, there all the honor lies."
"Honor is not a matter of any man's calling merely; but rather of his
own actions in it."
Among the devoted women who followed Jesus in Galilee, who ministered
unto Him, and watched with anxious care and sorrow the progress of
the trials in Jerusalem, was a noble mother named Salome. With Mary
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jesus and Joses, she stood "beholding
afar off" the crucifixion of the Savior.
She was one who would not forsake her Lord even at the cross. She was
also one who, with spices and perfumes, went early to the sepulchre
Sunday morning, to participate in the embalming of Jesus' body. To her
and others, the Savior appeared, that morning, saying, "Be not afraid;
go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see
me."
[Sidenote: Tennyson Quoted.]
"Happy he with such a mother! faith in womankind beats with his blood,
and trust in all things high comes easy to him, and though he trip and
fall, he shall not blind his soul with clay."
[Sidenote: Proud of Her Boys.]
Such was the faithful, devoted woman whom James and John, the sons
of Zebedee called mother. And she was as proud of her boys as they
were proud of their mother; for they seemed to have inherited from
their mother, and perhaps their father too, those true and unwavering
qualities which made them such devoted disciples of Christ.
[Sidenote: A Mother's Request.]
Like most mothers, Salome desired to see her boys honored; and one day
asked the Savior to grant that her two sons might sit, the one on His
right hand the other on the left, in His kingdom. Jesus said, "Are ye
able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with
the baptism that I am baptized with?"
They answered, "We are able."
[Sidenote: Boys to Drink of Cup.]
"Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that
I am baptized with," answered the Lord; "but to sit on my right hand,
and on my left, is not mine to give."
[Sidenote: True Servants.]
The mother's eagerness to have her sons thus honored made the other ten
a little jealous; but when Jesus saw their feelings, He told them that
while men who hold offices in the world exercise unrighteous dominion,
those who are given offices in His Church are the servants of all.
"Whosoever will be chief among you let him be your servant."
[Sidenote: Of Bethsaida.]
James was of Bethsaida, in Galilee, and was a fisherman. He was busy at
his trade when Jesus called him to the ministry. When the call came,
James and his brother were sitting in a boat mending nets. Their father
and hired servants were also there. Of course, James had seen Jesus
before this, and had undoubtedly heard Him; for when Andrew had hurried
off to find Simon Peter, after having met the Lord, John had hurried to
find his brother James.
[Sidenote: Accepts Call.]
So James, too, had found the Messiah, and was already converted to the
Gospel. Therefore when Jesus stopped that morning by the seashore, and
said, "Come, I will make you fishers of men," they immediately left
their father with the hired servants, and followed Christ.
[Sidenote: One of the Twelve.]
When the Twelve were chosen, James was chosen next to Peter, and was
one of the three who constituted what we might call the Presidency of
the Twelve. In this position, he became closely associated with the
Redeemer, and was an eyewitness to some of the most sacred incidents in
His Lord's ministry. Thus, with Peter and John, he was present in the
room when the little daughter of Jairus was restored to life.
[Sidenote: On the Mount.]
He was also one of the favored three on the Mount of Transfiguration;
and was one of those chosen to accompany the Master to the secluded
place in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Christ suffered those bitter
agonies preparatory to His betrayal and sufferings on the cross.
[Sidenote: A Son of Thunder.]
James was called a son of Thunder; and there is one incident in the
Bible which gives us a little insight into a part of his nature which
probably called forth that name. When the time came that Jesus was
determined to go to Jerusalem to be offered up as a sacrifice, he "sent
messengers before His face: and they went, and entered into a village
of the Samaritans, to make ready for him." [1]
James was one of these messengers.
But the Samaritans, who would have no dealings with the Jews, and
who were particularly offended on this occasion because Jesus was
determined to worship in Jerusalem, refused to receive Jesus. Their
refusal made James and John so indignant that they turned to their
Master and said: "Lord let us command fire to come down from heaven,
and consume them, even as Elias did?"
[Sidenote: A Rebuke.]
But the Lord was displeased with them for being angry, and said, "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."
For this almost righteous manifestation of fire in their natures, it is
thought that James and John were called Boanerges, or "sons of Thunder."
[Sidenote: Little Recorded of His Labors.]
But if he had an impetuous nature or quick temper, he controlled it,
and through his faithfulness and devotion won the favor of his Lord.
It is thought that he traveled a great deal, preaching the Gospel, it
is said, to all the dispersed tribes of Israel. But of his labors,
there is scarcely any record.
[Sidenote: The First Martyr.]
About forty-two or forty-four years after Christ, Herod Agrippa, as
you have already learned, commenced a bitter persecution against the
Saints. James was among the first to be arrested.
[Sidenote: Officer Converted.]
Sentence was passed upon him very soon after he was apprehended, yet,
so remarkable were his faith and his courage during the trial that the
officer who guarded him, (who, some say, was his accuser) repented of
his sins, became converted, and declared his faith in Christianity.
As James was being led to the place of execution, this officer threw
himself at the apostle's feet, and humbly begged forgiveness for what
he had said against him.
Putting his arm around the penitent man, James answered, "Peace, my
son, peace be unto thee, and pardon of thy faults."
[Sidenote: Execution.]
Both were then executed by order of the cruel Herod. Thus James, the
first martyr apostle, partook of the cup of which he had said to his
Lord many years before he was willing to drink.
Footnotes:
1. Luke 9:52.
PART THREE--JOHN
LESSON 19
WITH THE REDEEMER
"Modesty is a shining light; it prepares the mind to receive knowledge,
and the heart for truth."
"Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues."
[Sidenote: Modesty.]
In the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, we read that
two disciples of John the Baptist heard their master bear witness to
the divinity of Jesus. Said the Baptist, referring to Jesus walking
alone in the distance, "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the
sin of the world." One of the two disciples who heard this testimony
is named; he was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. [1] The other is
not named. Indeed throughout the entire book, which undoubtedly, was
written by St. John, himself, the name of John, son of Zebedee, is
never once written. In the account of the Last Supper, we read of a
"disciple whom Jesus loved," who sat so near the Lord that his head
could rest on Jesus' bosom.
These two instances, and others that might be named indicate to us a
prominent trait in St. John's character; viz., an unassumed modesty
that won him the respect and love of all who knew him.
[Sidenote: Fearlessness.]
But John was the son of Salome and Zebedee, and the younger brother of
James, with whim he was called "Boanerges," or son of Thunder. This
gives us a little insight into another phase of his character. Like
his brother James, he was evidently fiery in his zeal in whatever he
undertook to do, and fearless in doing what he thought was right.
[IMAGE: ST. JOHN AND THE LAMB.]
[Sidenote: Love.]
A modesty that made him shrink ever from praising himself or unduly
pushing himself forward; a _fearlessness_ in defending what is right,
and a _love_ for his Master that gave him the highest place in the
Savior's heart--these are three traits of John's character which stand
out distinctly in the fragmentary accounts of his life.
He lived, and was probably born in Bethsaida, the home of Peter and
Andrew and Philip. He was a fisherman by trade, and worked with his
father and brother James. His father, Zebedee, owned his own ships, and
employed servants; so we conclude that he was well to do financially.
[2]
[Sidenote: A Seeker After Truth.]
He was a seeker after true learning, and especially after those things
which would tell him about God and the hereafter. He kept his mind and
heart pure, so that he could appreciate the truth when he heard it.
When, therefore, John the Baptist came out of the wilderness preaching
repentance and declaring that the "Kingdom of Heaven was at hand," John
was one of the fearless young men who believed the Baptist and followed
him. Thus he was prepared to accept John's testimony of Jesus after the
latter was baptized in Jordan, and was one of the two who had the first
interview with the Savior of the world at the beginning of His ministry.
[Sidenote: Follows Jesus.]
On the same occasion when Simon Peter and his brother were called
as disciples of Jesus, "James the son of Zebedee and John were with
their father mending their nets," and when Jesus called them, they
immediately left the ship and their father and followed Him. [3]
[Sidenote: A First Lesson.]
Luke tells us [4] that John was present at the miraculous draught of
fishes, and was very much astonished at what he heard and saw on that
occasion. It was one of the first lessons if not the first impressive
lesson that taught him the great truth that obedience to Christ's words
bring blessings.
[Sidenote: Youngest of the Twelve.]
From this time on to the end of his eventful life, he was always in the
ministry. When Jesus chose his disciples, John was chosen one of the
special three, although he was the youngest member of the Twelve.
[Sidenote: Memorable Experiences.]
From that time, John was in the close companionship of Jesus, and
witnessed some of the most remarkable and divine incidents recorded
in the history of Christ's ministry. He was one of the three apostles
permitted to remain in the room when the little daughter of Jairus was
restored to life. [5] He was on the mount of Transfiguration when the
Savior conversed with Moses and Elias and when a voice from heaven said
"This is my beloved Son, hear him." [6]
With Peter, James and Andrew, John was present on the Mount of Olives
when Jesus taught them concerning the destrucion of the temple, and
of Christ's second coming. How the memory of such occasions must have
filled his soul in after years, with rejoicing and sweet content!
To him and Peter was entrusted the duty of making preparations for the
Passover. [7]
[Sidenote: Close to Jesus.]
At the solemn moment when the Savior said "One of you shall betray me,"
it was John the "disciple whom Jesus loved" who received the answer
indicating who the traitor was.
[Sidenote: In Gethsemane.]
When the gloom of Gethsemane began to weigh heavily upon the spirit
of Jesus, John was one of the three unto whom He said, "My soul is
exceeding sorrowful unto death; tarry ye here and watch." [8]
[Sidenote: In the House of the High Priest.]
Later that same night, when the traitor gave the kiss of betrayal, and
the soldiers arrested Jesus, and bore Him away a prisoner, all the
other disciples fled, but John accompanied his Master to the house
of the high priest and later admitted Peter, who, you remember, had
"followed afar off."
[Sidenote: A Terrible Ordeal.]
Though we are not told, yet we can imagine what this beloved disciple's
feelings were as he listened to the false and wicked accusations against
his Lord, and how his heart must have ached as he saw Jesus beaten
and scourged, and a crown of thorns put on His head. If he had wanted
to call down fire from heaven and consume the Samaritans who refused
shelter and accommodations to his Lord, what must have been the state
of his fiery soul when he beheld the Jews and their judges persecuting
the Christ to death!
[Sidenote: A Last Request.]
How his soul must have been rent in agony as he saw his Savior nailed
to the cross, and yet what peace must have come to him as he received
from the dying lips of his Master one of the dearest commissions ever
given to mortal man! As the three Marys and John stood by the cross,
Jesus looked down upon them and said to his mother, "Woman, behold thy
Son!" and to John, "Behold thy mother!"
"And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
On the Sunday morning following the crucifixion, John was with Peter
when Mary Magdalene came running to them, saying:
[Sidenote: At the Tomb.]
"They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not
where they have laid Him."
As soon as the apostles heard this, they ran for the spot where Jesus
had been buried. John being the younger outran Peter and was the first
to see the empty tomb; and "looking in, saw the linen clothes lying,
yet went he not in." A moment later, however, he followed Peter into
the tomb, made a careful examination of the linen clothes and napkin
that was about the head; but not yet realizing that Christ was to rise
the third day, each returned to his own home.
[Sidenote: His Testimony.]
John was with the ten and later with the Eleven when Christ appeared to
them in the upper room. Of this and other glorious experiences he bears
testimony in his Gospel. "That ye might believe in Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His name."
Footnotes:
1. John 1:40.
2. Mark 1:20.
3. Matt. 4:21, 22; Luke 5:1-11.
4. Luke 5:1-11.
5. Luke 8:51.
6. Luke 9:28.
7. Luke 22:8
8. Mark 14:33.
LESSON 20
WITH PETER AND THE TWELVE
"Love one human being purely and warmly and you will love all."
"Love gives itself, it is not bought."
[Sidenote: At the Sea of Galilee.]
John was one of those who, after the death and resurrection of Jesus,
when Simon Peter said, "I go a fishing" replied: "We also go with you."
They toiled all night, and caught nothing, but when morning came they
were told by a man on the shore to "Cast the net on the right side
of the ship." This they did and caught a multitude of fishes. Almost
immediately John recognized Jesus and said to Peter, "It is the Lord."
[Sidenote: Feed My Sheep.]
A little later, on the shore, he heard the Savior's admonition to Peter
to feed the sheep and the lambs in the fold of Christ, and no doubt
John shared in the feeling of responsibility that was then thrown upon
the Twelve.
It was on this occasion that Peter asked Jesus what would become of
John, to which question Jesus made the significant reply, "If I will
that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me."
[Sidenote: A Prophecy.]
"Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that disciple
should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but if I
will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"
In this connection we read in the Doctrine and Covenants [1] that John
had said to the Lord, "Give me power over death that I may live and
bring souls unto Thee."
And the Lord answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou
desired this, thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt
prophesy before nations, kindred, tongues and people."
The Lord then told Peter that He would make John "as a flaming fire and
a ministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of
salvation who dwell on the earth."
[Sidenote: True Greatness.]
Thus was expressed John's love not only for his Lord and Master but
for all the children of men whom he desired to bring to Christ and to
participate in the joys of the everlasting gospel. By this spirit, John
proved himself to have been one of the greatest men that ever lived;
for true greatness consists in losing oneself for the good of others.
[Sidenote: True to Trust.]
For about fifteen years after the Savior's ascension it is believed
that John continued at Jerusalem and remained a true son to the Virgin
Mary. During all that time, however, he was always active in the
ministry.
[Sidenote: The Impotent Man.]
He was with Peter going to the temple when the lame men at the gate
Beautiful asked them for alms. With Peter he exercised His faith on
that occasion to bless the poor man who had never walked. [2]
[Sidenote: The Impotent Man.]
John, undoubtedly, testified to the multitude who assembled at
Solomon's porch on the day of this miracle; but no historian has told
us what he said. We infer from what Luke says that John spoke at that
time; but only Peter's sermon and only a little of that has been
preserved.
While they were speaking the captain of the temple arrested them and
put them in prison.
[Sidenote: Before the Council.]
When they were brought out before the Council next day and told not
to preach about Jesus any more, John was just as bold as Peter in
declaring, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you
more than God, judge ye, for we cannot but speak the things which we
have seen and heard." [3]
[Sidenote: Spiritual Minded.]
After they were released, they continued preaching to the people
and praising the Lord for all His wonderful manifestations to them.
The great spiritual feast that resulted from their labors must have
filled John's soul with a divine peace such as he had never before
experienced, for of all the apostles, he was the most spiritual minded.
[Sidenote: A True Servant.]
During this period, he was imprisoned several times, but never once
did he waver in his determination to let all the people know that
Jesus Christ was the Redeemer of the World. He could suffer and be
happy because he loved those whom he served. Thus in the beginning of
his ministry his character shone out in true greatness; for he was
"willing, patient and strong to endure for others."
[Sidenote: In Samaria.]
When the Samaritans received the Gospel through the preaching of
Philip, John accompanied Peter to Samaria, and conferred the Holy Ghost
by the laying on of hands, upon those whom Philip had baptized. [4]
[Sidenote: Various Officers.]
No doubt this was just one of many such visits he made during those
fifteen years that he remained at Jerusalem. The Twelve, the seventies,
elders, priests, teachers and deacons were out preaching in all the
cities round about Jerusalem, and the three chief Apostles, Peter,
James and John would be required, and when not required would be
invited, to organize the branches and to meet with the new converts and
give encouragement in their glorious faith.
[Sidenote: Pillar of the Church.]
When the great question arose about what the Gentiles who joined
the church should be required to do, John was one who sat in the
council held at Jerusalem. Paul, writing about this council, mentions
James, Cephas and John who "seemed to be pillars." In the light of
the organization of the Church today, we know that Peter, James, and
John were the men who presided at that time, although it was James
who rendered the decision that was made effective throughout all the
provinces.
[Sidenote: Heart Filled With Love.]
After that time, we know very little of John's ministry. Part of what
is known will be given in the next lesson. We learn more about what
kind of man he was than about what he did. When we read his letters to
the church and his Gospel, we can readily understand why Jesus chose
him to take care of His mother Mary. John's heart was full of love, and
he wanted everybody to love everybody else. He said that anybody who
"saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother is in darkness even
until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light.
"But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and knoweth not whither
he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you
for His name's sake." In that same letter he says, "And now, little
children, abide in Christ, that when He shall appear, we may have
confidence and not be ashamed before Him and His coming."
Footnotes:
1. Section 7.
2. Relate the incident. Acts 3:1-12.
3. Acts 4:19-20.
4. Acts 8:5-14.
LESSON 21
CLOSING SCENES OF MINISTRY
"Love was to his impassioned soul, not a mere part of its existence,
but the whole, the very life-breath of his heart."
[Sidenote: Eighteen Years Pass.]
The important council mentioned in the last chapter was held about 50
years after the birth of Christ (50 A. D.) During the next eighteen
years John seems to have been hidden from view. Nothing is known about
what he did or where he went. It is presumed that he left Jerusalem,
and seldom, if ever, returned. If so, then we may rightly conclude that
Mary the mother of Jesus had left Jerusalem also, and left it and all
her loving kindred and friends on earth for a happy, glorious meeting
with her Son in their heavenly home on high. The dutiful and loving
attention John had bestowed upon Mary, he is now free to give to the
Church which now bears her Son's name.
Undoubtedly he visited nearly all, if not all the important places
where Christians dwelt; but most of his latest years seem to have been
spent in Asia Minor.
[Sidenote: At Ephesus.]
Tradition informs us that he made his home at Ephesus, a large and
populous city of Iona about 40 miles from Smyrna. It was noted chiefly
for its wickedness and the beautiful temple of Diana. Some claim that
the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene went to Ephesus with John and died
there. The tradition is a pleasing one; for with the devotion of a son
to his mother, as shown by John, there is associated Mary Magdalene's
love, which might well be expressed in the words of another beautiful
woman, who said to her husband's mother, "Intreat me not to leave
thee or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest,
I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be
my people, and thy God my God; Where thou diest, will I die, and there
will I be buried." [1]
From Ephesus John visited all the branches of the Church, laboring
especially among "The Seven Churches in Asia."
When John had spent several years at Ephesus a cruel Roman emperor,
during his persecution of the Church, arrested him, had him carried
to Rome, condemned him to death, and had him plunged into boiling
oil. John's life being preserved through the power of God, he was
then banished to Patmos. All that John says about it is that he was
"in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ." It is quite evident from this that he had
been persecuted for his belief in the Gospel and for his unwavering
testimony of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He
was probably the last living witness of the Savior's miracles and
teachings. Perhaps that is why he was banished. But wicked men could
not banish the testimony he had borne. That was planted in the hearts
of thousands of sincere believers, and like seeds sown in fertile soil,
would grow and bear rich harvests for ages to come.