The Thoughts of Wesley son of Cornelius

“Faith guided his [Michael Faraday] conduct; reason and experiment guided his work. The philosophical and behavioral strictures of the Sandemanians served to channel Faraday’s abundant energy toward his scientific pursuits. In particular, the Sandemanian belief in human fallibility permitted him to fearlessly explore frontiers of science, with full knowledge that some of his conjectures would be overturned. There was no purpose in hitching his ego to the correctness of his conclusions. Faraday noted Job’s admonition in his personal Bible: ‘If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse’ (Job 9:20)” (Hirshfeld, The Electric Life of Michael Faraday)

Human fallibility is one of the most important concepts of Christianity. Where salvation through Jesus Christ, who is God, therefore perfect, is probably the most important concept of Christianity, human fallibility explains why everyone needs Christ.

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” (Romans 3:10, 11 NIV)

Paul is quoting Psalm 14:1-3. In that same passage, Paul quotes parts of five Psalms, Isaiah, and Ecclesiastes. All speak of the human error. As an aside: returning back a few posts to aletheia (truth), the question was asked if truth can be found. On your own, the answer is no. The answer is still no for even an entire inquisitive world. No one understands, and no one seeks God.

Can you say, “Sorry, I was wrong”? Many times it is hard for me. Today I was shown how I was wrong. After much convincing, I had to agree. The hard part was going to the two or three people I had shown my analysis to and took it to be right. I said I was wrong way too much today. :-D

Human fallibility is more profound than doing an engineering problem wrong. That kind of human error does not have substantial spiritual consequences. Erroneousness pertaining to God’s desires is what matters. But if no one seeks God or understands, how can we know God’s desires? Good question … for next time.

Before starting the next series, I wanted to take the time and express a dream I have. Last fall I started volunteering at an inner city school here in Knoxville. From the experience I realized one of the largest weaknesses of the black community is their male influence—or lack there of. (This weak male influence is also prevalent in the white community, but it is slightly different.) Hence, my dream was created.

I would open a recreation center. During the school year, two or three of the center’s buses would go and pick up 30-40 elementary school boys. The boys would be brought to the center and divided into groups. For one hour (let’s say 3:30 to 4:30) volunteer tutors would help the boys with homework. If the boy had no homework, math or reading skills could be targeted. After homework, the boys could go downstairs and play ping-pong, billiards, or basketball from 4:30 to 5:30 or 6:00. Parents could pick their kids up around 6:00 or the center’s buses could be sent out. On special nights, dinner would be served to the selected boys and their families. Every night at 6:00, the center would be open to the public until 9:00. On Saturday or holidays, the center could be open to the public as well. Local basketball teams or church small groups could also reserve courts.

The main purpose of the recreation center would be to attract males primarily. This non-intimidating environment would allow churches to come and reach the center’s attendants. Bible studies could be held after the 3:30 to 4:30 tutoring. My goal would be to have the majority of the volunteers to be Christians.

But what about funding? I would hope to establish support from local churches. In exchange, when the center is closed on Sunday, the buses could be used to transport kids (and adults) to church. As director, I would talk to the administration of the feeding elementary schools and be selective with the boys chosen. After establishing a relationship with the boys and their families, the center could act as a middle man between the local churches and the families.

I have quickly sketched what would be a cool recreation center (click the two pictures to get a larger view). The gym would contain a full sized basketball court that could be sub-divided into three miniature courts. Three half-courts would also exist outside. The dinning room would act as an all-purpose room. The class-rooms would be upstairs, along with my office. My office would have a large glass window that would look down onto the basketball courts.

If you have not realized, I like to dream big! Do-dodo-do! Bring on the dream-slayers. (inside family joke)

“For this reason I [Paul] remind you [Timothy] to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God …” (2 Timothy 1:6-8 NIV)

I have heard that with gifts, or talents, come disabilities, or weaknesses. If Timothy’s gift was servitude, his weakness might have been timidity. We might see further proof in Paul’s first letter to Corinth.

“When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.” (1 Corinthians 16:10, 11 ESV)

Why was Timothy timid? His timidity might be attributed to his close relationship with the knowledgeable and possibly intimidating Apostle Paul. He probably did not have an awesome conversion experience as Paul did. Furthermore, Timothy might not have thought he could compare with Paul, as today, we might not think we can compare with Billy Graham or Adrian Rogers. However, Timothy might have been timid just because of his personality. But I believe Paul sheds some light on Timothy’s timid nature in his first letter to Timothy.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)

I should do likewise.

Even though Timothy seems to be hidden by the overwhelming shadow of the Apostle Paul, he did not play a lesser role. Where Paul was the man out front, Timothy was the man doing the background work. To show that Timothy was in the background, notice the introduction of the following letters.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother …” (2 Corinthians 1:1)

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:1)

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother …” (Colossians 1:1)

“Paul, Silas, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ …” (1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1)

“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother …” (Philemon 1:1)

Most commentaries agree that Paul was the primary, if not the sole author of the above letters. More than likely, Timothy was just present when Paul wrote the letters. My speculation is that Timothy might have recorded what Paul recited. However, Paul might mention Timothy because (i) Paul had a very close relationship with Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2) and/or (ii) Timothy seemed to be liked by the general fellowship of brothers. The second point can be seen in how Paul refers to Timothy as OUR brother. Furthermore, the writer to the Hebrews—who more than likely was not Paul—writes the following:

“I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.” (Hebrews 13:23)

The dynamics of Paul and Timothy reminds me of the following passage:
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)

“Pack your bags, Timothy!” (Acts 17 Wesley's Version) With Paul and Paul’s companions, Timothy would begin his travels in Phrygia and Galatia [modern day Turkey]. (Acts 16:6) Timothy would have been there in the decision to take the gospel into Asia. However, God would prevent Paul and his companions from entering. Instead, they would leave Troas, an important seaport between Greece and Asia Minor, and enter Macedonia.

“From Troas we [Luke has joined the trip] put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.” (Acts 16:11-12 NIV)

“After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. … Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. But the Jews were jealous … As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 16:40-17:1, 17:4, 17:10-11)

What about Timothy? Well, Timothy is in the background, watching and learning. How do I know? The angry Jews started stirring the crowds up. Therefore,

“… The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.” (Acts 17:14-15)

Silas and Timothy would not catch up with Paul until Corinth.

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. … When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 18:1, 5)

Paul would once again move on without Silas and Timothy. However, Paul traveled with two other companions: Priscilla and Aquila, who were from Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila would “explain the way of God” to Apollos, and Apollos would be encouraged to go to Corinth, where Silas and Timothy were staying. (Acts 18:24-28)

Luke would write about Timothy once again when Paul returned back to Macedonia on his third journey.

Timothy was born and raised in southern modern-day Turkey. However, he would be a foreign missionary in modern-day Greece.

A few posts back, I highlighted the Apostle John. My interest has now switched to Young Timothy.

“[Paul] came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” (Acts 16:1-5 NIV)

What was Timothy’s role? What part did he play in spreading God’s word?

“[Jesus] looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, … I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they [disciples] may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them YOUR WORD and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.’” (John 17:13-19 NIV)

Does aletheia (truth) change? No, because God’s Word does not change because God does not change, and God’s Word is truth. So what is true:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. … The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Genesis 1:1—Revelation 22:21)

“Joseph said to them [his brothers], ‘It is just as I told you: You are spies! And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!’” (Genesis 42:14-16 NIV)

The other day I was talking to my friend Indi. She is from Thailand and is currently working on her PhD in Nuclear Engineering. We were talking about the Da Vinci Code. We were both in agreement about the fictitious information contained within the book, now movie (why we believe the information is false and how we came to that conclusion is beyond the scope of this post). But the content of the movie was not the main discussion. I told her that I had read that critics in Thailand wanted to remove 10 minutes from the movie. She did not believe me. In other words, she did not think the story I found was true.

Why did she not believe me? To Indi, removing 10 minutes from a movie that dealt with Christian beliefs would not be that important in a country that is primary Buddhist. She said that less than one percent of the population was Christian in Thailand. To show that I was not making the story up I found several websites that said exactly what I was saying. One article began: “Bangkok - Thailand's Film Censorship Board agreed Tuesday to cut the final 10 minutes of the Hollywood movie The Da Vinci Code following protests from a coalition of Christian churches, a local news report said.” (M&C Movies: May 16, 2006)

Indi, stunned, smiled at me and said, “Wow! That is surprising.” The conversation moved on from there, but today I started thinking about the conversation again. How do we know that these websites are credible or are telling the truth? Could I have still passed on information that is not true? My conclusion is that the information is true because I found several different sources that said the same thing. And I did not find any sources that refuted the information or gave a different story.

In this simple example, truth was found. But what about more complex topics? That is for another day!

“Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.” (1 Kings 17:24)

What is truth? Can we know what is true? Does absolute truth exist? What is the determining factor of truth? Or who determines what is true? Can disagreeing parties both be telling the truth? Does truth depend on the situation? Can ideas that are true change over time? In other words, can something that is not true become true or can something that is true become not true? Is truth always logical? Or does truth always make sense? Is truth true all the time? Does truth depend on culture? Should truth be sought after? Does truth exist; is it really out there? If so, can it be found? If so, should it always be taught or practiced? Can someone who thinks he has found truth have not really found it? Does truth matter? Has truth been lost over time? Or has truth not been discovered?

I just used the Socratic method, named after the philosopher Socrates. For a Christian, the topic of truth must be very important. In an incomplete concordance, truth is found more than 220 times in my NIV Bible. The word true is found about 36 times. I hope you did not quickly read over the above questions. Go back and read each question carefully.

"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." (Hebrews 3:1-6 NIV)

If Christ is your cornerstone, then you are not an ordinary house; you are God's house. And God's house is referred to as a temple.

"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

I try to avoid putting two posts up a day. But I was too excited about this find that I had to post about it.

"You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV)

See why I could not wait!!

We have the plan and tools; now we must begin the work. But what shall the foundation be?

"Jesus said to them [those listening in the temple courts, including the chief priests and the elders of the people (see v. 23)], 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone [or cornerstone]; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce it s fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.'" (Matthew 21:42-44 NIV)

The Jews had the right tools and the plan, but they rejected the foundation.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)

What, or better who, is the perfect and strong cornerstone, rock, or foundation?

To build a house you need the right tools:

"And the LORD asked me, 'What do you see, Amos?' 'A plumb line,' I replied. Then the Lord said, 'Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.'" (Amos 7:8 NIV)

You also need a strong foundation:

"From Judah will come the cornerstone." (Zechariah 10:4)

Now we have the perfect tool (the Law) and a plan (the Prophets). What is next?

The more I read the Bible the more I see the unity of the New and Old Testament. Many times I think we—especially I—do not give the people of the Old Testament enough credit. We see them as blind and not having the insight as we do. But maybe they knew more than we give them credit.

Abraham
“Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.’ … Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. … He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” (Genesis 22:2, 3, 5 NIV)

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.” (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Job
“And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:26, 27)

Moses
“This day I [Moses] call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Sons of Korah
“Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah.” (Psalm 49:14-15)

Asaph
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.” (Psalm 73:23, 24)

Isaiah
“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meals and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.” (Isaiah 25:6-8a)

But it is also written:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he [Jesus] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

“For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4)

“Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.” (Romans 5:12-14)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.” (1 John 3:8)

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“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19)

For it is written:

“… him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil …” (Hebrews 2:14b)

“ … The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4b)

“Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses …” (Romans 5:12-14a)

“For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23a)

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. …” (1 John 3:8a)

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19)

“Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.” (Genesis 5:5)

“For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!” (Ecclesiastes 2:16)

Praise God for the ellipsis (…). You’ll see what I mean tomorrow.

Well, today we learned that our new neighbors do not share the same ‘political’ view. We should have seen this coming. Their three children left home to day. I was lying on the couch when I heard the loudest ruckus. Our neighbors were banging on our house and yelling at our glass door. They do not approve of the people we affiliate. We have a cat! They are against cats. One of their babies landed on the window seal. And Callie, pictured below, went crazy. Luckily for our neighbors, Callie is an inside cat. But it gets worse. We also house a German Short-Haired Pointer; he is a bird dog. Currently, things are quiet. Tempers are cooled. We will see how the strained relationship will work.

"Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' 'Neither,' he replied, 'but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.'" (Joshua 5:13, 14 NIV)

"I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:25-26 NIV)

Over the last few days, Mom, Dad, A and I have been enjoying a new family to the neighborhood. Every time we eat supper, we look out our window and see our new neighbors. Mommy and Daddy Bird have placed their nest low in a tree outside the glass door near our dining table. Their family eats the same time we do. Mommy and Daddy Bird "work" the backyard for an hour or two. They come in rounds to feed these growing babies. Then when stomachs are full, we put our dishes in the dishwasher, and next door, Mommy Bird sits on the babies. Tonight, Mom went out and took the picture above. Three babies! In our snoopy neighbor behavior, we had not realized the neighbors had three babies. Well, Daddy Bird did not like Mom taking the picture, and he came flying back--yelling the whole way. He landed in top of the tree and jumped from branch to branch, getting closer and closer to the intruder. Mom took the picture quick and ran back inside. We learned two leasons:
1) If God takes care of birds, God will take care of us.
2) Don't bother your neighbors during supper time.

“From the start, Faraday’s investigations were more than a joyous commune with nature; they were a sincere attempt to discern God’s invisible qualities through the very design of the world. Through well-constructed observations and experiments, he sought to distill nature’s seemingly diverse phenomena to a common, irreducible basis—and in this fundamental unity of the universe, he would witness the divine signature.” (Hirshfeld, The Electric Life of Michael Faraday.)

Who was Michael Faraday? Well, Wikipedia says he may be considered one of the great scientists of history. The development of electric motors, generators, and transformers come out of the work and experimentation of Faraday. He even has an equation named after him (see above). Through this equation and the work of Andre-Marie Ampere, James Clerk Maxwell was able to show that electromagnetic waves propagate through (empty) space at the speed of light. Coincidence? Of course not, since light would later be determined to be a type of electromagnetic radiation. What is this to you? We can thank the work of Faraday for the advances in our current electronic generation.

Being a scientist, the work of Faraday interests me (even though I barely understand electromagnetism). However, his faith interests me more. I am always refreshed to find a great scientist with a faith in Jesus Christ. In the modern world, scientists commonly fear or reject religion. However, Faraday held strongly to his religious views. The book referenced above goes on to say that Faraday took a literalist view of the Bible. He was also humble. He had no problem with other scientists correcting or refuting his theory because he strongly held to human fallibility.

Isaac Watts, hymn writer, theologian and logician, was an inspiration for Faraday. I pray that I too can be scientist for Christ like Michael Faraday!

After Paul, John’s works contribute the most to the New Testament. The Apostle John is credited for 5 letters: Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. They are now part of God’s holy and perfect Word, the Word which was in the beginning. When I heard the term “inspired word of God,” I use to visualize God somehow telling the author, “Write!” And the author would just start writing. Now I visualize it a little different. I visualize the author—John in this case—writing a letter to particular recipients to express his thoughts. “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31 NIV) I believe John wrote several sections and then stopped. Some sections may not have made the final copy. Each time he would get caught up in the Spirit, like those times that I have when wonderful ideas in the Bible connect. At the end, he would have a satisfying personal work. In his ignorance, he would not realize that God was using him to produce an infallible book (an authors dream if you ask me).

Was this how it happened? I do not know for sure, but it seems real. And reality is what John was expressing in his books. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” (1 John 1:3, 4)

Near the end of John’s life, he ends up on the island of Patmos (probably a Roman penal settlement). Here he would see a great vision of the end of the world. The book a Revelation was given to him directly this time. He even adds this at the end: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18, 19)

This book ends the collection of God’s book, the Holy Bible. The words are at times comforting, sometimes painful, divisive, peaceful, or encouraging. But they are infallible and perfect. When does trouble begin: when the words are ignored, softened, or changed because the Word is jealous (Ex. 20:5), firm (2 Ti 2:19), and unchangeable (Heb 13:8).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” (Gospel of John 1:1,2)

After the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we still see Peter and John together.

"One day Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate ..., where he was placed every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ... Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' ... He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. ... The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day." (Acts 3 NIV)

Peter and John would eventually be set free. While Luke, the author of Acts, continues to tell events concerning Peter, John is not mentioned much after the above events. However, John must have known of Ananias and Sapphira, the stoning of Stephen, the conversion of Saul, and many other events recorded by Luke. We do see John and Peter working together once again.

"When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit ..." (Acts 8:14, 15)

However, John would eventually experience something that must have been very painful.

"It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also." (Acts 12:1, 2)

You know that John assumed he was going to not only lose his brother, but Peter as well. However, God was not ready to see Peter, and an angel miraculously led him out of the prison.

Since Sunday School this week, I have been fascinated with the Apostle John. What do we know about him? Well, I am glad you asked.

John and his brother James were eager, sometimes over eager.
“And he [Jesus] sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’ But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.” (Luke 9:52-56 NIV)

John and his brother James were straightforward and somewhat pushy.
“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. They replied, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’” (Mark 10:35-37)

Jesus did not guarantee them these seats in heaven, but John did get to sit next to him at the Last Supper.
“’I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.’ His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter [John’s partner-in-crime] motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he means.’ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’” (John 13:21b-25)

John was one of the few disciples, if not the only one, who saw Jesus hanging on the cross.
“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27)

And the other disciples even spread rumors about John.
“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’ Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’” (John 21:20-23)