When John sat down to write, what must have been his thoughts. In a single moment he had gone from a simple man to a follower and friend of God Himself. He had been requested by Jesus and had felt an interior attraction towards him also. Now, after years of evangelization, of teaching, of enduring, of friends and family past, he must collect his thoughts and leave behind a document which would capture and explain the single most profound and important person in his eternal life.
This is a man who had endured persecution, banishment, and had visions of Heaven. A man who wrote about Love so profoundly that his words still challenge and encourage us today.So sitting there in prayerful thought he begins, at the beginning. He colors his narrative with a story of a miracle at a wedding feast, making Jesus a personable and earthly figure, followed by a story of a Son eager to defend His Fathers estate. But here the story changes direction. We had been moving forward but now John uses hindsight. While he could not understand, in 3 days I will rebuild the Temple, at that time… He could now. He had witnessed the temple crucified and he had witnessed the temple rebuilt. He recalled this moment with clarity and now with wisdom.
As he wrote these words did he smile, remembering a time when this man he followed said words that made no sense, but he accepted out of devotion, now revealed did he admire Jesus even more? Did he say if only I had realized I would have done more? Or because he was a soul wrapped in the loving arms of Jesus did he just say thank you for choosing me to share your life with?
What is clear if that he was with Jesus and Jesus was performing miracles. And as Jesus reputation was growing so were His admirers and followers, along with those sycophants who are attracted to a power they lust after. John seeing clearly in the rear view mirror of his life now understands Jesus being aloof with the crowds. The rising adulation of the witnesses inspired by the signs of power, performed by a man who had claimed authority in the Temple, must have produced instant fame for his companions. They must have been beset by requests for access and favor. All of which were met with cautious resolve by a God Man who understood that the motivations of the unredeemed were not to be trusted.
And would Jesus trust us? We who claim allegiance, who claim Jesus as our lord and savior… would He be comfortable in our company?
We live in a time where Jesus is redefined to serve a personal narrative. Where we expand the concept of love to allow for the acceptance of sin. Which is what happened in the Temple. Have we taken the road more easily traveled? The path dependent on a merciful God, where we can demand less of ourselves because we expect more of Him. God’s forgiveness is greater than my self control. Would Jesus trust our hearts? A question that demands daily attention and is challenging. One that John had determined to answer with his life, his actions and will. Johns answer was yes, you can trust me. Forever and amen.
I write this in the shadows of once great empires. I am in Vienna looking at the palaces of earthly kings. Like ozmandius they have come and gone. Forgotten except for names on a statue. There are no miracles or followers. There is no enduring faith that lightens the world. They expected God to align with their will, but as C. S. Lewis makes comment when describing Aslan in the Narnia chronicles… He is not a tame lion. Our God does not bend to our will. Rather we find refuge from the tides and turbulence of time is our Rock, in the open arms of the crucified Christ, is the loving words spoken to the good thief.
The musings of Peter 