John, Faithful Witness for Christ

This chapter is based on the Letters of John.

John experienced the Spirit’s outpouring on the Day of Pentecost with the other disciples, and with fresh power he continued to speak the words of life to the people. He was a powerful preacher, on fire for the Lord, and deeply in earnest. In beautiful language and with a musical voice he told about Christ in a way that impressed hearts. The soaring power of the truths he spoke and the zeal that characterized his teachings gave him access to all classes, and his life was in harmony with his teachings.ULe 200.1

Christ had asked the disciples to love one another as He had loved them. “A new commandment I give to you,” He had said, “that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). After they had witnessed Christ’s sufferings, and after the Holy Spirit had rested on them at Pentecost, they had a clearer concept of what kind of love they must have for one another. Then John could say: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”ULe 200.2

After Pentecost, when the disciples went out to proclaim a living Savior, they rejoiced in the sweetness of fellowship with other believers. They were tender, thoughtful, self-denying, revealing the love that Christ had urged on them. By unselfish words and deeds they worked to kindle this love in other hearts.ULe 200.3

The believers were always to cherish love like this. Their lives were to magnify a Savior who could justify them by His righteousness.ULe 200.4

But gradually a change came. Dwelling on mistakes, speaking and listening to unkind criticism, the believers lost sight of the Savior and His love. They became more particular about the theory of the faith than its practice. They lost brotherly love, and, saddest of all, did not know that they had lost it. They did not realize that happiness and joy were going out of their lives and that they would soon walk in darkness.ULe 200.5