November 21, 2024 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, November 21.
One day, in the year 90 AD, an old man sat down to write a letter. The man’s name was John. He was the last living disciple of Jesus, the last of the Twelve, and the only one who would die a natural death. His brother, James, had died by the sword some 50 years before, the first disciple to be martyred. These two brothers were known as the “Sons of Thunder” - what a great nickname! And together with Peter, they formed Christ’s inner circle. Peter died on a cross in the 60’s, and now only John remained. He wrote five books of the New Testament - my favorite gospel, the mighty Revelation, and three letters. - I, II, and III John. Here are the opening words of that first letter.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.”
What a voice of authority! The voice of the last person alive who walked with Jesus, who shared the Last Supper, prayed in the Garden, stood at the foot of the Cross. And what is John’s message of authority to us? It can be boiled down to a single word. Love. And it is encapsulated in one verse, I John 4:19 - “We love because He first loved us”.
The Gospel of John is, in my opinion, the most profound and insightful of the four gospels. And the book of Revelation challenges us each time we approach it. But I, II, and III John, the lettersare direct, simple, and brief. Take 30 minutes today and reread them. Let the old man who walked with Jesus . . . speak to you again.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
