CHARACTERISTICS FOUND IN JOHN
John 21: 20-23; 19: 25-27
3 John 1: 1-3
Revelation 1: 9 (to “Jesus”)
DAB We spoke last Wednesday a little as to the mighty men that are found at the end of 2 Samuel and linked that passage to the mighty men that are the Lord’s in this dispensation. Following up the thought afterwards led me to an address where the comment was made, in relation to this first scripture, that the Lord does not say definitely that there will be mighty men here at His coming, but He intimates it; He intimates there would be some such as John, JT vol 96 p341. It is a most encouraging thing to see that the Lord is well able to maintain right up to the end of the testimony here those characteristics that were formed in John which delighted Him. That is the positive side, but this scripture also raises the question as to whether or not I am exercised about these characteristics. What was particularly on my mind was where it says, “This word therefore went out among the brethren, That disciple does not die. And Jesus did not say to him, He does not die”, v 23. There must be a reason why this passage is recorded for us today; it is not simply to meet confusion at the time, but I wondered whether we can see that the Spirit here is seeking to meet any complacency on my part in just assuming that John’s characteristics do not die. I am to be exercised rather that they will be found. With that in mind I wondered whether we could use these scriptures to inquire together as to what these characteristics like John are, what marked John out. We might think more about the disciple John than about his gift, or his apostleship. And that would help us to be exercised that such features would be found among us.
KJW I think that would be helpful. To begin with, would you say something about the way that John refers to himself through the book as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? We have it in verse 20 in John 21, “Peter, turning round, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned at supper on his breast”. Perhaps as a start, we could inquire into that, because that was clearly something that was of such value to John. He recognised the Lord’s love towards him, and the closeness that he had to Him.
DAB So John really knew what it was to be complacent in the affections of the Lord. He “leaned at supper on his breast”; it was actually his resting place. He was so content in the knowledge that the Lord loved him that it was where he desired to be. In John 13: 25 what we see is the relationship John had with the Lord. The Lord speaks about one of them being about to deliver Him up; they all wonder who it is, but it is John who asks, and it is to John the Lord answers, v 26. You get an impression of the liberty John felt in inquiring of the Lord, even over such a sorrowful matter.
KJW I think what you say is helpful as to the restfulness that John felt in the presence of the Lord, and the relationship therefore that was established there between himself and the Lord. It is certainly something that I would seek to know more of myself.
PSB Could more be said as to that? It is noticeable that it speaks about the disciples looking at one another, doubting of whom the Lord spoke (John 13: 22), but you get the sense that does not include John, who is described as being in the bosom of Jesus. Perhaps there is a suggestion of self-judgment? Is that a necessary characteristic for someone like John today?
DAB I think so. I think someone with the characteristics that mark John would be at peace, even when those around are in turmoil, or concerned about a particular exercise. Something had been drawn attention to, that affected the testimony, and none of the disciples knew how to meet it. John did not know either, but he knew where to abide. And what we find is that John’s nearness to the Lord was so obvious to Peter, that he made a sign to John that he was to ask the Lord; Peter did not ask the Lord himself. Peter knew, because of John’s position, that he was the man to inquire of the Lord. I think that passage has been used in ministry to bring out the point that, when times of conflict or confusion are present among the saints, it is those that are nearest the Lord to whom the Lord is pleased to make known His mind.
PSB Yes, so, looking back at that passage, it is the character of one who can enter in feelingly as well, with the Lord. It was Jesus who “was troubled in spirit” (v 21), which announces this to them. Do you think that is another characteristic, that John, who has been leaning on the Lord’s breast, would in some way enter into the feelings of the Lord about such a matter? That can only be done by being in direct relationship with the Lord Himself.
DAB Yes, that is helpful; and further confirms the idea that these features will be found until the Lord comes. There will always be those sympathetic to the Lord’s feelings upon the earth while the Holy Spirit is here. But in connection with that, I was pondering why it was that the Spirit records how some said, “That disciple does not die”. I think it shows that we cannot be complacent about it; yes, the Lord’s work cannot fail, but there must be exercise on my part; that is what John is correcting. It is not just a matter of assuming that the Lord has such with those characteristics, but the question is whether I am marked by them.
RJF So that there are the two aspects to it; on the one hand these characteristics that the Lord desires will not die because He has His own. But it is very right to highlight that there needs to be the exercise in relation to it. I am interested in what you suggested, because something that struck us this morning was that God has those in whom He confides, and always has had. We were particularly struck this morning that God says about Abraham, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?”, Gen 18: 17. As to what you are speaking about here, with John being in the confidence of the Lord’s affection, we have a parallel with Abraham. God would not hide from him what He was going to do. That was in relation to judgment; here it is in relation to the one who delivered the Lord up. There is divine confidence in those who have these characteristics.
DAB That is quite confirming. I am glad of what you say; that is exactly what I was thinking as to the aspect of the two sides. I find it a very encouraging thought that the Lord intimates that He will have His own, and we can almost leave that with the Lord. But He does not say so expressly, because He also wants to stir up exercise amongst us. What you say in relation to God always having those in whom He could confide is helpful, and it expands what I had in mind. This was God’s desire; how often men rejected God through the Old Testament, but God’s desire was that He could have those in whom He could confide.
RJF That is the impression given in chapter 3 of Genesis when Jehovah Elohim calls to man, and says to him, “Where art thou?”, Gen 3: 9. We tend to think of that scripture as a question of judgment, but it was not really - it was a question of desire, that God wished to commune with His creature.
KJW I am just thinking about what we have at the beginning of 1 John: “that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled”, then it goes on, “the life has been manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and has been manifested to us”, v 1, 2. It seems to be something particular which was shown to John.
DAB I like that thought, especially in relation to what we are saying, because it means it was not just open to the apostle John to know these things. It was shown to John because John takes up a position that is available to all. Is that what you were thinking?
KJW Yes, that helps, and I was thinking about this thought of contemplating as well. That was a feature that marked John, was it not? Maybe that is one of the characteristics that we could desire to have more. Even at the beginning of John’s gospel it says, “we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father”, chap 1: 14. So that was clearly a characteristic of John, that he contemplated these things and therefore could be confided in with more revelations.
DAB It brings to mind Mary, pondering these things in her heart; she kept them in her mind and pondered them in her heart, Luke 2: 19. She was one that did not really understand at the time, but she contemplated them. I can well sympathise with the thought of not understanding something, but it is good to contemplate it in the heart, is it not, and dwell upon it?
PSB So the first thing John does in his gospel is to bring the Person before us, and what has just been said about contemplating His glory is found at the beginning of the gospel; that is where it is to start, is it not? My mind went to Elijah, who was occupied with himself, and how he was alone. The reality was that God could say, “I have left myself seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed unto Baal”, 1 Kings 19: 18. The importance is contemplation of Christ: not my conditions; John knew extreme limitations, but one thing that shines out in John is that he is not occupied with persons. Is that how we come into relationship and nearness with that One?
DAB You get the impression with John that this was simply where he was most at home. Naturally, after being away for a while, you start to miss home; it is the place where you are most comfortable. Really, this was what John was used to; he was comfortable there, dwelling on the breast of the Lord Jesus. So we find that presented both in his gospel and in the epistles. He began with the Lord; he began with what he knew, and what he loved. His desire in what he wrote was that others might come into the gain of what he already enjoyed. It was not an effort.
PHM I was thinking about the disciples; in the first scripture, just before where you read, the Lord says, “Follow me”. In Matthew 4: 19 the Lord says, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”. Then at the end of that section it says, “and they, having left the ship and their father, immediately followed him”, v 22. I was thinking how they acted there in faith; they probably did not know what it would mean to be fishers of men. But they were attracted, were they not, to the Lord Jesus? They obviously saw something that was attractive such that they were willing to leave behind what they knew to follow Him. You can see an act of faith; they had a desire after Him, and where the Lord sees that, these revelations will follow. We see that too in the disciples - they loved the Lord and followed the Lord, and there was that which was revealed to them by being in His presence. Do you think this is open to us, even in our day? Because if we love the Lord, and are subject to Him, He will reveal what is of Himself to us.
DAB That Is helpful; they would not have known what it meant to be fishers of men, but they were attracted to the Person. And another thing to consider is that the only way that was possible was if it was given of God. These disciples were recipients of the sovereign grace of God. We too, are recipients of the sovereign grace of God; He has chosen us. We speak of the gift of faith. Faith is not that I have decided that I would believe; God gave me that gift of faith. What a wonderful privilege. You wonder at it, just to contemplate what God has done, and how He has presented Christ. What you said is important: it starts with that movement in faith, but then maybe to contemplate what it was that made me move in faith. God loved me so much that He presented Christ to me to attract my heart, and it is His desire that that would be where my home is, and that would be where I am comfortable.
RJF This is not to be an exclusive thing. From one perspective John had a particular place, but really it was open to others to have entrance into that. It is almost as if John represents that innermost place before the Lord, but it is not just that John was there; in a certain sense, it is open to all. I may feel that I am not a John and therefore I am disqualified, but I do not think it is like that at all. Peter asked this question here of the Lord, “what of this man?”, and he received an answer, and the answer was to have the effect of bringing him in. So the Lord gives a specific instruction to him, “Follow thou me”. John was one who followed, according to verse 20, but Peter was also to be one who followed.
DAB Yes, that goes back to what was being suggested, that we are all able to contemplate these things. Now if we do consider Peter briefly - I trust I am speaking carefully, for of course it is the Lord’s prerogative who He uses - I do not think this is a day for another Peter exactly. It speaks of “first … Peter” (Matt 10: 2), and we can see in Acts how he was the one that first preached, with very significant results for God. Now before breakdown came in, there were those that were distinctly used in a very prominent way, and Peter seems to bring out that side of things. But John is very interesting. We find in the Acts that John goes out of sight very quickly. We read of him accompanying Peter to begin with, but then not much more is mentioned.
I think our next scripture in John chapter 19 tells us what service John was carrying out during that time. I would suggest this is more what the Lord is seeking today, not another Peter, not the great deeds and large displays of the power of the Holy Spirit. He needs those - and this is available to us all - who are dwelling with the Lord, contemplating His things, and being available for whatever service He gives them. And this is John here. He is one that leaned on the breast of the Lord Jesus, and now he is found at the cross; I find that a lovely touch. We often say that John’s gospel is the gospel for the last days. Well, it is the only gospel that says there was anyone “by the cross” that loved the Lord, chap 19: 25. John is found by the cross, and because the Lord knew of John’s affection for Him, He was able to commit to John a service that was close, speaking reverently, to the Lord’s heart. I think this is what the Lord would be looking for in service today. It was not a grand service; we never hear again of what John did, and how he cared for the mother of the Lord, but it was a service he undertook faithfully, quietly and dependently because the Lord committed it to him. And that is what is needed today really in service. Would that be right?
RJF I think so, and what we have in chapter 19 really represents the whole characteristic of this service, that is, caring for the saints. You might say this is a simple thing, and it is, from one perspective; but exercise comes into it. There are only seven utterances recorded in scripture that the Lord makes from the cross itself, and this is one of them. Therefore, it is a very important thing.
DAB It helps to remove the idea that anyone can say, ‘I am not a John’, because this service - precious service though it is - is something we would be able to carry out. We can all see how to do it, if the Lord leads us, and as dependent upon Him. So, even in service, it is not beyond any one of us to be able to serve like John.
RJF The scripture our brother has brought before us not only refers to what we have contemplated, which is an activity of the mind, but also “that which … our hands handled”. What do you say about that?
DAB I do not know if this helps at all, but it did just cross my mind that John was called into service having already had experience with the Lord. He already knew what it was to dwell with the Lord. So “our hands handled” links really to experience, does it not? The Lord would only use in His service those that He has prepared, even in what we might assume to be a small service (which it is not): caring for the saints is very exalted. But to care rightfully for the saints I need history and experience with God. Would that be right, and does that link to “our hands handled”?
RJF Yes, I think that is a good application of it, and I think too, handling implies closeness. We have to be careful that Christianity does not become something that is theoretical with us. It is easy to say that, it is easy in a sense to read the Scriptures, to speak about these things, but the question is whether the heart is engaged. Of course, that is something that is underlined by these scriptures that you have read. John is speaking about what he had touched with his hands, and he had handled with his hands, and really brings out that it involves both mind and body. Being practical about it, might it be related to the matter of the Lord’s supper? That is not something that is a theoretical thing; it involves handling the loaf and handling the cup. That is one of the challenges we have got in this current situation. This new virus has created worries about ‘touching’, and understandably so, but we must not forget that it is something that is fundamental to Christianity.
DAB Yes, I am not sure I can add a lot to that save I think that John would love to be at the Supper. The opportunity to serve the Lord in that way, I suppose, is the greatest service, that we can remember Him in the breaking of bread, then be subject to His leading to the Father’s house. I think that John would love to be able to do that.
RJF You could certainly think that John would be very rich in such service, because he would be speaking about the experiences he had, with the One he knew, the One he loved, the One he knew who loved him.
PSB How much John would be in sympathy with those who during this current period have not been able to celebrate the Lord’s supper - he knew what it was to be alone, so that privilege would not have been available to him. But it did not change him whatsoever, did it? Because he knew what it was to be close to the One who we are privileged to remember Lord’s day by Lord’s day.
DAB You have jumped on to the last scripture, but I like your link. He was put through that because the Lord had confidence in him. He speaks in Revelation of being “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”. This was one who had such experience with God, and I will be careful: obviously we are not glorifying a man here. This is one who God has worked with in such a wonderful way that he was able to be put through a test where he could not gather with the saints on the Lord’s day, but he could be in the Lord‘s mind, and he could speak of himself as a fellow-partaker with his brethren even though, physically, it was not the case. He very much entered in spirit into the exercises and the fellowship of the testimony, even though practically he could not experience it. Would that be of encouragement to those who are isolated? The Lord knows, and He has confidence in them, deep though the exercise is, and He is able to use them still for His service.
PSB What you say is interesting; so in John 19 we have what is entrusted to him. I was also thinking of chapter 21 where they go to fish. It is John who says, “It is the Lord”, v 7. John’s character would always draw attention to the Lord, would it not? And what happens? Well, they are all drawn to the Lord as a result; do you think that is something we should covet? To be available to the Lord, that what He may give us would result in an answer in the heart of those with whom we share His things. I do not think John ever became cold in his affections, and although at that point everyone was led astray by Peter, what you find with Peter, once John draws attention to the Lord, is energy. That would be features that need to mark us today, the closeness to the Lord seen in John and the resultant energy seen in Peter, so that our relationship is strengthened with the Lord, do you think?
DAB So a characteristic particularly of John is that he seems to be a stalwart in the local assembly. At the time of the Lord’s resurrection; he gets to the entrance of the tomb first. And as you said, he said, “It is the Lord” first. He recognises the Lord; and when he says that, Peter casts himself into the sea to get to the Lord. He is dependable to the point that his local brethren have confidence in him. ‘Respect’ is the wrong word, but you would honour what was found in him, and so when he says that it is the Lord, there is authority there, and there is a result in the affections of the company. He just seems to be a dependable person in a place that the local brethren can have confidence in. Maybe it comes back to what was said in meetings in Birmingham - he is one that was able to flood his local company with good; he was sensitive to the movements of the Lord. And in times where things may be beginning to slip, he is able to point to where the Lord is.
PSB And that comes down, does it, to entering in sympathetically with the Lord’s own feelings? We have already touched on it earlier, but that is really the character of it. It is not following particular regulations or traditions, but it is being intelligent to the Lord’s movements and the Lord’s feelings. I wish I knew them more, but that is what John brings out all the time, is it not?
KJW What is being said is helpful. I was just thinking as you have both been speaking of the beginning of John’s gospel where it speaks of “looking at Jesus as he walked”. And then the words, “Behold the Lamb of God”, John 1: 36. Think of the depth that there was in that, first to call the Lord the Lamb of God, but then it is drawing attention to Him. The result of that was that the two disciples heard him speaking and followed Jesus; they were freshly stirred to follow Jesus, v 37.
DAB Yes, that’s helpful; so although John the baptist said that, it is John the apostle here that records those words, he had obviously contemplated it. I do not know if he was one of those two disciples that followed, I am not sure whether we are told, but, if I may extend your thought a little, John is able to be like that because he had had the experience of another rendering that service to him. John had the experience of one pointing out the Lord to him, and as appreciating that service, he can then render that service to others. Would that be a right thought?
We can move on to our next scripture. We find here that John was one who loved the brethren in truth, but I would like to suggest that he would love them into the truth as well. I wondered whether that is brought out here. So John in his epistles is now an older man, perhaps having passed through much sorrow. Presumably, a number of the apostles had been martyred at this point. Yet he was one who was marked by love for the Lord and love for the brethren, and therefore he would love them in the truth - that is the truth revealed in Jesus. And his desire would be that they would get the gain of it; so he would love them into the truth too.
RJF Could you describe it as characteristic of Timothy also? He cared with genuine feeling how the saints were getting on, Phil 2: 20. There is something similar between the two. John rejoiced exceedingly when the brethren came and bore testimony as to one holding fast the truth. This is really the characteristic of nurturing and shepherding. It is not done abstractly but with the affections entering into it.
DAB That is helpful. He comes from a position of the greatest strength because it was what he loved himself. It has often been said that I cannot bring anyone further into the truth than I have got myself. I think someone suggested that I have to get further myself in the truth before I can bring someone along so far. The way I understand that thought is that I may sometimes in my experience get fresh light as to some aspect of the truth and I thoroughly enjoy it; but I cannot seem to be able to express it properly, and I feel that what I express is a rather poor example of what was in my heart. I wonder whether that is what was meant. But John here is coming from the greatest strength - he dwells in the truth which he loves, and therefore he has the power and the strength to love others into it.
PSB It is interesting what was just said about Timothy because shortly before that reference we get mention of Paul’s joy because of their fellowship with the gospel, Phil 1: 4-5. He is rejoicing in the saints and rejoicing in seeing the work of God in the saints grow. You pointed out that John loved them in truth and loved them into the truth, and we can see that they are rejoicing as to what they see of divine workmanship, as they see the work of God being brought to fruition in the believer. This is really in accord with how divine Persons rejoice as to what has been worked out. I think that is most wonderful, that we can enter into what divine Persons feel, as we see the work of God coming to light in believers and growing and shining out. John loved that; Timothy loved that; Paul loved that. It is not ended; it is going on today, is it not?
DAB Absolutely.
PHM I am wondering about the sequence that is brought in here. First it is “love in truth”, then “holding fast the truth”, and finally, “walking in truth”. Some might say it is presumptuous to say that we desire to walk in truth, but what precedes that is the love for the truth which brings us together. But then what we are seeking, as awaiting our Lord’s return, is to hold fast to the truth. And because you love the truth, and have a desire to hold fast the truth, that enables us to walk in the truth. It is not something that is presumptuous, but it is all underwritten by the love for the truth.
DAB Yes, that is helpful. I have made the mistake of making some great statement of truth, and I have somewhat tripped over myself because I do not really know it. Loving the truth begins on my knees, does it not? Maybe with my Bible open, there is something I do not understand, but I am before God, seeking to understand it as He will present it to me. And having got the gain and the light of that, I then value it and I do not want to let it go. So because I do not want to let it go, my testimony corresponds to it; I am walking according to what I now know in my heart. So there, by experience, is the order: I love the truth, I hold fast the truth, I walk in the truth.
PSB What has just been brought in is available to everyone, not just a select few, and the desire would be that everyone should come into it as well. I was thinking of the desire to hold the truth and walk in the truth that is found in the assembly in Philadelphia: “thou hast a little power” (Rev 3: 8) and, “hold fast what thou hast”, v 11. That is today, is it not? We may feel we are very limited; and how little I know, but that is not the point. It is, “hold fast what thou hast”, v 11. Walk in the light of it, and God gives greater light.
RJF In your earlier scripture, it is interesting it speaks about the women by the cross, but it does not speak at first about John by the cross, though he was evidently there.
DAB Open up more what your thought is, please? My mind immediately goes to what has been taught: how women, in scripture, represent condition, Addresses and Other Ministry by William Johnson p281. I like what is found in John’s gospel, that there was affection for the Lord at the cross. You might say that it is representative of those found in the last days that love the Lord that much, that they will be identified with His cross. I wondered if that is why the women are named at first without John; it brings out the condition that is to be found over against position. But do you have another thought?
RJF Only that things may not always be obvious. John was there as one who loved the Lord, and he carried those things in his heart, and he was within earshot of what the Lord had to say so that he heard it. There is something of that characteristic here - he was not there as one who makes himself prominent, but he was there as available when needed. You might say again it is what we have in Timothy: “serviceable to the Master”, 2 Tim 2: 21.
KJW I was thinking about John saying, “I desire that in all things thou shouldest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers”. It seems that he had a care for every aspect of their lives. Clearly the soul is prominent, and the truth, as we have been bringing out; but it seems that he cares how they are getting on in every way.
DAB So another aspect we find is that he was one to confide in about how the brethren were. Perhaps you carry a concern about a brother, or you have an encouraging word about a brother. John is one in whom you would confide because you would know he was one who would have fellow feeling in relation to that brother. What you share and what you enjoy, he would share too. It just seems to me to be the spirit of the man. He is a godly man. And so, he would care not only spiritually, but practically how the saints get on. That is because the Lord cares practically too, and in everything it is, “seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”, Matt 6: 33. In all practical matters we can take confidence that the Lord, because of His love for us, cares also about these things.
KJW I think we can probably all see examples of that in our lives, that there have been brothers and sisters like this. Maybe it is a characteristic that has been seen more in sisters that have cared in this way and have brought the Lord before us whenever possible. That is another characteristic that the Lord would be seeking.
DAB And that brings us back to the point that you were bringing out earlier, that John, having had one point out the Lord to him, was able to do it for others. We can think back over our lives as to those who rendered that service, and we are to imitate them. We are to imitate their faith so that we would be available to render such a service to others so that the testimony can go on.
RJF You were speaking earlier about not being able to help somebody further than we have got ourselves. That is right, and an interesting characteristic is what John speaks about in his epistle, about those who can set forward on their journey, v 6. Now that might involve them going further than where we have got. Setting forward is something that is really very positive - it is pointing in a direction, and that is something that I think one with the characteristics of John can do: they can set someone forward.
DAB That is helpful, because it reminds me of something that I have been pondering regarding the passage already mentioned as to John getting to the entrance of the tomb first. I am wondering whether we see in it a pattern of how the Spirit often brings forward something fresh in relation to the movements of the testimony. John gets there first, he sees the linen clothes lying; Peter gets there next, and sees the linen clothes lying and the handkerchief in a distinct place by itself, John 20: 4-8. He is able to fill out in more detail the line of truth that John has brought to attention. Then we find in Paul an opening out of what that handkerchief represents, completing the ministry that others had begun to get an impression of, and so the truth is worked out. It seems instructive to me that it is John who first sees the movements of the ark, he has those priestly instincts, which is a characteristic needed today. Would that be a correct application of that scripture?
RJF Yes, I think that would be a right application and it underlines the importance of condition. We should not be prescriptive in speaking about what is typical or anything like that, but John is very much one who set out condition by example. He knows the love of the Lord, he is conscious of it, and he is one who loves the Lord; that is all really condition, is it not? The result of that is that not only does he establish the grounds for the brethren in those early days, but he continues in those conditions in the testimony which stretch down to this day.
PSB You have already drawn our attention to the fact that we do not get much of John in the Acts. What we find is he is standing with Peter, and then he seems to fade out, though I am sure he is always there. And then we have what comes in through Paul; then we get John again at the end of it all, faithful all the way through. Linking on with the way things come out, he is supporting Peter, and no doubt he was supporting Paul; and then the Lord uses him to bring out what is for the working out of these things in the last days, which is the character of John, is it?
DAB Yes, the more I think about it, how appropriate it was that the Lord used John as the means of communicating this book to the seven assemblies. We have been able, through helpful Spirit-given light, to trace how the addresses to the assemblies all apply to what has happened over the history of the testimony, and they were given to John to give to the assemblies. This again gives me the impression that we can have confidence that the Lord will have what marked John until the end. It ever remains that he is a “brother and fellow-partaker”, Rev 1: 9. He is one of the brethren, if I can just put it like that. He has not been prominent exactly - he takes on the service given. He is a fellow brother, a fellow-partaker, and there is a list here: in the “tribulation and kingdom and patience”, Rev 1: 9. All those things are important for the testimony, are they not?
RJF We should just seek to say a little about this characteristic “your brother” in Revelation 1: 9. It is something that is vital. Again it is not necessarily prominence. I remember a burial meeting of a brother in London who was very much a brotherly brother - you understand what I mean by that. It was something of that characteristic that was brought out in that occasion: the vitality, to a degree, of the brotherly covenant, but the characteristics of the brother as well as one who supports the saints and sets them forward. He was just quietly there, reliable, and responsible, not necessarily prominent, but as one in whom the Lord could place His confidence.
DAB The term, “your brother” seems to be one who has committed himself to serve the brethren. He is not ‘a’ brother, not ‘one of the brethren’, but “your brother” - He has committed himself to serve the saints so that he can identify himself as, speaking carefully, almost owned by the brethren, “your brother” - would that be right?
RJF It is somebody that can draw alongside and just simply speak to someone. We have an expression that is used in the world - ‘being there’ for someone - but that is actually what a brother is.
PHM What do you say about these two phrases, “your brother and fellow-partaker”? This would be heaven’s view of us. I was thinking of what has been given example of. How much more so the view of heaven for an individual as a brother, and collectively as fellow partakers. Do you think that is a way in which heaven views the saints?
DAB Yes, I think that would be right. It is probably why John goes on to speak of “the tribulation and kingdom and patience”. The thought of the kingdom really belongs to our experience down here, what is to govern us, and that is a collective thought - the kingdom. And then patience, to be restfully patient, awaiting the time when we shall be called to be with the Lord. These would be characteristics that heaven observes. How much the Lord was marked by patience here! That must surely be replicated still upon the earth in those who are becoming like Him. I think that would be right, that would be heaven’s view.
RJF Revelation speaks about John being “in the island called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus”, chap 1: 9. That is another of the characteristics of John, that he was there and ready to stand for the word of God and ready to be there and stand for the testimony of Jesus.
DAB Those are two things that at the moment definitely remain upon the earth: the word of God is here in our hand, and the testimony of Jesus is here because the Spirit is here. After the rapture, the word and the testimony will be different, but here and now there are those who are here for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. How stabilising, that even today in a day of breakdown it is here, the Spirit has ensured that it is so.
SUNBURY
26th July 2020
Key to Initials
(all local):
D A Barlow; P S Barlow; R J Flowerdew; P H Morris; K J Walkinshaw