His Servant John

Temple Baptist Church - 8-18-2019

Revelation 1:1, 4

Introduction:

A.  As we begin our study of the Book of Revelation, I believe that we need to take a close look at the Apostle John, also called The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved—John the Beloved—John the Evangelist, the human used by the Holy Ghost to pen down the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

B.  God specifically chose John as the apostle that would remain until our Lord Jesus was seen in the Revelation.  While all of the other disciples, as far as history tells us, died a martyr’s death, John apparently lived to around age 100 and died of natural causes.

C.  Our Lord prophesied John’s vision of the Revelation in John, chapter 21.

John 21:20-23  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?  (21)  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.  (23)  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

D.  What an extraordinary name: “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”  Our Lord Jesus loved all His disciples, but John held a special place which he personally sought.  Any of the disciples could have been just as close to the Lord as John was.

E.  Let us take a short look at John to see what kind of men God has chosen to use for His glory. 

1.  John was a Common Man, a fisherman by trade.  Matthew 4:21  And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  (27)  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  (28)  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  (29)  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

2.  John had no formal education.  Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.  (The trend of our day is to believe that the more educated the individual, the more spiritual and fuller of biblical wisdom.  Many times, the opposite is true as education tends to destroy the faith of those who seek it.)

1 Corinthians 1:26-29  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  

3.  John was an Bold and Outspoken Man.  Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John …  

Mark 3:17  And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges (Boa-ner-ges), which is, The sons of thunder:

4.  John was a Hated Man.  Revelation 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  (John was persecuted, boiled in oil (tradition says), and exiled to die on Patmos.)

5.  John was a Trusted Man.   Revelation 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  (John championed the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ for as long as he lived.  God entrusted John to write 5 books of the New Testament: The Gospel of John, 1st-2nd-3rd John, and Revelation.  John was also one of the “inner three” of the disciples.)

6.  John was a Man who Loved the Lord.  John 13:25  He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?  (John could not get to close to the Lord.  His love was shown and proclaimed in the Book of John.)

7.  John was a Spiritual Man.  Revelation 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.  (When no one else was around, John worshiped the Lord in the Holy Ghost on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day!) 

8.  John was a Servant of the Lord.  Revelation 1:1, 4  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John … John to the seven churches which are in Asia.