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ye may be found of Him in peace； without spot； and blameless。 And account
that the long…suffering of our Lord is salvation； even as our beloved
brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written
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unto you。 。 。 。 Ye therefore； beloved； seeing ye know these things before；
beware lest ye also； being led away with the error of the wicked； fall from
your own steadfastness。 But grow in grace； and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ。〃
In the providence of God； Peter was permitted to close his ministry in Rome；
where his imprisonment was ordered by the emperor Nero about the time of
Paul's final arrest。 Thus the two veteran apostles； who for many years had
been widely separated in their labors； were to bear their last witness for
Christ in the world's metropolis； and upon its soil to shed their blood as
the seed of a vast harvest of saints and martyrs。
Since his reinstatement after his denial of Christ； Peter had unflinchingly
braved danger and had shown a noble courage in preaching a crucified； risen；
and ascended Saviour。 As he lay in his cell he called to mind the words that
Christ had spoken to him： 〃Verily； verily； I say unto thee； When thou wast
young； thou girdedst thyself； and walkedst whither thou wouldest： but when
thou shalt be old； thou shalt stretch forth thy hands； and another shall
gird thee； and carry thee whither thou wouldest not。〃 John 21：18。 Thus Jesus
had made known to the disciple the very manner of his death； and even
foretold the stretching of his hands upon the cross。
Peter； as a Jew and a foreigner； was condemned to be scourged and crucified。
In prospect of this fearful death； the apostle remembered his great sin in
denying Jesus in the hour of His trial。 Once so unready to acknowledge the
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cross； he now counted it a joy to yield up his life for the gospel； feeling
only that； for him who had denied his Lord； to die in the same manner as his
Master died was too great an honor。 Peter had sincerely repented of that sin
and had been forgiven by Christ； as is shown by the high commission given
him to feed the sheep and lambs of the flock。 But he could never forgive
himself。 Not even the thought of the agonies of the last terrible scene
could lessen the bitterness of his sorrow and repentance。 As a last favor he
entreated his executioners that he might be nailed to the cross with his
head downward。 The request was granted； and in this manner died the great
apostle Peter。
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Chapter 53
John the Beloved
John is distinguished above the other apostles as 〃the disciple whom Jesus
loved。〃 John 21：20。 He seems to have enjoyed to a pre…eminent degree the
friendship of Christ； and he received many tokens of the Saviour's
confidence and love。 He was one of the three permitted to witness Christ's
glory upon the mount of transfiguration and His agony in Gethsemane； and it
was to his care that our Lord confided His mother in those last hours of
anguish upon the cross。
The Saviour's affection for the beloved disciple was returned with all the
strength of ardent devotion。 John clung to Christ as the vine clings to the
stately pillar。 For his Master's sake he braved the dangers of the judgment
hall and lingered about the cross； and at the tidings that Christ had risen；
he hastened to the sepulcher； in his zeal out…stripping even the impetuous
Peter。
The confiding love and unselfish devotion manifested in the life and
character of John present lessons of untold value
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to the Christian church。 John did not naturally possess the loveliness of
character that his later experience revealed。 By nature he had serious
defects。 He was not only proud； self…assertive； and ambitious for honor； but
impetuous； and resentful under injury。 He and his brother were called 〃sons
of thunder。〃 Evil temper； the desire for revenge； the spirit of criticism；
were all in the beloved disciple。 But beneath all this the divine Teacher
discerned the ardent； sincere； loving heart。 Jesus rebuked this
self…seeking； disappointed his ambitions； tested his faith。 But He revealed
to him that for which his soul longedthe beauty of holiness； the
transforming power of love。
The defects in John's character came strongly to the front on several
occasions during his personal association with the Saviour。 At one time
Christ sent messengers before Him into a village of the Samaritans；
requesting the people to prepare refreshments for Him and His disciples。 But
when the Saviour approached the town； He appeared to be desirous of passing
on toward Jerusalem。 This aroused the envy of the Samaritans； and instead of
inviting Him to tarry with them； they withheld the courtesies which they
would have given to a common wayfarer。 Jesus never urges His presence upon
any； and the Samaritans lost the blessing which would have been granted them
had they solicited Him to be their guest。
The disciples knew that it was the purpose of Christ to bless the Samaritans
by His presence； and the coldness； jealousy； and disrespect shown to their
Master filled them with surprise and indignation。 James and John especially
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were aroused。 That He whom they so highly reverenced should be thus treated；
seemed to them a wrong too great to be passed over without immediate
punishment。 In their zeal they said； 〃Lord； wilt Thou that we command fire
to come down from heaven； and consume them； even as Elias did？〃 referring to
the destruction of the Samaritan captains and their companies sent out to
take the prophet Elijah。 They were surprised to see that Jesus was pained by
their words； and still more surprised as His rebuke fell upon their ears：
〃Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of。 For the Son of man is not come
to destroy men's lives； but to save them。〃 Luke 9：54…56。
It is no part of Christ's mission to compel men to receive Him。 It is Satan；
and men actuated by his spirit； who seek to compel the conscience。 Under a
pretense of zeal for righteousness； men who are confederated with evil
angels sometimes bring suffering upon their fellow men in order to convert
them to their ideas of religion； but Christ is ever showing mercy； ever
seeking to win by the revealing of His love。 He can admit no rival in the
soul； nor accept of partial service； but He desires only voluntary service；
the willing surrender of the heart under the constraint of love。
On another occasion James and John presented through their mother a petition
requesting that they might be permitted to occupy the highest positions of
honor in Christ's kingdom。 Notwithstanding Christ's repeated instruction
concerning the nature of His kingdom； these young disciples still cherished
the hope for a Messiah who would take His throne and kingly power in
accordance with the desires
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of men。 The mother； coveting with them the place of honor in this kingdom
for her sons； asked； 〃Grant