Ah. Well here is something else about my beloved John that few every preach from the pulpit with all of the things that strike them as so necessary. And a lot of it is good of course, but why is so much that is really essential missed? Huh? What about this.
In only one gospel, John speaks of the one Jesus loved trotting along side him when he was arrested. Or arrested with him. I do believe it was trotting along side of, myself. Then that person was thrown out and saw Peter by the fire.
Now, 1900 years later both of these incomparable men, beautiful beyond our imagination, and equally brave, are bullied from the pulpit way too much for me. I could have a really great dinner somewhere if I had a $1.00 for every time I have heard Peter described as a "boaster and a braggart, and a coward who denied Jesus." Well, that judgment jury is still out with me. Sorry, I just see it a different way. Those denegrating statements about Peter have alway grieved my human spirit. I remember one brother so clearly, who was more and more enjoying his position as teacher and jester to a very large crowd at that time, and was in a very loud comical way somehow twisting it around to, "And there goes Peter, putting his big foot in his mouth AGAIN...." And I remember a lot of people laughing along with him. And things like that and one day the Move of God moved on, as people will remember.
Now as for John, he is held up to us all as the most bodatious (sp - where is the editing mode on this thing? I end up looking like I can't speak English) egomanicial, personally agrandizing brother in history. Along with his poor brother, James.
They are presented in studies as two egomanics, when told by Jesus that he was probably going to die by the cross within a short period of time, who begin demanding that Jesus appoint them both the most important people in Heaven while He was still alive! Just like that.
"We want to be the most important two guys in Heaven. Yeah, yeah, you're going to be picked up pretty soon and the Romans can be pretty rough, but look. First things first. We want you to appoint us the two top positions in Heaven. Can we both rule Heaven right under you?" Then the studies continue as to how Jesus says the least of these my brethren, and all of us nod our heads in agreement on the lesson in humility, not at all questioning the
LUDICROUS aspect of John even vaguely wondering about such a purely human and ungodly thought process in the first place.
So, do a word study and an exact study of what happened as the conversation went down. I will look at this again to be sure I"m not making mistakes here, and did an exhaustive study on this one day for someone else and it takes time to look everything up, but this is basically the fact of the matter.
In the scriptures it is apparent that things were going fabulously well, and the streets were lined with adoring people when Jesus came to Jerusalem. Crowds everywhere, as usual. Some so anxious to see him they didn't think about bringing any food even, and miracles were done so people wouldn't go hungry. (Or, by popular interpretation we can believe the teachings that people followed Jesus "for the food". Perhaps expand that "for the wine". Anything but "for Jesus.". And one high priest soon saying it is apparent that soon all men will believe on Him, etc Implying clearly that this is out of control, not just a few people notice Jesus.)
So in a very solemn meeting Jesus announces that he is going to die, as in very unpleasantly, and in Mark tells them he knows he is going to be whipped (within an inch of life was the process those days) spit upon and killed (Mark 10:32 on.)
It is then stated that two selfish boasters demand to be greatest in Heaven and want that assurance now!
Actually, John comes up and almost tricks the Lord into granting him a wish by saying, Lord, we want you to allow us to do what we wish to do in this matter, and want you to grant it as you can grant it if you wish.) The Lord asks "what is it I should let you do?" John says
"May we (me and James) "sit" one on your right side, and one on your left, "in your glory".
Jesus replies that they couldn't go through what he was going to go through.
John says yes we can.
Jesus says you shall indeed go through the same thing as me, but it is up to my father who will be on my left hand and right hand in this matter.
Now, all of that is interesting and can be interpreted according to human will. Either as big shots in Heaven, which most men in the past 50 years have chosen as the interpretation, or as two people asking Jesus to die with him, and Jesus sadly telling them no.
Anyone who doubts, get out your strongs and look up glory. First of all the word does not vaguely refer to Heaven, and totally refers to a moment of purpose, which is quite clear indeed. Heaven is all different words.
But the clue is in sit. The word John used and Jesus used was
2523. From 2510, to seize upon, to fasten upon, to tarry, etc.
(Jesus uses the word "sit" 2523 in the garden that the guys "sit" with Him while he got ready to face what was coming in prayer)
The word for sit pompously in Heaven as members of a royal court would have been 2625, "to recline" or "take a place at a table".
So, perhaps of all the apostles, that is why John lived out his days in probably happy solitude on the Isle of Patmos, rather than dying when they tried to boil him in oil as history states.
Anyway, we can do anything at all with scriptures. I was warned about that early on. Ken Smith, who now is an old man in Hawaii and has become an Orthodox Christian ordained minister over the course of time, pointed out where the Bbible can tell you to steal if you want to see it. You can either read, "And for those who stole, steal no more, but rather work with your own hands for an honest living.
or you can read: "And for those who stole, steal. No more but rather work wtih your own hands for an honest living."
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