CHAPTER XXXII
A Retrospect
How wonderful and charming a history is that of St. John! Our glimpses of him have been few and often-times indistinct; but they have been enough in number and clearness to reveal a noble and lovable character.
We saw him first on the sea-shore of Gennesaret, not differing from any other Galilean boy. We watched him playing and fishing with his Bethsaidan companions, none of them thinking of how long their friendship would be continued, or in what new and strange circumstances of joy and sorrow, hope and fear, disappointment and glad surprises, that companionship would become closer and closer.
We saw John in his rambles about his home, amid scenes beautiful in themselves, which became sacred because of what he there beheld and heard.
We discovered his relationship to a child in Nazareth whom he did not know at first as the most wonderful being in the world.
We entered his home and visited the school where he was taught of Him who was called the coming Messiah; but who had already come, though his parents and teachers knew it not.
We followed him as a Jewish boy into the Temple, whose glories were to become more glorious in his manhood by what he beheld therein.
We saw him on the Jordan, standing with his kindred and namesake, who pointed him to Jesus as the Messiah for whom he had been looking. From that hour we have known him as a disciple of Jesus, later as one of his twelve Apostles, then one of the chosen three, then the one—the beloved Disciple.
Through his eyes we have beheld the wonderful works of our Lord: with his ears we have heard the most wonderful words ever spoken to man. We have caught glimpses of him in most wonderful scenes which he was almost the only one to behold—amid the glories of the transfiguration, in the death-chamber changed to that of life, in the shadows of Gethsemane.