WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JOHN? (Rev 1:8-19)

As we open the beginning pages of the book of Revelation, what do we know and what can we learn about the Apostle John?

John was…

• “ORDINARY” – He was an unschooled fisherman who became courageous & bold because he “had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13)
• “DEVOTED” – He was the youngest of the twelve disciples and he was the oldest of the disciples to live. Young or old, age was not a factor in his unwavering devotion to Jesus.
• “CHANGED” – Jesus named the young John and his brother, James “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:16-19) The name brings a sense of wildness, untamedness, reactive, loud, rowdy, act before think, etc. But later in life, John was no longer known as “thunderous” but called “The Beloved Disciple”. A man known for his gentleness and for his love for Christ and for others. 
• “TRUSTED” – Jesus entrusted his mother to John. When on the cross, Jesus trusted John to care for the most precious person on the earth to him, his mother. (John 19:26-27)
• “FAITHFUL” – Persecution & suffering did not stop him from spreading the Gospel. (Acts 4:20) “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” John was faithful to the very end even during a time of severe persecution. He had seen his brothers in Christ, the other 11 disciples, brutally martyred for their faith. As an old man he was exiled to the Island of Patmos for hard labor. According to Tertullian writings, he had been thrown into a vat of boiling oil and survived. John had a lifetime of suffering  which only seemed to strengthen his faith. John was a faithful disciple.
• “A MENTOR” – He taught, mentored, ministered, & discipled others as one of the foundation leaders in Jerusalem and at the church of Ephesus. John raised up many strong dedicated leaders & believers.  One example is Polycarp of Smyrna, who was burned at the stake then killed with sword while preaching the Gospel with his dying breath. John was a great evangelist, sharing the Gospel and even writing one of the best evangelism tools, the book of John which contains the most well known verse in the Bible, John 3:16. He also wrote John 1,2,3.
• “A TRUE WORSHIPPER” – While exiled and alone on the Island of Patmos, possibly feeling forgotten, that his ministry was over, that the end of his life was near, his body scared and worn out from a life of suffering, tired with little left to give… He was praising and worshipping his Lord and Savior! He knew what day it was, it was the LORD’S DAY and he was worshipping with no one around, no one watching, with no one to impress. He could have been praying for deliverance. But he wasn’t. He was worshipping! (Rev 1:9-10)

What can we learn from John? A LOT!!!

“Don’t give up! Don’t give in! Don’t give out!”