24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Here the Apostle John makes a solemn declaration both of the authorship of the Gospel which bears his name as well as to the Truth contained within its pages. He wanted all to know he wrote nothing but the Truth - his testimony could be implicitly trusted. His efforts stemmed from his great desire to grant assurance to the reader of his credible and dependable record of the things Jesus had both done and said. Earlier in his gospel he writes similar words:
35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. John 19:34-35 (NIV)
John was the one who had leaned upon Christ’s breast, who had heard His sermons, who had been privy to His miracles and to the proofs of the Lord Jesus’ resurrection. His wordings in our verses for today are not too dissimilar to that of his words in First John:
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:1-4 (NIV)
John was an apostolic witness who had heard and seen and touched - the Truth of which burned in his soul until he both spoke and wrote. I am reminded of Jeremiah’s words:
9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jer 20:9 (NIV)
John had a passion for others to believe and experience fellowship with the Father and His Son just as he had. Faith was never meant to be hoarded rather shared. Surely Jesus’ parting Words to His disciples in the Great Commission flash through our minds:
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:16-20 (NIV)
The Apostles’ hearts were so one with the heart of Christ that their joy was intertwined and bound up in the spiritual well being of those they ministered to – just as Jesus displayed leaping joy when His guys “got it”. John was certainly not alone in his endeavor to spread the Truth regarding what he had lived and experienced. All the Apostles bore the same mission – their hearts burned for others to know that True faith was founded on historical facts – facts they had been privy to be eyewitnesses of. Shouldn’t we as modern day disciple’s burn with like passion for others to know as well? Peter writes:
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:12-19 (NIV)
“The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” John Wesley
Indeed, in His High Priestly Prayer Jesus prays for those who would come to know Him through the witness of His Apostles:
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20-21 (NIV)
“We’ve a story to tell to the nations...” H. Ernest Nichol