{"id":12,"date":"2023-03-16T21:18:08","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T21:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/?p=12"},"modified":"2023-03-16T21:18:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T21:18:08","slug":"right-place-right-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/2023\/03\/16\/right-place-right-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Right Place, Right Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let’s start in John 14:21<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe who has My commandments <\/em>and keeps them <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

is the one who loves Me; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and I will love him <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and will disclose Myself to him.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of comforting His disciples, one of whom was John, Jesus set forth the requirements for receiving the full revelation of Himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, one must have His commandments, that is, His Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, one must not only receive and understand His Word, but must obey His commandments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By this evidence, the person is known to love Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In turn, the person will be loved by Christ and His Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, Jesus will reveal Himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John, who identified himself as \u201cbond-servant\u201d to The Master, spent most of his life in obedience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Matthew 4:21-22,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going on from there He saw two other brothers, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

James the son of Zebedee, and <\/em>John his brother, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and He called them. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately they left the boat and their father, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and followed Him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no discussion, no explanation.  Jesus called, and John obeyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, when Jesus revealed Himself, John was named.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 17:1-3<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Six days later Jesus took with Him <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter and James and <\/em>John his brother<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And He was transfigured before them; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and His face shone like the sun, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and His garments became as white as light. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And <\/em>behold,<\/em><\/strong> Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This \u201cfirst revelation\u201d became important later, on Patmos, as Christ became even more clear in John\u2019s understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus was called to Jairus\u2019 home, and Jesus raised his daughter from death, John was one of three who were allowed to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly before His arrest, written in Mark 13:3-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer the Savior gave became known as the Olivet Discourse\u2014the most expansive description Jesus gave before Patmos of future events.  See also Matthew 24 and 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Luke 22:7-8, we find John involved in the preparations for the Last Supper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Jesus sent Peter and <\/em>John<\/em><\/strong>, saying, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, the Master ordered, and John obeyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Mark 14:32-33, John was parsed from the disciples at the time Jesus needed watchmen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They came to a place named Gethsemane; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and He said to His disciples, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSit here until I have prayed.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And He took with Him Peter and James and John, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and began to be very distressed and troubled.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In John 18:15-16, the apostle himself describes his timely intercession, delivering Peter to his moment of denial, prophesied by Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon Peter was following Jesus, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and so was <\/em>another disciple<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now <\/em>that disciple was known to the high priest<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

but Peter was standing at the door outside. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So <\/em>the other disciple, who was known to the high priest<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and brought Peter in.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In John 19:25b-27, <\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But <\/em>standing by<\/em><\/strong> the cross of Jesus were His mother, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and His mother\u2019s sister, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary the wife of Clopas, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and Mary Magdalene. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus then saw His mother, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said to His mother, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/em>Woman, behold, your son!<\/em>\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then He said to the disciple, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/em>Behold<\/em><\/strong>, your mother!<\/em>\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From that hour <\/em>the disciple<\/em><\/strong> took her into his own household.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The implications here are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • John was the only male disciple found at the foot of the cross\u2014the rest were scattered<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • John was present at the beginning (see John 2), and at the end of Jesus\u2019 ministry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • John was adopted by Mary, becoming Jesus\u2019 brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        When addressing his readers in Revelation 1:9, we find<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        I, John, your brother <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        and fellow partaker <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        in the tribulation <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        and kingdom <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        and perseverance which are in Jesus, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        was on the island called Patmos <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        because of the word of God <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        and the testimony of Jesus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The apostle places himself on the same plane as his audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        He is one of the brethren, the followers of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        He is among the ever growing number finding themselves (as Jesus foretold) in the midst of tribulation.  This distress and suffering is the result of persecution brought on those who believe in Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        John also highlights our shared citizenship in the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        This is the same kingdom announced by John the Baptist in Matthew 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        This is the same kingdom proclaimed by Jesus in Matthew 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        This is the same kingdom John described earlier, in Revelation 1:6a:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u2026and He has made us to be a kingdom, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        priests to His God and Father\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        John also encourages us to be patient.  This trait is named by the apostle Paul as one of the fruits of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatians (5:22-23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Calling on our perseverance that is in Christ Jesus enables us to endure the trials that most certainly will come in the last days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Finally, John explains why he is on the island of Patmos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        He is in exile, taken from Ephesus by Domitian because he refused to worship the emperor as god.  John specifically names the word of God and the testimony of Jesus as the two principal indictments brought against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        So much for the temporal rationale for John\u2019s present circumstances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The real reason is simple.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        John must be on Patmos to receive the Word of Jesus Christ, revealing Him to those who are blessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For now,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        ‘The Lord bless you, and keep you;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The Lord make His face shine on you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And be gracious to you;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The Lord lift up His countenance on you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And give you peace.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Let’s start in John 14:21 \u201cHe who has My commandments and keeps them  is the one who loves Me;  and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father,  and I will love him  and will disclose Myself to him.\u201d In the midst of comforting His disciples, one of whom was John, Jesus set forth…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13,"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12\/revisions\/13"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/athome114.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}