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Unlikely Leaders

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    John Learned His Lessons Well

    At another time, James and John met someone who was not an acknowledged follower of Christ but was casting out devils in His name. The disciples forbade the man to work and thought they were right. But Christ rebuked them: “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me” (Mark 9:39). James and John thought they were defending Christ’s honor, but they began to see they were jealous for their own. They admitted their error and accepted the rebuke.ULe 198.5

    John treasured every lesson and tried to bring his life into harmony with God’s pattern. He had begun to recognize the glory of Christ—“the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).ULe 198.6

    John’s affection for his Master did not cause Christ’s love for him—it was the effect of that love. Under the transforming love of Christ he became subdued and humble. Self was hid in Jesus. More than all his companions, John yielded himself to the power of that awe-inspiring life. His Master’s lessons were engraved on his heart. When he testified about the Savior’s grace, his simple language was eloquent with the love that saturated his whole being.ULe 198.7

    The Savior loved all the Twelve, but John had the most receptive spirit. Younger than the others, with more of the child’s simple trust, he opened his heart to Jesus. In this way he came more into sympathy with Christ, and it was he who communicated the Savior’s deepest spiritual teaching to the people. John could talk of the Father’s love as none of the other disciples could. The beauty of holiness that had transformed him gleamed with Christlike radiance from his face, and fellowship with Christ became his one desire.ULe 198.8

    “Beloved, now are we children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).ULe 199.1

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