“What shall this man”—­John—­“do?” asked Peter.  He found partial answer in what they did together for the early Christian Church, until John saw “by what manner of death Peter should glorify God.”  And then that church found yet fuller answer in John’s labors for it while alone he “tarried” long among them.

When John tells us that Peter turned and saw him following, we recall the hour when Andrew and he timidly walked along the Jordan banks, and “Jesus turned and saw them following,” and welcomed their approach and encouraged them in familiar conversation.  How changed is all now!  John does not ask as before, “Where dwellest Thou?” Nor does Jesus bid him “Come and see.”  He who has become the favored disciple is now better prepared than then to serve his Master, following in the path they had trod together, and having an abiding sense of the blessed though unseen Presence, until his Lord shall bid him, “Come and see” My heavenly abode, and evermore “be with Me where I am,” and share at last, without unholy ambition, the glory of My Throne.”

CHAPTER XXX

St. John a Pillar-Apostle in the Early Christian Church

     “James and Cephas and John, they who are reputed to be
     pillars.”—­Paul.  Gal. ii. 9.

     “They went up into the upper chamber where they were abiding; both
     Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip, ...”—­Acts i. 13.

     “When the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in
     one place.”—­Acts ii. 1.

     “An angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought
     them out.”—­Acts v. 19.

     “Now when the Apostles which were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria
     had received the word of the Lord, they sent unto them Peter and
     John.”—­Acts viii. 14.

     “He (Herod) killed James the brother of John with the
     sword.”—­Acts xii. 2.

The next place where we may think of John with his Lord was on a mountain in Galilee.  At least once before His death, and twice after His resurrection, He directed His Disciples to meet Him there.  For what purpose?  Evidently to receive His final commission.

“Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto Me in Heaven and on earth.  Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you:  and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”