Because He Said So
The opening line from today’s reading has caused quite a stir. Jesus told his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” People have debated this sentence from the moment it left Christ’s lips. These words became misunderstood to think that one of the chosen would live forever. Because Jesus had told Peter, “If it is my will that he (John) remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” (John 21:22) many people thought John was immortal. In fact, the following verse in John says, “The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’”
So prevalent was the misunderstanding of this sentence that the Roman military heard of it. Emperor Domitian condemned John to death because of his connection to Christ and insistence on preaching the good news. However, it is reported that his advisors warned him that Jesus’ followers believed John to be immortal. This led him to change his plans for the Apostle’s execution. Fearing that a mishap with uncontrollable wild animals would embolden Christians and strengthen this belief that Jesus could grant immortality, Emperor Domitian ordered John to be killed in a fool-proof way: boiled in a vat of oil. John preached all the way to the pot. Once they placed him in the boiling liquid, he preached from within the pot. He did not; however, die. Afraid to try any other tactics, the emperor banished the follower and friend of Jesus to the island of Patmos.
Did Jesus grant immortality to one of his closest friends? He could have, but he did not. John did eventually die of old age, but making his friend live forever in this fallen world was never Christ’s plan. I would think that would be a punishment and not a blessing. We all long for immortality, but I want mine on the other side of Heaven’s gate! The point I believe Jesus was making was that he was in control, and we are not. God’s plans are ours to follow, not question. We don’t know the entire plan of God. We cannot see inside His mind – or even begin to understand it if we could. Let us not question His will. Let us learn to simply obey. We obey, not because we are afraid or mindless followers but, because we know, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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