Introduction
The gospel of John and his short epistles commonly known as letters of john are very significant in my teaching ministry. John had a very important position in the inner circle of Jesus Christ, as he was given privilege over his fellow disciples such as peter and James. In his later life, John attains a position of influencing people across the world about Christianity. He was worked at church as pastor in Ephesus and developed a special relationship with the other church communities in the area.
John teaching helps me as a young individual to develop the need for humility in the society. Despite the fact that John was in his youthful age, he acquired no misdirected passion in spreading the gospel. John developed a great record during his ministry with Jesus because he was able to understand the need for humility. This developed a strong relationship between Jesus and John. Jesus had so much confidence with john as he turned the care for his mother over John (John 19: 25 -27). However, john from that day showed a great care for Jesus’s mother as if she were his biological mother. His ambition was shaped by the humility he learned from Jesus. From this scenario I am able to gain confidence in my ministerial role as I exercise humility and care for the people around me.
John appreciates the role of servant hood in the ministry by illustrating how his master, Jesus, served hi and fellow disciples. He also wants to portray how the masters in the ministry should also play the role of servant role to their minors. This is illustrated in his writing where he recording Jesus serving his disciples’ feet, (John 13:4-14). This has vital information to the people in the ministry regardless of their position. Therefore, this teaching of John suggest that when am in the higher rank in the ministry, I should take a role of caring for the others, not only in the ministry but congregation in general.
I should thus have willingness to serve the community and be prepared to suffer for the sake of spreading the gospel. John willingness to serve led him to tribulations such as the imprisonment at Patmos. As the result of being the agent for spreading the gospel, he was treated with reproach and cruelty in Patmos. This reminds me to bear in mind that there are many tribulations that I will face as I spread the gospel in the ministry.
John also brings about the teaching and significance of grace in his writings. John describes grace as the self-actualization of law, which Jesus brought to the world for people to reconcile with God. As John stipulates, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17). Without this grace it would be difficult for an individual to exist eternally and spiritually with God. Therefore, John teaches people how to appreciate the grace of God by living according to will of God and always pleasing him. Therefore, I am required to please God by doing what is right in order to show my appreciation for God’s grace throughout my ministry.
It is also significant to consider the teaching of John on truth. John was overpoweringly devoted to the declaration of truth in his writings. The concept of truth is portrayed in the gospel of john where Jesus emphasized on the teaching about truth. Jesus was excited by proclaiming truth to the other people and see them exercising truth, (3 John 4). Therefore, I am required proclaim truth in my ministry as well as condemning the people in the society who pervert the truth and lead the fellow congregation astray. Jesus referred to those people who deceive as being demonic in nature, (1 John 2:18, 4: 1 -7). This text teaches me guide other people to walk in truth as Jesus requirement.
At the same time, John also emphasizes on love, as he is referred to as the apostle of love. His love for people she loved, as depicted by his behaviors of leaning to Jesus, teaches to express our love to people around us. We should be able to balance and show love not only for people who cares for us but also those who need us. Love is above all as Jesus taught his disciples, thus, without love all that we could be doing in the ministry will be for vain. We have to be like john by showing loving and teaching the other people about love. As a result, this will help people to coexist with peace, love and harmony. This is because, one could not claim that he love God while he does not love the people he leaves with.
The gospel of john is relevant in the ministry to strengthen those who have sacrificed many things to spread the gospel. As Jesus was appointing his disciples, he met John and Brother James fishing he told them to follow them and he will make them the fishers of men. (Mark 1:17). Jesus requested to leave their duties and follow him. However, this does not mean the permanent leave and follow, it implies that they should leave their occupation and follow Jesus and be the fishers of men.
The other significant point to note from the life of John is an image of sovereignty. The sovereignty of God is illustrated by choosing to give privilege to John and making one of the inner three, that is James, john, Peter, and he was the last among his fellow disciples to die. Despite, the fact that they were brought up in the same place with his brother James, the sovereignty of God to John is revealed by uplifting him. This is an illustration that God does not work in the ways of what people expect, but in his own ways. God does not look at individual’s personality such as age, he raises one He prefers. This gives me hope that one day God will uplift me above others and make an effective agent to spread the gospel to the society.
John also helps the believers to understand salvation and apply them in their living. Some for the implication that are derived from John’s salvation are discussed as follows. First, we must be very active in our ministry to invite people to believe in Jesus as our Savior. It I significant to not that the revelation of Christ needs a response. We should give more teaching to people so that they can know Jesus as their savior. Secondly, we must initiate programs to invite people to believe in Christ as their savior. With readings from the John’s Gospel and John’s letter, we should let the people understand salvation.
In order to make the teaching of John to be effective, we must incorporate all the ideas outlined by john into our lives. For instance, the enthusiasm for truth must b incorporated for the love of the people. Without the love, this enthusiasm could turn into judgementalism and harshness among communities. Contrariwise, the love that lacks ability to proclaim truth from occurring errors can result to gushing sentimentality. As john learned from his youthful age to his maturity, we should be able to incomplete all these elements and also try to implement the teachings that were taught by Jesus through john’s gospel.
On the other hand too much confidence and boldness that is untendered by grace and compassion can result to smugness and pride. Confidence is a great virtual as illustrated by john, but with no humility, can result to self-confidence which can consequently result into boasting and an individual develops an attitude of excessiveness. When all that happens, this tends to divert our roles from the will of God and our witness to the grace of God is tarnished. We should therefore stick tio the fact that we have to learn how to balance these virtues to enable us to show that we appreciate and understand the teaching of John. Like john, if we are to be efficient in witnessing Christ, our deeds should reflect compassion for people, passion for the truth and unwavering desire to demonstrate our humbleness to the other people. In turn, this will please God, and by faith, all things we have longed for will be accomplished.
References
Essex, B. J. (2012). Bible study. Cleveland, Ohio: Pilgrim Press.
Saville, P., Cusick, H. I., Kash, D., Lintern, R., Danna, J., & Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Firm) (2005). The gospel of John. Burbank, Calif: Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
Whitmer, D., Draves, W. A., & Snyder, J. J. (1942). An address to all believers in Christ. Richmond, M: David Whitmer.
