As we conclude this series of lessons from The Gospel According to John, we enter into the closing scenes—the final week—of Christ’s life on earth. Nearly half of John’s entire gospel is dedicated to this period. John “seems to have enjoyed, in a pre-eminent sense, the friendship of Christ.”—The Sanctified Life, p. 53. With such closeness, the insights of the apostle on the Saviour’s sacrifice go into great depth.

Following the Lord’s ascension, eventually “John was . . . summoned to Rome to be tried for his faith. Here before the authorities the apostle’s doctrines were misstated. False witnesses accused him of teaching seditious heresies. By these accusations his enemies hoped to bring about the disciple’s death.

“John answered for himself in a clear and convincing manner, and with such simplicity and candor that his words had a powerful effect. His hearers were astonished at his wisdom and eloquence. But the more convincing his testimony, the deeper was the hatred of his opposers. The emperor Domitian was filled with rage. He could neither dispute the reasoning of Christ’s faithful advocate, nor match the power that attended his utterance of truth; yet he determined that he would silence his voice.

“John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil; but the Lord preserved the life of His faithful servant, even as He preserved the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. As the words were spoken, Thus perish all who believe in that deceiver, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, John declared, My Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and his angels could devise to humiliate and torture Him. He gave His life to save the world. I am honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake. I am a weak, sinful man. Christ was holy, harmless, undefiled. He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.

“These words had their influence, and John was removed from the caldron by the very men who had cast him in.”—The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 569, 570.

A victorious Christian life such as John the Beloved experienced is available to us today. Let us remember that “it would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 83.

May the Holy Spirit guide our hearts and minds as we contemplate these closing scenes in the earthly life of our precious Redeemer!

The General Conference Sabbath School Department