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John, like the writer of the first Gospel, was one of the twelve apostles, and hence an eyewitness of all that he describes. He was one of the first four followers summoned by Jesus, and was of all men the man most intimately associated with the Master, and beloved by Him. A mere youth at the time of his call, John apparently outlived all the other Apostles. His Gospel is of later date than the other three and is supposed to have been written by him perhaps sixty years after the death of Christ, though there is a widespread opinion among modern scholars that not John himself, but some intimate friend and pupil of his, was the actual writer. John also, as a leader of the Church, wrote three of the "Epistles" and in extreme old age penned his mighty and mystic "Revelation."

This Gospel is supplementary to and widely different from the other three. It aims, not to tell the story of Jesus' life, but to expound His doctrines. The other Gospels are chiefly narrative; this one, while mentioning incidents passed over by the others, is a book of philosophic discourses. John, who had most loved Jesus and most fully caught His spirit, explains His mission to the world as the God, born man, to suffer for us all, the God of Divine Love.

Chapter 1

1 The divinity, humanity, and office of Jesus Christ. 15 The testimony of John. 39 The calling of Andrew, Peter, &c.

N the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him

was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

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JOHN I-JOHN BAPTIZETH JESUS

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

19¶ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

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The Keys Promised Peter

BY PERUGINO, THE ITALIAN MASTER, DIED 1524.

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"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."-Matthew, 16, 19.

T

HE striking scene which followed on Peter's pledg

ing of the apostles' faith to Christ, is told only in the Gospel of Matthew. "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Then Peter was told that the keys of heaven were to be his, to open only to those who should deserve it.

From this time forward, Jesus, feeling that the twelve were now sufficiently prepared, began to reveal to them the suffering in store for Him at Jerusalem, the Great Sacrifice to be made. They were astounded, terrified. Peter, on this first occasion, protested loudly. Jesus, so the apostles thought, was downcast for the moment and morbid. Such terrible things should not happen; His followers would not permit Him to surrender Himself. The Master rebuked Peter sternly for his forwardness, and warned the little group that sorrow was in store for them also. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

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