A Sanctified Wandering Witness

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

Although debated for centuries, it is generally accepted that Jesus granted the wish of John, known also as the Beloved, the Revelator, and Apostle, to not taste of death, but minister upon the earth until the end of time.  There is no record of his post-mortal ministry. 

The Bible records several instances where a Godly servant transitioned from mortal to immortal at God’s command.  These appear to include Enoch who, “…walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5); Moses: “No man knoweth of Moses’ sepulchre unto this day.” (Deut. 34:5–6); and Elijah: “…Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kgs. 2:11).  When asked by Peter as to the request of John, Jesus says, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”  (John 21:22) Elsewhere He said, “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28)  Again, Bible scholars debate this matter, but if we take the passage literally, then there were those present (perhaps including John) who, for purposes known only to God, experienced this miraculous transition.

God in His omniscience and power makes those decisions.  One might then speculate that, “If these, why not others?"  However, for our meditation, we will only focus on the biblical account of one who was not “taken up,” but remained here below.  Jesus’s beloved disciple John was granted the wonderful, yet challenging opportunity to be a wandering minister upon the earth until Christ’s second coming.

Oh, to see through his eyes and to hear what his ears have heard through the centuries!  We wonder to whom he has ministered and what interventions he has made into the affairs of men?  Has he been a shaper of history or just an observer?  In our meditative verse, we recognize and honor the calling and extended ministry of John, whom we call  “ A Sanctified Wandering Witness.”

A Sanctified Wandering Witness

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he (John) tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
John 21:22

The beloved John of old never tasted death

But is a wandering minister on earth to roam

God’s servant who will never breathe a last breath

Who tarries and teaches until Christ calls him home

He ministers to earth’s scattered tribes and nations

To all tongues and people wherever he is assigned

Bringing souls unto Christ and sacred oblations

Christ’s immortal courier serving all mankind

His work is consecrated, sacred, and edifying

An agent of Christ ministering truth and light

Loving, inspiring, purifying and sanctifying

A wandering holy pastor of power and might

Called as a wanderer who continues to roam

Until Christ shall come to rule and reign

Then changed in a twinkling and taken home

John will enter heaven with blessings to claim

We honor John and his holy mission

Ministering Christ’s message to man

As he observes our mortal condition

And helps  fulfill God’s eternal plan

Larry Doyle Crenshaw