What a profound and moving depiction of the Apostle John in the latter years of his life.
We pick up with the aged apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos with a small band of disciples, including Papias and Matthias. Every other apostle is gone, having died as a martyr. Only John is left. And even though enemies have tried to murder him, he resists death. Its as if he will remain alive until the promised return of Jesus.
But what happens when Jesus' return doesn't arrive and John's disciples begin abandoning the faith, or worse, setting themselves up as heretical leaders, teaching of another Christ beside the unique Word-made-flesh - even claiming to be Christs themselves?
This novel is filled with scripture as John reflects on his time as a young man with Jesus. It gives us a sense of what it might have been like during this difficult time of transition in the life of the church. It also helps us understand how Gnostic heresies may have arisen and why.
Finally, it helps us see what it might have been like to love Jesus so deeply throughout one's entire life. Indeed, this is the reason the author wrote the book. He imagined how John, the youngest of Jesus' followers, must have spent the vast majority of his life. He writes in the "Author's Note": "This was a very old man who had met Jesus of Nazareth when he himself was still a youth. What would it be like? What would it be like to have the most profound experience of your life when you were that young, to have witnessed what he had witnessed and then be left alone in the aftermath?" (276).
This book gave me a greater love for John's writings, Jesus, and the courage and integrity of the ancient church. It has never been easy to maintain one's faith in Christ and testimony of Christ's unique glory. The beauty of John's witness inspires me to stand firm in the faith.
John's final vision in Chapter 38 - the final chapter of the book - is so inspiring! John is given a glimpse of the full significance of his life and actions throughout history and into eternity. I hope to read this chapter again when my own faith ebbs low.
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