A Story of John the Apostle, by Eusebius (Church Historian, c. 263-c.339)


John had poured his life into the young man. The young man was a true, growing disciple. When John left town he committed him to the care of a certain bishop. Upon his return, the bishop informed John that the young man is now "dead." He is "dead to faith." He is longer one of us. John tore his clothes and wept. "Where is he," cried the apostle. "He's in the hills with the robbers," the bishop replied. John said, "give me your horse." John galloped off into the hills.

Eusebius writes:

But John, forgetting his age, pursued him with all his might, crying out, ‘Why, my son, do you flee from me, your own [spiritual] father, unarmed, aged? Fear not, there is still hope. I will give account to Christ for you. For you will I give up my life. Stand, believe; Christ has sent me.’

And he, when he heard, first stopped and looked down; then he threw away his arms, and then trembled and wept bitterly. And when the old man approached, he embraced him, making confession with lamentations as he was able, baptizing himself a second time with tears, and concealing only his right hand.

But John, pledging himself, and assuring him on oath that he would find forgiveness with the Saviour, besought him, fell upon his knees, kissed his right hand itself as if now purified by repentance, and led him back to the church. And making intercession for him with copious prayers, and struggling together with him in continual fastings, and subduing his mind by various utterances, he did not depart, as they say, until he had restored him to the church, furnishing a great example of true repentance and a great proof of regeneration, a trophy of a visible resurrection.

Let us not grow weary in well doing to our fellow church family members. Each one of us will, at some point, find ourselves on both sides of the chase.


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