John is a special case in point. He is the only epistle-writer that also wrote a Gospel. He and Matthew were the only Gospel-writers that were Apostles.
He also died of natural causes. What is it about this man, that compelled the Romans to keep him alive? He had the most dangerous information of all! He was at the Transfiguration! With Paul and James, he was one of the "Inner Circle" of disciples, with whom Jesus shared the deepest secrets!
Is this why John had his particular view of Christ. Is this why his understanding of Jesus went beyond great teacher and redeemer, to Son of God, Word-made-flesh, Living Word? John understood the deepest and most powerful aspects of God's plan. Why did the Romans keep him alive so that he could write it down, for the ages?
What was there from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we observed and felt with our hands concerning the word of Life . . .
If John were crazy, why did they not put him away for good? If he was not reputable at all, then why was he spared? The man was a close friend of Christ! He may have been the one at the cross, who Jesus charged with caring for his mother! He was like family to Jesus! He had seen more than perhaps anybody!
And then, on Patmos, he received visions never matched before or since! The entire plan of the ages unfolded before his eyes, and he wrote it down in the Book of Revelation!
Why did he live? He was an eye-witness to it all!
Why was John spared?
Praise God, that he was!
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