Free John's Story by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Page A

When Ignatius sat, John said, “If you are not too exhausted, perhaps you should invite Polycarp to join us. Surely he is as lonely as I was, and if God took him through what I endured, he is probably longing for company now as well.”
    Within minutes Ignatius had fetched the young disciple, and John was immediately struck by Polycarp’s paleness. “The Lord has been speaking to you too?”
    “More than I wanted to hear, frankly. But I feel more prepared for the chore than ever. Before I was merely eager to get started for my own selfish purposes. Now I believe He has corrected my thinking, put me on the right path.”
    Ignatius appeared to have been thoughtfully taking this all in. “Allow me to posit an opinion, then,” he said. “I propose that you end your fast, continue in prayer, but do not run from sleep. Perhaps I am speaking in the flesh, but it seems to me God was after your heart’s attitude, and you were willing to spend the night hungry and on your knees. That He has worked in both your souls should tell you that He has brought you to the place He wants you.”
    Polycarp smiled. “That falls comfortably on my ears, rabbi. But am I being selfish again?”
    “Let us not be too introspective,” John said. “Let us accept our brother’s wise counsel as from the Lord. Enthusiastic as I am about our undertaking, I believe I could sleep soundly now.”
    “I know I could,” Polycarp said.
    “And I need to,” Ignatius said. “Good night, gentlemen.”

     

    J OHN AWAKENED at first light with such a sense of anticipation that he barely remembered sleeping and was certain he had not dreamed. He felt more refreshed than he had been in a long time, but he was hungry. The plate on the floor outside his door was a godsend. As he ate he wished he had a quill and papyrus. It’s not that he would have attempted to record this account on his own, but already it seemed God was pouring into him the thoughts and very words He wanted communicated.
    As John put out his empty plate, Ignatius accosted him. “Polycarp is back from the markets,” the Antiochan reported. “Are we about ready to commence?”
    “We?”
    “You and Polycarp, I mean.”
    “Yes, and as much as I know you want to be involved, Ignatius, have we not agreed that someone, someone we all know and love—you, in fact—must take over our duties here until the time you set sail?”
    “In fact,” Ignatius said, “do you not find it providential that the Lord sent me here for what I thought was mere filling in so you could get some rest, but had no doubt ordained this very work before even putting the thought in my head to come?”
    “I do indeed,” John said, his eyes shining. “We serve a good God.”
    Polycarp rushed in, laden with supplies. “What?” he said, his gaze alternating between the men. He smiled at Ignatius. “I do not know what your business is here, sir, but if you would kindly move on, we have important duties.”
    “Let me help you,” Ignatius said, and when Polycarp hesitated, Ignatius added, “help you arrange everything. Then I’ll be on my way.”
    Ignatius and Polycarp spread the papyrus on the desk, filled the inkwell, and arranged the quills. “I will need to be able to move, to walk, to see out the window,” John said. And so they cleared a path for him in the tiny chamber. Polycarp situated the chair to give himself plenty of room to work while staying out of John’s way.
    Once everything was set, the three looked at one another awkwardly. Ignatius broke the silence. “I have a meeting with the deacons and deaconesses in a few moments. Lord’s Day preparations. But first, may I make a request? You both have to know how difficult it is for me to remain on the periphery of this great effort. You must promise that at the end of the day, after I have been faithful in filling in for you both here the best I know how, that you, Polycarp, will tell me all you can remember. Will you do that?”
    “With