For my listeners tuning in, we have in the studio today John Zebedee, a close associate and friend of Jesus of Nazareth. His books and letters have been an inspiration to many over the years, especially his last book, the Gospel of John.
Sir, thank you for agreeing to have this conversation with me. I am a fan, and so are millions of readers all over the globe who have enjoyed reading your books and letters for over two millennia. Would you like a cup of coffee while we talk?
After giving me a quick hug, John greets me by saying, “Thanks for having me, Satish. It’s a pleasure, after all these many years, to speak to someone in the modern era. I would prefer some bread and a glass of wine, though.”
My partner, Priya, brings out some red wine and naan bread for us. John then takes the bread, breaks it, and gives it to us. His eyes glisten with tears as he says, “This is Jesus’ body given for us.” He then takes the wine, pours it into our glasses, and says, “Drink it; this is his blood poured out for our forgiveness.” By this time, my tag team and I are all tearing up. I am lost for words when John breaks the silence by laughing out loud. “Ha, ha!” he says. “Sorrow turned into joy. Jesus is alive!” Still feeling a bit dazed, I begin my interview.
“John, let me start by asking, why did you write this book?” He speaks in a soft voice, and I cannot help but notice how youthful he looks, even after all these years. “Well, I did put down the purpose in the final pages of the book,” he replies, “Quote: ‘These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.’”
“Sir, for my listeners and me, please clarify the meaning of these words. What is ‘the Messiah’?” He smiles gently but replies firmly, “The Messiah is firstly the Son of God and the appointed leader of the universe, including Earth, of course. The Son of God is the Word through whom God created all things.”
So many thoughts are racing through my mind. “John, if Jesus is the leader of the earth, how about our leaders then?” “The truth is,” he says gently, “every one of your leaders is fully accountable to Jesus.”
I want to ask John, “What is the truth?” but hold back, remembering that somewhere in his book a Governor had asked Jesus the same question and got no reply. As I muse for a moment, John intently looks into my eyes, as if egging me on to continue. I find myself feeling relaxed and comfortable with this man, and it seems like I have known him a long time. As if reading my thoughts, John continues, “The truth is absolute reality; it does not change, ever! Today you are living in Florida, but next year you could move to California. So, your living in Florida is true today, but it is subject to change.”
“John,” I remark earnestly, “you are a good teacher.” He smiles and retorts, “I learned from the best: Jesus, the Messiah.”
“Sir, coming back to your purpose for writing this book—that the reader may have life—what do you mean by ‘life’? I am alive, am I not? Why would I need life?” John gives me a look of surprise, and I sense a mild impatience in his voice. “Satish, have you really read my book?” While I blurt out a weak yes, he starts by saying, “Life is different for each one of us at different times. To the newlyweds in Cana, life was avoiding a major embarrassment due to the lack of wine. To the nobleman, life was having his son recover from a mortal illness. To the Samaritan woman, life was getting access to living water. To the paralyzed man at Bethesda, life was taking up his bed and walking after 38 years of frustration. To the man born blind, life was regaining sight after having washed at the pool called Sent. To our dear friends Martha and Mary, life was the raising of their brother, Lazarus, from the dead.”
While I am thinking about what he just said, John quips, “What does life mean to you and Priya now?” “I suppose, suitable life partners for my children, Sir,” I reply immediately. It is then I think of my listeners and put to them the question: “What does life mean to you right now?”
I look at John, and my mind goes to a child who had a fall recently and died in the hospital after three days. The doctors could not help, and a group of us had prayed, but to no avail. Is this man in my studio serious about what he is saying? Some of my listeners have serious problems. I call for a break and order some lamb and curry while Priya refills John’s glass.
Sensing my uncertainty, John quietly lowers his head and sips on the wine. He continues by saying, “Did you notice in all these incidents the one common factor was the presence of Jesus? He is life,” he says emphatically.
“John, how lucky you are to have seen Jesus and experienced life, and so were all those people you just mentioned. When the nobleman needed healing for his son, he just came and got it from Jesus. We are not so fortunate,” I say sadly, still thinking of the child’s parents.
“Yes, we were indeed privileged to be the first to receive from him, but now that Jesus has gone back to our Daddy, every person can receive life in His name. They can be in any part of the universe, including Mars,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes—an obvious reference to Elon Musk’s space colonization plans.
“John,” I retort, “this seems too good to be true. Do you mean we are better off from Jesus not being here physically?” “Yes, my dear friend, that is the good news,” he replies earnestly. “Did you not read in my book about the Holy Spirit who was given after Jesus was positioned as the right hand of Daddy?” I am amazed at how John constantly refers to God as Daddy. “The Holy Spirit is the Messiah in us; he is given to those who believe in Jesus, and these become life-givers as well.”
By this time, the lamb and curry have arrived, and we start to eat. John takes the bread, gives thanks aloud, and starts to eat. Lost for words, I look at my phone. A number of listeners want me to ask John what Jesus looked like in person. “Sir, a lot of my listeners are asking: ‘What did Jesus look like?’” John smiles brightly. “Pretty normal, in fact,” he says casually. “Andrew and I would not have gone after Jesus had not John Zachariah pointed him out as the Lamb of God. As we hung around with him, we somehow sensed he was royalty. Even when he was surrounded by rough folks, they all would speak in respectful tones in his presence. I do not mean at all that we were uncomfortable with him. In fact, he made us feel so at home that I would lean on Jesus while he spoke in our team meetings.”
“Coming back to your book and your topic on life. Do you mean if I am not flourishing in any aspect, I can do so in his name?” “You got it, Satish,” he says emphatically. “John, can you please explain for my audience what you mean by ‘his name’?” With a slight chuckle, he continues. “A name stands for who a person is and all that he owns.”
“John, are we missing something here?” I ask earnestly. “Many of my listeners profess a belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Why is it, then, that they are not experiencing the life you speak of? I know some of them are even facing serious health, relational, and financial issues.”
He does not answer immediately, but there is a faraway look in his eyes. “I have written in my book about how Jesus told us to ask in his name. Ask, and you will receive, and you will be overjoyed.” Seeing the look of skepticism in my eyes, John asks earnestly, “Satish, what about you? Do you ask in his name?” “Oh, yes,” I reply quickly. “The trouble is, I hardly get any results.” “Ah,” John says plainly, “results are certain when you rest in Jesus’ fullness.” As I am thinking about this, John turns his attention to Puffy, our pet spaniel. “You see Puffy here, how cheerful she is? It is because you take good care of her. She has no worries because of your love for her. It is the same with the Lord Jesus and us. We depend on his fullness to get results. Did you read in my book how when Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus about Lazarus being sick, they referred to Lazarus as ‘the one whom you love’? The sisters knew to depend on Jesus’ love for Lazarus to obtain his healing.”
Beginning to understand, I blurt out, “Sir, I am amazed.” John gives me a big smile. “Also, did you notice that I referred to myself in the book as ‘the student whom Jesus loved’? I always get results based on this. Even Jesus’ results were based on his Daddy’s love for him. We would often hear him say, ‘My Daddy loves me and has given me all that he has.’” Suddenly a thought crosses my mind, and my excitement starts to wane. I think to myself, Jesus may have loved Lazarus, John, and the others, but how about my listeners and I? Does Jesus love me?
I turn to my listeners and give them our promo code so that they can buy John’s book at a discount from our website. We are offering a signed copy to the first hundred who place orders. By this time, John’s assistant arrives. “I have to be going,” he says. “Thanks for the lunch and delightful conversation.” He gives each of us a quick hug, strokes Puffy on the head before he is quickly driven off in his black limousine.
To be continued…
