We have seen how John learned that while at times he might expect miracles from the Lord, he could also expect to suffer in this world that cast out Christ. But do not forget that hundreds and thousands came to hear the good news of the gospel.
One night when John was sitting calmly at a desk, an angry crowd had gathered outside the house. They shouted that they wanted the gospel preacher - the one who dared to go about preaching outdoors. The angry crowd wanted to take John off to jail. John asked if someone would be so kind as to bring in the leader of the crowd. They brought in the angry leader who, after he listened for a short time to John, became as quiet as a lamb.
The crowd outside, however, was still angry and later began to cry out for some to kill John. John tried to talk and reason with them but they just shouted until he could not be heard. John knew he had only one thing left that he could do before the people rose up to kill him. He could pray. He later said that this was what he should have done at the first. After John prayed and asked the Lord’s help, the leader of the crowd who had been as quiet as a lamb rose up to help John escape! With a few friends they managed to get through the crowd and went to another town.
When his brother Charles saw John he said, “He looked like a soldier of Christ. His clothes were torn to tatters.” This experience did not stop John. Soon he was again going about with his brother and others to preach about “the unsearchable riches” (Ephesians 3:88Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (Ephesians 3:8)) that are in Christ. They learned that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:1818For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18).
Perhaps it would be good if you asked yourself if you have a treasure that is worth such suffering. If you know nothing of these riches in Christ then you may wonder what made John and his friends willing to suffer for Christ’s sake. Turn to Christ for salvation and you will begin to understand!