John was not perfect.  There were unlovely traits in his otherwise noble character.  It is not pleasant to write of his faults.  We would gladly be silent concerning them.  But there are four reasons for making record of them. 1.  If we think of his virtues and not of his faults, we do not have a just view of his character; it is one-sided; we have an imperfect picture. 2.  We see how Jesus loved him notwithstanding his imperfections.  While hating his sins he loved the man. 3.  Remembering John’s faults, we give him all the more credit when we see how he overcame them, and what he became under the example and teachings of Jesus. 4.  Having failings ourselves, we are encouraged by the full and truthful story of John’s life, to overcome our own sins.  Such are good reasons why the imperfections of good men like David and Peter and John are recorded in the Bible.

In speaking of John’s boyhood, we hinted at some of his faults.  Let us now notice them more particularly as given by the Evangelists.  Sometimes he was evidently included when Jesus rebuked the disciples for some wrong they had said or done.  On one occasion, he alone is mentioned; on two others he and his brother James are rebuked together.  The first recorded incident, showing imperfection, is soon after the descent from Hermon.  Jesus seems to have accompanied Peter to his home in Capernaum, to which the other disciples followed them.  The favor which Christ showed the three in taking them to the mount may have caused a feeling of pride in them, and of jealousy in the nine.  Pride was John’s besetting sin, as we shall see.  A great privilege had been granted him.  Without telling the secret of Hermon to his fellow-disciples, he may, by improper word or act, or both, have shown a feeling of superiority, which displeased them, as the same spirit did on another occasion.  At any rate, something led to a dispute who should be the greatest in the kingdom which they believed their Lord was to establish.  This was a sad revelation of the ambitious spirit of these good men.  It was probably on the way to Capernaum that an incident happened in which John seems to have been the chief actor.  He exhibited a spirit of intolerance—­a want of patience and forbearance toward a man whom they met.  He was a disciple of Christ, in whose power he had such faith that he was enabled to cast out evil spirits in His name.  He was doing a good work such as Christ gave His apostles power to do.  They prided themselves in it, and felt as if they only had a right to it.  So John, speaking for the rest, as if he had authority, forbade this man to use the power any more.  On their reaching the house of Peter, Jesus asked, “What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” Perceiving that He knew their thoughts, they were silent with shame, until one of them, yet unconquered by His question of reproof, asked Him “Who is the greatest?” He did not answer the question immediately.  As if in preparation for something