— Written by Dr. Marcus J. Serven
“Live in Christ, die in Christ, and the flesh need not fear death.” John Knox
John Knox understood that those who followed him needed to be counseled, encouraged, exhorted, strengthened, and prayed for. He did all of these things as often as he could and as a result God blessed his leadership abilities. Consider these comments evaluating his style of leadership by two eminent historians of the Scottish Reformation, and by a contemporary historian.
First of all, reflect on these words about John Knox from the Scottish Presbyterian historian Dr. James Wylie:
From the time of his famous sermon in St. Andrews, Knox has been the soul of the movement. The year that followed was one of incessant and herculean labor. His days were spent in preaching, his nights in writing letters. He roused the country, and he kept it awake. His voice like a great trumpet rang through the land, firing the lukewarm to zeal, and inspiring the timid into courage. When the friends of the Reformation quarreled, he reconciled and united them. When they sank into despondency he rallied their spirits. He himself never desponded. Cherishing a firm faith that his country’s Reformation would be consummated, he neither sank under labor, nor fell back before danger, nor paused in the efforts he found it necessary every moment to put forth. He knew how precious the hours were, and that if the golden opportunity were lost it would never return. He appealed to the patriotism of the nobles and citizens.
Wylie, The History of the Protestantism, Volume 3, 494
And now here are the comments on Knox’s leadership abilities from an American Presbyterian historian Dr. Henry Sheldon:
He was distinguished by the same vigor, decision, and determination as Calvin. With less of intellectual breadth and penetration, he combined a larger gift of popular eloquence. His bold and incisive address penetrated the minds of his countrymen much as did the burning words of Luther the minds of the Germans. As one wrote to Cecil, the single voice of Knox was more inspiring to the Scots than five hundred trumpets blustering in their ears.
Sheldon, History of the Christian Church, volume 3, Part 1, 321-322
A further example of Knox’s leadership abilities occurred in 1560 when he preached to a hopelessly outnumbered Scottish army which gathered to repel a French invasion of Scotland. Knox proclaimed the importance of trusting in God even in the darkest of circumstances. In particular, he expounded the moving text of Matthew 14:22-23 when Jesus walked on the water. Here is a sample of Knox’s preaching taken from his History of the Reformation in Scotland:
“The danger in which the disciples of Jesus Christ stood, when they were in the midst of the sea and Jesus was upon the mountain.” His exhortation was, that we should not faint, but that we should still row against the contrarious blasts, till Jesus Christ should come:—“I am as assuredly persuaded that God shall deliver us from this extreme trouble, as I am assured that this is the Evangel of Jesus Christ that I preach unto you this day. The fourth watch is not yet come. Abide a little! The boat shall be saved; and Peter, who hath left the boat, shall not drown. God grant that ye may acknowledge His hand after your eyes have seen His deliverances.” In that sermon he comforted many.
Knox, The History of the Reformation in Scotland, 195-196
Thanks in part to his leadership and exhortation, this small Scottish army—which was called The Congregation—was able to harass and trouble the French invaders until, at last, they were forced to retreat from Scotland, having lost many men.
Finally, the contemporary historian Douglas Bond makes the following comments on Knox’s preaching, as well as quoting Knox’s own thoughts on preaching. Bond thoughtfully summarizes Knox’s passionate approach to preaching,
Trusting the power of God, Knox laid out the goals of his preaching: “The end I proposed in all my preaching was to instruct the ignorant, to confirm the weak, to comfort the consciences of those who were humbled under the sense of their sins, and bear down, with the threatening of God’s judgment, such as were proud and rebellious.” He concluded that he “labored with all [his] power to gain them to Christ.” Knox’s pulpit ministry is best summed up in his own words: “I did distribute the bread of life as of Christ Jesus I had received it.” Whether setting forth the Gospel of Christ, encouraging the persecuted, or decrying idolatry, the goal of his exhortation was that Christ would have no rival in his hearer’s hearts. One burning passion drove Knox: “I feel a sob and a groan, willing that Christ Jesus might be openly preached in my native country, although it should be with the loss of my wretched life.” For Knox, preaching was all about proclaiming the evangel of Jesus Christ, giving good news to a world that for too long had heard only bad news. Yes, he thundered vehemently against idolatry in the pulpit, but he did so because he wanted his hearers to see Christ alone in all the Scriptures. He preached the free grace of the gospel because he wanted men not to depend in any degree upon the works of the law for their justification.
douglas Bond, “Power in the Pulpit” in The Mighty Weakness of John Knox, 51, 53-54, 66.
This kind of preaching in the church of Jesus Christ is sorely needed today! Let us humbly pray that God will raise-up a new generation of men like John Knox to boldly preach the gospel and to serve the church of Jesus Christ.
Resources for Further Study:
Bond, Douglas. The Mighty Weakness of John Knox. Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2011.
Knox, John, The History of the Reformation in Scotland, Charles J. Guthrie, ed., Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1982.
Reid, W. Stanford. Trumpeter of God: A Biography of John Knox. New York, NY: Charles Scriber’s Sons, 1974.
Sheldon, Henry C. History of the Christian Church. Volume 3. New York, NY: T. Y. Crowell & Company, 1894.
Taylor, William M. The Scottish Pulpit: From the Reformation to the Present Day. New York, NY: Charles Burnet and Company, 1887; Birmingham, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books, Reprint, 2004.
Woodbridge, John D. (ed.), Great Leaders of the Christian Church, Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1988.
Wylie, James A. The History of Protestantism. 3 Volumes. Kilkeel, N. Ireland: Mourne Missionary Trust, 1990.
Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Serven, ThM and DMin
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