ONE of the most valuable things that the British School of Archeology in Egypt ever found in all their explorations in that ancient land was a roll of papyrus leaves hidden in a jar. On examination this turned out to be an eighty-six paged Gospel of John in the Coptic language. Where it was found were the remains of what was most certainly an early church, and from the size of the pages, the explorers concluded that this copy of this wonderful Gospel had been kept in the church for public reading, more than sixteen centuries ago. It is now the most precious possession in the Library of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in London.
But I am of the opinion that another piece of papyrus, found on a rubbish heap, and possessed by an Italian Society, is of equal, if not greater, interest, because of the personal element in it. It is a small document, a few inches square, upon which is written our great text, JOHN THREE SIXTEEN. By whom was it written? Nobody knows. But it must have been some one who valued the words, and who wished to have them constantly with him; or, it may be, to send them to a friend with their message of love and life from God. If the latter, how was it received?―was it believed and treasured, or cast upon the rubbish heap with other useless documents to reappear after more than seventeen hundred years, for it is older than the copy of the entire Gospel of John!
We cannot answer these questions, but it is certain that it was a living word, and valued by some then, as it is a living word and valued now; and will be as long as the Gospel is preached to men. It has been called, “The Bible in Miniature,” and it shines with a brilliance that is unsurpassed by any other word in all Scripture. It is a joyful word, and a delight to those who have believed it: a peace-giving word to anxious, burdened sinners, and it should arrest the attention of even the most careless, for it is a message from God even to them. I invite my readers to spend an hour with me, in considering it, and may God bless it to us all.
J. T. M.