The story of John Knox as told here illustrates the costliness of standing for God and His Word when it is not popular or safe to do so. Knox lived from 1505 to 1572, a time when many in Western Europe were awakening out of the long sleep of the dark ages into the morning light of the Reformation. It was a time when true-hearted ministers of God’s Word began to turn to the Bible rather than to the Roman Catholic Church and its leaders for guidance and direction. It was also a time when men and women were burnt to ashes for believing what the Bible says.
This period in church history, known as the Reformation, saw many men in many places raised up by God to preach the truth of the sole authority of the Bible and that justification before God is by faith and grace alone. These reformers also preached against the sinful and unscriptural abuses of the Roman Catholic Church. Naturally, this opposition against the long-standing power of the Roman Catholics brought about their wrath on all those who opposed them, especially leaders like Knox who influenced many of the common people to do the same. Thus we see that the truth was recovered with difficulty and much loss of life. Perhaps reading a story like that recorded here will help us to value more the restored truth that we have been freely given by God’s goodness in our day.
As you read, you will also notice that often Knox’s thoughts and sermons were very political and not always along Biblical lines. Had Knox seen the distinction between spiritual leaders and political leaders, he may have avoided some of the troubles he encountered by speaking against the kings and queens of his day. As with any history, however, the purpose of studying it should be to learn from the lives of those who have gone before us, so that we might avoid their mistakes and be encouraged to follow their faith.
We actually don’t know for sure when Knox was born, and we certainly don’t know exactly what he said in all of his conversations, some of which are written below as they might have been based on what history tells us of Knox’s life. But we do know that he was a man who held fast to the Word of God as he understood it, in spite of all the evil forces that were against him. The sorrows and difficulties he went through were always met and surpassed by the joy of serving his Lord. May God grant us, like Knox, the joy of serving Him no matter the cost.