#6-J.T. Wilson- June 15-2023

The JIGGIN podcast is about Jesus being the good news. The host discusses the importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They also talk about how JIGGIN can be another word for fishing, and how they aim to fish for men by discussing the word of God. They interview a guest, John T. Wilson, who shares his faith background and how he came to know Jesus. They also discuss favorite scriptures and the book of John. The host emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus and the hope of eternal life through him. The podcast aims to share the good news and encourage listeners to share it with others. John T. Wilson is 91 years old and has been a member of Rochdale Christian Church since 1959. Well it's a beautiful day and welcome everyone to the JIGGIN podcast. JIGGIN is spelled J-I-G-G-I-N and it stands for Jesus is the good news. And speaking of Jesus being the good news I want to share with all of us again out of 1 Corinthians chapter 15. When we think about the good news of the gospel, I want to share what Paul had to say starting with verse 3 here. He said, For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ died for us and according to the scriptures, that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. And that is the good news of Jesus Christ. We all know the death, burial, and resurrection. And I'm so glad you all are listening to the JIGGIN podcast. And one other thing we want to remind you about JIGGIN is that JIGGIN could be another name for fishing. And so Jesus, as he first called specifically Peter and Andrew and James and John, but he said, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. And so JIGGIN or fishing is also what we're seeking to do here with this podcast and just discussing the word of God. And this is Nate Bryan. I'm the preacher at Rochedale Christian Church. And today I'm happy to have our guest, Mr. John T. Wilson on. So John T., welcome to the JIGGIN podcast. Thank you. Glad to be here. Well, we're so happy to have you here. And John T., if you would, would you just tell us a little bit about your faith background and ultimately how you came to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Well, it goes back a ways. First of all, I was raised in Evans Hill, Indiana, and was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. I had no brothers or sisters. My dad was the only child and my mother was the only child. So therefore, I have no family left. But the good Lord saw to moving to Rochedale and Mary Bernice and she had a big family. So I still have a lot of family. At any rate, I was raised as a Methodist, which means I was sprinkled as a small baby. And became active in the church, middle school, junior high age. Had lots of close friends that were involved in the church. I had a special friend who turned out to be a Methodist minister. In fact, he was a superintendent down in the Bennington area. At any rate, I had a close-knit group of friends. And began singing in the church choir during high school time. And also did some teaching, Sunday school teaching. But as far as a close personal relationship, I don't think I have that. Anyway, I took a job at Rochedale. I remember I had to get a map out to find out where in the world Rochedale was and what it was. At any rate, I came up here in 1954. I went to the Presbyterian Church, sang in the choir there. And then after two years, I met Bernice through the Britton family. Ray Britton was the minister at Parkersburg Christian Church. Bernice was the piano player there at the church. And she was accompanying a couple of the Britton family kids at contest time, solo ensemble contest. And I wanted to be sure that the piano part was fitting in with the instrumentals part. So I wanted to be sure that we practiced together. So I remember picking her up, or picking the two Britton kids up. And going out to Bernice's farm, which was north of Parkersburg a little bit. It was called the Labor Canyon. It was on Carstall Creek. And we went out there and met her and decided we needed a lot more practice together. Even though it was fitting real well. At any rate, that's how I met Bernice. And when we got married a year later, of course it was natural to go to the Parkersburg Christian Church. Since Bernice was playing the piano and Ray Britton was the pastor. When we got married, we couldn't find a place to buy or rent in Rochdale. So we went to Ladoga. And lived in a rental house there. And we were attending the Parkersburg Christian Church. Ray Britton came by to see us. And I specifically asked him for counseling. So Ray Britton baptized me at Parkersburg. And I've been very, very grateful to the Lord for that knowledge that Ray Britton gave me. At any rate, we moved in the next year to Noblesville for one year. And stayed there and came back. And that's when I became involved with Rochdale Christian Church. 1954 was when I came to Rochdale. Met Bernice in 1956. We got married in 1957. 1958, we went to Noblesville. Came back in 59. And started going to Rochdale Christian Church in 59. 1959, essentially. And then was a long-time band director and teacher at the school. 40 years. 40 years, yep, at North Putnam Schools. We're so thankful for your service to Rochdale Christian Church. And also just to this community. And I love just hearing your story. And I know I grew up in this church. Thankful to look up to you. As a matter of fact, and just talking about Bernice and your guys. Bernice played the wedding march. And my wife and I's wedding there seven, eight years ago. And so that's something that I'll always cherish also. And we just thank so much to you and appreciate you guys. And John T., you've served in many different roles of ministry here also. So I thought maybe you'd share just a minute about that. You shared now how you've been here since 1959. But what various roles have you played in ministry here at Rochdale Christian Church? Well, since we got here, I've inherited the church choir. And directed that for many, many, many years. Also as a synagogue teacher for middle school and elementary. And also high school, early high school years. And then transitioned to adult teaching and taught our synagogue class in a rotation with Melvin Ford and Carol Keck. And that was for years and years. I was also a deacon and also an elder. Chairman of the board several different times. Yeah, so you've done just about done it all, I think we could say. I started the primetime ministry. Yes, and the primetime ministry, which y'all are still meeting and continuing to have those meals. And it's great to see how, again, over since 1959, the various ministries that you've led and been a part of. And we just are so grateful to have you here. And for all your service, like we've said. I thought maybe now, if you'd like, we'll talk about Scripture a little bit. What is your favorite Scripture? If you had to just pick one. John 3.16. Yep, and why John 3.16? Well, it's the essence of the gospel message. That's what it's all about. I think in one simple verse, it explains exactly what it's all about. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. That's what it's all about. It is, it's all about that. And I do just love that, and I just wanted you to, I love just hearing you share that. And the reality is, we don't know who might listen to this podcast, but there may be people, like you said, that's the essence of it. There might be people that hear this that haven't heard that message. That don't know about what's John 3.16. They don't know what the gospel is about. And our hope is that they'll hear that and know that God so loved the world, that He so loved us, that He sent His one and only Son, and that it's through Him and only Him that we can have everlasting life. So, just love that. So moving on from that maybe, let's talk a little bit more about Scripture. What's your favorite book of the Bible? Well, I guess it would have to be the book of John, the Gospel of John, and some of Paul's letters, Ephesians and Galatians especially, that are good. But the Bible's full of great books. It is, and it's really unfair to ask. I mean, we know that all Scripture is God-breathed. We know that it's all important and useful for teaching. So it's not to even elevate, but I think we tend to have some favorites just as we look. And so looking at the Gospel of John, I'm going to flip over there here real quick. And I was just going to pull out a couple things, as you mentioned that, that are some of my favorites. And I think one place, just even looking at the start, the way that John begins and lays it out here. And the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning, and then a little later, the Word became flesh. And anyhow, the Word became flesh, verse 14, and made His dwelling among us. And then I think about just the importance of that again for us, that Jesus ultimately came to this earth, that God chose to become flesh in His Son, and ultimately to, as we talk about John 3, 16, which we already discussed, but that He gave His life, Jesus gave His life for us. And so that's just so much good stuff. Also, let's see, another one, I just thought that, as I was thinking about some of my favorites, and John T., you jump in here if there's some other favorites of yours that I'm not discussing. But I was thinking back in John 8, a little bit here, and so here, in John 8, starting here with verse 31, I'm just going to read a few verses. But ultimately, there had been this back and forth with Jesus and the Pharisees here, and starting with verse 31, He said to the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. And they answered Him, We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free? And Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's descendants, yet you are ready to kill Me because you have no room for My word. And there's so many different things, but I was just sort of thinking about different ideas. Just one of my little favorite places there. First, where He talks about, if you hold to My teaching, then you are really My disciples, and the message that that is, but then being free. You know, being free from being slaves of sin, that Jesus offers us that. He says, I'll tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin, but continues on there. A son belongs to it forever. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. And so we know that that freedom, that freedom from sin is what Jesus ultimately offers us. I just want to share that too, that's another one of my favorites. And then, just something I wanted to talk about quickly out of John. And as we talk about ultimately, you know, why did John write his gospel? And then there in John 20, he states this, and I just want to share this for those that are listening. But John, chapter 20, verse 30, here's what's recorded. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. And then he says in verse 31, but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name. And that, as you talk about that being your favorite book, your favorite gospel, I just think too, that's that hope that we all have, and that we may have life in His name. And that was his purpose for writing that. And then again, I just love the ending there in John 21, verse 25, where he says, Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. Isn't that cool to think about? I mean, can we imagine the whole world not having room for the books that would be written? It is. So I think that's a cool thing to consider for all of us. And again, I know Phil and I talked about this a lot when he was here too, but it's like if somebody comes to us and they say, well, I've heard the gospel and I believe it, but I'm ready to start reading my Bible. I haven't really read my Bible yet. Where do I start? And obviously, again, this is not to take away from any other portion of Scripture and the importance of Genesis and the creation account and all of that on through, but it's like if we want to point someone so that they'll know and believe in Jesus Christ, I think the gospel of John is a great place to direct them, right? And I know Phil would say, you know, I was invited to talk about directing people. If we can read the gospel of John and then that's going to tell us about Jesus, it's going to explain him as a son of God, as the Messiah, and that we might believe in him. So we'll understand Jesus through that, and then if we direct them to the book of James, it is a good place to go and learn. If I want to live a Christian life, what does it look like? You know, James just talks about being a doer of the word, et cetera. That's something that I think that may be a takeaway if anyone ever does ask anybody that question. That's one way you could answer it, not that there's necessarily a right or wrong answer there. I think the main thing is that we need to spend time in the Scriptures, and this is, you know, God's word to us. So I just want to share those few things. Anything else regarding Scripture or the book of John, John T., that you'd like to share or dive into? Well, I think the reason I like John so much is that we know that he was one of the apostles. Not just a disciple, but he was an apostle. Right. Which means he had that close association with Jesus. Yep. And I think he referred to himself as the one that Jesus loved. Yes. He was in the inner circle, and there's no question about that. And I think that gives him some credibility. However, it's interesting that he starts with associating Jesus as being with the word, being the word by which God first created the world. Yes. And if you want to find it, because John does mention the miraculous birth. Let's turn to Luke, and I think it's a real explanation of the miraculous birth. But certainly, his life and his mission and the way his death and resurrection. And speaking of the resurrection, I think it's interesting. I think last Sunday we sang a prayer or a community hymn, Breathe Only Breath of God. And when I think of the breath of God, and that's when people got the Holy Spirit. And I know the first time that happened was when the believers were gathered together for Pentecost. And this was after, several weeks after the resurrection. And over 3,000, I think, accepted Christ. What a heck of a sermon that would be. That was a sermon, wasn't it? Anyway, that was the first time that we had the Holy Spirit been given to a mass group. But the apostles themselves got the Holy Spirit on the night of Jesus' resurrection. Last Sunday night, he had appeared to Mary Magdalene, and then later to a few of the disciples. And we know that he appeared to those two disciples, not the apostles, but the disciples, on the road to the mass. And then, that evening, the apostles were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. And all of a sudden, Jesus appeared to them. And he, like he said, peace be with you. And then he showed them the nail prints, and especially Thomas, to put his hand in the side of the ashes. Yeah, feel it. Yep. Anyway, he also mentioned, I can't remember exactly where it is, what verse in John, but it talks about that resurrection. And that night, Jesus appeared to them, and they received the Holy Spirit on that evening. Which means the apostles themselves got the Holy Spirit before the mass group did later on Pentecost. Yeah, and I think, just something too that you discussed, but I think it's noting the difference there between apostles and disciples. And so this was a discussion, actually that was brought up here, let's see, in one of our Wednesday night Bible studies just a while back. And talking about apostles and disciples. And I think too, and John T., jump in, I know this wasn't something, this is just kind of a one that I'm going out on here. But as you brought that up, and being sure that we differentiate the apostles from disciples. Because today, we call ourselves, we can be disciples of Jesus, but the apostles were those who were with and called and chosen by Jesus. And ultimately, that was laid out most clearly in Acts chapter 1, whenever Matthias is chosen to replace Judas. Of course, Judas had betrayed Jesus, had hung himself. And then, they really laid that out about replacing Judas as one of the apostles. And so, I'm just going to pick up here, starting with verse 21 in Acts 1. It says, For Peter said, It is written in the book of Psalms, May his place be deserted, let there be no one to dwell in it, and may another take his place of leadership. And then verse 21, Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. And so, he laid out a few things there that had been with us the whole time since John's baptism. And then, they ultimately cast lots and say a prayer there in verse 24. And then, they prayed. It says, Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry. And I just want to share that because I thought, again, making sure that we differentiate those apostles from disciples. We can be disciples today, but the apostles were those with and called ultimately by Jesus. Matthew, what was in the 20th chapter, verse 22. Then he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. That was verse 20 or verse 22 of chapter 20. Yes. Yeah. John 20, verse 22. I want you back there. Yeah. And then, with that, he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. Yes. Good stuff there, too. I love it. I love getting to sit down with you, John T., and talk about the Scriptures and talk about God's Word. Like I said, I know I've learned so much, and there's so much more that I need to continue to learn from you. And I just thank you for coming on the podcast. And again, our hope with the podcast is just to share the good news to really put this out there for the congregation of Rochdale Christian Church, but anyone that might listen to it to get to know the Word better, to get to know those of us that are here better, that we're just normal people trying to serve the Lord and share His Word. And so, John T., I guess I'd have to close up with just asking you one last question. And I don't know if this is an appropriate question, but how old are you, John T.? Ninety-one. Ninety-one. So, I don't know, I was trying to think about this. Do we know our, you're certainly one of our oldest members. I know that, so Melvin Ford has a 90th birthday tomorrow. I think, yeah, tomorrow. And then I know Franklin Ford, he just turned 97. Ninety-seven? Is Franklin really that old? I think he just turned 97 last week. Last week I went in and saw him. But anyhow, but 91, and again, been here since 1959. Do I have that year right? Yeah. So, anyway, we just, like I said, appreciate you. Appreciate all your years of service. Thank you for coming on the Jigging Podcast. And we just want to, I guess, encourage and remind everyone that's out there listening that Jesus is the good news and that Jesus came to this earth. He died on a cross for our sins. He was put in a grave. Three days later, he walked out. He defeated death. And it's because of him and only him that we can have eternal life. And so, just remember that. Go out and share that message with others. Go out and do some jigging for yourself, if you will. And thank you once again for tuning in to episode number six of the Jigging Podcast.