Universal Declension and Ruin

Here, in this state of universal declension and ruin, John's ministry comes in. Stability was in the Person of Christ, for eternal life first, but for the ways of God upon earth too. If the assembly was spewed out of His mouth, He was the faithful witness, the beginning of the creation of God.
Let us trace the links of this in his Gospel. In John 20 we have a picture of God's ways from the resurrection of Christ till we come to the remnant of Israel in the latter days, represented by Thomas's look on the pierced One and believing by seeing.
In John 21 we have, besides the remnant, the full millennial gathering. Then at the close of the chapter the special ministry of Peter and John is pointed out, though mysteriously. The sheep of Jesus of the circumcision are confided to Peter, but this ministry was to close like Christ's. The assembly would not be established on this ground any more than Israel. There was no tarrying here till Christ came.
Peter's ministry in fact was closed, and the circumcision assembly left shepherdless, before the destruction of Jerusalem put an end to all such connection forever. Peter then asks as to John. The Lord answers, confessedly mysteriously, but putting off as that which did not concern Peter who was to follow Him, the closing of John's ministry, prolonging it in possibility till Christ came. Now, in fact, the Bridegroom tarried, but the service and ministry of John by the Word (which was all that was to remain, and no apostle in personal care) did go on to the return of Christ.