John's Special Ministry

John was no master-builder like Paul—had no dispensation committed to him. He was connected with the assembly in its earthly structure like Peter, not in the Ephesus or heavenly one. He was not the minister of the circumcision, but carried on the earthly system among the Gentiles, only holding fast the Person of Christ. His special place was testimony to the Person of Christ come to earth with divine title over it—power over all flesh.
This did not break the links with Israel, as Paul's ministry did, but raised the power which held all together in the Person of Christ to a height which carried it through any hidden time, or hidden power, on to its establishment over the world at the end. It did not exclude Israel as such, but enlarged the scene of the exercise of Christ's power so as to set it over the world. It did not establish it in Israel as its source, though it might establish Israel itself in its own place from a heavenly source of power.