John Knox’s Final Battle

Tony Cooke

John Knox, the famed Scottish Reformer, was a mere three years old when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses (questions that invited discussion and debate) to the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He was expressing concern over certain corruptions he had seen, particularly the sale of indulgences by the church. Knox would eventually lead the Protestant Reformation in Scotland as Luther did in Germany, and as Zwingli and Calvin did in Switzerland.

Profoundly admired by some and scornfully despised by others, Knox’s life was full of great challenges.

• Because of his convictions concerning the authority of Scripture and justification by faith, Knox left the priesthood. George Wishart, his mentor and also a former priest, was burnt at the stake for his Christian beliefs and preaching.
• Knox was made a prisoner-slave on a French Galley ship and nearly died during his nineteen months of forced, arduous labor.
• He spent a total of twelve years in exile from his native Scotland, and during this time, Mary I of England (known as Bloody Mary) had 278 Protestants burnt at the stake for their faith.

Back in his homeland, after years of powerful ministry, and as his earthly life was nearing an end, Knox asked his wife to read him 1 Corinthians 15 (which addresses the resurrection of Christ and of believers). When she finished, he remarked that it was such a “comfortable chapter.”

Later that day, Knox again asked his wife to read from the Bible. This time, he requested that she read from “where I first cast my anchor.” She turned to John’s Gospel and read the seventeenth chapter. These verses had been instrumental in Knox’s early decision to place his faith in Christ — and Christ alone — for his salvation.

After this, Knox fell into what was described as a “moaning slumber.” Those around him “could easily understand that he was dealing with a grievous temptation.” As he came back to full consciousness, he was asked what was happening. He remarked:

I have indeed sustained many contests in this frail life, and many assaults from Satan, but now the roaring lion has most furiously attacked me…

Knox described different temptations he had faced, and then said,

But now he has attacked me in a different way; for the cunning serpent has endeavored to persuade me that I have merited Heaven itself and a blessed immortality by the faithful discharge of the ministerial office committed to me.

Knox then praised God for reminding him of Scriptures by which he was able to “extinguish this fiery dart.” He then shared two of the verses with those in his room.

“What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

“But by the grace of God I am what I am… yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

In the short time that followed, Knox praised God, expressed his confidence in the saving grace of God, raised his hands, and passed peacefully into Heaven.

Insights into Knox’s Final Battle

Knox was tempted to believe that he had earned Heaven by his own faithfulness in fulfilling his ministry. The enemy’s suggestion was that he had won eternal life by his works — his own efforts. This was the antithesis of the very gospel he had preached. Knox knew well that we are “saved by grace through faith… not by works” (Ephesians 2:8), but he had to come back to and hold fast to that foundational truth when he was tempted to trust in himself.

Paul explicitly taught that “we should not trust in ourselves but in God…” (2 Corinthians 1:9) and earnestly desired that he might “be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).

The temptation to trust in himself and his own accomplishments might have been Knox’s final battle, but how many people face that throughout their lives? How many people have never trusted Christ in the first place because they think they are good enough to earn Heaven on their own? That their own good works are sufficient to gain acceptance by God?

Whether it is for eternal life or for daily sustenance, it is imperative that we trust in him at all times. Remember Jeremiah’s admonition: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength.” But he didn’t stop there. He also said, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5, 7).

Charles Spurgeon had also learned the vital importance of never putting trust or confidence in himself. In a sermon on the subtlety of Satan, he recounted what Knox had experienced:

What do you imagine was John Knox’s last temptation upon his dying bed? Perhaps there never was a man who more fully understood the great doctrine that “by Grace are you saved” than John Knox did. He thundered it out from the pulpit… but, will you believe it, that old enemy of souls attacked John Knox with self-righteousness when he lay a-dying? He came to him, and said, “How bravely you have served your Master, John! You have never quailed before the face of man. You have faced kings and princes, and yet you have never trembled! Such a man as you may walk into the Kingdom of Heaven on your own footing and wear your own garment at the wedding of the Most High!” Sharp and terrible was the struggle which John Knox had with the enemy of souls over that temptation.

How did Spurgeon apply this lesson? How did he practice not trusting in himself? The story is told that after he had finished preaching one time, a lady approached him and told him how wonderful his sermon had been. Resisting the temptation toward pride and glorying in himself, Spurgeon said, “Yes, madam, that is what the devil whispered in my ear as I came down the steps of the pulpit.”

I feel sure it would have been fine if Spurgeon had responded, “I’m glad the Word of God blessed you,” but he was likely guarding his own heart against falling into pride. Perhaps he understood that Satan doesn’t always attack with negatives, and it is very likely that  the lady who complimented him was sincere and meant no harm. What all of this teaches us is that the child of God, no matter how advanced in the things of faith, must be vigilant against all of the deceptive tactics of the enemy. Let’s follow the wise advice of Psalm 62:8 and “trust in Him at all times,” never in ourselves.

Stained glass of Knox preaching in St. Giles Church

The original gravestone of John Knox

Tony standing near the spot where Knox is believed to have lived