John Huss

Reformation - How Christ restored the gospel to his church

John Wycliffe John Huss Martin LutherBorn in 1320 1369 1483 Died in 31 Dec 1384 6th July 1415 18 Feb 1546Country of Birth

England Bohemia, Czech Republic

Germany

Major contributions

Initiated the translation of Bible

from Latin to English. His teachings have

influenced John Huss

Many have come to know the saving

Grace of Lord Jesus. His life, teachings have influenced Martin Luther

Protestant church

movement started

Protestant Reformation process

Considered the main precursor (Morning

star of the reformation)

In many respects he may be said to have

begun

He was at the pinnacle of the process

• Are we reading the Bible in order to know God?

Early lifeHuss was born between 1369 & 1372 to peasant parents (basically farming labor) in "Goosetown," that is, Husinec, in the south of today's Czech Republic called Bohemia province.

Europe

Huss opted for the priesthood to escape poverty: His own words "I had thought to become a priest quickly in order to secure a good livelihood and dress and to be held in esteem by men."

In 1396, he received a master’s degree from Charles University

In 1398, he became a professor in Theology

1400 he was ordained as priest at the Bethlehem Church in Prague

In 1402 Jan Hus became a rector of the university and preacher of the Bethlehem Church in Prague

Time line of Huss

Some of the convictions of John Huss• Christ alone is head of the church, and not the pope. As

pope being a mere man, "through ignorance and love of money" can make many mistakes. . Col 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy

• The authority of the scripture is the highest and not that of Pope and church. Scripture is the only norm and basis for Christian faith.

• He wrote a book in which he showed that Holy Scripture contains all truth and, scripture being from God, is the only authority.

• Huss also believed that each person should have a bible of his own, in a language he can read

Some of the convictions of John Huss• He felt a need for reforms and modifications, to eradicate

the corruption and abuses of the then Church• His argument that Church should exercise spiritual

authority, instead of being earthly governors. At that time, Church had the executive governmental authority over state.

• He argued against the great hierarchy of Rome, against the substitution of rites and ceremonies for heart- religion; against the abuse of priestly power, especially in the selling of spiritual benefits for money

1) He did not cling to the comforts of the priesthood but stood for the truth though he was attracting hatred from the authorities of the church.

2) He could not keep quiet as he realised that people were being misguided and the truth is hidden by the wrong practices of the church. He was a man of courage and conviction

Lessons that we can learn from John Huss’s life

3) He remained in the same place of his work and fulfilled the purposes of God in his time. Though he did not see the fruit of it i.e., the reformation, but he did his part faithfully.

Are we doing our part in our life time? (or are we pre-occupied with the things of this world?)

Lessons that we can learn from John Huss’s life

Time line • 1412 – He was excommunicated by his Arch-

bishop not for heresy but for insubordination.

4) Our stance today can prophetically save nations and communities, are we ready?

• 1414 – 3 Bishops were appointed to investigate

If you want to live for God, you will face suffering 2 Timothy 3:12

Time line • 1415 Jan Hus was sent to trial and convicted as a

heretic and was sentenced to burning at the stake

"You are now going to burn a goose" ('Huss' signifying 'goose' in the Bohemian language) "but in a century, you will have a swan which you can neither roast nor boil.“

In another place, it was quoted as Huss saying; “In 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform, cannot be suppressed.”

Nearly 100 years later, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses of Contention on to the church door at Wittenberg, Germany.The prophecy of Jan Hus had come true. The protests of Martin Luther against the church led to the new Protestant movement

5) He lived as a missionary in his own place. There was a fierce commitment to his Mission. Are we on a mission? How committed are we? He endured persecution as he understood Christianity was not for comfort.

6) Are we living out the gospel? I presume many of us do in some form or the other.

Few more lessons from John Huss’s life

7) Are we keeping ourselves ready to speak and express the hope behind our Christian lifestyle?

• 1 Peter 3:15. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

8) Are we ready to renounce what is not right in the sight of God? Or are we still entertaining the same old habits, lifestyle?