I was a little jealous of my first college roommate, partly because he had worked his schedule so that he could play golf every Thursday afternoon, partly because he somehow found the money to purchase a snazzy early-90s BMW sedan with dark green glossy paint and tan leather seats, and partly because before he turned 20, he had already accumulated an impressive theological library (physical books used to be the stock-in-trade of aspiring preachers). 

The heart of his collection was a handsome set of matching burgundy hardcovers displayed in the middle of his bookshelf by the time I arrived and began unpacking my stuff. It was a set of New Testament commentaries that all bore one name on the spine: John F. MacArthur, Jr. 

“Who is that?” I asked. Apparently it was a dumb question (the first of many I would ask in my time as a Bible College student). My roommate was a fan of John MacArthur, and the more I learned about him, the more I understood why he and so many others had come to hang on his every word. 

Frankly, John MacArthur hasn’t had a strong, direct influence on my life and ministry. I’ve only listened to a few of his sermons, never finished one of his books, never attended a conference he organized. I don’t agree with every position he took. 

But when he went to heaven last week, I was sad. I know God will raise up others, but his homegoing is a grievous loss to the Christian church in the English-speaking world. 

There just aren’t many leaders like John MacArthur. For one thing, he was a consistent, capable, steady defender of the gospel against all comers. My first real exposure to MacArthur was in college, when he was a guest alongside a diverse array of theologians on Larry King Live. I forget the initial topic of conversation. What I remember is that MacArthur—more than anyone else on the panel—clearly and patiently pointed his conversation partners toward gospel truth. He was a bold and compassionate witness. 

I’m also grateful to John MacArthur for his example of faithful shepherding across 56 years of ministry to the same flock, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. “Pastor John” ministered to thousands and must have been extremely busy, but he had time to keep the main thing the main thing: shepherding the flock and being among the sheep. Countless brothers and sisters have come forward in the days since his homegoing to share how their pastor ministered to them through times of marital difficulty, sickness, disappointment, and grief. He loved the people God had placed in his care. 

John MacArthur loved the Word of God. So many preachers stand behind pulpits all across America, proclaiming, “This is God’s Word!” and then spend the next 30 minutes ignoring the Bible. Not MacArthur. He faithfully fed the sheep week in and week out, teaching countless others to do the same. The discipline of expository preaching wouldn’t have nearly the following it does today without the influence of men like John MacArthur. I’m certain that many of the men who taught me how to preach had learned a lot from him. 

Finally, I appreciate John MacArthur’s willingness to stand for truth even when it wasn’t popular. To many—especially in matters where they disagreed with him—his confidence came across as brash or even arrogant. Personally, I never took it that way. He struck me as a man who was so at peace with God, so diligent in his study of Scripture, and so unmoved by the fear of man that he simply didn’t get riled. 

Did he always get it right? Of course not! But there were many times when he took a controversial stand and was proven right after the dust settled. His motives were clear: he simply wanted to please the Lord, even if that meant upsetting somebody else. 

I pray my own ministry in my church and my family would have even a sliver of the effectiveness of a John MacArthur. His life is a reminder of the faithfulness of our God.