Two John's were born in the 1300s, and together they made the spark that a century later would become the raging fire of the Reformation.
John Wycliffe, the Morning Star of the Reformation, lived 150 years before Martin Luther, John Calvin, and the other great reformers, but his name stands with theirs in the annals of Church history.
He taught at Oxford University in England, where he was very prestigious and respected. Being both a great scholar and fantastic debater, he was a brilliant man. Wycliffe recognized the flaws in the Roman Catholic Church, especially the use of Latin so that the common people couldn’t read or understand the Bible. Wycliffe was a strong believer in having the Bible in the common language and preaching in the common language. He pointed out that Jesus and the apostles spoke in the common language of the time during their sermons.
John Wycliffe’s greatest achievement was translating the Latin Vulgate into English. Although it had many flaws, this was still very important because it was the first English version of the Bible.
Wycliffe also attacked false doctrines in the Catholic Church such as indulgences, pilgrimages, the veneration of the saints, and the doctrine of transubstantiation. Most boldly, he even reprimanded the pope and other church leaders, and used the term “antichrist” to refer to the pope.
Fortunately for Wycliffe, the Western Schism occurred during his lifetime, in which three separate people all claimed to be the rightful pope. Because of the division in the Catholic Church, Wycliffe wasn’t persecuted, although the Church did accuse him of heresy.
John Wycliffe also tried to reform the Catholic Church by showing them what priests, monks, and other clergy should be like. He trained his followers, called Lollards, and then sent them throughout England, almost like missionaries. The Lollards spread the Gospel in English, helped those in need, and lived a simple life without luxury or excess.
In conclusion, John Wycliffe was truly the Morning Star of the Reformation, and even after his death, his light still shone through his English Bibles, the Lollards, and his teachings, which spread throughout all of England and into Europe. Many great reformers, especially John Hus, were greatly influenced by Wycliffe.
In 1372, John Hus, also called Jan Hus, was born in Bohemia, which is modern day Czech Republic. Soon after he was born, his father died, but his mother didn’t give up and continued to care for him. Once he was old enough, his mother sent him to the University of Prague. Just before he went there, his mother prayed with him, asking God to bless his life. That prayer would be answered many times.
At the University of Prague, John Hus soon distinguished himself through his great work ethic and his blameless, innocent life. Once he graduated from the University of Prague, he became a priest.
John Hus was greatly influenced by John Wycliffe, who had died in 1384. Just like Wycliffe, Hus believed that it was critical for the Bible to be preached in the common language.
John Hus began to preach his sermons in German, the common language of Bohemia. Soon the pope heard about Hus’ preaching and, accusing Hus of heresy, summoned him to trial. When he refused to appear at trial, the pope put the entire city of Prague under interdiction, meaning the churches were closed indefinitely. With Prague in an uproar, Hus fled from the city, but he returned once things had cooled down and the interdiction was lifted. John Hus’ teachings continued to spread all over Bohemia.
In 1414, Emperor Sigismund of the Holy Roman Empire summoned the Council of Constance to deal with many issues, including the Western Schism that had started in 1378 and the heresy in Bohemia. John Hus, considered the leader of the Bohemian heretics, was summoned to Constance, and Emperor Sigismund promised him safe passage both there and back. Hus reluctantly went, and arrived in Constance safely. However, he was arrested once he got there, and Emperor Sigismund did nothing to protect him. Hus had a trial and was found guilty of heresy, then was burned at the stake in 1415.
Although he died, his legacy lives on. God truly blessed his life, just like his mother had prayed, and Hus’ teachings spread throughout Bohemia. 102 years later, Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Church, starting the Reformation, but John Hus had already started his own reformation in Bohemia. John Hus proved that the Catholic Church couldn’t stop the Gospel. Wycliffe had turned the doorknob, Hus opened the door, and in a century, Martin Luther and John Calvin would kick the door down!