Virginia has produced more great Americans than any other state. If I were a native son, I would have said "more than every other state". But whichever is true, it is beyond doubt that all Americans are obliged to the "old dominion". If we look to its statesmen, we find Washington and Jefferson. Its solders, Lee and Jackson. Its political philosophers are Madison and Randolph. Its great orator is Patrick Henry. Its theologians include Alexander and Dabney. But another son of Virginia deserves our admiration, too. He was its greatest preacher. And one of its noblest souls. But unlike these other men, this man was not born into a prominent family, nor did he attend a fine academy. For this great preacher--you see--was born a slave and lived in bondage for more than half his life. But in his mouth, "the word of God was not bound". For more than sixty years, he preached--to bond and free--black and white, and saw a harvest of souls few will ever witness. Our subject is, in the words of William E. Hatcher, "The Unmatched Black Philosopher and Preacher, John Jasper".

John Jasper was born on July 4, 1812, the last of 24 children born to Philip and Nina Jasper. His father was a slave and a much respected preacher. But he died two months before the birth of his gifted son. His mother was a woman of unusual charm and piety. She worked indoors and acquired the genteel manners of a southern plantation. This she evidently passed on to her son, who--to black and white alike--carried himself with the dignity of an aristocrat. Although Nina never learned to read, she did attend church regularly, and listened to the sermons with care. With this store of knowledge, she taught her children "the way of God more perfectly".

Her teaching, however, did not take with John, who for some years chafed against her godly influence. But on his nineteenth birthday, something happened to John Jasper. He was in Richmond Virginia for the 4th of July Celebration, when he was struck down by a sense of his sin and guilt. The young rebel sought the Lord for six weeks, but without success. Finally, one day, while working in the tobacco factory, Jasper was found by Christ. About it, he wrote:

The outburst was quieted by a hard overseer, who suggested that Jasper and the others get back to work. The good servant obeyed. "Yes sir, I will; I meant no harm. The first taste of salvation got the better of me, but I'll get back to work".

The Master, Sam Hargrove heard the ruckus and asked his overseer what was wrong. "Jasper done got religion" he was told. This intrigued the good man. A few hours later, Hargrove called for his servant and asked him about it.

Sam Hargrove replied, "John, I believe that way myself. I love the Savior that you have just found, and I want to tell you that I don't complain because you made the noise just now as you did". He then stood up from his desk, and as Jasper said, "Mars Sam did the thing that nearly made me drop to the floor". He shook his hand and said, "John, I wish you mighty well. Your Savior is mine and we are brothers in the Lord". Years later, Jasper added, "Mars Sam well knew the good he did me".

John Jasper was given the day off from his work, with this provision: "John, you may tell it. Go back in there and go up and down the tables, and tell all of them. And then, if you want to, go up-stairs and tell them about it, and then down-stairs and tell them about it, and tell the hogshed men and the drivers and everybody what the Lord has done for you".

To his dying day, Jasper spoke well of his old master and credited him--in a way--with his call to the ministry. But only "in a way". For no one was ever more convinced about a Divine call than John Jasper.

In the years to come, he would show nothing but contempt for professional ministers, men called by colleges or seminaries or churches--but not by God!

Emancipation lay 25 years off. But, with the permission of his Master and the encouragement of his own people, Jasper exercised a powerful ministry in servitude. He became the pastor of a black church. White people flocked to hear him too. Even in those early days, he often commanded an audience of thousands. Most of his preaching was of the highest quality, but he outdid himself with funerals. The deaths of William Ellison and Mary Barnes brought many together, and Jasper treated them to a Gospel banquet.

About Ellison, he said:

But after these solemn words, he turned to the young lady who had died:

Then, from Mary Barnes he turns to give a tour of heaven, "the river of life, the streets of gold, the mansions, the saints, the heavenly Canaan, the army of angels, the throne, the King in royal garments, the elders, the millions bowing before Him". On and on he goes, till he caps it off: "O, what must it be to be there!"

During the Civil War, Jasper continued his ministry to the slaves. And others, too. One remarkable incident: Near the fall of Richmond, the slave John Jasper went to a Confederate hospital and preached the Gospel to the men in grey.

Jasper's pulpit power lay in his imagination. No man ever painted more or better word pictures than he. But don't think that was all he ever did. W.E. Hatcher, an educated white pastor described Jasper's preaching as "covering the theological field, they were strongly doctrinal, and grappled with the deepest principles of the Gospel. He was also intensely practical, scourging sin, lashing neglect, and with lofty authority demanding high and faithful living".

Jasper's most famous sermon bore this strange title, "The Sun Do Move". In it, he argued that the earth was flat and that the sun revolved around it. That the Copernican system was false and the product of unbelief. Now, at first this seems ludicrous. And maybe it is. But the way that he presented his case showed Jasper a preacher of fine reasoning and humble dependence on Scripture alone.

As to his faith in the Bible, he said:

If Jasper seems piously stupid to you, just remember this. The same argument is used today for evolution, feminism, and many other issues. "The Bible is no science textbook" they say. "The Bible accommodates itself to the superstitions and prejudices of the age" and so on. All Jasper is saying is this: "Let God be true and every man (including scientist) a liar!

The arguments in favor of a "moving sun" are four:

This sermon was a sensation. It was preached more than 250 times to huge audiences. But the most interesting thing about it is this: it wasn't really an apologetic sermon at all. It was full of evangelism and edification!

This small sample of Jasper's preaching must do. Let's go on to look at him as a man. A woman who knew him long and well, described his character in the most glowing terms. She said that he was:

This describes, in short, the character and ministry of John Jasper.

He died in 1901, aged 89 years.

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord;

They rest from their labors,

And their works do follow them".