The apostle John

Jesus had 12 disciples that He trained to go out into the world and minister the Word. One of those disciples was particularly close to Him. Jesus said He loved John. What qualities did John have that made him stand out to Jesus? What can we learn from John to better serve the Lord?

John was from Capernaum and was a fisherman. His family seems to have been prosperous as they had a boat of their own and servants. He and his brother James may have been cousins to Jesus as it is sometimes interpreted that his mother Salome was the sister of Mary, Jesus’ mother. (John 19:25-27)

One of the first qualities we recognize in John is his decisiveness. When Jesus called him to become a disciple, John dropped his fishing nets and followed. He didn’t hesitate to leave behind all that he had to learn from Jesus. John recognized the Lord and dedicated himself to serving Him. In Revelation, John writes about the call that Christ makes to us, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 KJV) John answered the call of Christ immediately and decisively.

As we watch John through the New Testament, we see a man whose life is profoundly transformed. John could be a judgmental and harsh man. When Jesus, John and James came to a Samaritan village and were not received, John wanted to call the fire of Heaven down on them and destroy them. Jesus chastised him, “But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” (Luke 9:55-56 KJV)

Later we see a John that is gentle, loving and tender. John’s love for Christ and people is so profoundly documented through his Gospel and the New Testament that he is known as the disciple of love. The message of his ministry can be represented by his statement in 1John 3:23, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (KJV)

John’s transformed life is a message to us about how Christ changes us. John remained a bold and brash man. There is nothing in the style of Revelation, the Gospel of John or John’s letters that is hesitant or meek. John didn’t stop being John, he became a gentler, kinder, better John. Christ takes what is unique about us and transforms it into something better, something useful and purposeful.

John’s loyalty to Christ is evident and notable. John is with Jesus throughout His ministry and is present with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:37). John is one of very few followers who was with Jesus at the cross. (John 19:26) Even courageous Peter wasn’t bold enough to follow Christ to the cross and remain there with Him. To do so was very dangerous. As a follower of Christ, John could well have expected to be put to death, too. Yet his loyalty to and love for his Lord would not permit him to hide.

Jesus recognized John’s deep love and devotion. John, his brother James and Peter were the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus selected these three men for special instruction. John and Peter are the disciples Jesus sent to prepare His Last Supper. (Luke 22:8) John is the disciple that laid his head on Jesus chest at the Last Supper. (John 13:23) John is the disciple that Jesus commissioned to care for his mother. (John 19:27)

What John came to understand about love is something that all Christians are commanded to learn:

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. “ (1 John 4:16-21 NKJV)

Perhaps John is the disciple that Jesus loved because John is the disciple that understood the love of Christ. In the passage above, John lays out for us what God’s love and Christian love mean. John understood that he could love Jesus because Jesus loved him. John further understood that for others to love us we must love them. This is what draws people to us and allows us to point them to Christ. Love. It is easy to proclaim God’s love, but to live God’s love is another thing entirely.

John didn’t learn Christian lessons miraculously; he learned it by paying attention. When Jesus spoke, John listened. Ten times in the New Testament, John proclaims Christ’s commandment to love one another. (John 13:34, John 13:35, John 15:12, John 15:17, 1 John 3:11, 1John 3:23, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:11, 1 John 4:12, 2 John 1:5) It was a message that was important to him and one that should be important to us. If God is Love, then love is what Christianity is all about. Learn from John.