Pastor's Pen

May/June 2005

John the Beloved

Not many men in scripture have been dubbed, "beloved." The prophet Daniel, was one of the few men in the Old Testament who was addressed "beloved" – "For thou art greatly beloved" (Dan 9:23). Daniel was addressed at least three times in this manner. The Apostle John is alluded to at least five times in his Gospel, as "The disciple whom Jesus loved." Although, Jesus loved all of His disciples (and He does state that), John had a special place in the heart of Christ. John could be identified as one who followed the Lamb withersoever He goeth: "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" (Rev 14:4). John was one of the first to follow Christ. He followed Christ throughout His ministry right to the judgement hall, and to the cross. John was the only disciple that stood at the cross. To the very end of Jesus earthy ministry, John was following: "Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper…(John 21:20).

John had an intimacy with the Lord that we would all like to have. The other disciples recognized the fact; and that is why Peter beckoned to John to ask Jesus who the betrayer was – John was leaning upon his beloved (John 13:24). John had experienced something of the love of God and he could convey that love with great pathos!

John was actually related by blood to Christ. John’s mother, Salome, was the sister of Mary. Jesus’ mother was actually John’s aunt. John’s father was Zebedee, and his brother was James. John was also of his father’s occupation, a fisherman of Galilee. The fact that he was from Galilee province also says something about his nature. The Galilaeans were known for their indomitable spirit and their loyalty. John was probably the youngest of the twelve disciples (perhaps late teens). Undoubtedly, John was the most impressionable, and for that reason John seemed to absorb more of the nature of Christ than some of the other disciples. We become like the object of our worship, and thus it was true with John, John literally adored Jesus. The nature of Jesus emanates from John’s writing. He is known as the apostle of love.

The calling of John also reveals something of John’s future ministry. (Herein, is a truth that can be applied to any call.) In Matthew 4:21-22, John is called as he is mending: "And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him." The fact that John was called while mending says that John was called to be a restorer. The ministry of restoration belongs to those who are fully mature; and that ministry does not come about without a measure of suffering. John’s ministry flourished later in life – much later!

When Jesus first ordained John into the ministry with the other twelve, He surnamed them (he and his brother) "Boanerges," translated, "the sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). These brothers certainly possessed a lot of zeal – zeal that needed harnessing. This can be readily observed, as Jesus and his disciples were going through Samaria; it appeared as though their ministry was not welcomed there. James and John suggested that Jesus calls fire down from heaven and consume them (Luke 9:54-56). The Lord then rebuked them and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Even the Lord’s beloved John was rebuked on this point. Whom the Lord loves He rebukes. This also tells us that the apostle of love needed a little work done in his life.

John companied and ministered with Jesus during His brief ministry upon earth, yet, there is nothing perceived as outstanding about the apostle John until the final chapters. John did not manifest any exceptional ministry. However, John was always included with the (inner) three. It was not until the final night that we see John’s true position to Jesus – leaning upon the breast of Jesus. It was as though John was listening to the heartbeat of Jesus. "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23). This is where we begin to understand something about relationship.

After Jesus informed His disciples that there was a tare in there midst, not one soul perceived whom it might be. In fact, in their naiveté they all began to ask: "Lord is it I?" Peter then beckoned to John to inquire of the Lord. John turns out to be the only man sitting at the table who knew who the tare was. What affect did that have upon John? Befittingly, John later writes about the antichrist in his epistles. In fact, he is the only New Testament author that uses the word "antichrist." That revelation had a profound impact upon John. Nobody with the natural eye could have perceived the tare, but John knew who the son of perdition was. John saw him go out and perceived his iniquitous work. John said this concerning the antichrist spirit; "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us" (1 John 2:19). First John; is filled with parallels of truth and error.

John not only writes about his revelation of truth and deception, but he also uses the expression "little children" nine times in his first epistle. The expression little children was used by Christ at the Last Supper, and it is a very endearing term. It means, my darling ones. What a profound impact that little phase had upon John. As he becomes the Elder John, he looks lovingly upon the church as though through the eyes of Christ. The new converts become John’s dearly beloved: (he uses the term "beloved" 5 times in his first epistle). What an impartation John must have received as he was leaning upon the bosom of Christ. Listen as Jesus says; "Little children, yet a little while I am with you… A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:33-34). Another phrase that must have had an impact upon John was: "love one another." Listen to John as he repeats that phase five times in his first epistle….

Although, Jesus had said that they would all betray Him that night, it is apparent that John found favor. All of the disciples had agreed with Peter that this would not be so. John must have detached himself from the group and agreed with Jesus. After all, John had never heard anything that Jesus had ever said fall to the ground – all came to pass! John must have appealed to the Master’s grace. John did go with Jesus to the judgement hall. Peter failed there, because he had contradicted the Lord’s Word. John also went to the cross with Jesus. In fact, he was the only disciple (of the twelve) standing at the cross.

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (John 19:26-27). Jesus committed the keeping of His mother to his most loyal disciple (Mary was John’s aunt). Another interesting fact about the beloved disciple was that he was the first disciple to believe that Christ rose from the dead. Looking at John 20:3-8, we see Peter and John running to the tomb. John (being younger) outran Peter, but he stopped at the entrance of the tomb. Peter came, and as he nature demanded, plunged in… then John came in. When John saw the grave wrappings – he believed. "Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed" (John 20:8).

A short time after Christ’s resurrection: the disciples, still in somewhat of a quandary – (not having any defined purpose), decided that they would go fishing. After spending a night on the lake, and having caught nothing, they saw a man on the shore that directed them to cast on the right side of the ship. Having done so, they netted a net-breaking catch of huge fish (although the net did not break). Immediately, John recognizes the Master: "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord" (John 21:7). There were seven of the disciples on board that ship, but it was John who recognized the Master. How often in life do we fail to recognize who it is that is really directing our life. We may just see a man on the shore, but the beloved disciple saw Christ!

After having dined and after the reinstatement of Peter (John 21:9-20), Jesus begins to depart, and John is following Him. "Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper…." Peter cries out, almost in alarm; "What shall this man do?" Peter is afraid that he will miss something. Perhaps he is afraid that John will get ahead of him. Jesus responds: "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me." Many of them interpreted this to mean that John would live until the Second Coming.

Actually, there is not much recorded concerning John’s ministry in the book of Acts. Aside from the healing of the lame man in chapter three, John plays somewhat of the diminutive role. Even the healing of the lame man (Acts 3:1-7), was transmitted through Peter as well as John. The fact is; Peter had the dominant ministry through the first part of the Acts. Then, the apostle Paul seems to take center stage. Paul is referred to as the apostle born out of due time. O yes, John was one of the pillars in Jerusalem, but not too much is recorded of John during the early years of the church. Peter and Paul both died under the hand of the emperor Nero. Paul was martyred around 66-67 AD. John has still not come into full bloom yet!

Although John’s ministry was not quite as conspicuous (outstanding) at the beginning, John’s ministry at the end is quite awesome. The Apostle John is like the better wine that is reserved for last. He is in the true sense, the mature father that he writes of in First John. Even in nature, there are trees that bear fruit within the first few years. There are other trees (such as the hardwood trees); those do not yield their fruit for many years. John’s ministry required age and much experience. After all, John was called to the ministry of restoration. By the end of the first century, the church was in a serious decline. John the Elder is there to restore the true pattern. We can especially appreciate this as John writes to the seven churches of Asia province.

During the reign of the Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD) John was exiled for the Word of God. (John's exile could have been sixty years after the ascension.) It was during this imprisonment, that John was taken up in the Spirit and given a revelation of Christ that no mortal has ever had. John, who intimately knew the Lord upon earth, now sees the glorified Christ: "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last" (Rev 1:17). Although, a few men such as Daniel had a similar experience, no man ever experienced the extent of John’s vision.

It was during the vision that John sees the Father sitting upon the throne holding a book sealed with seven seals. An angel then cries out with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" There was no man in heaven and earth worthy to open the seals of the book. John is overcome with grief: "And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon" (Rev 5:1-5). I have often wondered, how many actually weep that they might understand the mysteries of God? (I think we are getting a picture of why John was so beloved of Christ!) As John is weeping, one of the elders says to John, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Christ hath prevailed to open the book; and with whom does He share the sealed book? With His beloved John!

As we have been sketching out a little of the apostle’s life, we are struck with one word – "relationship." John literally emanates the relationship that he had with Christ. His profound revelation and insight came from relationship. His tender care for God’s children, his exhortation of love and hope and joy, all spring from his relationship with the Lamb. John followed the Lamb withersoever…. The word "lamb" is used 31 times in the New Testament. John used the word "Lamb" 29 of those times.

Although we often become discouraged about our walk with the Lord – it seems as though others are fruitful, etc. Take courage through the life of John. Many, who did not have the relationship with the Lord that John did, far-outstripped John in the beginning. John ministry was particularly reserved for the end. The most beloved of all the Gospels – the Gospel of John, is thought by most commentators to be the last written book of the New Testament… "Like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly…" (Song 7:9).