Ref: Mt 4:21, 10:2, 17:1, 20:20, 26:37 Mk 1:19,29, 3:17, 5:37, 9:2, 10:35-41, 13:3, 14:33, Lk 5:10, 6:14, 8:51, 9:28,54, Jn 21:2, Acts 1:13, 12:2
We’re now getting to the more prominent disciples and after Peter the next best known disciple is John the son of Zebedee. In the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark & Luke) John always comes as a pair with his brother James. In fact if you read our previous article on James son of Zebedee, then you’ll already know a good deal about John. As a result this article will focus on what is more unique to John.
John was the son of Zebedee and Salome who lived in Capernaum. Along with his father and brother he was a fisherman by trade, however he was a man who feared God and looked to the coming of the Messiah. John is the author of a gospel, 3 letters and the prophetic book of Revelation. What we know of him comes not only from his own writings but also from the Synoptic Gospels, Acts and church history, he is also mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
John was originally a disciple of John the Baptist along with his friend and fellow fisherman Andrew; although once John had identified Jesus as the lamb of God, he became a follower of Jesus. Since John the Baptists mission was to announce the one coming after him, once he had identified Jesus it was only natural for John son of Zebedee to follow. John was therefore one of the first to follow Jesus, and he was present for the earliest miracles, such as Jesus turning water into wine. As time went on John was officially called as one of Jesus 12 Apostles and of the twelve he was a part of Jesus’ inner circle of 3. This set John apart for closer instruction although he would let this go to his head. However being apart of the inner circle meant that Jesus took him with him when raising Jairus’ daughter, when ascending the mount of transfiguration and in the garden of Gethsemane.
The first bit of dialogue we here from John is found in Luke 9:49-50. Some of the disciples had seen a man, who was not of their number, casting out a demon in the name of Jesus, they therefore told him to stop. When John told this to Jesus he was rebuked. Jesus declared that “he who is not against us is on our side”. This episode ties in with John and James wanting to call down fire from heaven (Luke 9:51-56) as well as the brothers seeking to be seated at Jesus’ left and right in the coming kingdom (Mark 10:35-45). John with his brother was called a son of thunder by Jesus (Mark 3:17). Though zealous and sincere he misunderstood Jesus mission. He saw discipleship as something exclusive and desired prestige by association. In contrast to this, Jesus taught his disciples the cost of discipleship and unpacked what it meant to be great in the kingdom of God. John initially was quick to claim the benefits and slow to count the cost. Although as Jesus had shared John would indeed share in Christ’s suffering.
One key event where John plays a prominent role is the last supper. On the day Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to make the arrangements (Luke 22:7-13). It was at the last supper that Jesus announced one of the disciples would betray him. At this point John was leaning on the breast of Jesus. Peter then motioned to him to find out who. John then asked Jesus who answered it was the person who he would give a piece of bread to after dipping it. Jesus then proceeded to give the bread to Judas Iscariot (John 13:18-30). What is particularly significant about this is it reveals how close John was to Jesus. Peter was the lead disciple and yet he asked John to talk to Jesus rather than ask Jesus himself.
After Jesus had been arrested all the disciples fled, however it was John and Peter who followed after him. As John was known to the high priest he was able to come into the courtyard and bring Peter in with him (John 18:15-16). Though Peter denied Jesus three times and fled, John remained and was the only disciple at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27). It was from here that at Jesus’ request John took Mary into his home.
Following the resurrection it was John and Peter that ran to the empty tomb. John being a fast runner arrived first but went in second. It was seeing the empty tomb and the graveclothes where they were that John believed (John 20:1-10). That evening Jesus appeared to all the disciples minus Thomas, he imparted the Holy Spirit and commissioned them (John 20:19-22). Later when the disciples went fishing it was John who recognised that it was Jesus on the shore (John 21:7), and following Peter’s restoration Jesus declares of John that he will remain until he comes (John 21:20-25). This led to the rumour that John wouldn’t die although that was not what was meant.
Following Jesus’ ascension John and the twelve remained in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came in power on the day of Pentecost. Along with Peter, John took the lead in leading the early church. John was with Peter when he healed the lame man at the temple gate and the two were arrested and interrogated by the Jewish leaders. When commanded not to testify about Jesus their response was that they should obey God and not man (Acts 4:19). Later when those in Samarita received the gospel it was Peter and John who were despatched (Acts 8:14-25). And when Paul visited Jerusalem on one of the occasions he referred to James the brother of Jesus, Peter and John as pillars of the Church.
John would lose his brother James who under Herod Agrippa was the first of the twelve to be martyred. The movements of John aren’t clear from this point, but it is thought he remained in Judea with Mary for a long time. Following the destruction of Jerusalem John moved to Ephesus and as the last of the twelve oversaw the Christian community of Asia Minor. It was here that he wrote his gospel and letters. Following persecution under the Emperor Domitian (95/96AD), John was exiled to the island of Patmos. It was here he saw the risen Christ in a vision which led to him writing the book of Revelation. With the death of Domitian John returned from exile and died a few years later an old man in his nineties.
Of all the disciples nobody knew Jesus better than John and no one had followed him longer. He was the first to follow and the last of the twelve to die. Moreover John was a man of both sincerity and humility. He started zealous without knowledge, but by the end he was wise, tempered, bold and humble. Out of all the New Testament it is the writings of John that most profoundly unpacks the love of God which centres on the finished work of Christ. In his gospel John is anonymous, referring to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. This wasn’t a statement of arrogance or favouritism, but one of faith. John didn’t boast in his love for Jesus but in Jesus’ love for him. He understood that to be a disciple is to be loved by Jesus, and having received this love we are to share it with the world. This is done through preaching the gospel and loving one another.