THE OTHER SON of ZEBEDEE John Is an Interesting Study Because He Is a Another Side of This Man That Should Be Man with Many Facets to His Personality
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John John, the son of Zebedee and brother of James the Greater, was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was the author of five books including the gospel of John; 1, 2, 3 John; and Revelation. The chalice and snake represents the persecution that John and many other Christians had to endure. According to legend, John drank a cup of poison and survived. He is said to be the only apostle who died of natural causes. THE OTHER SON OF ZEBEDEE John is an interesting study because he is a another side of this man that should be man with many facets to his personality. While presented. we have more written about him than any other John was the other half of the “Sons of apostle, he seldom mentions himself. The only Thunder” (see Mark 3:17). That means he was John he refers to in his gospel is John the partner with his brother James in calling Baptist, to whom he never adds the Baptist— lightning from heaven to strike the Samaritans. just simply John. This apostle is also the only He was also involved in the bold request that he one of the gospel writers who does not include and his brother be given the special privilege to a listing of the Twelve in his book, although he sit beside the Lord on his throne. John was no offers more details of many of the other quiet, unassuming, gentle man. In his younger apostles than the other three books combined. years, he was a schemer and a headstrong The name John, Jonah, or Jonas was a very disciple with little or no sympathy for some of common name at that time meaning “a dove.” those around him. A good example of his He was likely the younger son of Zebedee, overly zealous and explosive nature is recorded sibling of James. It is also likely that he was in Mark 9: “‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw a the youngest of the Twelve, possibly being in man driving out demons in your name and we his teens when he was first called. John’s told him to stop, because he was not one of father seemed to own a very successful fishing us’” (verse 38). John’s only comment business. Zebedee’s wife, Salome, was a close mentioned in Scripture is filled with elitism. follower of Jesus, who was at his crucifixion as Just because another individual was casting out well as the burial. demons in Jesus’ name who was not up to John was likely the other disciple who John’s satisfaction, John felt the man should accompanied Andrew in John 1, thus being the have been stopped. This egotistical attitude first of Jesus’ followers. They were both was not unusual for John, especially in his early disciples of John the Baptist and changed ministry. Fortunately, we see a tremendous allegiance when they met the Jesus whom John turnaround for him as he matures into a introduced as the Lamb of God. John never follower of the Lamb, the Lord of love. forgot that description. Thirty-one times in the John played an important role in much of book of Revelation John refers to the Savior as the gospel story. Next to Peter, John was the the Lamb. most influential of the apostles. He likely saw Jesus perform his first miracle at the wedding WHO WAS JOHN? of Cana (John 2:1-10). He was present at the Many have a picture of John as the gentle raising of the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37). one, reclining beside Jesus at the Last Supper, He was at the transfiguration (Matthew 17). He taking in his every word. John was the one was among those nearest the Lord in the Jesus loved, and he was given the privilege of Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). He caring for Mary, Jesus’ mother. Yet there was occupied the intimate spot next to Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13:23). He likely got dearly. Thus John was the last of the disciples permission for Peter to enter the court of the to whom Jesus spoke before he died. high priest at Jesus’ trial (John 18:15). He reached the tomb first on Easter morning, THE DISCIPLE OF LOVE outrunning the slower Peter (John 20:2-4). He In addition to being the disciple who is believed that Jesus had indeed risen from the called the one whom Jesus loved, John can dead (John 20:8). It was John who first likewise be considered as the apostle of love. recognized Jesus as he appeared to the disciples From the boisterous, egotistical lad there arose on the seashore after his resurrection (John one who truly believed in the power and 21:7). John was with Peter at the temple when importance of love. Within the five chapters of the lame man was healed (Acts 3:1-10). He 1 John, the word love appears 35 times, 21 was with Peter when they were jailed (Acts times alone in chapter 4. He wrote about the 4:3), and he accompanied Peter to Samaria love of God for the world, God’s love for his (Acts 8:14). Paul even wrote of John in Son, Jesus’ love for his followers, and the love Galatians 2:9, “James, Peter and John, those we should have for one another. If one theme reputed to be pillars, gave me . the right carries through all of John’s writings, it is that hand of fellowship.” of love. A story is told about John when he was an THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED old man of perhaps one hundred years and Herman Lockyer writes, “If Peter and living in Ephesus. John was bedridden, and James were first among the twelve, John was needed assistance to attend church. There the the first in the affections of his Lord. John people loved to ask him questions concerning became a man after his own heart . Leaning how a Christian should live. John’s answer on the bosom of Jesus, John knew something of was always the same, “Little children, love one his heartbeat.” (#1; page 88) John never another.” When he was pressed as to why the mentioned himself by name in his gospel. He answer was always the same, John would tell frequently replaced it with the description: “the them that that was the command of the Lord, disciple whom Jesus loved.” His humility and if that alone would be followed, it would would not allow him to speak of himself, but be sufficient. rather he wished to divert all attention to his loving Savior. Five times we read, “One of JOHN’S WRITING them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was Next to Paul, John wrote the most books of reclining next to him” (John 13:23); “When the New Testament— five. John wrote: “That Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple which was from the whom he loved standing nearby . .” (19:26); beginning, which “So she came running to Simon Peter and the we have heard, other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said . which we have seen .” (20:2); “Then the disciple Jesus loved said to with our eyes, Peter . .” (21:7); “Peter turned and saw the which we have disciple whom Jesus loved was following them” looked at and our (21:20). hands have Jesus and John shared a truly unique touched—this we relationship. It resulted in bestowing on John proclaim the honor of caring for the mother of Jesus. concerning the “From that time on, this disciple took her into Word of life” (1 his home” (19:27). Church traditions claim John 1:1). John had a treasured message he that John never left Jerusalem while Mary was loved to share with those around him. His still living. This assignment he held very writing was filled with picture- perfect descriptions of the events. From the fine points he wrote about the raising of Lazarus to the it must have pained John to hear again and details of the Last Supper, from the folds in the again about the deaths of those with whom he napkin in Jesus’ empty tomb, to the golden shared so much at the master’s feet. When streets that looked like transparent glass in the John was nearing 90 years, he was banished to new Jerusalem, John loved to tell his story. In the island of Patmos, where he wrote the book both 2 and 3 John he says to his readers, “I of Revelation (see Revelation 1:9). Eventually have much to write to you, but I do not want to he was released and spent his last days in use pen and ink” (2 John 12; 3 John 13). John Ephesus, where he supposedly died of natural ends his beautiful gospel with these words: causes in about the year A.D. 98. John’s death “This is the disciple who testifies to these closed the book on the story of the early things and who wrote them down. We know Christian church. He and his comrades had that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other done well. From the tiny villages dotting the things as well. If every one of them were shores of the Sea of Galilee to the remotest written down, I suppose that even the whole corners of the world, these men took upon them world would not have room for the books that the mission of telling everyone they could that would be written” (John 21:24,25).