Who Was Called The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

Who Is the Disciple Jesus Loved?

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Plenty of Love for All

In order to be clear, when the author refers to himself five times as “the one whom Jesus loved,” he is not claiming that Jesus doesn’t love the other people in the world.

  • It is this particular author who claims in John 11:5 that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
  • It is this very author who claims that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
  • John 13:1 states that “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” — which is frequently interpreted as “to the utmost.” It is this particular author who wrote the verse. That completes the list. He also quotes Jesus as stating in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you,” referring to all of my disciples in the plural, “as the Father has loved me.” He also states in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” — all of you — “as I have loved you.”

To put it another way, this writer is not attempting to claim for himself the love of Jesus while also barring others from receiving it. There’s something else going on. After I finish this sentence, I’ll return to it.

Peter and the Loved Disciple

But, returning to the original question, who is it? Who is it that we are referring to? Peter, James, and John were known to be the closest associates of Jesus, as evidenced by the accounts in the other Gospels. Those three, for example, were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8), and they were able to see him because they were with him. This unidentified disciple appears to have had a close relationship with Peter, based on the way the Gospel of Matthew portrays his actions.

  • “So Simon Peter gestured to him to ask Jesus of whom he was referring,” according to John 13:24.
  • “So she fled and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved,” the Bible says of Mary Magdalene on the morning of the resurrection, in order to tell what she had witnessed (John 20:2).
  • The reason I minister and live is because of this.
  • Also in verse 7, as Jesus cried out to them from the shore, the disciple whom Jesus loved responded by saying to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Finally, in 21:20, the disciple whom Jesus adored is seen following Peter and Jesus on the road to Jerusalem.
  • And we know that Peter, James, and John were extremely close to one another as well as to Jesus.

As for James, we know that he had been slain by the time this Gospel was written (Acts 12:2), so he isn’t a candidate for this very intimate connection with Peter, who is described as “the one whom Jesus loved.” Thus, we are left with a significant chance that John the apostle is the disciple whom Jesus loved and is the author of this Gospel, as previously stated.

Since the beginning of time, practically every other tradition, even those outside of the Bible, has agreed with this conclusion almost unanimously.

‘Christ’s Love Controls Me’

This brings us full round to the question of why this author, John the apostle, refers to himself five times as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” in his writings. To wrap things up, allow me to make three last proposals. For starters, it establishes the author as an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry throughout the whole book. He alludes to himself in an indirect manner during the Last Supper, on the cross when he accepts Jesus’s mother into his family, at the empty tomb, and in his first face-to-face encounter with Jesus after the resurrection, among other instances.

Second, it’s possible that this is John’s way of expressing, “My most significant identification is not my name, but the fact that I am loved by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I’m loved, I’m loved, I’m loved.” “Jesus has a special place in my heart.” In a third instance, he could have been paraphrasing the apostle Paul, who said in 2 Corinthians 5:14–15, “The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for their sake.” John would be stating something like this: “I identify myself as loved by Christ since this is the all-constraining, all-controlling truth in my existence.” This is one of the reasons why I’m writing the Gospel.

This is the reason why I minister and why I live.

Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved?

QuestionAnswer ‘The disciple whom Jesus loved,’ according to the Gospel of John, is the only one to make mention of him. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to Him, according to the Bible’s account in John 13:23. John 19:26 states that “When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He cherished standing close, He said to His mother, “Dear lady, here is your son.” “Dear woman, here is your son,” Jesus said to His mother. When the disciple whom Jesus loved declared to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ in John 21:7, we know that we are talking about Jesus.

  • The disciple with whom Jesus self-identifies as the author of the gospel, and whom most academics believe to be the apostle John, the son of Zebedee and brother of James, is identified as the author of the gospel by Jesus himself.
  • As for who was fishing with Peter, John 21:2 tells us who was there with him: “Simon Peter, Thomas (known as Didymus), Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were with him.” Zebedee was the father of the apostle John (Matthew 4:21).
  • These three disciples were the most intimate with Jesus (Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37; 14:33; Luke 8:51).
  • That leaves us with the choice between James and John.
  • James was the first of the apostles to die, and he was also the youngest (Acts 12:2).
  • Instead, Jesus simply said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return.” According to church history, the apostle John lived until the late 90s of the first century AD and was the last living apostle.
  • There is evidence to suggest that John had a more intimate contact with Jesus than any of the other disciples.
  • During Jesus’ lifetime, he entrusted John with the care of His mother, gave him the vision of the transfiguration, permitted him to witness His most spectacular miracles, and subsequently gave him the Book of Revelation.

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Who Was the Beloved Disciple?

Anonymous personalities have a way of piqueing our interest and forcing us to find out more about who they are. Consider the Deep Throat of Watergate or the infamous Unabomber as examples. These personas have lost some of their appeal now that we know Deep Throat was in fact FBI agent Mark Felt and that the Unabomber was actually a psychotic mathematician called Ted Kaczynski. The same can be said for biblical figures who remain anonymous. It is possible that the so-called beloved disciple is the most well-known figure in the New Testament.

  1. However, because many people feel they already know who this guy is, he frequently fails to elicit the sense of surprise that the tale is attempting to elicit from the audience.
  2. This is the most often accepted identification for this figure.
  3. Despite the fact that there is little evidence to support it, this notion continues to be held in high regard by contemporary Christians.
  4. (John 20:11-18).
  5. There are five instances in the Gospel of John when the mysterious figure known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” appears (John 13:21-30; John 18:15-18; John 19:26-27; andJohn 21:30), while other scholars believe the unidentified disciple in John 1:35-39 is the beloved disciple.
  6. Throughout the story, the beloved disciple reacts to Jesus in a way that the narrator deems commendable, but Peter exhibits a mixture of uncertainty, doubt, and misinterpretation before finally denying that he knows Jesus.
  7. (John 21:7).
  8. This is probably the most significant comment about the beloved disciple made by the narrator.
  9. Perhaps a historical figure truly stood in support of the figure of the beloved disciple in his or her time.
  10. The idea made by John’s Gospel is that any reader who chooses to follow Jesus may do so by following in his footsteps and becoming a cherished disciple.

The beloved disciple calls out to the reader from the pages of the narrative, saying, “Follow Jesus as I have followed him, and you too may become a disciple whom Jesus loves.”

Contributors

Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Loyola University Chicago, Christopher W. Skinner has a Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Christianity. He has written or edited nine books, including Mark as Story: Retrospect and Prospect (with Kelly R. Iverson; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011), What Are They Saying about the Gospel of Thomas? (Paulist, 2011),Characters and Characterization in the Gospel of John (Bloomsbury/TT Clark, 2013), Reading John (Cascade, 2015), and Johannine Ethics: The Moral World of the Gospel and Epistles of John (Bloomsbury/TT Clark, 2016).

  1. A gospel is a written narrative of Jesus of Nazareth’s life that is written in the New Testament.
  2. 11:38-44 (John 11:38-44) Lazarus is brought back to life by Jesus.
  3. In the cave, a stone was propped up against the entrance.
  4. Observe further information John 20:24-28Jesus and Thomas have a meal 24 However, Thomas (also known as the Twin), one of the twelve apostles, was not there when Jesus appeared.
  5. Observe further information Mary Magdalene sees Jesus for the first time in John 20:11-18.
  6. As she sobbed, she bent forward to peer into the tomb12, where she was greeted by two angels dressed in white, s.
  7. Observe further information Peter Denies Jesus in John 18:15-18 (NIV) Simon Peter and another disciple were among those who followed Jesus.
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Observe further information John 19:26-27:26 (NASB) After seeing his mother standing by him, along with the disciple whom he adored, Jesus called out to his mother, saying, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then Jesus addressed the disciple, saying, Observe further information John 21:77 (KJV) “It is the Lord!” said the disciple whom Jesus adored to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter realized it was the Lord, he immediately put on some clothing because he was completely nude, and jumped.

  1. Observe further information John 21:20 (NIV) Jesus and the Beloved Disciple are two of Jesus’ most beloved disciples.
  2. Observe further information 1 John 1:35-39 (KJV) The First Disciples of Jesus were a group of people who followed Jesus’ teachings.
  3. Because that disciple was well-known to the high priest, he was permitted to accompany Jesus into the courtyard.
  4. Then Peter and the other disciple got into their car and drove to the tomb, where they stopped.
  5. Observe further information John 21:77 (KJV) “It is the Lord!” said the disciple whom Jesus adored to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter realized it was the Lord, he immediately put on some clothing because he was completely nude, and jumped.

God the only Son, who is near to the Father’s heart, is the one who has shown himself to us.

Why Is John the “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”?

There appear to be several instances of nicknames and name changes in both the Old and New Testaments. The “Sons of Thunder” include Simon and Peter, Esau and Edom, and others. Almost everyone who follows Jesus appears to be given a loving nickname, which is occasionally given by Jesus himself. However, in the fourth Gospel, we come upon something quite different. ‘The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved,’ says the author of the Gospel of John, referring to himself by an unusual moniker. The “Beloved Disciple” is a title used by John in different translations to refer to himself.

“Did John actually believe that?” In my situation, as is often the case, subsequent research later in life invalidated my primary school frame of reference.

What Does John’s Nickname Mean?

With his self-given label, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” it appears that John is attempting to boost his ego by associating himself with the Savior. As previously stated, Jesus had an inner circle of three disciples to whom he demonstrated his transfiguration (Matthew 17), with John being one of them. In fact, Jesus instructs John to look after his mother while Jesus is being crucified with him. So, did John use this name as a flex in order to get what he wanted? Scholars, on the other hand, disagree.

  1. The title was more than likely a magnificent title with a connotation that did not translate into our own society, as William Barclay explains in this passage from his book.
  2. More information about this will be provided in the next section.
  3. After all, on the night that he was deceived, he bathed the feet of everyone in the house.
  4. As indicated in the Answers in Genesis page, it’s possible that John uses this name to remind readers of the immense love that they, too, have experienced.
  5. Because John does not offer an explanation for the name, we are unable to determine its true significance.

However, it is possible that John chooses this moniker to serve as a reminder to himself and others of Jesus’ compassionate mission on earth and the disciples’ call to carry the message of that love to every country across the world. The image is courtesy of Getty Images/Javier Art Photography.

Why Did John Call Himself “The Disciple Who Jesus Loved”?

As we discussed in the preceding section, we don’t know the specific reasons for which John would choose to bequest himself such a name. After all, he isn’t referred to by this name in any other Gospel story. This suggests that John solely used this as a way to refer to himself. We can rule out egotism because John did not choose this name in order to bring attention to himself. Instead, it appears that the inverse is more likely. John wanted to remain nameless for his own reasons. Those who read the Gospel and were eyewitnesses to the events would have recognized John’s identity based on a number of crucial facts that he highlights.

However, John appears to be attempting to deflect attention away from himself in the narrative by removing his name and substituting a nickname for it, which is a characteristic: someone who is loved by Jesus.

He discovers truth, his own identity, and his own purpose as a result of God’s love.

There aren’t many alternative explanations for why John chose this nickname for himself, according to the academic community.

The Importance of Nicknames in the Bible

Nowadays, we may refer to our spouse, individuals with whom we participate in sports leagues, and even coworkers by their nicknames. However, throughout the period of the Old and New Testaments, nicknames had a considerably more profound significance to them. According toVincent Ketchie’s essay, names and nicknames in the Bible frequently reflect a person’s purpose or identity via their use. People who changed someone’s name or gave them a nickname held a certain level of power and influence over the individual who had changed his or her name.

As a result, when someone adopts a new name or nickname (such as Paul or John), they are emphasizing a crucial aspect of their mission.

such as changing his surname to Paul.

Why Should We Care About This?

After all, why should it matter what John refers to himself as in his Gospel account? Indeed, didn’t he come up with the moniker on purpose in order to avoid calling attention to himself? There are a variety of reasons why we should be concerned about nicknames, and this one in particular. First and foremost, John reminds us of the transformational power of God’s love in our lives. We may all identify with the disciple whom Jesus adored and refer to ourselves as such. Because he has a job. He cares for us in an extraordinary and unwavering way.

  • Second, we should be aware of the immense power that names possess.
  • The number of names for God is endless: Elohim, El Shaddai, Yahweh, and so on.
  • If someone is given a nickname or another name in the Bible, they typically gain a new function, a new instrumental component of their character, in the same and lesser fashion.
  • What a difference a nickname can make in our understanding of a person.
  • This also demonstrates how important it is to consider the context of texts.
  • However, by putting the emphasis on Jesus rather than himself, he demonstrates remarkable humility.
  • In addition to being a multi-published author, Bolinger is also a graduate of the professional writing program at Taylor University.
  • As a writer and editor, she has worked for a number of different publishing firms as well as periodicals, newspapers, and literary agencies, and she has worked with writers such as Jerry B.
  • Her modern-day Daniel trilogy, published by IlluminateYA, is now available.

She is also a co-author of the Dear Heroduology, which was published by INtense Publications and is available for purchase online. Her inspirational adult novel Picture Imperfect, which will be released in November of 2021, will also be released. You may learn more about her by visiting her website.

Lazarus, not John, was the disciple whom Jesus loved

According to tradition, John the Gospel writer was the disciple whom Jesus cherished the most. When you look at it more closely, there is another disciple of Jesus who stands out as a stronger contender and who you are unlikely to have considered: Lazarus. The identity of the “beloved disciple,” or the one whom John refers to as the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” has remained a mystery throughout history. As early as the second and fourth centuries, Irenaeus and Eusebius both recognized the beloved disciple as John, confirming the identity of the beloved disciple.

In spite of the fact that John does not identify himself or identify himself as the author of the Gospel of John or as the beloved disciple, we have depended on tradition and church history to establish his identity.

It may come as a surprise to some, but the Bible does provide some dramatic hints to the enigma of the beloved disciple.

  • 13:23 (John 13:23) One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus cherished—was resting next to him
  • (Lazarus, in John 12, was also lying close to Jesus)
  • When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he adored standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
  • John 20:2 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he adored standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” After that, she fled and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus had chosen for himself. She told them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we have no idea where they have buried him.”
  • John 21:7 (KJV) “It is the Lord!” said the disciple whom Jesus adored to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Simon Peter rushed into the water as he realized it was the Lord
  • John 21:20When Peter turned around, he saw the disciple whom Jesus cherished following them
  • It was the disciple who had sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper and asked, “Lord, who is it who is going to betray you?”

However, there is a sixth occurrence in which this declaration of love for the one whom Jesus loved is used. John the 111th The illness of Lazarus of Bethany, the hamlet where Mary and her sister Martha lived, had now come to the fore. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and cleaned his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was in the hospital and needed Mary’s assistance. 3 As a result, the sisters sent a message to Jesus, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is sick.” 5Now Jesus had a special affection for Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.

  1. I’d like you to think about something for a moment.
  2. You may argue that Lazarus did not belong to the original twelve disciples.
  3. The word disciple is derived from the Greek word (mathts), which literally translates as a learner of a teacher or a master.
  4. The twelve disciples were the very first ones to follow Jesus.
  5. According to Luke 10, there were an additional 70 disciples who went out into the cities and villages to witness Jesus’ resurrection.
  6. These women were also a member of the inner core of Jesus’ ministry, and they provided financial support to the movement (Luke 8).
  7. Almost everyone overlooks the fact that “other women” (Luke 24:10) are referred to as the first evangelists of Jesus’ resurrection.

Because Mary anointed Jesus and was in close proximity to Jesus before he entered Jerusalem, it seems probable that Mary and Martha are among those present (Mark 14).

We know that families were active in Jesus’ movement: James and John were brothers, Mary and Martha were sisters, and numerous early church leaders were linked by birth or marriage to one another.

Assuming that Lazarus was going to be slain with Jesus, as stated in John 12:10, it becomes sense that the author of John would identify Lazarus as the disciple whom Jesus cherished.

As it turns out, Lazarus plays a more significant part in Jesus’ life than you may expect.

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Actually, he sobs — a more melancholy sob than usual.

During his crucifixion, the Bible records that Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46) Jesus weeps for the death of his “friend,” Lazarus, whom he had come to love as a result of his death in John 11:35.

Lazarus has the distinction of being the only person in the Gospel who does all of the following:

  1. Being the only person in scripture who is specifically identified as “he whom you love” (Jesus loved everyone, but this statement is unique to him
  2. Being the sole person to be mentioned by a gathering of individuals who exclaimed, “See how he adored him.” (See also John 11:36). Being the only person for whom Jesus personally wept and mourned
  3. Being the only person for whom Jesus was prepared to be stoned
  4. And being the only disciple or person who was to be executed beside Jesus are all noteworthy. (See also John 12:10) Being the sole friend/disciple of Jesus who was the recipient of a healing miracle is a significant accomplishment. (Jesus restored health to Peter’s mother-in-law.) It is only after the resurrection of Lazarus in the Book of John that the disciple “whom Jesus loved” is mentioned again.

A profound affinity, a love of a good friend, or a brotherly love are all described in John’s Gospel in relation to Lazarus and the Beloved Disciple. Phileo is the Greek word for “love.” Throughout his Gospel, John continues to use the word phileo to refer to the disciple whom Jesus cherished, including at the resurrection. When John recorded the love between the Father and the Son in John 3:35, he used the Greek word phileo. The peculiar nature of the relationship between Lazarus and Jesus, in this context, is undoubtedly one of the most ignored and under-studied issues in the Gospels.

  • If a rabbi brought you back to life, you would want to spend the rest of your life with him or her, perhaps even becoming a pupil of his or hers.
  • Because this healer has done so much for you, you may even feel obligated to look after this person’s mother.
  • If Jesus was able to raise you from the dead, it is reasonable to assume that he was also able to raise himself from the dead.
  • The connection between Jesus and Lazarus is often forgotten because we do not understand why Jesus had such strong affection for Lazarus.
  • Alternatively, it may be said that Jesus is close to Mary and Martha as a result of his connection with Lazarus!
  • The narrative of Lazarus, his familial bonds, and Jesus’ affection for him all combine to make Lazarus an appropriate choice to be the beloved disciple.

Related

DeWitt Community Church is led by the Rev. Alan Rudnick, who also serves as its Executive Minister. On television and radio, he has been interviewed, and he has written for publications such as the Albany Times Union, Syracuse Post Standard, The Christian Century, Christian Citizen, Leading Ideas, Christian Reflection, and Baptist News Global, among others. He is the author of “The Work of the Associate Pastor” (Judson Press) and is currently a doctorate student in the Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) program at La Salle University in Philadelphia.

He has served on the Board of General Ministry of the American Baptist Churches in the United States of America, the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and the Missions Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, among other organizations.

Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

INQUIRY: Who was the disciple whom Jesus admired and loved? In the book of John, we may locate all of the references to “the disciple whom Jesus loved” that we need (John 13:23, John 19:26, John 20:2 and John 21:7, John 21:20). As a result, while the Gospel of John does not clearly identify its author, and “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is not explicitly mentioned in Scripture, early Christians unanimously recognized John as the Gospel’s author and as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” According to internal evidence found in the Gospel of John, this is correct.

In order to become members of Jesus’ first group of twelve disciples, they instantly quit their professional lives.

It reads in Matthew 17:1 that after six days, “Jesus gathered his disciples together, including Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a steep mountain by themselves.” Mark 10:37-38 relates how James and John, because of their particular relationship with Jesus, wanted a privileged place in what they mistakenly believed to be Jesus’ earthly kingdom: When they heard it, they said, ‘Let one of us sit to your right and the other to your left in your splendor.'” ‘You don’t understand what you’re asking,’ Jesus responded.

You can drink from the cup I drink from and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but you cannot drink from my cup.

After living in exile on the Isle of Patmos, James was finally killed as a martyr for Christ, while John died of natural causes after a long period of time.

As recorded in John 19:26-27, “When Jesus saw his mother there, as well as the disciple whom he loved standing close, he said to his mother, “Dear lady, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Dear friend, here is your mother.” It was from that point on that this disciple welcomed her into his house.” Aside from writing his eye-witness account of experiences with Christ, which was recorded in the gospel of John, John also wrote the books of 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and the book of Revelation – John’s vision of judgment for the wicked and hope for the future of believers – which are all included in the New Testament.

  1. Revelation was written from the island of Patmos, where John was exiled throughout his stay there.
  2. A frequent topic in John’s works was love, which wasn’t surprising coming from someone who had learnt about love from the great teacher of love.
  3. John was well aware that Jesus recognized him and still loved him unconditionally.
  4. Nobody knows God unless they have loved someone.

God’s love for us was demonstrated in this way: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we can live through him. We love God not because we love him, but because he loves us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Take a look at another point of view on this issue.

Who Was the “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”?

John’s Gospel is nameless in the traditional sense, as are all of the Gospels. For example, unlike the New Testament texts, it does not begin by stating, for example, “This Gospel was written by me, John the apostle.” This is due to the fact that a Gospel is not a communication between individuals or groups in the same way that an epistle is. According to Richard Bauckham and others in The Gospels for All Christians, a Gospel is an all-encompassing work that tells the story of Jesus in a more general way to a large number of people who are not necessarily Christians.

The “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”

While the Gospel of John does not expressly name its author, when we examine it for indications as to who wrote it, we discover numerous crucial internal bits of evidence that point to the authorship of the book. To begin, we note a number of references to a person referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” throughout the Bible. In the tale of the upper room, we learn that “one of his followers, whom Jesus liked, was reclining at table by Jesus’ side.” He is the first person to be mentioned in the Bible (13:23).

“another disciple” (18:15), “he who saw this” (19:35), “the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved” (20:2), and “the other disciple” (21:2) are all terms used to refer to this disciple in the Bible (20:8).

What a fantastic claim the Gospel makes about its authorship and inspiration!

Suppose we were to compare the Gospel of John to a biography of a U.S.

It wouldn’t be something written by a journalist who only has secondhand information or hearsay about events in the figure’s life; it would be something written by the president’s chief of staff, closest confidant, or another trusted advisor—someone who was by his side at all the major junctures of his presidency.

The “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved” and Peter

While the Gospel of John does not expressly name its author, when we examine it for indications as to who wrote it, we discover numerous crucial internal bits of evidence that point to the authorship of the gospel. As a starting point, we should note that there are several allusions to someone who is referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” In the story of the upper room, we learn that “one of his followers, whom Jesus liked, was reclining at table by Jesus’ side.” This is the first time we hear of him (13:23).

“another disciple” (18:15), “he who saw this” (19:35), “the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved” (20:2), and “the other disciple” (21:2) are all terms used to refer to this disciple in these verses (20:8).

What a fantastic claim the Gospel makes about its authorship is made.

Suppose we were to compare the Gospel of John to a biography of a U.S.

It wouldn’t be something written by a journalist who only has secondhand information or hearsay about events in the figure’s life; it would be something written by the president’s chief of staff, closest confidant, or another trusted advisor—someone who was by his side at all the critical junctures of his presidency.

  • Both are present in the upper chamber when Peter instructs the “disciple whom Jesus loved” to inquire about the identity of the betrayer (13:23–24)
  • Both are there in the upper room when Peter instructs the “disciple whom Jesus loved” to inquire about the identify of the betrayer (13:25–26). Both are present in the high priest’s courtyard
  • In fact, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” grants Peter access to the courtyard because he is acquainted with the high priest (18:15–16)
  • Both go to the empty tomb following Jesus’ resurrection
  • In fact, they run to the tomb together (18:17–18)
  • And both are present in the high priest’s courtyard following Jesus’ resurrection. It is the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (who appears to have been younger than Peter), who outruns Peter, but who then respectfully waits for Peter and allows him to peer into the tomb before looking inside himself and discovering that the tomb is empty (20:2–9)
  • Both are present at the Sea of Galilee, where they witness the risen Jesus on the shore. When the “disciple whom Jesus loved” screams, “It is the Lord!” (21:7), Peter leaps into the lake and swims joyfully toward Jesus
  • Yet, this is not the case until later. Lastly, at the very conclusion of the Gospel, Jesus speaks with Peter and the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” which is a reference to the disciple whom Jesus loved.

In the upper room, both are there when Peter instructs the “disciple whom Jesus loved” to inquire about the identity of the betrayer (13:23–24); and both are present when the “disciple whom Jesus loved” inquires about the identity of the betrayer. After Jesus’ resurrection, both Peter and the “disciple whom Jesus loved” are present in the high priest’s courtyard; in fact, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” grants Peter access to the courtyard because he is acquainted with the high priest (18:15–16); and both Peter and the “disciple whom Jesus loved” are present at the empty tomb; in fact, they run to the tomb together.

See also:  Where Did Jesus Ascend To Heaven From

When the “disciple whom Jesus loved” screams, “It is the Lord!” (21:7), Peter leaps into the lake and swims joyfully toward Jesus; yet, this is not the first time.

Why “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”?

But why does the apostle John refer to himself in the Gospel of John by the strange term “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (the disciple whom Jesus loved)? There are possibly a variety of causes behind this. Given that there is another person named John mentioned in this Gospel: John the Baptist, it is possible that he did so in order to avoid misunderstanding with the other John. By referring to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” the author indicates that he is reserving the use of the name John for John the Baptist.

  • “He came as a witness, to bear testimony to the light,” says the speaker.
  • Aside from that, the term “the disciple whom Jesus loved” emphasizes the vital reality that John was well aware of the fact that he was a greatly loved follower of Jesus.
  • That he was an undeserving beneficiary of Jesus’ redemptive love was the most crucial fact that John held to be the case.
  • Köstenberger’s Signs of the Messiah: An Introduction to John’s Gospel, which can be found here (Lexham Press, 2021).

Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved?

The apostle John refers to the disciple whom Jesus cherished on several occasions in the book of John. “. the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him,” says John 13:23. Jesus stated to his mother in John 19:26, “When he saw her there, and the disciple whom he loved standing close by, he said to her, ‘Dear lady, here is your son.” (NIV).

“So she ran as fast as she could to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved.,” John 2:20 says. (NIV). What was the name of the disciple whom Jesus cherished?

Bible Answer:

During Jesus’ time on this planet, he had a favorite disciple whom he cherished beyond all others. He had a special affection for one individual in particular. No, He had a preference for one of his disciples over the others!

The Twelve Disciples

Yes, Jesus loved everyone on the planet, but He chose just twelve men to be His disciples because He wanted them to be like Him. He didn’t wait until our scheduled time to choose one of us today. Jesus did not choose a gentile or a non-Jew to be his disciple. Neither a Jewish leader nor a neighbor like Sam down the block, Charlie, who was heading to seminary, or the tender-hearted priest at the temple were chosen by Jesus. Jesus did not choose just anyone to be his disciple. Among the twelve men he chose were: Peter, Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, John his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.

There are twelve of them.

The Inner Group

Jesus spent the most of his time with only three of those twelve men: Peter, John, and James, who were the closest to him. They were on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, seeing his transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13). When He went to cure a kid, they were the only ones who were with Him (Mark 5:37 and Luke 8:51). They were chosen by Jesus from among the twelve disciples. They were the only ones Jesus took with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane, where they prayed with Him. And they arrived at a location known as Gethsemane, where He instructed His followers to “sit here until I have finished praying.” In the meantime, He gathered with Him Peter, Jame, and John and started to be quite worried and troubled.

He chose Peter because he was the one who would refuse Him.

The Loved One

One of those three individuals had a deeper understanding of Jesus than the others, and that guy was John. He and Jesus had a more intimate friendship than most people realize. He seemed to have desired to spend more time with Jesus. Yes, Jesus had a deep affection for everyone of the disciples. In John 13:1, Jesus claims to have done such. However, Jesus was more intimate with this guy because this man desired to be more intimate with Jesus. According to John 21:20, Jesus had a special affection for this disciple.

On Jesus’ breast was one of His followers, whom Jesus cherished and who was lying on His breast.

It’s your son!” John 19:26 (New American Standard Bible) And as a result, she hurried over to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus adored, and she informed them that “they have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.” John 20:2 (New American Standard Bible) It was thus the disciple, whom Jesus cherished, who exclaimed to Peter, “It is the Lord.” After hearing that it was the Lord, Simon Peter put on his outer garment (since he had been stripped for work) and hurled himself into the water.” (NASB) John 21:7When Peter turned around, he saw the disciple whom Jesus cherished following them; the one who had likewise laid back on Jesus’ breast at the dinner and asked, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” This disciple was the sole one who was present at the foot of the cross as Jesus was dying.

  1. (NASB) John 21:20 All of the others had turned their backs on Him.
  2. Isn’t that exactly what happens when we realize someone truly cares for us?
  3. Jesus’ mother was the one who did it.
  4. In John 20:2, Jesus expresses his affection for John.
  5. The Greek term for love had been AGAPE, which meant “God’s love.” In this instance, the Bible informs us that Jesus PHILEO’ed John.
  6. It was John who was the most eager to come to Jesus’ empty tomb because he had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus (John 20:1-4).

John, out of all the disciples, was the one who cherished Jesus beyond all else, even his own life. It should come as no surprise that Jesus felt a stronger connection to John because John was the one who adored Jesus the greatest. It was evident through his conduct.

Conclusion:

John had spent a great deal of time with Jesus before this. This gives us the idea that John was always there with Jesus throughout the Gospels. John was the disciple who adored Jesus the greatest out of all the others. At the crucifixion, John had put his life in danger for Jesus. And when John learned that the person he had fallen in love with was still alive, he raced as fast as his legs could carry him to where he might find Him. Jesus questioned Peter three times whether he loved Him before the Holy Spirit reminded us that Jesus and John were in a romantic relationship with each other later on.

  1. It should come as no surprise that Jesus was able to develop a closer relationship with John.
  2. 11:5), Elijah, who was a man of faith (James 5:17-18), and Daniel, whom God “highly valued” (James 5:17-18) all fit this description (Dan.
  3. These men were all devoted to God with a fiery desire.
  4. So, how do we go about developing such a tight relationship?
  5. It indicates that you yearn to be with Him.
  6. John was the one who did it.
  7. There is a distinction between not wanting to offend Jesus and loving Him with all of one’s heart and being consumed by Him.
  8. In our relationship with Jesus, there is a distinction between loving Him now and loving Him when we first came to Him.
  9. Is Jesus still your first and most important love?

The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

Name-calling has been a part of society for a very long time. We accept the opinions of people about ourselves, and even our own self-given identities change with time. Our study of John’s gospel has only been going on for a week, yet already huge truths have been thrown at me from every direction. Take, for example, the subject of names. It is because of the account in Luke 9:51-56 (which I think is funny) that John was given the moniker “son of thunder.” In case you’re wondering,’son of thunder’ is a phrase that denotes something along the lines of ‘all-around great man.’ However, this is not the only title that can be found pinned to his lapel.

  1. It was ‘the disciple whom Jesus cherished.’ Isn’t that brave?
  2. In such case, we need to set a time to talk right away.
  3. I had the impression that it was arrogant to go around bragging about Christ’s warm heart for me somewhere between “Jesus loves me, this I know” and missionary life.
  4. There will be no Millennial snowflake here.
  5. Good females aren’t the kind to boast about their affection.
  6. Your desperate attempts to earn what you have already been granted (and by “you,” I mean “I,” but “you” seems more secure, so we’ll go with it) are met with a resounding failure.
  7. Ideally, we’re supposed to be pouring in His grin, drenched to the brim with the delight He takes in our being His children.
  8. It is not arrogant to remember that we are loved; rather, it is arrogant to forget.
  9. This is not a zero-sum game in any sense.
  10. D.A.

Those who object to John’s naming himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” on the grounds of supposed vanity or competitive spirit respond to criticism in the most astonishing way: According to the psychological dynamics of Christian experience, those who are most profoundly aware of their own sin and need, and who as a result most deeply feel the wonders of God’s grace that has reached out and saved them, even them, are those who are most likely to speak of themselves as the objects of God’s love in Christ Jesus, as opposed to those who are least likely to do so.

Those who do not think of themselves in such terms need to do so, for their inability to do so reflects the insufficiency of their own spiritual experience, as the prayer of Ephesians 3:14–21 makes plain.

If a’son of thunder’ has been elevated to the position of apostle of love, it is no surprise that he considers himself to be the exclusive object of Jesus’ love.

If you had to search up the definition of “paucity,” you got an extra point.

If I’m being honest, it’s far too amazing to be read just once.

That is what Jesus said: “Whoever is forgiven greatly loves greatly.” We’re going to make this personal now.

To begin with, set aside a few minutes to reflect on all Jesus has done to redeem you from—including your “own sin and need,” as Carson puts it.

Bring to the surface your most repulsive memories.

And then let the love of Christ to wash over you once more.” He knew everything before He called you, and He continued to call.

To paraphrase Jack Miller, “Raise your spirits! ” “You’re a worse sinner than you ever dared dream, and you’re more loved than you ever dared hope,” the Holy Spirit says. It’s time to bring out the name tags and take notes on John’s experiences. We are all cherished individuals.

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