The Twelve #3. John The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved 9.23.18 1 John 4:7-11 ESV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I. The Central Lesson of his life: Great value and attention should be placed upon the sanctifying power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. II. The disciple Jesus loved A. John s dominant theme is the love of God. In fact, John refers to himself in humility as that disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20). B. John and James were two of the sons of Zebedee. It appears that John was the younger brother. His mother was Salome. The family business was fishing. C. John s story is told throughout the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation. D. Before following Jesus, John was one of the disciples of John the Baptizer (John 1:35-37). E. John was eyewitness to several special moments in the ministry of Christ: 1. He witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). 2. He witnessed the raising of Jairus daughter (Mark 5:35-43). 3. He was asked, along with Peter, to make arrangements for Passover on the night of His betrayal (Luke 22:7-13). 4. He sat in the seat of honor next to Jesus during the Last Supper (John 13:23-25). Page1
5. Of all the disciples, it appears that John was the only one who remained with Christ during His trial and crucifixion (John 18-19). F. John wrote more of the New Testament than anyone except Paul and Luke. 1. The Gospel of John 2. 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd John 3. The Book of Revelation G. He was given the privilege of caring for Mary upon the death of Jesus (John 19:25-27). H. It is believed by many that John could be described as the Best Friend of Jesus. I. There is a testimony in secular history about John cursing the temple and altar of Diana in Ephesus with supernatural results. John resided in Ephesus until his exile to Patmos, where he received the Revelation. J. He was the only one of the Twelve who did not die a violent martyr s death, though tradition tells us John miraculously survived at least one execution attempt. He died in about 98 AD during the reign of Emperor Trajan. III. Weaknesses A. May have been prone to outbursts of anger or selfishness. He appeared to be aggressive and brash. Jesus called him and James Sons of Thunder. In Luke 9:54, the brothers wanted permission to call down fire upon a village that did not properly receive Jesus. In Mark 9:38, he rebuked a man who was not part of the apostolic group for casting out demons. B. Like Peter, he had a tendency to let his strengths become weakness when he got out of balance. C. A word about perception: Medieval art often portrays John as weak or even effeminate because he is so associated with love but get that silly picture out of your mind! He was a rugged fisherman who was not afraid to confront and challenge. Jesus had to rein him in on several occasions! Page2
1. Also, his writings indicate a steadfastness in doctrine and living. He cites life against death, light against darkness, the kingdom of God against the kingdom of Babylon (evil). Humanity is described as either the children of God or children of the devil; righteousness is pitted against wickedness. We will experience a resurrection of life or a resurrection to damnation; we receive Christ or reject Christ. There is the True Christ and an Antichrist. 2. He is not afraid to deal with absolutes and opposites. There is NOTHING timid or uncertain in John s writings. D. He and his brother may have asked for a position of honor in the coming Kingdom (Mark 10:35-45). IV. Strengths A. Along with James and Peter, he seemed to be an aggressive pursuer of Christ. B. John was the first apostle to enter the empty tomb and he immediately believed (John 20:1-8). C. It appears he was the first to recognize Jesus as He called to them from the shore of Galilee after His resurrection (John 21:1-8). D. He proved himself loyal to Jesus in extreme circumstances - see John 18:14-16. E. John was a pillar in the Jerusalem Church early on and later in Ephesus (Galatians 2:9; Acts 3 and 4). F. He was sent to new places that had received the Gospel, such as Samaria (Acts 8:14). G. He earned the title Apostle of Love through over 60 years of ministry. V. Lessons from the Life of John the Apostle A. John s life is a model of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. 1. The work of God in us Spirit, Soul, and Body. Page3
2. This work is both instantaneous and progressive. 3. Fruit and Gifts are the concurrent result of the Spirit-filled life. B. John knew not only the power of the Spirit, but also the balance that results from the sanctifying influence of the indwelling Spirit. 1. Love is balanced with Truth. a. John saw this balance in Jesus that may not have been as evident in John the Baptist s life. He says in John 1:14 that Jesus was full of Grace and Truth. b. John speaks of truth 45 times in his gospel and epistles. He was unkind and unloving toward (1) sinners in Samaria and (2) toward the worker who wasn t part of his group, but by the end of his life he spoke of nothing more than love. In fact, he spoke of love more than 80 times! c. Through John s transformation, we learn that the pursuit of truth is commendable, but without love truth can never bear the fruit God intended (1 Corinthians 13). d. The balance of truth and love may be the most important attribute in the life of a Believer. e. 2 John 1-6 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning that you should walk in it. f. But see also verses 10 and 11 - If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 2. Holy Ambition (Zeal) is balanced with Humility a. Ambition is not inherently evil, but it can be if it isn t tempered by humility. Page4
b. This is why Paul said we must be careful not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3). c. John and James, at the urging of their mother, approached Jesus with a request to be honored in the coming Kingdom. The request was not rejected, but explained and clarified. This request would not be based on ambition, but on the pleasure of the Father. Like Enoch, we want to have the testimony that we pleased God (Hebrews 11:5). d. The problem was that they were focused on how to receive the honor without being worthy of it. e. John learned humility so well that in his gospel he would not even mention his own name. He became identified as that disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20). f. John alone records the event of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. It is probable that this example set by Jesus impacted John for eternity. 3. The desire for glory is balanced by the embrace of suffering. a. While we pray for God s Kingdom to come in glory, we must understand the place of suffering in the Kingdom experience. This is a mystery that is counterintuitive and frustrating to our fleshly natures. b. Jesus promised we should share in His glory (Matthew 19:28-29), but He also told us to embrace His suffering (John 12:24-28; see Paul in Philippians 3:10; Romans 8:17). c. Mark 10:38-39 sets the stage in John s mind. His brother would become one of the church s first martyrs. The other disciples would die violently one by one. Soon he was the only one of The Twelve left. He noted this in Revelation 1:9. d. Romans 8:18 the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed within us! e. He was banished to Patmos from Ephesus by the Roman Emperor Domitian (the brother of Titus who destroyed Jerusalem). It was a tough environment for an older man, but he makes no complaint. Glory is coming it is worth the cost. Page5
f. John was eventually released from Patmos, and the church Father Jerome says that in his last days John had to be carried into church by the young men. One phrase was constantly uttered, even when John would lose his train of thought: My Little Children, love one another. When asked why he repeated this command continually, he said, It is the Lord s command, and if this alone be done, it shall be enough. Page6