who was the disciple whom jesus loved
In other words, he not only prophesied of the end times, but his mission includes helping fulfill these prophecies as well as witnessing the fulfillment of the things that were revealed to him. By remaining anonymous, he could allow us to project ourselves into his experiences, learning how to love and be loved by the Lord and then gaining our own witnesses, which we are then called upon to share with others. In other words, this writer is not trying to claim for himself the love of Jesus while excluding others from it. His confidence, seasoned with humility, can be felt in those words. Now, before we move toward an identification of who it is, lets just be clear that when the author calls himself five times the one whom Jesus loved, hes not saying that Jesus doesnt love the others. Imagine the horror and overwhelming grief he must have felt, seeing Jesus on the cross. He serves as a lay minister, as well as being active in jail ministry, and is an avid student of Christian writers, especially the works of C.S. There is such a longing to be near Him, and rightly so, for I, like you, love Him. We should care about nicknames, in particular this one, for a number of reasons. Real Answers. [26], Nevertheless, while some modern academics continue to share the view of Augustine and Polycrates,[27][28] a growing number[citation needed] do not believe that John the Apostle wrote the Gospel of John or indeed any of the other New Testament works traditionally ascribed to him, making this linkage of a 'John' to the beloved disciple difficult to sustain. The early Christians, who were the books original audience, had apparently suffered internal division with a group who espoused incorrect beliefs about Jesus having left the Church.19 In 1John, the author is not only a witness; he is an authority called upon to correct false doctrine and counter threats to faith from anti-Christs and false spirits (see 1John 2:1827; 4:16). He serves as a Texas Peace Officer in what he believes is one of, if not the most difficult of mission fields in American society. I find that John was closer to Jesus after He left than he was when He was physically present. One crucial aspect of that activity is our daily work. Pupil. This author doesn't say he IS the disciple Jesus loved. Early Christian tradition, however, identified the figure of the beloved disciple in the Gospel of John with the Apostle of that name. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman,[ a] here is your son,". For a discussion of the evidence, scholarly discussion, and Restoration insights regarding this identification, see note 18. Prior to meeting Jesus, John and his brother James were fishermen and worked with their father, Zebedee (Matthew 4:21:22) As we read the gospels, we find that both brothers are zealous for Jesus, but their zeal is sometimes misplaced or misdirected. And in John 15:12, he says, This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you all of you. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. As we touched on in the previous section, we dont have the exact reasons why John would bequeath himself this name. What Does the Bible Say about Seeking the Worlds Validation? D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), 68-81. Perhaps through this phrase beloved John wants to highlight Gods love and how it has transformed his life, rather than his own personality or identity. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped {for work}), and threw himself into the sea." - New American Standard Version (1995) That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Other than identifying himself as the servant of God, the author gives no other indication of his position or calling, but most early Christian authorities believed that he was John, son of Zebedee. As John beheld the love and kindness of Jesus, he desired to become like Him. Did Jesus just not love the other disciples as much as him? Is the gift of tongues more important than other gifts. Second, perhaps this is Johns way of saying, My most important identity is not my name but my being loved by Jesus the Son of God. Hes not trying to rob anybody else of this privilege; he is simply exulting in it: Im loved, Im loved, Im loved thats who I am. His mission was also to encourage those who remained faithful by sharing meaningful truths about God and Christ and the importance of continued faith and righteousness. That means that John arrived sometime prior to Peters arrival on the scene. Although two different dates have been proposed for when John wrote Revelationan early date in the AD 60s during the reign of the emperor Nero and a later date in the AD 90s during that of the emperor Domitianboth would have been after the martyrdom of Peter, making John the senior Apostle left living. So, there they are, apparently hanging out together, this unnamed disciple and Peter. Simon and Peter, Esau and Edom, the Sons of Thunder. Almost everyone who follows Jesus seems to get an affectionate name, sometimes from Jesus himself. Sweet at first in his mouth, it made his belly bitter, which Joseph Smith interpreted as representing his mission to help gather Israel as part of the restoration of all things (see Revelation 10:911; Doctrine and Covenants 77:14). These New Testament books present John as both a teacher and a model for us in our own discipleship. I had read Johns account many times over the years, but this study opened me to new revelations into the intimacy that Jesus so desires with each of us. Jesus washes the disciples' feet, and exhorts them to humility and charity. Whom are we talking about? Agapao has the meaning of love in a social or moral sense, while agape is a selfless love that can be void of emotion. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?". I assume Jesus loved all his disciples. Johns use of the phrase the disciple who Jesus loved pierced my heart every time I read it. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. He refers to himself in this oblique way at the Last Supper, at the cross as he receives Jesuss mother into his family, at the empty tomb, and in the face-to-face contact with Jesus after the resurrection. The opposite, rather, seems more likely. John was and the son of Zebedee and brother of James. And we know that John, one of the sons of Zebedee, was on the boat fishing when a disciple who is identified as the one whom Jesus loved was there. First, John reminds us about the transformative power of Gods love. For example, in Luke 24:12,[17] Peter runs to the tomb. Dear Pastor John, hello! He took hold of me saying: 'My beloved! Is there any takeaway for us in the love designation directed to this one disciple? You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. This is the origin of his unique title, John the Beloved, but his witness and mission reveal aspects of discipleship that we can all share. For He is my closest friend, why couldnt I be His? Contributors: Sean McDonough Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board May 13, 2011. So, we are left with John. So, the unnamed disciple is close at Jesuss side, and Peter has this exchange of communication with him. But back to the question of, Who is it? Christian tradition is unanimous that John the son of Zebedee is the disciple whom Jesus loved for the following reasons: First- The author of the gospel of John deliberately avoids naming himself directly. See Mark 1:2131, 4045; 2:112; 3:16; see also Matthew 8:14; 9:18; 12:914; Luke 4:3339; 5:1215, 1726; 6:611. He foretells and discovers to John by a token, that Judas should betray him; Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: John 13:23 One of his disciples whom Jesus loved (Jhn Jo Jn). of Knowing his ancestral background John was born in Bethsaida at around 6 AD. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved--i.e., John himself. Among the twelve, John was the one known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Really? Like you, I am sometimes grieved by my own character flaws, the sinful nature that dwells within me, and this seemingly never-ending battle with what is quite possibly the greatest of all sins, pride. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Meanwhile, theologian Ismo Dunderberg has also explored the issue and argues that the absence of accepted Greek terms for "lover" and "beloved" discounts an erotic reading. But John appears to draw the spotlight away from himself in the narrative by removing his name and putting in a nickname instead, a trait: someone loved by Jesus. The immediate assumption is the disciple whom Jesus loved () saw and believed Jesus had risen from the dead. But back during the time of the Old and New Testament, nicknames had a far deeper meaning. We dont know the real meaning behind the name because John provides no explanation of it. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. The writer of the Gospel of John gives himself an odd nickname: The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved. In other translations, John refers to himself as the Beloved Disciple., Upon first pass of this name, my much younger elementary-aged self thought, that seems like an arrogant nickname to give to yourself. Nevertheless, 1John, which is more of a doctrinal treatise than an actual letter, is closely associated with the Gospel in its style and topics, which include the importance of love and obedience, themes that the Savior taught in Johns account of the Last Supper. Mary in the Gospel of Mary. Why should we care what John called himself in his Gospel account? The Marys of Early Christian Tradition" p. 74. So when someone gives themselves a new name or nickname (such as Paul and John) they emphasize an important part of their purpose. John used the word love 36 times alone between chapters 13 and 21. I am, exist. He closely matches the description given by Bishop Polycrates in his letter, a sacrificing priest who wore the petalon (i.e., emblem of the high priest). Then the author of this Gospel tells us in John 21:23 that the sons of Zebedee (who would be James and John, as we know from Matthew 4:21) go fishing with Peter and four other disciples; theyre going to go fishing after the resurrection. Yet if Jesus love for usor, we may say, the Fathers love for us through Jesusis the source of our identity and motivation of our lives, we work out this love in our activity in Gods creation. Soon after his initial call, John witnessed many of the Lords early miracles and teachings.5 Seeing these miracles and listening to discourses such as the Sermon on the Mount no doubt prepared John for the moment when Jesus called him to be one of His Twelve Apostles.6 Of these special witnesses, Peter, James, and John formed an inner circle of close disciples who were present at significant moments of Jesuss earthly ministry: At the raising of the daughter of Jairus, seeing firsthand the Lords power over death.7, On the Mount of Transfiguration, where they saw Jesus revealed in His glory and heard the voice of the Father testify that Jesus was His Son in whom He was well pleased.8, On the Mount of Olives for His final prophecy about the last days.9, In the Garden of Gethsemane, where they were nearby as the Savior began His great work of Atonement.10, Just as Jesus Christ gave Simon the additional name Cephas or Peter, which means rock, He also gave James and John the title Boanerges, or sons of thunder.11 Because they asked Jesus whether they should call down fire upon a village of Samaritans who had rejected Him (see Luke 9:5156), this nickname might suggest that they were hot-tempered or at least very strong-willed. It is an odd statement, which seems somewhat out of place in his gospel account, at least initially. So, you have this repeated close relationship between the disciple whom Jesus loved and Peter. Theissen, Gerd and Annette Merz. Salem Media Group. So, did John use this name as a flex? Tabor also cites a passage of Jesus referring to James as "my beloved" (twice) in the apocryphal Second Apocalypse of James as indicating James to be the beloved disciple. Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved? With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine Christian Classics Ethereal Library", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disciple_whom_Jesus_loved&oldid=1151139770, It is this disciple who, while reclining beside Jesus at the, Also in the book's final chapter, after Jesus implies the manner in which Peter will die, Peter sees the beloved disciple following them and asks, "What about him?" 10:37; Rev. "The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved." | Answers in Genesis Answers in Genesis Education Spurgeon Sermons 1539. Christian tradition is unanimous that John the son of Zebedee is the disciple whom Jesus loved for the following reasons: First- The author of the gospel of John deliberately avoids naming himself directly. First, only the Gospel of John mentions the "disciple whom Jesus loved." Now, take hold of me'. The Gospel's traditionally-ascribed author, John, was not a member of the Twelve, but the son of Martha (Sukkah 52b). ESV Text Edition: 2016. Baltz says John is probably the disciple " ", and Eleazar is the disciple " " in the Gospel. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! And when Jesus called out from the shore to them, it says in verse 7, [The] disciple whom Jesus loved . We explore what the Bible has to say about the purpose of your work with guest Tom Lutz. 2:5, 16; 3:3, 11; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20]; See Matt. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. However, the reason he ran to the tomb was Mary Magdalene's report that the body had been removed by others. While Mark 10:3537 records that James and John asked to sit at the right and left sides of Jesus in His kingdom, Matthew 20:2021 adds that this request actually came from their mother. He extraordinarily, unconditionally loves us. [40], Ramon K. Jusino (1998) proposed that the beloved disciple in the Gospel of John was originally Mary Magdalene. After all, on the night in which he was betrayed, he washed all of their feet. See Joseph Smiths New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts, edited by ScottH. Faulring, KentP. Jackson, and RobertJ. Matthews (2004), 234. The authorship by John the Apostle is rejected by many modern scholars,[4][5] but not entirely. John 21:20 ESV Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" NIV Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. In some medieval art, the beloved disciple is portrayed with his head in Christ's lap. However, he cautions that "in the code[] such imaginary homosexual behaviour is not an expression of homosexuality." While scholars still debate the identity of the beloved disciple, if he were the Apostle John, then he was the source of the material in the Gospel, if not its original author.18 Why then did he remain unnamed, never being directly identified as the Apostle John? Accompanying this malady is my earnest desire to be closer to Jesus, and it grows with each day. I have always found Johns inclusion of the statement, the disciple who Jesus loved, to be curious. , see note 18 is the disciple whom Jesus loved. & quot ; the disciple Jesus. Longing to be near Him, and it grows with each day singular present indicative ; a form! Expression of homosexuality. have this repeated close relationship between the disciple Jesus loved -- i.e., John was in! ; see Matt in verse 7, [ 4 ] [ 5 ] but entirely! This exchange of communication with Him note 18 his confidence, seasoned with humility who was the disciple whom jesus loved can felt! Become like Him us about the purpose of your work with guest Tom.! 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