Generally listed as “the youngest of all the apostles”…John was the son of Zebedee and Salome. Zebedee (his father) you might remember, got left sitting in a boat, while his two boys, took off and followed after that “Jesus-character.”
John is often times painted in Christian art as being young and smooth faced, non-shaving and a little androgynous looking…almost pre-pubescent.
Both boys were originally fishermen and it was thought that they may have been disciples of John the Baptizer, first.
John’s brother was James, who was another one of the Twelve Apostles…together; Jesus nicknamed them…“the sons of thunder.” It was said that although their nature was calm and gentle, when their “patience was pushed to its limits” – their anger became “wild and thunderous” causing them to speak out like “an untamed storm.” Both brothers could be extremely vocal.
It was also these two who had their mother, Salome go and kneel at the feet of Jesus…and request that her boys be able to sit at his right and at his left hand – when he came into his kingdom.
Jesus reportedly, said, “Sorry – you are asking for something that I cannot give to you!”
A gospel story relates how the brothers wanted to call down “heavenly fire” on a Samaritan town, but Jesus rebuked them for even suggesting it.
John lived more than half a century after the martyrdom of his older brother, James, who was the first Apostle to die a martyr’s death.
Although “Christian tradition” holds that John outlived all of the remaining apostles – he is said to be “the only one” to die of “natural causes.”
He was reported to live “a very long time”…dying in his “extreme old age…”
The early “Church Fathers” considered him the same person as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, John the Elder or, John the Presbyter and the “Beloved Disciple,” or the disciple that Jesus loved, although modern theologians and scholars have not formed a consensus on the “relative identities” of these men.
This would be the stuff that they argue about until they are blue in the face.
The “traditions” of most Christian denominations have held that John the Apostle “is the author of several books” in the Early Christian Writings.
But again, there is large scale division over “which specific books”…we are referring to or talking about!
The writings themselves are actually called the “Johannine Writings” and they would include: The Gospel of John, First, Second and Third John – the (3) Epistles or “letters” and that final book, in the canon, the Book of Revelation. So there are five writings in all…all of which, where there authorship is in dispute!
It is interesting in that – there authorship has been argued since the second century of the Common Era and there has been no consensus or agreement. And so, the debate goes on…
Again, more blue-faced theologians agreeing on very little…but arguing their beliefs, just the same…
According to the Gospel accounts:
Peter, James and John were the only witnesses of the raising of the Daughter of Jairus.
All three also witnessed the Transfiguration, and these same three witnessed the “Agony in Gethsemane.”
Along with Peter, James and John made up Jesus’ inner circle.
John was the disciple who reported to Jesus – that they had ‘forbidden’ “a non-disciple” from casting out demons in Jesus’ name, prompting Jesus to state that ‘he who is not against us is for us…so back off, boys!
Jesus sent only John and Peter into the city to make the preparation for the final Passover meal and for his Last Supper.
At the meal itself, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” sat next to Jesus. It was customary to lie along upon couches at meals, and this disciple leaned on Jesus.
Tradition identifies this disciple as being Saint John.
After the arrest of Jesus, Peter and the “other disciple”- John followed him into the palace of the high-priest.
John alone among the Apostles remained near Jesus at the foot of the cross on Calvary alongside myrrh bearers and numerous other women; following the instruction of Jesus from the Cross, — John took Mary, the mother of Jesus, into his care as the last legacy of Jesus.
After Jesus’ Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, John, together with Peter, took a prominent part in the founding and guidance of the church in the holy city of Jerusalem.
He was with Peter at the healing of the lame man at Solomon’s Porch in the Temple and he was also thrown into prison with Peter.
He went with Peter to visit the newly converted believers in Samaria.
And, if we are talking about the same man…he was also placed on the penal colony on the Island of Patmos, and there received a revelation from God about the end times…
He is also known for being the disciple/apostle who walked around telling people to just “love one another.”
Just love…it is enough, he would say.
So today we recall and remember, Blessed John, apostle and evangelist.
May his memory always be a blessing for the entire church. I pray it is so.
Amen.