The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
John is the apostle who wrote John, I John, II John, III John, and Revelation. Like the other Gospel writers, he avoids naming himself in the account he wrote of Jesus’ life. Instead, he refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; 21:20). We know this is John by comparing the same events in the other gospel accounts where John is named.
The closeness between John and Jesus is demonstrated at the last supper. John sits next to Jesus and leans against Jesus’ chest. When Jesus states that one of the apostles would betray him, all seem fearful that it might be him. John was the one bold enough to ask Jesus who would betray him after Peter pushed John to ask (John 13:21-26; 20:21).
Peter and John appear to have been close friends. They are often together. Peter and John prepared the final Passover meal (Luke 22:8). They were with Jesus in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-35). Peter and another disciple, who was likely John, were witnesses of Jesus’ trial (John 18:15-16). Mary reported Jesus’ resurrection to Peter and John (John 20:1-8).
Even after the church is established, Peter and John’s companionship continues. It was Peter and John who go to the temple together (Acts 3:1) and it was Peter and John who boldly face the Sanhedrin Council (Acts 4:13, 19-20). Peter and John travel to Samaria to bring the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the new disciples there (Acts 8:14-15).
Paul mentions that John was a pillar in the church in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9). It is estimated that he remained in Jerusalem for at least 21 years. Paul mentions seeing John in Jerusalem 14 years after his conversion (Galatians 2:1). But John is not mentioned as being in Jerusalem when Paul last visited Jerusalem (Acts 21:15ff).
Secular writings state that John moved to Ephesus in the later years of his life. “John, the disciple of the Lord, who also leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia” [Irenaeus, c. A.D. 180]. It was probably while he was at Ephesus that he was arrested and sent to Patmos (Revelation 1:9). We should also note that the churches selected for letters were all in Asia Minor (Revelation 1:10-11). Clement of Alexandria ( c. A.D. 195) wrote, “Listen to a tale, which is not a tale but a narrative, handed down and committed to the custody of memory, about the apostle John. On the tyrant’s death, John returned to Ephesus from the isle of Patmos. He then traveled to the adjoining territories of the nations, being invited, here to appoint bishops, there to set in order whole churches, there to ordain such men as were marked out by the Spirit.”
In two of his letters (II John and III John), John refers to himself as “the elder.” Most likely because of his advanced age and being the last surviving apostle. It appears John had difficulty with a rumor that he would not die before Jesus’ return because of a statement Jesus made (John 20:21-23).
John is said to have been buried in Ephesus. Polycrates (A.D. 190) wrote, “John, who reclined on the Lord’s breast, ... rests at Ephesus.”
Tertullian in A.D. 200 wrote, “at Rome, the Apostle John, having been immersed in hot oil, suffered no harm at all from it” (The Prescription Against Heretics, chapter 36). The claim is that because John wasn’t killed that it led to his banishment to Patmos. It is an old story, but our record of it is about 100 years after the claimed event happened and it wasn’t recorded by inspiration. Jerome in A.D. 397 refers to Tertullian’s account but makes the mistake of adding to it. He claimed that it was Nero who ordered John’s execution and that John came out of the oil preaching (Jovin, I.14). Embellishments are a sign of a fable, especially impossible ones. After all, Nero was dead when this event supposedly took place. While there might be some truth behind this fable, it has too many marks of embellishment and trying to explain what wasn’t said in the Bible. It should be considered a fable unless better evidence surfaces.
The Gospel of John specifically states that “the disciple who Jesus loved” wrote the account (John 21:20,24). Since the author is specifically mentioned as being loved by Jesus, that would put him in the inner circle of those close to Jesus: Peter, James, and John. The author is clearly not Peter (John 20:2-6) and we know that James was killed early on (Acts 12:1-2). This leaves us with John. There is also another subtle hint in John 1:6. When multiple people have the same name in an account, a qualifier is typically added to let us know which person is being talked about. Since John never mentions himself in his Gospel, when John the Baptist is first mentioned, no qualifier is given because the reader won’t mix him up with the apostle John. Albert Barnes noted, “There is no doubt that it was written by John. This is abundantly confirmed by the ancient fathers, and was not questioned by Celsus, Porphyry, or Julian, the acutest enemies of revelation in the early ages.”
It is a bit surprising that one of the “sons of thunder” becomes the apostle best known for his writings about love. Love is emphasized in the books that bear his name (John 3:16; I John 4:7-21; II John 1-3; III John 1).
Several times John is corrected by Jesus. James and John wanted to call down fire on a village that had rejected Jesus. Jesus told him he didn’t understand and reminded him that Jesus’ purpose was to save people, not destroy them (Luke 9:54-56). When James and John were jockeying for high positions in the kingdom, Jesus again pointed out that they didn’t understand what they were asking and then predicts that they would share in his suffering. Those rebukes left a deep impression on John and he clearly grew.
The people in the Bible are real people. Their lives become shaped by the events they experience. They are much like you and I and they have shared their lives with us (I John 1:1-4).
