John was one of the twelve, and it referred to as the beloved. This title he gained later in his ministry because he refers to himself in the book of John as the one Jesus loved. However, in the beginning of his ministry, Jesus referred to him and his brother James as “Sons of thunder.” He was bold and direct, fiery and vibrant. As he grew in grace and love, he blended these two character traits together and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote five books of the Bible. He wrote the gospel of John, I, II, and III John, and the book of Revelation.
John 13:23 “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
At the beginning of his ministry, we see a bold, direct John. Also known as black and white John. He did not mince words. When you read his writings, you know exactly what he means. In John 14:15, we see a simplistic, bold statement from Jesus that says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This is simple but direct and powerful in its meaning. If we say we love Him but do not obey, we are liars. It’s that simple; we have deceived ourselves. John also gives us the most quoted verse in the bible, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Again, this is simple and direct. John was committed to absolute truth. In a world where we are being told there are no absolutes, this is huge! If you are a Christian, you must stand on the Word of God and uphold its truths. John also gives us John 14:6 where Jesus proclaims, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Again, we have a simple truth that allows for no misinterpretation.
John would not be welcomed in most of our churches today. We preach tolerance, with no absolute truths. What you believe is truth for you, and what I believe is truth for me. If this is your belief, you have no truth. We must gain our truth from God’s word. We need to embrace it and live by it, and if we don’t, we will suffer eternally. Is your sin for a season more important to you than your eternal destiny? The message John conveys throughout his writings is that we must live by the truths of God and proclaim them with love to everyone.
Our world is full of churches where you can show up and feel good about your life, without ever changing. Churches do not want to be part of any denomination because they do not want to answer to anyone. They want no authority over them. They do not like the word ‘doctrine’ because it is perceived as restrictive. However, if you look up the word doctrine in the Bible, this is what you will find. It is used 51 times, and it refers to teaching derived from God through Scripture. It guides our faith and practice. Its purpose is to instruct believers and equip them to live righteous lives and remain grounded in their faith.
Why would someone who wants to be considered a Christian be opposed to God’s teaching? The Latin word for doctrine is teaching!
John did not teach something he wasn’t willing to live and die for. He was the longest living Apostle. His last days were spent in exile on the Island of Patmos, where God gave him the book of Revelation. John was very discouraged because he was not able to proclaim Christ, and some of the churches he was in leadership over were turning away from the truths he had taught them. It is in Revelation that God inspires him to write the letters to the seven churches. God allows him a glimpse into heaven. He sees and hears things that no one who has ever lived has had the privilege to experience. In Revelation 10:4, God gives these instructions: “And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”
John was straightforward and did not back down from anyone who disagreed with the truths he taught. Yet, in his later years, he was known as the beloved disciple. He was humbled to even be in the presence of Jesus, but when speaking about himself in the books he wrote, he never mentions his name. He only refers to himself as the one Jesus loved. This phrase is used at the Last Supper, when Jesus shared it with his disciples, and also at the tomb when Peter and John went to see the empty tomb after the resurrection. To me, the greatest display of this truth was when Jesus was on the cross, nearing death, and he told John to take care of his mother.
John 19:26-27 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
John was fiery, bold, and direct. He was also the one in the bible who is referred to as the loving disciple. This describes a person who is committed to the truth but delivers it out of a heart of love to save them from an eternity in Hell.
Now examine yourself. Are you bold, seeking ways to share your faith with others? Do you stand for truth even if it costs you friends, a job, or your life? Do you love Jesus more than anything else in the world? If you ever get a glimpse of who He is and what He did to make a way for you to live eternally in Heaven, you can not help but feel the way John did. The cost of discipleship may seem significant to you, but the results of it will be far greater than anything you give up for Jesus. Jesus said in Luke 14:26 that our love for Him must be supreme to any other relationship we have. This was John, be a John in our world today!
Luke 14:26 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
