John The Beloved

 

Bible character study - John

John the beloved

John like Peter was also a fisherman and he was called along with his brother James. He was also a member of the inner circle of Jesus.

He wrote 5 books in the new testament (4 of which bare his name).
His writings were not to meant to only narate the events that took place, but to show that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. In studying him we see the transforming power of Jesus and his words in a life yielded to him.

This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here And we know that his account of these things is accurate. Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written [John 21:24-25]'.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life.The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.[1John1:1-2]

John - desiring greatness

You know those childish desire to have your parents pronounce you as the best of their children, well John brought it to adulthood. He along with his brother enlisted their mother to help plead their case with Jesus.

Through this interaction we learnt a foundational Christian value, the way to greatness is through service. Serving is the way up. The greatest among you shall be the servant of all.

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. "What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left. [Matthew 20:20-21]

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave [Mark 10:41-44]

John - Fire and brimstone

Showing off power did not start today, John and James had it aplenty. They were willing to destroy a village with fire because they did not allow them to enter the village🤦‍♂️and a man using the name of Jesus who was not in their company must be stopped.

Beloved, the power God gives you is not for show off, it is to bless lives for you are inhabited by the spirit of love.

"Master," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you." [Mark 9:38-40]

And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save [them.]" And they went to another village.[Luke 9:52-56]

John - Apostle of love

From desiring to be seated at Jesus' right hand to the penchant for calling down fire, it is quite beautiful that he is the apostle that is known most with love. Through the instrumentality of the word and the spirit, a visible change occurred in his life.

Beloved, no matter where you are now or what challenges you are battling with, the word of God and his spirit are more than able to transform you, just submit yourself to them.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. [1John 3:14]

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister[1john 4:21]

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.[1John 4:7-8]

John - revealing the Holy Spirit

Most of what we know of the ministry and the person of the Holy Spirit from the gospel were due to the revelation of John. He was not just interested in telling the story, he wanted to impart the life.

Beloved don't go after the letters and the drama, get the life in God's word by his spirit.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [John 14:16-17]

Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.[John 3:5-6]

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.[John 6:63]

John - Revelation

Of the 12 apostles of the Lamb, John was the only one to not be martyred. And it was not for lack of trying, he was thrown into hot oil without any effect on him before he was banished to the island of Patmos.

And the revelation of the end times (Revelation) was given to him on the island. Beloved, God is more than able to preserve and protect you for his purpose.

Jesus said, If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You--follow me.That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you [John 21:22-23]

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report [Revelation 1:1]

I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God's Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. [Revelation 1:9]