John the brother of James: The Beloved disciple
John, the beloved disciple, is an excellent example to us because he teaches us about loyalty. Loyalty is faithfulness, trustworthiness, and dependability. We should all be loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10-11
John was the son of Zebedee the brother of James. He was a fisherman with both his father Zebedee and brother James. (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19).John and his brother James the son of Zebedee were partners with Simon Peter as fishermen. (Luke 5:10-11).
John was chosen by Jesus Christ to be a disciple along with his brother James after Peter, and Andrew the brother of Peter. (Matthew 10:2). John and his brother James were surnamed Boanerges, which is, the sons of thunder. (Mark 3:17).
John, James and Peter were present at the transfiguration of Jesus. This makes John, James and Peter part of the inner circle of Jesus that gained His trust. (Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2). John, James and Peter were the only ones permitted to follow Jesus when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus. (Mark 5:37-43).
When it came time for Jesus to go to Jerusalem, Jesus sent messengers to enter into a village of the Samaritans to make ready for Him. The Samaritans did not receive Jesus. John and his brother James saw this and asked Jesus if they should command fire to come down from heaven and consume them like Elias did. Their fiery nature was rebuked by Jesus as he told them the Son of man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. (Luke 9: 51-56).
The day Jesus told the disciples they were going to Jerusalem and there the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. John and James came to Jesus and asked that He grant them to sit, one on His right hand, the other on His left hand, in His glory.
Jesus replied to sit on His right and left hand was not His to give, that it shall be given to them for whom it was prepared. The other ten disciples were displeased with John and James for asking such a thing. Jesus told them whosever will be the chief, shall be servant of all. Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:35-45).
Jesus sent John and Peter to go and prepare the Passover. They were to enter into the city and meet and follow a man bearing a pitcher of water and he showed them the house they were to prepare the Passover for Jesus and the twelve disciples. (Luke 22:8-13). John, James, and Peter followed Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane. (Mark 14:33).
Jesus committed His mother to the disciple He loved, John, when He was on the cross. (John 19:26-27). John was with the other disciples who saw the risen Lord. (John 21:1-2). John was up in an upper room with Peter, and James, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James who waited for the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:13).
John is the disciple who wrote the Gospel of John (John 21:23-25), as well as the three epistles 1 John, 2 John and 3 John. John witnessed the Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:9-13). John and Peter went up together into the temple to pray and met a lame man and healed him. (Acts 3:1-11).
John was imprisoned with Peter and they glorified God because they spoke in boldness even though they were perceived to be unlearned and ignorant men. (Acts 4:1-21).
It is believed that John wrote the book of Revelation. The John in Revelation referred to himself as a servant of Christ, His brother, and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ from the isle of Patmos. (Revelation 1: 1,4,9).
What Can This Story Teach Us?
John is the brother of James the Elder and son of Zebedee. He was known as the beloved disciple. He wrote the books of John, First John, Second John, Third John and Revelation. He was the last of the apostles to die.
He was loyal to Our Lord, and was loved greatly by Him. John is the only Disciple that lived a long life, and died a natural death.
John was the only disciple who was with Jesus Christ from the beginning of his ministry, present during His crucifixion, and witness to His Resurrection completely. He is the only Disciple that did not run away or hide from authorities when the times of persecution and conviction from the Roman Oppressors and the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees and were rumbling towards them.
John is a great example for us. We need to be loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ is all that we do. Christ is our Savior who offers every person eternal life all they have to do is believe on Him. “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-16).
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “John the brother of James: The Beloved disciple:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Oct 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1736 ,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, October) “John the brother of James: The Beloved disciple: .” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1736 ,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “John the brother of James: The Beloved disciple: .” Becker Bible Studies Library (October), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1736 , (accessed).
