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Jesus and John

Writer's picture: DeborahDeborah








John 21:20-25 ESV

Revelation 1:1-3 ESV

Forgiven

It’s not totally clear why John the Son of Zebedee and Salome was called John the Beloved, but there is evidence that John and Jesus had a special relationship.

For one thing, it is believed that John was the youngest disciple.


John, called the beloved was the only disciple present at the crucifixion.

John was also given the task of caring for Mary, the Mother of Jesus just before Jesus gave up His Spirit and died.

Jesus knew John would care for His blessed Mother.

We read in John 21:20-25, “Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus had just told Peter ‘follow me’.

In response to that, Peter looked at John the disciple and asked what plans Jesus had for John.

It is a little strange that Peter didn’t respond and tell Jesus, ‘I will do as you ask’.


Instead Peter points to John and asks, “what about this man?”


That reminds me of two brothers. You give one brother a job to do and instead of getting up to go do that job, he asks, what job are you going to give to my brother?

In that context, we might be led to believe the first brother is thinking about the job he was given and now he is wondering if his brother is going to get a better (or easier) job.


In the text we understand that when Peter tried to turn the tables to ask what job John would be given, Jesus point blank answered, “what is that to you?”

We are not given any further explanation in the text.


The writer (John) turns his attention to the conclusion of John’s Gospel account.

John promises he witnessed and wrote the account.

John also tells his readers that Jesus did many other things that were not written about in the Gospel of John.


It is interesting that John did not respond to Peter’s question regarding what Jesus asked him to do, or what charge Jesus gave to John.


We know from scripture that Jesus promised Peter, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)


In the second chapter of Acts 2:1-13 the Holy Spirit came and filled the believers. Immediately following that, in Acts 2:14-41 it was Peter who gave the sermon at Pentecost.

Peter also preached to the crowd in Acts 3. While John was there, it was Peter who preached to the early church.


Peter wrote two letters (1st and 2nd Peter) to God’s elect who scattered throughout the region.

It is believed that Peter was martyred during Nero’s reign after 64 C.E.


John is attributed for writing the Gospel of John, I, 2, and 3 John, and the Book of Revelation.

According to the Revelation that John received on the Island of Patmos we are told he was given, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

It is believed that John died of natural causes on the Island of Patmos some time after 90 A.D.


Indeed, in the end the task that Jesus gave to Peter was for the purpose of spreading the gospel message.

Peter was the Rock and he was a bold speaker for Jesus and His followers.

The Gospel of John, written by John, the Beloved is the only Gospel account that is not considered to be a Synoptic Gospel. Many of the writings of Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain a similar point of view.

The Gospel of John gives up a picture of the nature of Jesus, the Son of God.

In the end both Peter and John played pivotal roles in the early church. Jesus called both men to a special purpose.

Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Your Call


What gifts and abilities has God given you, and what does God show you about how to utilize them for the Kingdom of God?


In God, Deborah



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About Me

I am a child of God. I can’t remember when God wasn’t part of my life. I served in a church setting for 30+ years and now I seek to help others see and find their sacred space. Daily when we turn to God we begin to recognize where God is at work in our lives.

 

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