John The Apostle

"John The Apostle" – Matthew 4:21-22 John, the beloved disciple, was one of the twelve and one of the most important figures of the early church. Jesus called him while he was mending nets with his father Zebedee and his brother James, and he immediately left everything and followed Him. He was called a “son of thunder” for his impulsive, energetic character; he belonged to the Lord's inner circle; he was the only apostle mentioned at the foot of the cross, and there Jesus entrusted His mother to his care. He outlived all the other apostles, led the church in Jerusalem, was exiled to Patmos for the sake of the Word, and wrote about love as no one else did. This study walks through his life so that we may learn from his faithfulness, his intimacy with Christ, his doctrinal firmness, and his hope in the midst of persecution.

I. Who John was: the beloved disciple.

A. He was not the favorite: he was the one who most expressed how much he loved Jesus.

1. From the cross Jesus entrusted him with His mother: such was the confidence He had in him.

2. Jesus already knew what John would do with his life; each person shapes his own.

B. His family: son of Zebedee, probably of Salome, brother of James.

1. The family had a fishing business on the sea of Galilee.

2. He was hardworking and family-minded; with him one could breathe fellowship and friendship.

C. He was part of Jesus' closest circle, together with Peter and James.

1. No one confused him: he did not speak of himself, but of the One at whose feet he sat.

2. The Gospel is the only pure thing on earth; the question is whose voice you lend your ears to.

II. His calling (Matthew 4:21-22).

A. Jesus called him while he was working as a fisherman, mending the nets.

1. “And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

2. That was his impulse: skilled, quick, willing; he left nothing for tomorrow.

B. Jesus spent only a few years with them; John lived many years afterward.

1. What he learned from Jesus he multiplied until it covered every area he could reach.

III. Son of thunder (Mark 3:17).

A. “To whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder.”

1. An impulsive and brave man: active, alert, strong, determined and passionate.

2. He went after one of his own disciples who had withdrawn to the mountain, heedless of the danger.

B. Every human being comes to earth with a mission: he either fulfills it or destroys it.

1. We go to heaven to receive a reward: “you were faithful over a little, I will set you over much.”

2. Life is not for lying idle or for wasting time.

IV. Part of the inner circle: a witness of special events.

A. The raising of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37).

B. The transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-2).

1. With Peter and James; Moses was there, and most likely Elijah.

2. Neither of them died a physical death; hence the belief that they will be the two witnesses of Revelation.

C. The prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37).

V. The beloved disciple (John 13:23).

A. “One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side.”

1. He was the youngest; nothing had to be explained to him: his foot was already lifted.

2. It reflects a very close relationship with the Lord.

B. The one who stays close to the Lord is not confused.

1. He knows where he is going, he knows what he must do, and there is peace in his being.

VI. At the foot of the cross (John 19:26-27).

A. He was the only apostle mentioned beside Jesus during the crucifixion.

1. He watched them mock the Master; the mockery we deserved, He bore in His body.

2. He said “It is finished,” and He sets us free when we come to His feet.

B. “Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother.”

1. While His body was collapsing, Jesus settled on the cross what had to be settled.

2. From that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

VII. Witness of the empty tomb and leader of the church.

A. He ran with Peter to the tomb on the day of the resurrection.

B. After Pentecost he was one of the principal leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

1. He preached alongside Peter and was imprisoned for proclaiming Christ.

2. He took part in important decisions of the church.

C. Five books of the New Testament are traditionally attributed to him.

1. The Gospel of John; First, Second and Third John; and Revelation.

VIII. Exiled to Patmos (Revelation 1:9).

A. “I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

1. They took him out of the nation and left him completely alone, with no disciple at his side.

2. There he received the vision of Revelation.

B. He truly knew what it is to suffer; we live demanding and complaining.

IX. His central teaching: love (1 John 4:8).

A. “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

1. No biblical writer speaks of love as much as John.

2. The absence of love is what breaks the Gospel in these times.

3. We love Him because He first loved us.

X. His old age and the traits that set him apart.

A. Christian tradition says he lived in Ephesus.

1. He was the last apostle to die, around the year 100, of natural causes, near the age of a hundred.

2. He lasted long because he was useful, and he was useful because he was supreme in love.

B. Traits: faithfulness to Jesus and deep intimacy with Christ.

1. The church is for those who want to be sanctified.

C. Love and compassion; doctrinal firmness.

1. The truth sets free; what is sin is sin, and there is no going back.

D. Hope under persecution and a great spiritual vision.

1. The Gospel is for the brave and for those who give themselves.

XI. The verse that sums up his life (John 20:31).

A. “These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

1. John devoted his whole life to making people know Jesus Christ and believe in Him.

2. When you love, you do no harm; it is not how much you know nor what you claim to be.

3. Christ is the great One in the midst of the righteous.