Great Personalities in God's Amazing Plan-John the Beloved

John 13:23

John 13:23 NKJV

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

We discussed Andrew after the first of the year, one who showed people the way to Jesus. We discussed Peter and we took from Peter to swing for Jesus, to take a chance, to walk in faith for the Lord, and then tonight we look at John the Beloved, or as been termed the “Apostle of Love”.

Which John am I referring to? Of the inner circle, Peter, James, & John. Who is this John? John the Baptist, John Mark, or John (son of Zebedee, brother of James)

Which books in the Bible did he write?

John

1 John

2 John

3 John

Revelation

Let’s delve into John the Beloved and see where the Lord takes us.

Let’s pray.

Prayer

Message

5 Times-5 scriptural recordings of the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”

The New King James Version Chapter 13

John 13:23

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

John 19:26

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

John 20:2

2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

John 21:7

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

John 21:20

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

5 times John is referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Jesus entrusted John the Beloved to take care of His mother. That’s love. That is a love that trusted John.

Who is this John that is recorded as the “disciple whom Jesus loved?”

John the Beloved

Beginnings

We see here the photo of one that was leaning on the chest of Jesus. This drawing and rendering portrays John as a humble mild, almost rendering one of a feminine traits.

Scriptures in the early aspect of ministry offer descriptions far from a feminine or humble type of man.

Who was John the Apostle?

Well, we know he was one of the apostles called to follow Jesus.

Matthew 4:21-22 “21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

Mark 1:19-20 “19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.”

John was a second generation business man. The family had a thriving fishing business. He and his brother James worked with the father, but note they had hired hands.

Luke 5:10-11 “10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”

In his love for the Lord, Christ ranked higher than commerce. People wonder many times why they struggle in the Christian life and it is because of them coming to crossroads and making poor choices based upon priorities. Even John’s livelihood ranked over his relationship with Jesus.

Ask yourself this question. If Christ asked me to quit my job to serve Him, would I do it? Do I place my children’s secular activities higher than their spiritual welfare? I do not ask that question by thought, but by your actions?

If Christ asked you to leave the comforts of family and the familiar to take a step of faith and pick up and move and go to Seminary, would you trust Him?

John 1:35-42 “35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).”

Like Andrew, something that day sealed it for John to begin the journey of deepening with each day his love for the Lord.

John 13:23-25 “23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?””

Background

We peg Peter as one who was feisty, rambunctious, and somewhat temperamental, but John was that same type of person. Yet, he is called the “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Acts 4:13 “13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

Confirms these guys were rough around the edges. They were rough, gruff, fisherman, with skin and hands haggered from the elements.

Notice that John showed boldness, not a meekness, or timidity as the artist conveys.

Do you remember that James and John were referred to as Sons of Thunder?

Mark 3:17 “17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”;”

Overly Competitive or Territorial to a nature of compassion

Luke 9:49 “49 Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.””

Momma became involved and approached Jesus in one of the gospels. Theologians believe that Salome was the mother of James and John. There is chance that these were cousins of Jesus.

Mark 10:36-37 “36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.””

Prejudice to passion for people

Luke 9:51-56 “51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.”

What happened in this man’s life that at one time was a fireball, one overly competitive, one that still had prejudices that he had to deal with, to being one that is called 5 times “the disciple who Jesus loved.”

Belief

John was a part of the inner three, Peter, James His brother, and John. John experience the Mt. of Transfiguration, the dealing of Jairus daughter, and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Matthew 17:1-2 “1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”

The Lord begin to transform John.

Seasoned saint of the Lord-by tradition, lived the longest in Ephesus. A pillar of the early church

Galatians 2:9 “9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”

1 John 4:7-11 “7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Birth of Love “love is of God”

1 John 4:7 “7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

1 John 3:10-11 “10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,”

Barometer of Love-does not love, does not know God

1 John 4:8 “8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Bidding of our Love-”we also ought to love one another”

1 John 4:11 “11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Matthew 18:21–35 NKJV

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”