Nearer - John

The disciple whom Jesus loves

Northside Church SLIDES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN

Nearer #8 Mary, Martha, Laz

6/22/25

Jamey Mills

Good morning, my name is Jamey, and I’m the lead pastor here at Northside. It’s always great to be with you guys…

Today is a great day… Luau is super fun.

All kinds of inflatable bounce houses… dunk tank.. Pulled pork dinner… carnival games… fire truck… Daniel is going to do some fire dancing…

Hope you can make it.

Today we are in our 8th and final sermon in our series…

“Nearer” (Sermon Slide).

Looking at the lives of those who lived near Jesus… asking the question, what is it that we can learn… as we seek to draw nearer to Jesus in our own lives.

And there is a lot we can learn from every one of them.

We realize there were some that were near Jesus who decided to follow.

We also see some that were near Jesus who didn’t.

In one way or another… they all were confronted with this opportunity to make that decision… and… we realize that each and every one of their lives were significantly impacted by it one way or another.

Rich young Ruler

He asked good questions… Believed Jesus answer… but in the end, loved his money and the things of this world too much… he walked away.

It’s incredibly sad… As the rest of the Gospel is written, we never hear from him again.

It’s sad, as the rest of the Gospel is written, we never hear from him again.

Judas

Was one of the 12 closest to Jesus…

Followed Jesus by title, but not in reality.

Life remained untouched by Jesus and the Gospel because of it.

Life came to a tragic end over it…

He didn’t understand or couldn’t accpet God’s grace.

Thomas

Came to Jesus with hard questions… and found that Jesus isn’t afraid of honest hard questions that are honestly seeking Him.

In time, his questions were answered.

His life was radically changed

Powerful and profound ministry in what is modern day India.

Peter

Passionate… it got the best of him fairly often.

Peter got it wrong fairly often early on… but over and over… you see him running to Jesus with it. And it served Him well.

Peter played a huge and significant leadership role in the early church…

James

Son of Thunder… caught up on position…

Could have become one of those believers that is harsh toward those outside the church…

But he listned and learned from Jesus… that true greatness in God’s Kingdom comes in following the example of Christ in becoming a servant.

1st disciple martyred… beheaded.

Mary, Marth, Lazarus

You don’t have to be one of the 12 to be near to Jesus.

These siblings were…

Mary and Martha teaches us… there is no substitute for sitting in and soaking up the powerful presence of God.

No one will chose nearness with God for you.

There is no substitute for sitting in and soaking in God’s presence and in His word

Duty… without it… can be damaging.

Today we are going to talk about John…

Not John the Baptist… but John the son of Zebedee… the other Son of Thunder…

A couple of weeks ago we talked about his older brother James…

As Jesus called Simon Peter and his brother Anderew… he looked up and saw John a little further down the shore… It says he called them to follow, and James and John went immediately…

They left their dad, home, boat, business, livelihood, friends… to follow Jesus.

Like James, John was not only one of the 12 closest to Jesus, he was also in the inner circle of 3 that was even closer… Peter, James, and surprisingly… John.

These 3 had some exclusive… and powerfully faith-forming experiences with Jesus.

Raising of Jarius’ daughter (synagogue leader; Mark 5:37)

The transfiguration (Mark 9:2)

Garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus prepared for the cross (Mark 14:33)

These things… combined with the nearness of Jesus in them… were incredibly formative… life altering things… and I do think we see their impact on these three…

The first thing I want to highlight with JN is this…

#1 Nearness with Jesus isn’t age related.

And John gives us an interesting look at both ends of life.

When Jesus calls JN, He’s young.

The scripture doesn’t say how young…

There is a LONG line of important ancient historians that tell us he was young…

In that, we see… he was young enough for them to note.

Eusebius… 250 AD…

Irenaeus 130-202 AD ish (disciple of Polycarp)

Polycrates… 130-195 AD ish

All note his youth and longevity in ministry

All note that JN was alive during the life of Emperor Trajan, which puts him around 100 AD…

This doesn’t tell us when he died, but that he was still alive.

He lived a long life.

We see JN as a young man…

And we see him as a seasoned man of faith…

Maybe the most intriguing is Polycarp… 69-155 AD ish

An ancient historian and pretty significant figure in the early church,

Many people believed he was the disciple of John himself.

Mr. Carp talked about JN’s youthfulness during Jesus’ ministry.

John may have been as young as 17

… and I think there are reasons to believe it.

If JN was 17 when Jesus called him and died right at 100 AD (earliest) John would have been 87. I actually think the evidence is pretty strong.

And it reminds me of this

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)

1 Timothy 4:12 NLT

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Paul wrote this to Timothy…

Scholars believe that Timothy may have even been younger than John when Paul began discipling him (16ish).

Paul is not JUST saying don’t let people look down on you because you're young.

Paul is saying, by the life you live, don’t give them the opportunity to. Set the example!

In these ways:

In what you say

The way you live

The way you love

Your faith

And your purity

Be devoted to God’s word

Find your God given gift and use it faithfully

Your age… doesn’t disqualify you from drawing near to Christ.

In all of my years, some of the most inspirational people I’ve walked with were young…

There is something incredibly powerful about young people… living that life and setting that example

You live in a world that has grown to expect little from you…

Don’t buy it. I don’t.

You're not too young to do great things for Jesus…

In fact, in a way, I think your age makes you perfectly poised to do it…

I’ve gotten a front row seat… to

Young people inviting all heards of their friends to Church… Izzy, I see you.

I’ve seen young people doing their best to share Jesus with their friends… Libby, I see you.

I’ve stood beside young people to build homes and Churches in other countries

I’ve watched young men fight and struggle to follow Jesus through their MS and HS years… lead bible studies… fight the good fight… and end up becoming the most talented worship pastor and leader I’ve ever met. Matt… you’ve inspired me from day one.

I’ve seen young ladies give up their lives… move to far-off places… learn strange languages… and then heard them minister to grown women while sitting in the back of a car being thrown everywhere on what they call a road. Ellie, Julia, and Lucy, I see you.

Also… Matthew, Steven… I see you.

Young people, don’t tell me you can’t. I’ve seen it.

I think Johns youth was a gift:

To inspire young people.

He had older guys pouring into his life as he followed Jesus.

I give him a greater sense of humility and a teachable spirit.

But also… as he was following Jesus, he had these older guys also pouring into his life.

I think it created a posture of humility demanded a greater sense of being teachable.

2 important lesson about John and Timothy

They both made their own choice to follow and draw near to Jesus.

They both understood their need for mentors.

2 things… both Timothy and JN

Made their own choice to follow and draw nearer to Jesus…

You should too

They both understood the need for and accepted leadership/discipleship

They had mentors; you should, too.

My honest opinion with JN… the other son of thunder…

Yes, he was there in Luke 9 when James and JN wanted to call down fire on Samaria for not welcoming Jesus

Yes, it sounds like maybe he was a part of the conspiracy to send mom in to request a seat of power, influence and prominence in the Kingdom

And frankly, some of it I think was his youth and playfulness…

Peter seemed a little intense… maybe… someone who you might not want to pull his chain… but JN did…

In JN 20… when the disciples found out the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty… JN made sure this was recorded in God’s Word for eternity…

John 20:3– 4 (NLT)

John 20:3–4 NLT

Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

Can you imagine the first time Peter saw this…

I bet it went something like this… (Video Matt found)

I do think JN may have been lumped in a bit with James…

But we also see JN as an older man.

This week I met with a new friend… who told me this…

I am nearly 70… but I am not retired from my faith. I am not done.

We NEVER retire from our nearness with Jesus.

We never exhaust growing nearer to Jesus.

The hope is, that as we continue to walk in faith and nearness… they greater than faith and nearness become…

And… with that… if we stay humble… so does the fruit in an through our lives.

John’s story is a long obedience in the Same direction

And its powerful. IN Jn we see a life lived for Christ… in the highs and lows… the joys and sorrows… and the growth in influence…

Incredible and powerful stuff…

Do you know anyone like that?

Eugene Peterson wrote a book by that title… where he shares some pretty great insight on how we develop that sort of life and legacy. I bought two copies to give away today… if you want it come find me.

It got me to thinking…

James was the first disciple that was martyred for his faith

John lived a long life of struggle, growth, and faith.

Which is more powerful?

… who stared down death and even with his dying breath chose Jesus. Powerful stuff.

John was the last disciple to die and his testimony is one of long obeience, long endurance, long faithfulness… over a lifetime…

I was thinking which one is more powerful and more fruritful… and the longer I thought about it… for me personally… I think its a long obedience in the same direction… all the conversations… ministry it brings.

Age… is not the determining factor with nearness… start now and if we continue to struggle and draw nearer… it only gets better with time. NOT easier… but better.

#2 John was present when others were not

Last week we talked about the power of Mary sitting in and soaking in the powerful presence and teaching of Jesus…

Jesus’ presence is powerful… and… our presence with Jesus is powerful too… and John seemed to know that and value it too.

We see it with Peter… after denying Jesus… the disciples went out fishing… it was JN who recognized Jesus first…

In desperation to get right, Peter can’t wait. He jumps in, swims all the way to Jesus… has this powerful interaction where Jesus’ gives us this crazy picture of truth… love… and grace… when for a split second… we see JN, standing in the background… Peter sees JN and asks Jesus… what about him Lord…

To me the feel is… JN was there… in the background listenting… supporting…

John was present for Peter in that moment.

We can learn from that.

In that same Passage… JN 21 it’s Peter that talks about JN as literally leaning on Jesus during the last supper… this critical, difficult moment… JN feels just a little more present with Jesus.

But to me the greatest example in the crucifixion.

Its hard for us to picture… but their leader was set up and arrested… unfairly tried… beaten as close to death as it gets… and then set for exectution… it what was designed to bring maximum pain and suffering… for as long as possible…

What would you do…

Understandably… it sounds like the disciples laid low… were afraid…

All but one… any guesses?

John 19:25–27 (NLT)

John 19:25–27 NLT

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

This is nuts to me…

John was seemingly the only on of the 12 disciples present at the crucifixion.

John… the youngest… ends up taking Mary into his own home… where he’d care for, protect, provide for her… for the rest of her days.

JN continues to show up… even when other, older, possibly more mature followers didn’t… and it led to a very powerful and unique nearness.

This seems to be a theme and a key…

SHOW UP… BE present in His presence…

This is a major theme in nearness with Jesus.

SHOW UP! Be present in HIS presence!

Which leads to

#3 John seems to understand aspects of Jesus in deeper ways.

What was John’s contributions?

Leadership

Mentoring young new church leaders

Scripture

I do think his youth helped… I think it created a posture to see things and hear things differently.

Johns contribution… to what we are doing here this morning, maybe the most underrated in all of scripture.

John’s contribution is scripture is massive…

Not only did John write one of the 4 Gospels… biographies of Jesus life and ministry…

His is incredibly unique… the synotpics…

Matthew, Mark and Luke… share many of the same stories and teachings…

Over 90% of John’s Gospel is unique to John.

But over 90% of what’s in JN is unique… things we wouldn’t know if John didnt write it…

What are the major thing’s we’d miss without Johns writings?

John emphasizes Jesus deity.

Focus on 7 signs: intended to make us ask questions and make a decision about how Jesus is

Washing the disciples feet

Nicodemus

Woman at the well

Mary, Martha, Lazarus

Eternal life starts here and now

God is love

World will know we are His disciples by the way we love each other

Emphasis on the Holy Spirit

Jns contribution NT…

JN, 123 JN, REV

Gospel… latest written

Not synoptic… unique things

Focus in on 7 I AM, deity and the Love of God, love for others

Because a leader under Peter in the early Church JUR

Became a leader in Ephesus… important church

Jn’s leadership

John’s teachings helped shape the theology and structure of the early Church.

In his older years, John was a beloved elder, a prolific writer, and a pillar of the early Christian church. His longevity allowed him to disciple a new generation of leaders, defend sound doctrine, and bear witness to Christ until the very end. While his life began as a "Son of Thunder," it ended as a quiet, steady voice calling the Church to love and truth.

Last remaining direct connection with Jesus - POWERFUL

CONC…

On and off… Hot and cold…

There are seasons and struggles…

Mountains and valleys…

There is REAL power in this idea of a long obedience in the same direction…