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The Apostle John, known as the Beloved Disciple, was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. It is believed that he was the youngest of them, having been born around the year 6 A.D. John was the brother of James, another of the disciples. Both worked as fishermen alongside their father, Zebedee.
John was one of the three closest disciples to Jesus. Along with his brother James and Peter, he witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter. They were also the ones whom Jesus chose to accompany Him during His moment of anguish in Gethsemane.
Jesus nicknamed John and James "Boanerges," which means "sons of thunder." In some biblical passages, it seems these two brothers were quite energetic and impulsive, which might be the reason Jesus gave them this nickname.
For example, on one occasion, John tried to stop a man from casting out demons in Jesus' name. The reason? Because the man wasn't following them. Jesus told him not to stop him: if he wasn't against them, then he was for them.
John is known as the Beloved Disciple mainly because of his closeness to Jesus. He also emphasized love in his writings. The love of God is a central theme in his letters - not only receiving God's love, but expressing it to God and to others, and living in love in every situation.
John was the only disciple who stayed with Jesus during the crucifixion. He remained by the side of Mary, the mother of Jesus, during that difficult and painful moment. It was there that Jesus entrusted John with the care of His mother, showing both His affection for him and the trust He had in him.
It is believed that John was the only disciple who died of natural causes. He lived for several years in Ephesus, where he wrote his 3 letters (1, 2, and 3 John). He was greatly persecuted, especially by Emperor Domitian, who attempted to kill him by boiling him in oil. Domitian did not succeed, and John was sent into exile on the Island of Patmos.
It was on the island of Patmos that John received the revelation of the end times, and from there he wrote the book of Revelation. It is believed that after completing his exile, he returned to Ephesus and died of old age, from natural causes.
Biography of the Apostle John
John was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the younger brother of James. Before becoming a disciple of Jesus, he worked alongside his father and brother as a fisherman. It was while he was in the boat with James and his father mending nets that Jesus called him to be His disciple.
Like the other disciples, John accompanied Jesus during His three years of ministry. However, John, his brother James, and Peter were the closest disciples to Jesus, sharing some very significant moments with Him.
One special moment they shared with Jesus was His Transfiguration. There, they saw His face shine like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. They saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they heard the voice of God the Father saying, "This is my beloved Son; I am very pleased with Him. Listen to Him!"
On some occasions, John and James showed a difficult and immature character. Perhaps that’s why Jesus nicknamed them "Sons of Thunder." At certain moments, they showed a desire to stand out, such as when they asked Jesus to allow them to sit, one on His right and the other on His left, in His kingdom.
But over time, both grew in their faith and remained faithful to Jesus. James was the first of the apostles to be martyred. He was willing to die for Jesus, pierced with a sword. John was the author of five books of the New Testament: the Gospel of John, three epistles (1, 2, and 3 John), and Revelation, the book containing the revelation of the end of the world.
After Jesus' death, it was John who took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, He entrusted John with the care of His mother, and it is believed that John cared for her until she passed away.
John evangelized in various places in Asia Minor, with Ephesus being his base, which played a significant role in the development of his ministry.
Like the other disciples of Jesus, John suffered persecution. It is believed that at some point, he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. This was a punishment for his efforts to spread the message of salvation through Jesus. However, he survived. Everything points to John dying of old age, from natural causes, being the only one of the 12 apostles who did not die as a martyr.
Why is he known as the Beloved Disciple?
John is known as the Beloved Disciple because that is how he refers to himself in the Gospel of John. John is credited with the authorship of this book, but the book never mentions his name. The reason for this is unknown - it may have been a sign of humility or a literary technique.
However, in the book, there are up to six references to the disciple whom Jesus loved. It is believed that this disciple was John, because he not only belonged to the closest circle of Jesus, but also had enough trust with Him to rest his head on Jesus' shoulder.
John was also the disciple that Jesus chose to take care of and look after His mother, Mary, after His crucifixion. This special trust in him demonstrates the strong friendship that bound them together.
Another reason why he is called the Beloved Disciple is because of the importance of the theme of love in his letters, especially in 1 John. He not only emphasized God's love, but urged Christians time and again to love one another.
Main Characteristics of John
There were times when John showed excessive zeal and lack of control over his emotions. In Luke 9, we see how John was concerned that Jesus would not have "competition" from people performing miracles in Jesus' name, but who were not part of the twelve disciples.
John and James also wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village that did not welcome them. Jesus rebuked them sharply, saying, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."
However, John matured over the years. He became known for his close friendship with Jesus and dedicated himself to spreading the gospel of love. Spending those three years with Jesus shaped his character so profoundly that he became a spokesperson for God's love.
Despite all that John suffered in his later years - assassination attempts, persecution, and exile - we see no indication that he sought revenge or took justice into his own hands. On the contrary, the book of Revelation reflects the certainty that everything is in the just hands of God. In the end, and without a doubt, Jesus is the victor!.
What the Name of John Means According to the Bible
The biblical name John means "God is merciful and compassionate" or "God is a benevolent giver." It comes from the Hebrew name Yôhannan, which can be translated as "God is merciful" or "God is gracious."
John the Baptist and the Apostle John, Are They the Same Person?
No, they are two different people. John the Baptist fulfilled the mission of announcing the coming of the Messiah and preparing the way for people to hear Jesus. John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod, right at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
The Apostle John was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, one of the 12 who accompanied Him during His three years of ministry.
Learn more about the apostles of Jesus!