The Apostle John
Who was the Apostle John?
John, the son of Zebedee was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him. Along with James and Peter, John was considered to be a close confidant of Jesus and a “pillar” of the early church. Jesus gave the nickname “Boanerges” or “Sons of Thunder” to John and his brother James. John was also referred to as the disciple that Jesus loved.
Initial Call & Encounter with Jesus
John and his brother James were fishermen, working in their family business with their father Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22, Mark 1:19-20, Luke 5:1-11). Jesus saw John and James by the Sea of Galilee, mending nets in their boat. He called them to follow Him, and they immediately left their boat and father to do so. John 1:35-39 may refer to an earlier encounter between John and Jesus. While not explicitly named, John is believed to be the “other disciple” mentioned alongside Andrew. In this account, John (then a disciple of John the Baptist) heard him identify Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and subsequently followed Jesus and spent a day with Him.
Significant Characteristics
1. Intimate Relationship with Jesus: John had a uniquely close relationship with Jesus, often referred to as the “beloved disciple” (John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20).
2. Spiritual Insight & Depth: John’s writings reveal a deep understanding of Christ’s nature, focusing on Jesus’ divinity and the deeper meanings behind His actions and words.
3. Visionary & Prophetic Gifting: John received from God and communicated profound revelations, particularly in the Book of Revelation, about the end times, the nature of the church, and Christ’s ultimate victory.
4. Inner Circle: John along with his brother James, and Peter were often referred to as the “inner circle” of Jesus or the “pillars” of the early church. They were chosen to be part of certain important events like the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-19) and Jesus’ agonizing moments in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33,34).
Contributions to the Church
1. Authorship of Key New Testament Writings: John is traditionally regarded as the author of five books of the Bible. The Gospel of John, the Epistles of John (1 John, 2 John & 3 John), and the Book of Revelation.
2. Ministry in Jerusalem: John was active in the early Christian community in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension, participating in spreading the Gospel among the Jewish population (Acts 1-5).
3. Ministry in Samaria: John, along with Peter, traveled to Samaria to support the new believers through Philip’s ministry (Acts 8:14-17), helping expand the Gospel beyond the Jewish community.
4. Ministry in Ephesus (Asia Minor): According to church tradition, John resided in Ephesus, a major city of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) for a significant time, likely writing his Gospel and epistles there. His leadership strengthened the church in Asia Minor.
5. Exile in Patmos: John was exiled to the island of Patmos during the reign of Emperor Domitian (around AD 95). While on Patmos, John received the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:9), providing spiritual guidance to the early church as well as future generations.
John’s Death
According to early Christian tradition, it is believed that John returned to Ephesus after his exile in Patmos, where he died of natural causes around 100 AD. This sets him apart from most of the other apostles, who are believed to have been martyred for their faith. However, it’s worth noting that while John may not have died a martyr’s death, he did face persecution for his faith, including exile to the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).
Testimony & Legacy
John’s life testimony is one of profound transformation from an ordinary fisherman and an impulsive “son of thunder” to an “apostle of love” who had an intimate relationship with Jesus, lived faithfully through persecutions, and left a lasting legacy through his deep spiritual impactful writings.
