John son of Zebedee I. Introduction A. The primary message of the New Testament is the Gospel: the good news of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension/lordship, and imminent return in judgment (Luke 24:44-48, Acts 2:13-46, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8) B. Yet we should not miss the importance of those who saw Jesus in life and who testified as the witnesses of His resurrection: the twelve Apostles (Luke 24:44-48, 1 John 1:1-4) 1. Jesus specifically chose these men to learn of His teachings, witness His life and work, visited them in His resurrection, and commissioned them to receive power from the Holy Spirit and to go and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world (Matthew 10:1-4, 18:18, Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-2:48) 2. They would work to turn the world upside down, and we are to learn from their examples as they modeled the life of Jesus (Acts 17:6-7, 1 Corinthians 11:1) C. Who are the Apostles? 1. Simon Peter, the fisherman, listed first, the chief spokesman of the Twelve (Matthew 4:18-19, 10:1, 16:16-19) 2. John, brother of James, the sons of Zebedee; they, with Peter, were the Three who were closest to Jesus, and John was the disciple whom Jesus loved (Matthew 4:21, 17:1-9, John 13:23-25) 3. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 10:4, 26:14-16) 4. The rest of the Apostles, the “Minor Nine,” of whom we learn comparatively less a. Originally Andrew (brother of Peter), James (brother of John), Philip, Bartholomew (Nathanael?), Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector, also called Levi), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, and Simon (the Cananean or Zealot; Matthew 10:1-4 / Mark 3:13-19 / Luke 6:13-16) b. Matthias would take Judas’ place (Acts 1:15-26) D. We do well to explore what can be known about these men and learn from them E. Let us consider John son of Zebedee 1. Evangelist, elder, letter writer 2. What do we learn of John as a disciple? How does he develop as an Apostle and an evangelist? 3. What can we learn from his example? II. John son of Zebedee A. In tradition, a younger contemporary of Jesus 1. As brother of James, sons of Zebedee, fishermen, called by Jesus from their nets to become fishers of men, partners with Simon and Andrew: Matthew 4:20-21 / Mark 1:19-20 / Luke 5:8-10 2. As sons of Salome, also a follower of Jesus (Matthew 27:56 / Mark 15:40, 16:1); some have associated her with Mary wife of Clopas in John 19:25, and thus Mary’s sister, Jesus’ aunt, making John Jesus’ cousin 3. With brother James, deemed Boanerges by Jesus, “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17) 4. As recognizably Galilean: Mark 14:70 / Luke 22:59, Acts 2:7 5. As “unlearned and ignorant,” that is, having not received formal rabbinic education: Acts 4:13 B. During Jesus’ ministry there is no indication John has a wife or children 1. At the cross John stands with Mary Jesus’ mother and others, commissioned by Jesus to care for His mother (John 19:25-27) 2. As an elder (2 John 1:1), eventually had married, had children (1 Timothy 3:1-8, Titus 1:5-7) C. According to best evidence and tradition John lives until ca. 95 CE, the only one among the eleven to die naturally D. In ancient traditions John is seen as a bit younger than other disciples; if born ca. 6-10 CE, then he is 17-22 during Jesus’ ministry, and lives until around 85-90 E. John son of Zebedee, like Simon, a first century Galilean Jew, part of the unwashed masses, an ordinary person who was caught up in the most extraordinary of circumstances III. John the Disciple A. Early in Jesus’ ministry, John called to become a fisher of men 1. In the Synoptic Gospels, as Jesus begins proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom in Galilee (Matthew 4:20-21 / Mark 1:19-20 / Luke 5:8-10) 2. Listed fourth as part of those disciples called to be the Twelve (Matthew 10:1-4 / Mark 3:13-19 / Luke 6:12-16) B. With Simon Peter and his brother James, part of the three who saw Jairus’ daughter raised, Jesus in the Transfiguration, brought closer in Gethsemane (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 14:31-32, Luke 8:51-56); with Peter, sent to prepare Passover (Luke 22:8) C. With his brother James, called Boanerges, “sons of thunder” by Jesus (Mark 3:17) D. In Matthew, John present, but not spoken of as much; one of the “sons of Zebedee,” for whom their mother asks in Matthew 20:20-28 E. In Mark and Luke, John (and James) as marked by boldness, a bit of impetuousness, a little lack of patience; “sons of thunder” thus appropriate 1. Mark 9:38-40 / Luke 9:49-50: John as stopping someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name who was not a fellow disciple, told not to do so 2. Luke 9:51-55: when Jesus rebuffed by Samaritans, John (and James) asked if He wanted fire brought down from heaven upon them; Jesus rebuked them 3. Mark 10:35-45 (Matthew 20:20-28): James and John as requesting to be at Jesus’ right and left hands in His Kingdom; other disciples resentful, most likely because they did not ask for themselves; Jesus asked if they were willing to drink His cup, be baptized with His baptism, and they claimed to be willing and able; not for Jesus to give, and the impulse was resisted F. In John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” 1. In the Gospel bearing his name John is never mentioned as such 2. Instead, we occasionally hear about “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, 20) 3. In John 21:20-24 this “disciple whom Jesus loved” is the “disciple” who testifies regarding the things in the Gospel; thus John speaks of himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” 4. Consistent with his humility, good standing, and theological emphasis 5. As the one on Jesus’ breast at the last supper: John 13:23 6. At the cross with the women, commissioned to care for Mary: John 19:25-27 7. A touching tribute to Jesus, but also emphasizing John’s role as a disciple G. As a disciple, therefore, John often paired with his brother James, known for a bit of impetuousness IV. John the Apostle A. At the moment of Jesus’ resurrection and through much of Acts, John is paired with Simon Peter 1. John 18:15-16: the “other disciple” known to the high priest believed to be John 2. John 20:2-10: Peter and John run to the tomb 3. John 21:1-23: John speaks with Peter in the boat; Peter wishes to know what would be of John 4. Acts 1:13: notice Luke’s shift in naming the disciples; Peter and John, James and Andrew are the pairs, and John has now gone from fourth to second 5. Acts 3:1-4:23: John with Peter in the Temple during the healing of the lame man, proclamation of Gospel, accusation before Sanhedrin 6. Acts 8:14-25: John goes with Peter to Samaria B. Galatians 2:9: attested by Paul to be one of the “pillars” C. Such is what we see of John as one of the Apostles; he is paired with Peter and is content with his “sidekick” role V. John, Witness of the Word of Life A. We as Christians are most familiar with John son of Zebedee as the author of the Gospel of John, the three letters of John, and the Revelation of John 1. Some believe John wrote all these in the 60s CE; best evidence suggests John wrote them ca. 85-95 CE 2. Some in antiquity doubted that author of 2/3 John was the same as author of Gospel and 1 John (cf. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.24) 3. Nevertheless, literary and thematic continuity among the three letters quite great; most likely the same source 4. Early Christians attest to John as seeing the Revelation (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 81.4 5. Gospel of John: tells the story of Jesus, focusing primarily on His ministry in Jerusalem, specific signs, and discourses with disciples 6. 1 John: written to Christians to encourage them in their faith, warning against Gnostic heresies, assuring them of their standing before God 7. 2 John: written to warn against association with Gnostic teachers 8. 3 John: written to commend Demetrius and to warn about Diotrephes’ behavior 9. Revelation: a vision of Jesus given to John by God in the Spirit, describing what Christians would experience at the hands of the Romans in terms of images drawn from the history of the people of God, the period of history afterward, the judgment, and life in the resurrection B. These five writings, while different in genre, maintain great continuity in theme and message 1. John roots the authority by which he speaks in his witness of the Word of life in Jesus of Nazareth (John 1:1-18, 1 John 1:1-4, Revelation 1:20, 22:8, 16) 2. John’s Christology is high; Jesus as the Word, God made flesh, yet continually emphasized Jesus’ bodily nature (John 1:1-18, 1 John 1:1-4, 2:16-29, 4:1-4, 2 John 1:6-9) 3. Love is a prominent theme (John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, 4:7-21) 4. Belief and life also flow throughout (John 1:1-18, 1 John 1:1-10, 3:16) 5. The Old Testament is never far; throughout John uses its illustrations and images and cites when appropriate (e.g. John 2:12-22, 6:1-69, Revelation 4:1-22:6) C. John has great care for those who believe in Jesus and yet upholds the truth of what God accomplished in Christ 1. John 20:30-31: Gospel written so people may believe Jesus is the Christ 2. Care for believers is evident throughout 1 John (1 John 1:4, 5:21) 3. And yet 1-3 John all written in no small part because of Gnostic incursions into the church and ego issues within the church D. John suffers greatly for his witness of Jesus 1. Revelation 1:9: on Patmos, exiled for a time on account of proclaiming the Gospel and holding firm to the witness of Jesus 2. Patmos has no natural sources of water; Romans would banish superstitious types there, and related places, at will (Pliny Natural History 4.69-70; Tacitus Annals 4.30) 3. He envisions further suffering for the people of God until the judgment would come upon those who persecuted them (Revelation 2:1-20:10) E. According to best understanding, dies ca. 95 in Ephesus, only Apostle to die of natural causes 1. Tradition claims that John went to Ephesus after his time in Jerusalem (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.3.4; Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics) 2. Further claims that John trained Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna (who in turn trained Irenaeus) 3. Resisted the heretic Cerinthus F. Thus we see John the son of Zebedee in Scripture and in some traditions VI. The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved A. What, then, can we learn from John, son of Zebedee, the disciple whom Jesus loved? B. The Son of Thunder 1. As a disciple John is portrayed as a bit bold and impetuous, very much on the side of judgment 2. Jesus often pushes off this instinct 3. It is fashionable to speak of maturation of John into the “Apostle of Love,” based on that emphasis in his writings 4. Yet his words about the antichrists, condemnation of the Gnostics, and portrayal of the judgments of God show may indicate that the Son of Thunder was still around (1 John 2, 2 John, Revelation 6-9, 15-20) 5. As with Peter, so with John: tendencies still remain, even if there is maturity and development in their exercise 6. There is a time and a place for a “son of thunder,” but s/he must be very careful in how that “thunder” gets exercised! C. The Second 1. As an Apostle, John has a prominent position, mentioned frequently 2. And yet that position was as second to Peter and as his companion in ministry 3. Yet John does not seem to chafe at the role; he is willing to serve as he is able in that position 4. In the Lord’s wisdom the disciples were sent out two by two (Mark 6:7); if one takes the lead in preaching and teaching, it is just as important to have the second there to assist and encourage 5. We always need preachers and teachers in the Lord’s vineyard, but there is just as great a need for a second to serve as well! D. Experiencing and Bearing Witness to Jesus 1. John defines himself in terms of experiencing the Word of life (1 John 1:1-4) 2. He of all the disciples saw Jesus in life, in death, and in the resurrection 3. He frames what he says in that light: he bears witness to Jesus so that others can come to the knowledge he has, believe in Jesus as he does, and share in fellowship 4. It sounds simple, and the logic prevails: we do well to heed his witness, and to communicate that witness to others, and then we and they can share with John in fellowship and all be in fellowship with God in Christ! VII. Conclusion A. Thus we see John, son of Zebedee B. The Son of Thunder 1. A younger man when he encountered Jesus 2. Prominent among the disciples 3. Looking for the advantage, ready to strike C. The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved 1. Associated with Peter, stood with him, supported him 2. Spoke powerfully regarding the love of God in Christ 3. Spoke so others would share in that love D. May we seek to follow the Lord Jesus according to the witness of John and the other Apostles, and abide in His love always! E. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him (Matthew 4:21-22). John was a son of Zebedee, a Galilean fisherman, called by Jesus to go and catch men. He was most likely a younger contemporary of Jesus and the other disciples. His life would never be the same after he began following Jesus. We do well to follow Jesus as well! 2: And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder (Mark 3:17). Jesus surnamed John and his brother James “Boanerges,” or “sons of thunder.” At times they manifested an impetuous disposition. John would mature but still be able to call down thunder when necessary. “Sons of thunder” are needed at certain times and places, but such must keep themselves under control! 3: When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, “Woman, behold thy son!” Then saith he to the disciple, “Behold, thy mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home (John 19:26-27). When John writes his Gospel he calls himself the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” He was always close to Jesus, and Jesus entrusted him with His mother’s care. We do well to follow the Lord Jesus and be His disciples! 4: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). John is best known for his writings: the Gospel, three letters, and Revelation. John experienced the Word of life and in his writings bore witness to that experience. He did this so we could read and accept that witness to share in fellowship with him and with God. May we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and share fellowship with John and the people of God!