“One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side” John 13:23
John the Best Friend
One of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples, John is called the disciple that Jesus loved. I mean, this guy was probably Jesus’ best friend on earth! Wow! How cool is that?!?
John is an interesting character. One of the sons of a man named Zebedee, John was a fisherman as a part of his family business along with his brother James when Jesus called them both to follow Him.
“And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.” Mark 1:19-20
Sons of Thunder
Jesus even had a nickname for these brothers. He called James and John “Boanerges”, which means “Sons of Thunder.” (Mark 3:17) These brothers seem like men of action and passion. They are confident and unafraid to go after what they want.
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Mark 10:35-37
Great trust and affection
John obviously overstepped sometimes. However, he also definitely had the affection and trust of Jesus. While Jesus was on the cross, John is the disciple to whom Jesus entrusts his own mother Mary.
“but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:25-27
Author and Prophet
John is traditionally attributed authorship of John, 1-3 John, and Revelation in the New Testament. He wrote a gospel account of the life of Jesus, three letters to early church believers, and an end of times prophecy that also includes instructions to seven churches.
John’s focus in his letters to the believers of the early church is interesting. He was called the disciple whom Jesus loved, and the heart of his instruction centers on love.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:7-12
The person who was the closest to the Savior while He was on earth sees Jesus as Love Incarnate. And that Love prompts him, as it should us, to love others. One of the ways that John showed love to others was in the care that he gave to Mary. He took the mother of Jesus into his home and provided for her.
ACTION STEP:
What ways can we show love for others this week? Today? Are there specific, tangible things we can do to share the love of Jesus with those around us? Does the loving relationship we have with our Savior prompt us to love one another?
Please post your thoughts and pics under Week 8 in the Facebook group @DevoInAction (https://www.facebook.com/devoinaction) or post on Instagram and tag me @devoinaction!
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PRAYER:
Dear God, Let Your Love for us prompt us to love others. Show us the ways in which we can display your love to those in our lives. Help us to love like you do this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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