John, along with his brother James and his father Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade.  They were in partnership with Peter and Andrew.  Very early in the Lord’s public ministry, John was called to be a “fisher of men,” and he immediately forsook all and followed Jesus.  In addition to being one of the original twelve apostles, John, with James and Peter, was privileged to be part of what I choose to call “the inner circle.”  As such, he was present at times when the other nine apostles were not.  John was privileged to see some things that they did not see, to hear some things that they did not hear.

            What can we learn of the character of this man?  There are a number of passages that help us to understand the personality of John.  One such passage is Mark 3:17 where John and his brother James were referred to by Jesus as “the Sons of Thunder.”  Other passages indicate that this was probably a phrase the Lord used to describe his temperament.  For instance, in Luke 9:49-50 we read, “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him because he followeth not with us.  And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is with us.”  In verses 51-56 we find John, along with his brother James, asking the Lord if they should call down fire from heaven to consume a village of Samaritans who would not receive Jesus.   The verses reads as follows, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.  And they went to another village.”  In Mark 10:35-37 we find evidence of earthly ambition in John and his brother as they requested that they might be given the seats on the right and left hand of the Lord in glory.  The passage says, “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldst do for us whatsoever we shall desire.  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.”

            After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, John is often found in the company of Peter.  These two men healed the lame man before the temple gate that was called Beautiful in Acts 3.  In Acts 4 they stood boldly before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, and said, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”  Acts 8 reveals that it was Peter and John who traveled to Samaria to impart the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit unto those who had received the word of the Lord by the preaching of the evangelist, Philip.  We know from Galatians 2:9 that John was viewed as a “pillar” of the church in Jerusalem.  When all of this is considered together, we see a working man with a certain fiery disposition and a degree of earthly ambition.  He was also a man of deep religious conviction, and in that his personality served him well. He felt deeply and he believed deeply.  When the call came he responded immediately.  He was privileged to be part of that inner circle.  When courage was called for, he was there and he showed the ability to lead.

            There is another aspect to the character of John that needs to be considered.  I believe that in John 13:23, he is referred to as the disciples “whom Jesus loved.”  I believe that it was John who stood near the cross of Jesus and to whom the Lord entrusted the care of His mother.  In John 19:26-27 we find, “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.”

            It was John who ran with Peter to investigate the story of the empty tomb.  It was also John who first recognized the Lord when He appeared to the apostles along the seashore as they were fishing.  What we read of John seems to indicate that perhaps he was the closest of all the Lord’s associates on earth.  Of no other are such terms of endearment used.  He was not a perfect man, yet he is described as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

            Our certain knowledge of John ends on the Isle of Patmos where we leave him -- a brother and companion in the tribulation and the kingdom.  Near the conclusion of the book of Revelation John wrote, “And I John saw these things, and heard them.”  In Acts 4:13 the statement was made concerning Peter and John, “and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”  By emulating the best of the qualities of John, people will be able to look at us and know that we too walk with Jesus.

                                                Greg Litmer