____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ April 4, 2004 ____________________________________________________ The Apostle John by Tom Edwards According to Hitchcock's Bible Names, this person's name literally means "the grace or mercy of the Lord." Surely, every good blessing we receive is by the goodness of God's grace; and perhaps this is exactly how these parents felt about this child that the Lord had given them -- and who would one day become the apostle John. We read of the call of John in Matthew 4:21,22 and from this passage learn several things about him: 1) He had a brother named "James," who was also called to be an apostle. 2) His father's name was "Zebedee." 3) They were fisherman and fished with nets. 4) John and his brother James "immediately" followed Jesus, leaving the boat and their father. There was no procrastination. From Mark's account, we are given the impression that Zebedee had accumulated some wealth from his work. Apparently, his fishing business had been good for him. Mark 1:20 includes something that Matthew does not bring out in his account -- nor any of the others. It says, "Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him." The fact that Zebedee had "hired servants" would seem to imply that he was well-to-do financially. He certainly does not appear as being a poor, struggling man just barely getting by. A. T. Robertson, in his "Word Pictures in the New Testament," writes, "Zebedee and his two sons evidently had an extensive business in co-operation with Andrew and Simon...." The Bible does make mention of James and John being "partners with Simon" in Luke 5:5-11. And with regard to Andrew also working with his brother Peter (Simon), consider Matthew 4:18. Here they are both referred to as "fishermen" and are seen fishing together, using a cast net. John's mother was one of the women who had followed Christ and helped Him in His ministry (Matt. 27:55,56). That probably included financial aid -- and perhaps food. cf. Luke 8:1-3. Her name is "Salome," which can be deduced by comparing a couple Bible verses: Matt. 27:54-56 (John's mother at the crucifixion scene). Those mentioned specifically in this passage are "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee." Now compare this with the parallel passage in Mark 15:39-41, where those specifically mentioned are: "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Jose, and Salome." John's mother had made a request of Jesus. She said, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left" (Mark 20:20-24). Of course, this was not merely her request, but that of her sons as well, which is emphasized in Mark 10:35-41. It was truly something that John had desired. Prior to his meeting the Lord, John was not only a fisherman; but more importantly, he was also a religious man. See John 1:35-40. In this passage, Andrew (Peter's brother) is mentioned as having been a disciple of John the baptist; and many commentators suggest that this other "disciple," who was with Andrew, is the apostle John, before he became an apostle of the Lord. But more often than seeing John with Andrew, is seeing John with Peter. Along with the apostle James, Peter and John made up that "inner three." For out of all the apostles, it was these three who seemed to have had a closer relationship with Jesus and were also there to witness some events that the other apostles had not. For instance, it was just Peter, James, and John who were with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah had also appeared (Matt. 17:1-9). In Mark 5:37-43, at the resurrection of the synagogue official's 12-year old daughter, Jesus would allow no one, but Peter, James, and John, along with the girl's parents, to enter the room with Him where this young girl's body lay. In Mark 14:32-38, Jesus took these three with Him farther into the Garden of Gethsemane than He did the other apostles, on the night of His betrayal. And concerning just Peter and John often seen together, it was these two whom Jesus sent, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it" (Luke 22:8). This led to the occasion of the last supper that Jesus had with His apostles, prior to His death, and to the institution of the "Lord's Supper." It was also at that time when Jesus washed His disciples' feet (Jn. 13). In John 18:15,16, John is thought to have been that "another disciple" who is mentioned here, as having been with Peter when Jesus was taken before the authorities to stand trial. John Gill writes: "This is thought to be the Apostle John, because he frequently speaks of himself, without mentioning his name; and these two, Peter and John, were generally together; and certain it is, that John was present at the cross at the time of Christ's crucifixion; and who is supposed to be known to the high priest, by carrying fish to his house, and selling it to him" (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible). If it be so, that this was the apostle John, then he entered into this "court of the high priest," which Coffman defines as follows: "...an imposing structure with apartments, a courtyard, stalls for guards, and the usual accouterments of a palace. It is likely that both Annas and Caiaphas lived there. The sending of Jesus bound to Caiaphas involved nothing more than leading him across the courtyard" (Commentary on John, p. 396). In John 20:1-8, it was to Peter and John that Mary Magdalene ran, in order to tell the news that Jesus' body had been taken from the tomb; and she had no idea where to. (At this time, Mary did not know that the Lord had arisen from the dead.) In Acts 1:13, even though Peter is Andrew's brother; and John is James', these are listed as "Peter and John and James and Andrew...." In Acts 3:1, we read of Peter and John "...going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer." The account goes on to show of the healing of a man, more than 40 years of age, who had been lame from birth. As they remained in that area preaching, it soon led to their arrest and incarceration. Then on the next day, when they stood before many religious leaders, Peter boldly preached to them. He and John were then commanded to no more teach in the name of the Lord, but they both responded by saying, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19,20). Even before they made this statement, Acts 4:13 shows of the impression they had been making on the others: "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus." Peter and John were not without any education, but they had not been formally instructed, such as the apostle Paul had been, prior to his conversion. In Acts 8:14, it was Peter and John that the church in Jerusalem had sent to Samaria when news was received of the conversion of so many there, through Philip's preaching. See Acts 8:14-18, 25. They had gone there for the purpose of laying hands on the converted in order to give to them the Holy Spirit; and, afterwards, Peter and John remained in Samaria, for a while, in order to testify and proclaim more of the gospel, before their return to Jerusalem. All of these passages show that there were many times in which Peter and John were together. They certainly must have been good friends. Not only does John appear to have had a close relationship with Peter, but also with Jesus Himself. The Bible refers to John as being the apostle "whom Jesus loved" (Jn. 13:23). John had been there at the crucifixion of Jesus, standing near the cross, along with Mary (Jesus' mother) and some other women -- and it was to the apostle John that Jesus, at that time, entrusted the care of His mother (John 19:25-27). According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, John also had a home in Jerusalem where he was well acquainted with many of the citizens; and that it was to that home where he took Mary, the Lord's mother. Though we might initially have doubts about John, who was from Galilee, actually having a home in Jerusalem; would it not stand to reason that he did? For John had lived many years in Jerusalem after the church was established; and has been noted as being a "pillar" in the church there -- cf. Acts 15:6 with Gal. 2:9. Though many of the passages do not specifically mention John's name for the apostle "whom Jesus loved," John 21:20-24 gives us that connection. This passage also confirms the comment we heard from John Gill that expressed that John often referred to himself (in the gospel of John) without mentioning his name. It sounds almost as if he is actually speaking of someone else, when he is not. It was to John and James that Jesus gave the name "Boanerges," which means "sons of thunder." This word and phrase is seen just one time in the Bible in Mark 3:17. Concerning this name, the ISBE writes, "We note further that John was a young man of fiery zeal, and of a tendency toward intolerance and exclusiveness." It goes on to say that "whatever else may be meant by it ["Boanerges"], means strength, unexpectedness, and zeal approaching to methods of violence." We are reminded of some examples in John's life that would illustrate this: such as the time in Luke 9:51-56, when he asked the Lord if He wanted them to command that fire come down out of heaven and consume the Samaritans who were not willing to accept Jesus because He was heading for Jerusalem. Because of John's relationship with Jesus, however, this "son of thunder" eventually became an "apostle of love," which is a phrase frequently used by Bible students to describe him. For consider his writings that often emphasize the importance of love: 1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10-18; and 1 John 4:7-21. It has been said that "The general character of this great apostle is already sufficiently apparent. While we recall the illustrative facts found in the Synoptics, that James and John were the two who wished to call down fire from heaven on the inhospitable village, that John was one of those who desired one of the chief places in the kingdom, that he it was who forbade the man to cast out demons in the name of Jesus because he followed not with them, we do not forget that on each of these occasions he was corrected and rebuked by the Master, and he was not the kind of man who could not profit by the rebuke of Jesus. So that vehemence of disposition was held in check, and, while still in existence, was under control, and allowed to have vent only on occasions when it was permissible, and even necessary. So in his writings, and in the reflections in the Gospel, we note the vehemence displayed, but now directed only against those who refused to believe in, and to acknowledge, Jesus" (ISBE). Concerning this correcting that the Lord did with John, Drummond writes, "it is not without significance that, in the three narratives which are cited from the Gospels to prove the overbearing temper of John, we are expressly told that Jesus corrected him. Are we to suppose that these rebukes made no impression? Is it not more likely that they sank deep into his heart, and that the agony of beholding his Master's crucifixion made them ineffaceable? Then, if not before, began that long development which changed the youthful son of thunder into the aged apostle of love." When persecution soon befell the church in Jerusalem, and many Christians were either driven to or went of their own accord to other areas, John remained there with the other apostles and worked with the church. See Acts 8:1-4. He had become noted as a "pillar" of the church in Jerusalem. See Gal. 2:1,9. This previous reference is referring to the time Paul went to Jerusalem to deal with the matter of circumcision and the keeping of the Law of Moses, which corresponds to what we see in Acts 15. The "fourteen years" he mentions in Galatians 2:1 does not mean since his last visit to Jerusalem; but, rather, fourteen years since his conversion. In Galatians 1, Paul mentions his going into Arabia after his conversion; and then after three years going to Jerusalem. Chapter 2 then begins with "Then after an interval of fourteen years," which might easily be assumed to have been since the last time he was in Jerusalem; but the last time he was there was not three years after his conversion. For according to Acts 11:27-30, Paul had also been there since then in order to take financial relief to the needy saints in Judea; and this he did by taking it to the elders. It can also be pointed out that this "James" (in Gal. 2:9), mentioned along with Peter and John, is not the apostle James; but rather the half-brother of the Lord. For the apostle James, John's brother, had already been martyred by this time (Acts 12:1,2). He was the first of the apostles to be put to death. As to the length of time John remained in Jerusalem, we are not told -- nor do we know all of his history after having left there. We do know he was there from the time the church began (Acts 2) to the time Paul had come up to Jerusalem (Gal. 2:9; Acts 15), which would make that period about 21 years. But as to how much longer after that John remained, we don't know. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, John was not in Jerusalem during the time of Paul's last visit there, which we read about in Acts 21:15-40. Some have placed the date for this to have been 28 years after the establishment of the church. Easton goes on to say the following about John: "He appears to have retired to Ephesus, but at what time is unknown. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of his special care (Rev. 1:11). He suffered under persecution, and was banished to Patmos (Rev. 1:9); whence he again returned to Ephesus, where he died, probably about A.D. 98, having outlived all or nearly all the friends and companions even of his mature years. There are many interesting traditions regarding John during his residence at Ephesus, but these cannot claim the character of historical truth." Speaking of some of these unverifiable accounts, Smith's Bible Dictionary states: "Tradition goes on to relate that, in the persecution under Domitian, he is taken to Rome, and there, by his boldness, though not by death, gains the crown of martyrdom. The boiling oil into which he is thrown has no power to hurt him. He is then sent to labor in the mines, and Patmos is the place of his exile. The accession of Nerva frees him from danger, and he returns to Ephesus. Heresies continue to show themselves, but he meets them with the strongest possible protest. The very time of his death lies within the region of conjecture, rather than of history, and the dates that have been assigned for it, range from A.D. 89 to A.D. 120." "According to the tradition universally accepted in the church, John survived till the time of Trajan (98 AD)" (ISBE). Though he had been exiled to the island of Patmos, notice John's perspective on it in Revelation 1:9,10. After acknowledging that he also was "a partaker in the tribulation," he furthermore declares that he is in the kingdom, in the Spirit, and persevering; so that certainly made it all worthwhile. John, therefore, had something much greater than the world could ever give him or ever take away from him. The apostle John was a true servant of the Lord whose life had been transformed by the love of Jesus. John had been a "son of thunder" who -- through Christ -- had become an "apostle of love." May we each be encouraged by the life of the apostle John, to keep our goal set on heaven, to live for the Lord daily, and to always have the love of God abiding in our hearts. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________