The 12 Apostles - John

I've been doing a study through the 12 Apostles over the past few days. John is probably one of the most interesting of the 12, to me. Mainly because of the amazing things he was privileged to be part of, but especially the Revelation of future prophecy God saw fit to give him. While we don't have Apostles today now that we have God's completed written Word and the foundation of the Church is already established, discipleship is still very relevant as a ministry, and we are all called to make disciples and evangelize.

Here is some interesting information I've gleaned from my studies on John's NT life and ministry.

• In the 4 lists of the disciples in the NT, John is always listed either third or fourth

• He is also known as "the Disciple of Love"

• John's name means "gift of God"

• He was called a "Son of Thunder" by Jesus, same as his brother James because like his brother, he was a hot-headed guy with temper issues. (Mk 3:17)

Before John met Christ this is who he was:

• He and his brother James were both sons of Zebedee (Mt 4:21, 27:56, Mk 16:1)

• He and his brother and family were from rural Capernaum and worked with their father and with Peter and Andrew as fishermen (Mt 4:18-22)

• As mentioned above, he was known for his self-centered hot-headed temper (Mk 10:35-45, Luke 9:54-55)

• He was somehow a personal acquaintance of the high priest of the time (John 18:15)

John's personal encounters with Christ changed him:

• Like his brother John and his fishing partner Peter, he was called of Christ to be a "fisher of men" and left it all behind right then and there. If that's not faith, I don't know what is (Mt 4:19, Luke 5:11)

• He was one of the "core 3" disciples, same as Peter and James

• He along with James and John got to witness the transfiguration of Jesus literally happen on the mountain, and got to see Elijah and Moses literally conversing with Jesus

• He sat closest to Jesus during the Last Supper (John 13:23)

• He was the only one noted to be present at the Cross (John 19:26)

• He was entrusted by Jesus (as He was dying) with the care of his earthly mother Mary, which John faithfully tended to until Mary's death (John 19:26-27)

• He, like his brother James, became humbled and a devoted follower of Christ (Gal 3:9)

• He was a ministry partner with Peter during the early Church days (Acts 3-4, 8:14)

• He was the disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 20)

Some unique things about John:

• He wrote the Gospel of John, 1,2,3 John, and after the visions given to him by God, wrote The Revelation of Jesus Christ (during his imprisonment on the penal island of Patmos by Rome - Rev 1:1, 9)

• Though he suffered much for his faith like many of the other Apostles, he was the last one to face death, and the only one to die of natural causes from age.

• After his release from Patmos, he was the pastor of the church at Ephesus for a few years, where he eventually died around 98-100 AD

John (aside from Paul) had some of the most amazing experiences as an Apostle, selected personally by Christ for his ministry. He went from a self-centered hot-tempered man to a man committed to Christ no matter the cost!!

What do you glean from John's Apostolic ministry?