John - The Beloved Disciple
This is a first-person account from John, known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." As the longest-living apostle and author of five books of the New Testament, his unique perspective spans from intimate moments with Christ to decades of faithful ministry.
I am John, once a young fisherman who became known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Though this title might seem presumptuous, it speaks not of any special merit of mine, but of the overwhelming love of Christ that transformed my life. From the thunderous zeal of my youth to the deep wisdom of my later years, my journey has been one of discovering the profound truth that God is love.
From Fisherman to Beloved
Like my brother James, I was mending nets when Jesus called us. We were known as the "Sons of Thunder" – a name that captured our fierce devotion but also our untempered zeal. Yet Jesus saw beyond our rough exterior to what we could become. In His presence, my thunder gradually transformed into a deeper understanding of divine love.
Witnesses to Glory
As part of Jesus's inner circle, I was privileged to witness moments that still fill me with awe:
- The transfiguration, where His glory was unveiled before our eyes
- The raising of Jairus's daughter from death to life
- His agony in Gethsemane, where I learned that love sometimes means sharing in suffering
- And uniquely, I was the only apostle who stood at the foot of His cross
The Privilege of Closeness
At the Last Supper, I reclined next to Jesus, close enough to lean back against Him. This physical closeness symbolized a deeper spiritual intimacy that would shape my entire understanding of faith. It was there He taught us about abiding in His love, a lesson I've spent a lifetime learning and sharing.
A Sacred Trust
Perhaps the most profound moment of trust came at the cross, when Jesus, even in His agony, looked down and entrusted me with the care of His mother, Mary. "Woman, behold your son," He said, and to me, "Behold your mother." This sacred responsibility taught me how divine love expresses itself in practical care and commitment.
A Lifetime of Witness
Unlike my brother James, who was the first apostle martyred, I was given the privilege and responsibility of a long life. Through persecution and exile on Patmos, through the joy of seeing churches grow and the pain of seeing them struggle, I've witnessed the unfolding of Christ's promises. My testimony spans from being the young disciple who outran Peter to the empty tomb to becoming the elder who wrote, "Little children, love one another."
Love Incarnate
In all my writings – my Gospel, letters, and the Revelation – I've tried to share what I learned through decades of walking with Christ:
- That the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
- That God's light overcomes all darkness
- That perfect love casts out fear
- That we love because He first loved us
- That in the end, love triumphs over all
A Message for All Times
To those reading these words in your time, know that the love I witnessed and experienced in Christ transcends all ages. Whether you feel like a "Son of Thunder" as I once was, or someone seeking deeper intimacy with God, remember this: it's not about earning His love, but about receiving and abiding in it.
In my long years of following Jesus, from the shores of Galilee to the island of Patmos, from the foot of the cross to the churches of Asia Minor, I've learned that everything returns to this: God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God. The young fisherman who once wanted to call down fire from heaven came to understand that the greatest power in all creation is divine love.
Remember, beloved, you don't need to recline next to Jesus as I did to experience His love. Whether in times of glory like the transfiguration or in exile like Patmos, His love remains constant. As one who has witnessed both His glory and His suffering, who has seen Him in both life and death and resurrection, I can testify that there is no greater truth than this: Love never fails.