Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Character Study of John the Apostlea character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionJohn was as common a name in Bible times as it is today, even if it is on the wane in favor of hippermonikers like Canyon, Blaze and Walker. Even the New Testament boasts a baptizer, evangelist andapostle–all named John. Each, also, is a remarkable character, and when we consider the life and work ofthe apostle John, we find an example of compassion and courage.DiscussionI. His Character 49A. Called by Jesus1. when we first encounter this man named John, he is far from being an apostle as the son of awealthy fisherman named Zebedee and his wife, Salome2. some conjecture that he was possibly a cousin of Jesus and of John the baptizer, and that hemight have been the unnamed other disciple of the baptizer who introduced them to Jesus (John 1:35-42)3. John was called among the first six apostles (Mark 1:16-20)4. John’s name rarely appears by itself in the gospel stories, but usually in concert with hisbrother, and often, Peter also (e.g. transfiguration in Matthew 17)B. Sons of Thunder1. John was distinguished with his brother, James, as “Boanerges” or the “Sons of Thunder” (seeMark 3:17), and at least one episode supports this shared and earned nickname (Luke 9:51-56)2. John was consistently curious about the fulfillment of judgment prophecy upon Israel or herenemies (Mark 13:1-4)3. his character is marred further by his zealous pursuit of greater authority in the comingkingdom than that enjoyed by his apostolic brethren (Mark 10:35-41)4. his territorial view of the gospel and the kingdom led him to oppose certain others as rivals(Mark 9:38-41)C. Elder Statesman1. after the ascension of Christ and the establishment of the church, John took his place as onepart of its foundationa. he and Peter frequently appear together in the temple and on trial before the Sanhedrin fortheir intrepid proclamation of Jesus as the Christ (see Acts 3-5)b. theologically, they were uneducated and common men in the judgment of the Council (seeActs 4:13), but they had been taught better by the Lord (Acts 4:19-20)2. John survived his brother’s martyrdom at the hands of Herod (see Acts 12) and met Paul as anelder statesman in the infant church, no longer bent on dissuading potential rivals from preaching thegospel (Galatians 2:9-10)3. John became a prolific writer of Scripture, including a highly personal gospel account, threeepistles and the apocalyptic Revelation, which required him to observe the spirit world in a way that fewothers have4. he seems to suggest that he received the Revelation from the Lord while exiled by the Romanemperor Domitian on the rocky, narrow island of Patmos 50 (see Revelation 1:9)D. The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved1. while Mark seems to describe John’s work in great detail, it may be John’s own gospel accountthat tells his story the best, except that John appears to disguise himself slightly with the humbleexpression, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”–his most intimate confidante2. we find this disciple reclining with the Lord at the last supper (see John 13:23), present at thecrucifixion when others had fled (see John 19:26) and quick to the tomb when news arrived that it hadbeen emptied (see John 20:2)3. most notably, Jesus selected this disciple to become the caretaker of his mother following hisdecease (John 19:26-27)4. and he is part of a not-so-cryptic rebuke to the apostle Peter just before the ascension (John209