The Disciple Jesus Loved

Jan. 28, 2019 Monday Message

We’ve been looking at the Gospel authors. First is Matthew-the-tax-collector, who was recruited personally by Jesus. Second is Mark, the friend of Simon-Peter, who was very close to the Apostles and an eyewitness to all that happened. And then Luke, the educated investigative reporter who interviewed many of the eyewitnesses.

The fourth author of Gospels is the Apostle John, who describes himself as “the disciple whom Jesus Loved,” so we can assume theirs was a close relationship. We would expect more information and intimate detail in his writing, and that seems to be the case. The two were so close that, from the cross, Jesus asked John to care for his mother Mary. “Woman, here is your son,” and to John, “Here is your mother.” John 19:26-27

John brings extremely credible eyewitness testimony to us, oftentimes offering additional detail not found in the other Gospels. Since John’s Gospel was authored decades later than the others, he’s had time to organize his facts and meditate on which details to include. He tells us that there’s so much to the “Jesus” story that, “if it were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain all the books.” John 21:25

“It is I, John-the-disciple who testifies to these events and records them here, so we know that this account of all these things is accurate.” John 21:24 It seems that John was God’s man for the job.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets at 10:30 Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. I’ll launch our new sermon series, Basics of Christianity, starting with the Authenticity of the Bible. See you at church!