At Pentecost John was one of the one hundred and twenty who were together in the upper room upon whom the Holy Spirit came. The deep love that existed between John and the Lord Jesus, or at least so it seems to me, gave to the writer of the fourth gospel and the letters a special insight into the heart and mind of Jesus’s teaching and character, and permeates John’s pastoral letters with the truth of God’s love for us, and with the knowledge that love is at the bottom of all obedience. John is second only to Paul as a New Testament author and teacher. Humility is a prerequisite of answering God’s calling. Iōánnēs; Aramaic: ܝܘܚܢܢ; Coptic: ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ or ⲓⲱ̅ⲁ [citation needed]) is the name traditionally given to the author of the Gospel of John.Christians have traditionally identified him with John the Apostle, John of Patmos, or John the Presbyter, although this has been disputed by most modern scholars. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. During the 7th century this scene was portrayed in the Lateran basilica and located in Rome by the Latin Gate, and the miracle is still celebrated in some traditions. Omissions? He wrote one of the four gospel accounts of Christ’s life – and John’s gospel is unlike the other three, unique in its arrangement of the material and in its style and emphasis. By comparing Mark 15:40 and Matthew 27:56, we can surmise that his mother's name was Salome. Having all four gospels is helpful – the testimony of four witnesses gives a more complete picture of what happened and who was there. A true apostle will affiliate with other apostles and with other ministries within the church. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.” (Acts 4:13-14). Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He was known of the high priest and moved freely among the Jewish leadership. And at the foot of the cross, John alone among the apostles remained, and Jesus gave John and Mary his mother into one another’s keeping (Jn 19:26). Philippians 2 teaches us that Jesus made Himself of no reputation. Answer God’s calling and your life will never be the same again! The big events of life can be viewed as final examinations that reveal the true nature of our inward selves. In John 17, Jesus constantly referred to the fact that He was sent by the Father to the world, which is one reason Hebrews 3:1 refers to Jesus as our Apostle. I thought Jesus was referring to himself when He said, “Women, here is your son.”. Also, now I realize when Jesus said “Women, here is your son.” and then to the disciple, “Here is your mother”. While we have much information on the teaching of Christ and his earthly ministry, the information presented in the synoptic Gospels is quite limited on the disciples, especially their early life. The temper is the same in both: a noble, enthusiastic nature, capable of intense emotions of love and hatred, but with the difference between vigorous manhood and ripe old age, between the roar of battle and the repose of peace. During the 3rd century two rival sites at Ephesus claimed the honour of being the apostle’s grave. John was the son of Zebedee, a Galilean fisherman, and Salome. John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of James, son of Zebedee (James the Greater). The theologian Tertullian reported that John was plunged into boiling oil but miraculously escaped unscathed. John and his brother originally were fishermen and worked with their father in the Lake of Genesareth. Parts of animals (skulls, horns, wings, and feet) also serve as symbols of the power of the divine or diabolical.…, …of Philip the Evangelist; and John, the author of Revelation. Look over this list, and then take time to assess yourself as a leader. As a transformational leader, the Apostle Paul established the church of Jesus Christ trhoughout the known world. The first twelve apostles remained affiliated after the birth of the church. Character Sketch of the Apostle John As we begin a study of the first letter of St. John, it will be helpful to look at the rest of the New Testament, to get an idea of what kind of man John was. Andrew, brother of Simon Peter: Crucified in Patras (Greece) Philip: Crucified in Phrygia (Turkey), 54 A.D. Thomas: Stoned and slain with a lance in Mylapore (India), 72 A.D. Bartholomew Peter did the preaching that day; the others stood with him backing him up. It is to Peter, James (not the brother of John but “the brother of Jesus”), and John that St. Paul successfully submitted his conversion and mission for recognition. Not to be confused with John the Baptist, the Apostle John is the brother of James, another of the twelve disciples of Jesus. John spoke of overcoming the world more than anyone else. The work was condemned as a gnostic heresy in 787 ce. John, therefore, was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. When we talk about ''John'' in this lesson, we have to make a few distinctions. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Jesus gave these three alone special nicknames. Such character is forged in the small things of life. Author of. John was thought to have opposed granting Gentiles membership in the church, but evidence is unclear in this regard. When John the apostle returned to Ephesus from his exile on the island of Patmos, he was invited to numerous churches (likely being the only apostle still alive, and certainly the only one still remaining in Asia Minor). Officially, the apostle’s grave is at Ephesus. He helped arrange the Passover meal and service for Jesus and his fellow disciples. There is a quitea bit of information available about John. Letters of John, three New Testament writings, all composed sometime around 100 CE and traditionally attributed to Saint John the Apostle (the Evangelist). John and his brother, together with St. Peter, formed an inner nucleus of intimate disciples. First of all, the author had to have been an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus ( 1:14 ; 19:35 ; 21:24 ). Only Peter, James and John accompanied Jesus up onto the mountain to witness his Transfiguration (Mt 17:1). He played an active role in leading another apostle to Jesus. One of the first to be called into the band of twelve men that were Jesus’s closest friends and students, John, with his brother James and Simon Peter, formed the small group of three men that were most intimate with the Lord. Much is to be learned of the apostle John from the Fourth Gospel, assuming the Gospel to have been written by him. Another popular tradition, known to St. Augustine, declared that the earth over John’s grave heaved as if the apostle were still breathing. It is generally assumed that it was John, along with Peter’s brother Andrew, who was the disciple with John the Baptist, to whom he pointed out Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:40). He was called to be a disciple while he was fishing with his brother. 211). The title "Acts of John" is used to refer to a set of stories about John the Apostle that began circulating in written form as early as the second century AD. It is in the seemingly unimportant decisions that our character is strengthened bit by bit. St. John the Apostle, also called Saint John the Evangelist or Saint John the Divine, (flourished 1st century ce; Western feast day December 27; Eastern feast days May 8 and September 26), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and traditionally believed to be the author of the three Letters of John, the Fourth Gospel, and possibly the Revelation to John in the New Testament. From the fact that he is usually listed after James, he is traditionally thought to have been the younger of the brothers. #2 is wrong, as well. Iconographically, the young beardless type is early (as in a 4th-century sarcophagus from Rome), and this type came to be preferred (though not exclusively) in the medieval West. I had never heard before that it was only Peter, James and John that Jesus took with him to the Garden of Gethsemane. He was instrumental in the conversion of St. Paul. John, the apostle, was the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. He was the youngest member of his father's family and the youngest of the apostolic group. The theology is the same, including the most characteristic features of Christology and soteriology. According to Christian tradition, John is the author of three letters (1 John, 2 John, and 3 John). Regius Professor Emeritus of Divinity, University of Cambridge; Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, 1987–93. What position John held in the controversy concerning the admission of the Gentiles to the church is not known; the evidence is insufficient for a theory that the Johannine school was anti-Pauline—i.e., opposed to granting Gentiles membership in the church. Its leader was John, a prophet, who might well have been the author of Revelation, which is deeply steeped in apocalyptic traditions. 2: God calls the humble. Whether the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (who is never named) mentioned in this Gospel is to be identified with John (also not named) is not clear from the text. The Characteristics of an Apostle By Gene Edwards ... My Lord Himself asll as John the Baptist were only about 30 when they began their ministries. Legend was also active in the West, being especially stimulated by the passage in Mark 10:39, with its hints of John’s martyrdom. The Apostle John made a life-changing decision that day and you should too. John focuses on our life in Jesus While the other gospels emphasize the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven, John instead emphasizes new life found in Jesus. Peter he called “Cephas”, or “Rock”, both for the place he would have in the founding of the Church, and also for his indomitable character that is so evident in the gospel narratives. The Zebedee family seems to have been very successful; when James and John left their father in his fishing boat to answer Jesus’s call, Zebedee was left with hired servants to help him out. John and his brother St. James were among the first disciples called by Jesus. Jesus had times of private teaching with these three men, whose teaching would become so crucial for the establishment of his Church in truth and understanding (Mk 13:3). John the Evangelist (Greek: Ἰωάννης, translit. This can come at a relatively young age. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. John must have been a very young man when he answered the call to follow Jesus, because he continued to write nearly until the end of the first century. Translations of the "Acts of John" in modern languages have been reconstructed by scholars from a number of manuscripts of later date. But over and above being a member of that intimate “inner circle”, John had a deep friendship with Jesus that was unique among all the apostles. We first learn of him when he and his brother left their nets on the Sea of Galilee to become fishers of men with Jesus of Nazareth. These characteristics enable them to do what The Lord has called them to accomplish. These Acts are also the source of the notion that John became a disciple as a very young man. Apostles of Christ are often hidden and do not seek public attention, since they are already rooted strongly in their identity as sons of God and have no innate need for public acclaim. B The "Acts of John" are generally classified as "New Testament apocrypha." John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee, and the brother of James. Okay – I just looked up the four Gospels and Matthew and Mark mention Jesus specifically (Matthew: Peter and the two sons of Zebedee) and (Mark: Read Peter, James and John) but Luke and John mentioned “the Disciples” – or didn’t I read far enough? At the Passover meal, the last meal Jesus shared with the Twelve, John reclined beside Jesus and leaned back against him, and at Peter’s urging  asked him the question all the disciples were afraid to ask, “Lord who is it that will betray you?” (Jn 13:24). In the Byzantine world the evangelist is portrayed as old, with long white beard and hair, usually carrying his Gospel. 1> Visioning capacity – they need to be able to “see” what The Lord has called them to accomplish in the ministry they are currently undertaking. John the Apostle, who is the subject of this His symbol as an evangelist is an eagle. And it was only Peter, James and John that Jesus took with him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray at the darkest hour of his earthly ministry (Mt 26:37). ( Log Out /  The legends that contributed most to medieval iconography are mainly derived from the apocryphal Acts of John. John, brother of James (the Greater) Died a natural death in Ephesus (Greece), 100 A.D. 1) Saving faith John clearly defines who the overcomers are. The apostle John had an impressive biblical résumé. ( Log Out /  He was a very prominent figure inthe life of Jesus and in the New Testament church. As I read and prepared for our discussion, I noticed 21 character traits of the apostle Paul. John, at least in his youth, was impetuous, not to say hotheaded on occasion. 1. In all, John wrote almost a fifth of the pages of the New Testament. In the original apocryphal Acts of John, the apostle dies; however, later traditions assume that he ascended to heaven. After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension John was very active in the Church with Peter. St. John the Apostle, on Patmos, writing the book of Revelation, detail of a 14th-century painting; in the Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt, Germany. Others are seasoned and proven apostles, who have the fruit of an apostle over a period of time. John and his brother St. James were among the first disciples called by Jesus. It’s from John that we get Christ’s famous claim: “I am the way, and the truth and the life. Yet, it was these three thick-headed fishermen that formed Jesus’ most trusted group of friends, and John most of all. Ther… In the 6th century the healing power of dust from John’s tomb was famous (it is mentioned by the Frankish historian St. Gregory of Tours). In the Gospel According to Mark he is always mentioned after James and was no doubt the younger brother. Interlace patterns of the initial page of the Gospel According to John from the Lindisfarne Gospels, Hiberno-Saxon, 8th century (British Library, Cotton Nero D. IV, fol. St. John the Evangelist, elephant ivory plaque, Carolingian, early 9th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. His mother was among those women who ministered to the circle of disciples. Both brothers were characterized by zeal, passion and ambition. John’s authoritative position in the church after the Resurrection is shown by his visit with St. Peter to Samaria to lay hands on the new converts there. Jesus was God's apostle sent into the world to redeem it. Note: John was assigned the task of caring for Jesus' mother (John 19:26-27). James and John he nicknamed the “Sons of Thunder”. Though the question of authorship has been much discussed, the language and contents of the three letters suggest a common source. Character is forged in the small things of life. Another time, when the inhabitants of a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus and his disciples as they traveled toward Jerusalem, John was all for calling down fire to destroy them  (Lk 9:54 ). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Also according to some traditions, Salome was the sister of Mary, Jesus' mother, making Salome Jesus' aunt, and her sons John the Apostle and James were Jesus' cousins. It was only these three that Jesus took into the house with him when he raised the daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue (Lk 8:51). When the crowd gathered wanting to know what was happening, we read that Peter, standing up with the eleven, preached the gospel to them. Apostles are the "sent ones" who represent the essence of what the church vision or mission is all about. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). James and John were called Boanerges, or “sons of thunder,” by Jesus, perhaps because of some character trait such as the zeal exemplified in Mark 9:38 and Luke 9:54, when John and James wanted to call down fire from heaven to punish the Samaritan towns that did not accept Jesus. Let's look now at the 5 characteristics of those who have overcome the world. His story extends many years past the earthly ministry of Christ. Age isn't as important with God as submission and obedience is. Leaders of today who wish to transform our world would do well to study and follow the characteristics of leadership taught and exemplified by the Apostle Paul. Today in our men’s group we discussed Acts 20. The Apostle John (also known as Saint John) was one of Jesus Christ’s 12 disciples, and a prominent leader in the early Christian church. His mother was among those women who ministered to the circle of disciples. Mark wrote that John was offended by a man who was not a disciple of Jesus, yet was casting out demons in Jesus’ name, so he put a stop to it ( Mk 9:38). He would have also had a decent familiarity with Palestine before the destruction of the temple in AD 70, and would have been familiar with the Jewish way of life. The term. Although they are not named, John and James are often thought to have been among the Galilean fishermen who first becam… He played a leading role in the early church at Jerusalem. He was an elder in the early church and... John's Strengths. In Byzantine art he appears old, with a long white beard and hair. The “Johannine circle” bearing the tradition of John, the Apostle of the Lord, and from which emerged the Gospel and letters bearing his name, might have…, Luke, and John are symbolically depicted in animal form (lion, ox, and eagle, respectively). 4. I remember reading that Jesus went with his disciples into the Garden, so assumed that the writer was speaking of all the disciples. 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