The Call of the Apostles - John, the son of Zebedee

 

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–22 ESV).

 

John, James’ brother, was best known as the "disciple whom Jesus loved". He was also a key member of Jesus' inner circle, he was the only apostle to stand at the crucifixion and was entrusted with the care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He is also credited with authoring five New Testament books. Beyond his close relationship with Jesus, John was known for several historical and biblical milestones. He was also nicknamed boanerges (Son of Thunder) due to his fiery temperaments and zealous nature. He was a prolific author. Tradition credits him with writing the Gospel of John, three New Testament Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. Following Jesus' ascension, John became a pillar of the Jerusalem church alongside Peter, and later ministered in Ephesus.

 

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, he was banished to the island of Patmos, where he received the visions documented in Revelation. He is distinguished as the only one of the original twelve apostles to survive into old age and die of natural causes, rather than facing martyrdom

 

There are some powerful lessons we can learn from John. First, we see the power of transformation. There is no doubt that his life shows us the way that experiencing Jesus' love changes a person. John's relationship with Christ softened his temper and transformed him into a model of friendship, charity, and devotion. He also shows us the power of unwavering loyalty. Remember, John was the only apostle present at the cross. He models steadfast, unwavering commitment even during times of intense suffering and the desertion of others. He also shows us the importance of humility in leadership. Despite being a member of Jesus' inner circle, John demonstrated deep humility. For example, when running to the empty tomb, he arrived first but waited for Peter (the designated leader of the apostles) to enter before him. He, like his brother, also teaches us the importance of balancing truth with grace. John wrote extensively about "truth" but always framed it in the context of "love". He taught that correct doctrine and standing for truth must be balanced with genuine compassion and care for others. His Gospel and epistles focus heavily on "abiding" in Christ and recognizing that God's very nature is love. That is a standard we can adopt in our lives for sure!