Then Peter, turning
around, saw the disciple
whom Jesus loved
following, who also had
leaned on His breast
at the supper, and said,
“Lord, who is the one
who betrays You?”
Peter, seeing him,
said to Jesus,
“But Lord, what about
this man?”
Jesus said to him,
“If I will that
he remain till I
come, what is that
to you? You follow
Me.”
John 21:20–22
It is
apparent that the apostle John had a special relationship with Jesus. And it is
true that the Apostle John, even with all the turmoil of exile on the island of
Patmos, lived to a ripe old age, possibly to 100 years. After the confrontation
by Jesus with Satan in the desert Jesus began to preach: “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Jesus seeing Peter, and
Andrew the brother to Peter and said to them: “then He said to them, “Follow
Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19. Then Jesus saw two
other brothers, James and John sons of Zebedee, and they were fishing as they
were making their living fishing and selling fish. When Jesus called them, they
left immediately and followed Him. Jesus say Matthew and said to him, “Follow
Me” (Matthew 9:9). And this Matthew did as they dropped what they were
doing and began to follow Jesus. Was this blind faith? No! Remember that the Jews
were looking for the Messiah. They already had others proclaiming that they
were the Messiah. They had the time-table that told them that it was time for
the Messiah, and they probably knew of John the Baptist’s ministry. It was John
who witnessed all that Jesus did, His miracles, his messages, and was one of
the twelve sent out to the Jews to proclaim that the Messiah had come and is
here in their presence. John was called: “James the son of Zebedee and John
the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of
Thunder” (Mark 3:17). At the crucifixion of Jesus one of the people present
was the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:56). John was present also at the
crucifixion of Jesus and Jesus spoke to him and gave him instruction: “Now
here stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the
wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus therefore His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing
by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ then He said to the
disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to
his own home” (John 19:25–27). The apostle John saw the risen Jesus: “Later
He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their
unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen
Him after had risen” (Mark 16:14). Peter was impetuous, John apparently was
strong and solid even though at times he faltered as we all do. Yet, this is
not just about the apostle John. It is about the man John, “Loved” by Jesus and
wrote to us about Jesus Christ and His love. We should listen to what he wrote.
The command to “follow Him” is a command to all of us for we are to follow
Jesus and this at all cost. Will you follow Him?
The book of
John gives us two witnesses which is a lawful demand for testimony. One was
John the Baptist and the other is the apostle John. John gives this final
important statement: “This is the disciple who testifies of these things
,and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true”(John 21:24). There were those men who were attempting to
draw away to another “truth” making for some to become weary or had been
crushed by the violent clamor of contradictory voices. Have you felt this also?
There is so much contradiction among theologians, pastors, and even those
attending churches that it is wearisome. John leaps to the occasion of such
heresy and false teaching and gives to us what he knows is true for he was
there, present from the beginning until the end of Jesus’ earthly life. John
gives in his letter the gospel affirming that Christ is the only consubstantial
Son, and therefore the lawful heir of the eternal Father. Moreover, this
testimony by the apostle John should ennoble us, the orphans whom Jesus Christ
ahs by eternal decree enrolled us as heirs by and through His own blood. We are
washed in the blood of the Lamb as the old hymn states and by this we are
favored in our hope, which many attempt to imperil us those who zealously
diminish the gospel. How is it that Jesus Christ could bequeath to us a
heavenly heritage if not that He was the lawful owner of heaven. If Jesus did
not come down from heaven then how could it be said that He was in possession
of heaven? If Jesus was only the son of Mary, just another man albeit it that
he was special, then how could He be the Messiah? John was the faithful witness
and wrote to us to assist our faith, to give to us hope assured by his
testimony through his presence with Jesus Christ. Is it not true that all of us
who bear witness to the Son of God also bear witness to the Scriptures? And in
the way of testimony, that is not just preaching, and teaching, but in our
daily lives, bear witness to the truth and delight in all its riches?
We are
merchants of the Gospel. We should explore this testimony of John and inquire
with all our heart, and we must come to covet it with all our soul and love it
more than any riches.
Behold, bless the LORD,
All you
servants of
The LORD, who by night
Stand in
the house
Of the LORD! Lift up your
Hands in
the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD.
Psalm 134:1–2
Be a follower in all you do of Jesus
Richard L. Crumb
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