The Favorite Disciple

In the first century a.d., John was a very common Jewish name. It means "God is merciful" and may have been the name of many of the first followers of Jesus. John, the son of Zebedee and the brother of James, was one of Jesus' twelve apostles. At first he had been a follower of John the Baptist, but came to know Jesus at John the Baptist's direction. (John 1:35.) He is witness to many of the important events in Jesus' ministry and was the only apostle to stand at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified (John 19:26).

In the Fourth Gospel, the apostle John is not named as its author. And within the text, he is most often referred to as Jesus' "favorite disciple" or "the beloved disciple." Tradition has held that it was this John who wrote the Fourth Gospel as well as the Letters of John. Because of this association, John has been celebrated through the centuries as an evangelist (Gospel writer) as well as an apostle. Tradition also tells that John, the Apostle, lived to a considerable age in Ephesus and led the Christian community there.

Through Scripture, we are made witness to many of the acts of Jesus. Through faith we are allowed to understand the meaning of the Transfiguration, the Resurrection, and what it means to call Jesus, the Living Water, the Bread that Gives Life, and the Light of the World. Like John, through grace, we are able to know our own "belovedness" in God's eyes as we allow the words of the Gospel to dwell in our hearts.

Reflect on the Word

Jesus' mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, "This man is now your son." Then he said to the disciple, "She is now your mother." From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:25-27,(CEV)