As you read today’s scriptures, did you notice the change in how John talks about himself?
Mark 10:35 says, “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, ‘Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.’”
But then, in Revelation 1:9, “I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus…”
I used to believe that as you age, you just naturally grow more mature. I thought godliness and sanctification must come easier the older you are. In reality, some hearts soften with age while others grow harder. I have seen people grow in love and righteousness with age and seen others with more years of life still live selfishly.
When I read our scriptures today, I noticed something in John’s life that I hope to be true in mine. As he aged, he became more like Jesus.
His words in Mark 10 were tainted with pride—“Jesus, we want you to do what we want you to do”—and he asked for the place of honor and power in the kingdom Jesus brings.
I hear a proud man who needs correction.
He was early in his life with Jesus (possibly in his late teens or early twenties). We read that interaction and think, “he doesn’t get it yet.” His words warranted a gentle rebuke from Jesus who confronted the values of the world that He saw in His disciple’s heart.
Yet in Revelation, “I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction…”
I hear a humble man in these words. He spoke with affection and deference. He saw himself as a family member and co-laborer, willing to endure suffering for the Lord he loved with the people he loved. He wasn’t young anymore. This was not John in his early years of following Jesus—this was John after decades of faithful ministry. In his old age, he was not asking for a place of honor; he was introducing himself as brother and partner.
As he aged, he became more like Jesus. How?
It is certainly more than this, but I can’t help but think of the description of John we find in his Gospel. “The disciple whom Jesus loved.” At some point in his life with Jesus, he believed this about himself, and it changed him. Being loved by Jesus freed him from his self-interest and formed in him a heart that loved the church and endured affliction.
I am reminded today that I am a disciple whom Jesus loves. You are a disciple whom Jesus loves. Believing and living out of that identity forms in us a heart that grows more like Jesus as we grow older.
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65 thoughts on "John"
Being loved by Jesus truly does change everything.
Asking for prayer for my mom, Joy. She is a faithful She who reads with us but doesn’t comment (I haven’t much either!)
I had asked this on Facebook but please continue praying for her as we lost my dad unexpectedly a few weeks back. She is so strong and the most amazing mom. I know she needs all the prayer and love she can get. (Myself and brother, Noah, do as well.)
Thanks in advance Shes. Have a great weekend ♥️
Praying for the Lord’s comfort over you Annie and your mom and Noah.
So sorry for you loss of your dad. And yes, prayers for your mom. May the Lord wrap his arms around Joy and comfort her.
Sisters, I was searching for a song on Youtube (related to another study) and just saw this posted 4 hours ago. Y’all know I love John Finch’s music and these lyrics reflect our conversations of the past couple of days!
Sanctuary by John Finch (partial lyrics)
You are my refuge and shelter
You are my King and Good Shepherd
Lord, I am safe in Your arms
I don’t have to perform
Cause You love me as I am
You are my sanctuary
I fall in Your arms
And rest in Your heart
I am seen
I am known
I am loved
And I am home
What a journey coming from “Lord we want you to do whatever we ask you” (ambitious, presumptuous that GOD will grant all requests because God is love -don’t we all think like that at times, naïve about the suffering on earth, zealous but not refined, fiery and impulsive -wanting to call fire down onto the Samaritan village), to the middle years of recognizing Christ’s love for him, his self-love, self worth is rooted in God’s love for him, non longer competitive asking to sit at the right and left hand of God, but now he is drawing close to Christ (leaning on Jesus’ chest at the last supper), to the mature state (the state of enduring suffering for Christ’s sake in solidarity, he evolves to a suffering servant in isolation, suffering deep grief being the only one still alive in exile while all other disciples were martyred violently, he was still holding on to faith, embracing an eternal perspective). I don’t know how John did it. John was truly a hero of faith. This is a tough journey. May we learn from John to endure hardships and grief with an eternal perspective. Gaze up at Him and the suffering here on earth will grow dim. I was busy with work and trying to catch up. (Quick praise report: last year I was very devastated from my work mid-year assessment, I felt misunderstood and my efforts were ignored. But the Lord was teaching me to let Him fight, while I strived to remain quiet, I wanted to leave but I stayed, kept my head down and worked without complaining. Yesterday, the same team lead who was giving me a hard time last year, gave me a raving report. I was so shocked at this turnaround, how he was watching me and noticed my little efforts. Praise God for His faithfulness. God changed this man’s heart for my sake. I was speechless and so emotional after the meeting). Lifting our shes in prayers. Wishing you all a blessed weekend.
That’s amazing Mercy, and such a good lesson for all of us. Sometimes, most times, people won’t recognize our efforts, or might even see them wrongly! Yet, you didn’t fight back or quit, but stayed quite and still worked hard!! That’s amazing!! Praise God! Good commentary on John also! :)
I missed you, and came back just now thinking..It’s time that Mercy usually posts…lol.
How ENCOURAGING!!!! <3
Dear Shes
As Jesus was dying on the cross, He committed His mother, Mary, to the hands of His apostle John. Both beloved. Both bereft. Both unmoored. Jesus would not leave His mother without protection. So He entrusted John with purpose beyond the gospel.
Intimacy, vulnerability, humanity.
I imagine this scene through tears.
I can remember where I was and who I was talking to when I first thought, all that matter is that I know I’m loved by God. I was in my 30’s. It finally gave me a confidence to stop going from guy to guy. I felt a peace settle over me. Truly life changing.
I just shared a song that speaks to that! Sanctuary by John Finch – brand new post on youtube
Amen
❤️
Re-sharing the verses I shared yesterday. I need this daily reminder! It’s not about me changing myself (working on myself) to be better. It’s about allowing the love of Jesus to mold me and make me into the person He wants me to be – not the person I think I should be. Sorry for this long intro!
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2 Corinthians 5:14
Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
♥️
We, too, are disciples whom Jesus loves. Whether we are young and full of zeal, or older and full of reflection, we are being shaped by Jesus’ love. Our transformation isn’t dependent on getting everything right, but on staying close to Jesus.
Let John’s story remind you that your identity isn’t found in your past or your personality—it’s found in this unchanging truth: you are deeply loved by Jesus. And that love will keep transforming you, just as it did John.
I love this, Ashley♡ Thank you for your gentle words which strengthen my spirit. I am a pastor’s wife (which I love) and also figuring out what that looks like as I grow in years ;) You’ve helped me anchor that journey in Jesus.
John was 1 of the sons of thunder. Impetuis, leading with emotions. But aren’t we all like that at times! Yet it was John that God brought up to heaven and gave him the book of revelation, which I find interesting. The book of John is always the book i use for a new believer,so gentle,yet fill of truths and doctrines.
Missed yesterday but caught up and read all your comments for both days.
Praying for all the requests.
The verse in Mark brought me to the You Version verse of the day.
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Matthew 20:26-28 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.20.26-28.NIV
Jesus set the example of service for us! Wherever we are called, we are called to serve.
I love how it shows the progression of John’s heart to servant!
Have a great day!
Amen❤️
♥️
Warren Wiersbe points out that John teaches us four truths:
Jesus loves us. Jesus doesn’t have “favorites” but He has intimates. There are some people whom He has drawn close to His heart and with whom He has shared a special love.
We should love Jesus. A W Tozer reminds us that in the spiritual realm, ” nearness is likeness.” Godliness is God-likeness, and people become like the God they worship. If we sincerely worship the true and living God, we will become like him.
We should other believers.¹
We should love the lost.
John’s maturation process and suffering transformed him into who was meant to be in Christ. I really appreciated how the author of the daily devotion highlighted that.
John is the only disciple who died a natural death in his old age. He was (if I remember correctly) in his 80’s while on Patmos. I have been on Patmos and there isn’t a whole lot there today, much less in John’s day. All that to say, can you imagine being an 80 year old man alone but for some other prisoners on an island in the middle of the Aegean and all of a sudden you hear a loud voice “like a trumpet” right behind you?! Heart.failure. That’s not the only thing that struck me about John, but the mental image made me laugh, so I had to share :)
Yes;John was relegated to the salt mines
Really? That’s so interesting. I’ll have to look it up:)
lol. Thank you for this.
Growing – to be more like Jesus, this is my desire.
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Jesus loves me – this I know!
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Asking prayer for my niece, Danielle who is 19. She had her tonsils out yesterday and is in quite a lot of pain. All went well the Dr. said, but the uvula got stuck in the suction cup, and hence – lots of pain!
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Happy Friday Sweet She’s! ❤️
Tonsillectomies are already terrible for adults, I can’t even imagine how much more so with the added assault to the poor uvula :o praying now…
Lord, in the name of Jesus comfort Danielle and give her relief from this horrible pain. We recognize you as the healer who still touches us by your Ruach ( Spirit).
Praying for Danielle
Aww poor thing! Praying for Danielle! And that song was running through my mind also!
Praying for rapid recovery for Danielle
Good morning ladies! This devotional is well timed as I’ve shared our financial woes before that seem to keep on coming. I will take the opportunity to remind myself that I am a disciple whom Jesus loves as I go forward today. Please pray for my five year old to have a smooth dental procedure today- he will be sedated and have a root canal around 8:25 am central time.
praying, Ashleigh.
Praying for your little guy!
Praying. When my youngest was 4 he had a root canal and it was very smooth.
Praying
Praying for your child’s dental procedure today.
Praying
ASHLEIGH- Praying right now for a smooth dental procedure and quick recovery for your little one. My son had a major procedure done at about the same age. I know it’s scary, and pray you feel peace! ❤
Sending prayers
Ashleigh, I’m praying for your son to feel much better now that the procedure is over.
Help us to believe that we are the disciple you love, Lord. ❤️ Let being chosen in love change us.
John, the one Jesus loved…by his own accord! I am pretty certain I can say the same…the one Jesus loves. It’s not favor because I do more for Jesus than the next person, because there are many that do more than me, and so on. Jesus loved them all. Jesus seemed to discipline them as needed though. Pointing out different things they needed.
It is not our works that makes Jesus love us more, yet he does command us to drop it all and follow Him. Trust. Obey. Come. Leave all else. Keep our eyes on him. Be his hands and feet. There will be a day, when we all stand at the throne and give an account of what we did with what we knew. He forgives and forgets our repented sin….BUT…what did we do with the love he poured out to us willingly, undeserved? Did we share earnestly? Did we put him in the center of our lives. Did we walk away from people we shouldn’t associate with. Did we turn off the sin on tvs, did we offer forgiveness to those that wronged us? What did you do Rhonda? Were you all in? Is His love and sacrifice enough to shake you?
As we read through all the greats of the new testament….let it stir us up to want to give it all to you Lord Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, to live for you, to do for you, to talk for you, to go to the lost and down, the ones that need us. Give to your causes. Touch you hem at all costs. Even drop our friends through the roof if that’s the cost. To go to prison to preach your name. To die for the cause. Yes, Lord, I want to be your servant, a disciple for you.
Did we turn off the sins on tv? That grabbed me, Rhonda J! A former pastor said if what you are viewing on TV does not convict you, you have become hard hearted.
Good stuff! ❤
Preach it! And ouch about the TV!
Good morning ladies! I love how Jamin highlighted John’s transformation through the years. Looking back over my own faith walk, I can see that I’m not where I was (but I’m not where I want to be either). I’d like to insert my name, “Tami, the disciple whom Jesus loved…” and really believe it. To be honest, the idea that Jesus loves me is a hard one for me to fathom. Like how is this possible? How can I start to connect with this? Maybe it’s because I am usually focused more on what I am doing (studying, praying, going to church), and less focused on just sitting with the Lord himself? Just some thoughts this morning… Have a blessed day ladies!
Yes, taking our business and putting it all aside to spend time with Jesus….I forgot that one! And it is the most important!!
Good thoughts to have, Tami! Thanks for sharing! ❤
I am reveling in Psalms 136 this week. His love endures forever, no matter what stage we are in our walk. I am so grateful he has walked beside me in all stages, I pray that I strive to be more like Him each day ! Remember Ladies- His Love Endures forever! If you have a chance read that chapter❤️
Thank you. Amen!
Devo – “As he aged, he became more like Jesus. How?”
We must believe in Him, study, pray, praise, thank, seek – the better we know Him, the more we change to be like Him. Thinking of children learning from their parents & siblings, taking on mannerisms and mimicking them.
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RACHEL – “tender kindness” – that’s our Jesus ❤️
TAMI ❤️
LUCILLE PROSSER “Following Jesus can change lives” Amen.
TINA find, follow, hold fast to Jesus – thank you. ❤️
CEE GEE ❤️
Yes, so true!
Yes, SEARCHING, and amen!
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Praying for family member and teens and families! ❤
Awesome teaching. This was a great reminder of the transforming love of Jesus. ❤️
Oh that “Being loved by Jesus [frees me] from self-interest and [forms in me] a heart that [loves] the church and [endures] affliction.”
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Praise report: the potential employer for my young mama is willing to be flexible with her start time to accommodate daycare hours. Hiring process is moving forward. If no other hiccups, she will start 8/4.
Thank you for your prayers.
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INDIANA ELAINE – prayers for you as you wait for the upcoming surgery. Hopeful that you will be able to resume normal activities after your recovery.
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SEARCHING – thankful things are moving in the right direction for your family member’s medical care.
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RHONDA J – thank you for being Jesus’ hands and feet to the incarcerated women in your community. How is Stacy doing?
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TAYLOR – continuing to pray for your dad’s recovery.
What great news about her employer! Praying the hiring process moves along smoothly.
Thank you for praying!
Yes Kelly, may being loved by Jesus humble us and help us turn towards loving Him, the church and all people more!
Such good news on the young mama!
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!!! So happy for Mama!!! Wonderful news!
Stacey stays in touch, but not as I had hoped. She moved a little further away so is not near us or our church. She isn’t very forthcoming on what she’s up too. But she has established a relationship with family again, so that’s a good praise! I pray she stays clean. We just had one of our butterflys get out yesterday and said she hopes to meet us and come to church.
That is such good news – praise the Lord for answer to prayer!
So exciting! Praising the Lord for His kindness! Will pray that the job will be a place mama can thrive and flourish and that baby will stay healthy in daycare.
What an amazing answer to prayer! Praise the Lord!
Praying for these requests
KELLY – praise God for that answered prayer! Praying for this young mama as she enters the work force, patience from the one training her, patience with herself as she adapts and a good experience for her little one in the daycare environment. I know that first day will be hard for both of them. Thank you for allowing us to pray with you for this mama and baby. ❤