John
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Mark 9:1-8, Mark 10:35-45, 1 John 1:1-4, Revelation 1:9-20
BY Melanie Rainer
The four Gospels tell the story of Jesus: His life, teachings, death, and resurrection. But the Gospels also tell the stories of the men and women who followed Him. The story of John, one of the twelve disciples, is traced through all four Gospel accounts, and is a story of beautiful transformation in the heart of someone who followed Him.
A fisherman by trade, John was the brother of James, the son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19–20). Paul describes him as a “pillar” of the church (Galatians 2:9). He wrote the Gospel of John, the books of 1, 2, and 3 John, and Revelation. Within the pages of the book of John, he is referred to as a beloved disciple, or “the one Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 20:2).
John was one of three disciples who witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2–3). Along with James and Peter, John saw a truly extraordinary event: Jesus transformed into His heavenly person, clothed all in white. The passage in Mark 9 echoes back to Moses’s encounter with God, when he came down from Mount Sinai and his face was still shining “as a result of his speaking with the LORD” (Exodus 34:29). Having been there from early on in Jesus’s earthly ministry, John knew Jesus was God’s beloved Son (Matthew 3:17), and having witnessed His transfiguration, he heard what Jesus would ultimately do (die and rise again), though John, along with James and Peter, wondered what this meant (Mark 9:7–10).
Later, when Jesus further explained to His disciples that He would die and rise again, brothers James and John immediately took Him aside to ask if they might sit on His right and left hand in heaven, wanting the glory and honor represented by those positions (Mark 10:35–40). But Jesus flipped that idea on its head, telling them:
“Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (vv.43–45).
Throughout the Gospels, we read of John’s own transformation from fisherman to follower of Jesus, from power-seeking to power-giving, testifying to Jesus’s lordship, “so that [others] may also have fellowship… with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1John 1:2–3). Transformed by that fellowship, he became one of the New Testament’s most prolific writers, receiving God’s revelation of the future, fully realized kingdom of God (Revelation 1:9–11).
Grace, redemption, and change—John, Peter, Matthew, and others are recorded as having their lives turned upside down by Christ. We are invited into the same transformation, and called to the same self-sacrifice as Jesus’s beloved disciple, John. It is a gift and grace to be called by Jesus, and a deep mercy to be transformed by His love, as John was.
34 thoughts on "John"
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Loved reading about John today! But I’m not convinced that James and John were asking for seats of honor in heaven, like Melanie said. Even though Jesus told his disciples many times he would be crucified, they still didn’t understand. They were set in their belief that Jesus was going to set up an earthly kingdom and redeem Israel politically. I could be wrong, but I think this is what James and John were thinking when they made their request. Here is a quote from a commentary that I found:
“Despite the continual declaration of His coming suffering, the disciples still thought that when Jesus got to Jerusalem, He would establish a political kingdom. Here, James and John asked for positions of high status in Jesus’ administration – which they anticipated would be installed soon.”
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❤️
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Hi SRT family, today I start training for my job at Chick fil A! Very thankful to have a job during this time as I know many do not (and I definitely do not need it as much as others do), but thankful to make some money with the rest of the summer before I go back to school. Please pray for safety, that I would stay healthy, for peace, and that I would do well. Love you all!
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In order to be great in the kingdom of heaven, you need to be servant. Jesus did not come to be served, but to be a servant. But then how do you do that, but not become a doormat? When I was younger, I was nice to everyone. Granted, my motives weren’t pure. I did it partly because I didn’t want anyone to dislike me. But I also did it because I loved people. I found them interesting and fascinating. But as I got older, I stopped doing so much for other people. I felt as if I had been used too many times. I felt tired both emotionally and physically. How do I get that heart of a servant back?
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It is hard sometimes, actually most of the time, for us to repeatedly give of ourselves seemingly receiving nothing but heartache in return. But we cannot focus on ourselves. We are not on this earth to serve others and receive earthly love, earthly fulfillment or earthly appreciation in return. What we do is for glorification of the Father.
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
I am thankful Jesus did not think as we do when He walked upon this earth, providing us with His example that we are called to follow. We may get our feelings hurt. We may feel used and abused. But imagine how Jesus felt. He gave all and received heartache, extreme physical abuse and was crucified by His own children. Imagine the agony.
So when I am feeling spent and taken advantage, I look to Jesus and am humbled and driven to continue to serve, trying not to think of myself. It is hard and I will be praying for you.
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Random thoughts:
Mark 9:6 Peter wanted to do something (build shelters), and blurted out the suggestion to Jesus because, “they were terrified.” Doing wasn’t needed, only be-ing. How often do I blurt and “do” instead of “be?”
Mark 10 I see this two ways…”Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you,” is bold, bordering on arrogant. Either they knew they shouldn’t be asking for what they were, OR, they wanted it so badly they were trying to make sure they’d get a “yes,” no matter what. It sounds like they wanted the power of sitting at Jesus’s right and left…but maybe the foundation was their love and deep need for Jesus. Maybe they thought the best way to draw near was to be His right-hand men and they were willing to “do” whatever was required of them to get there? Jesus tells them it is not about ruling, it is about serving.
1 John 1:1-4 is on my prayer wall. It is our call today as well. What I know of Jesus, what I have observed, experienced, has been revealed in my life and through His Word, I need to testify too. I need to live it out. Scripture calls us to draw others into the fellowship of Jesus Christ as Lord. Then our joy may be complete.
Finally Revelation 1…I love, love, love to allow my mind to dwell on the picture of Jesus there. I also love that John fell at His feet like a dead man and then the Son of God, Jesus, put His right hand upon him-touched him. Jesus calms John’s fears. Jesus speaks truth about Himself. And Jesus commands John to testify through the writing of what he had seen, what is, and what would be.
I’m so thankful. Thankful God loves the blurting doers and that the servant pleases Him. I am thankful for all He is in my life today, has been, and will be. Finally, I am thankful we are allowed a glimpse of Him in the picture painted in Revelation and in His name. One day, in His presence, may I fall prostrate before Him in reverence, see Him, and feel the touch of His nail-scarred hands.
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Good Morning Sisters. I feel so very blessed to be able to come and have this time with you all every day. Thank you all for sharing what GOD lays on your hearts….and Debbie, a huge AMEN!
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“Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (vv.43–45).What would thus world look like if I lived like this every minute of every day? Oh my! God had given us the secret to world peace!
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This message was so encouraging. God taught John to give up his own desires and be a servant of God. He blessed John with the fellowship and wonder of walking with Jesus, and hearing what is to come. Though John was a man, He was loved by God.
I love the entire passage from 1 John, but this one verse (1 John 1:3) really stuck out to me, as children of God, we are never alone, “what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
How exciting, we can fellowship with God!!
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