Jesus and the Beloved Disciple

Was There a Disciple that Jesus Favored Most?

Who Was the Beloved Disciple?

The so-called "beloved" disciple is first identified at 13:23 in the Gospel of John: "Reclining on Jesus' bosom was one of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved." This happens during the 'Last Supper' when Jesus identifies to this disciple who it is that would betray him, as the disciple leans back upon Jesus' bosom. J. Ramsay Michaels, in his massive commentary The Gospel of John, writes that this sequence (verses 21-30) "is seen and told through the eyes of this disciple 'whom Jesus loved.'"

This disciple appears again at the foot of the cross (John 19:26-27): "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' From that hour the disciple took her into his own household."

The disciple appears next in the story (John 21:20-23) when Peter saw "the disciple whom Jesus loved" and asked Jesus what would happen to that disciple in the time to come. Lastly, the writer of the gospel switches into the first person (John 21:24-25) and identifies himself as this same disciple.

When Christian scribes began to collect more than one gospel into a single document, they identified each gospel by name, preceding the text with kata Johannes, "according to John." Through all the early history of the church, this was believed to be John the son of Zebedee, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Some recent writers have other theories.

One more appearance should be noticed: In John's gospel, the first disciples that meet Jesus are two disciples of the Baptist, Andrew and an anonymous companion. From the time that I began to read the Bible, I have identified this companion as John son of Zebedee. Again, some recent writers deny this, although it has been the traditional view of the church.

Okay, We Have His Identity, but What's This  About Being Beloved?

Didn't Jesus love the other disciples? What's different about this one?

In Christian tradition, John has been seen as the youngest disciple, the younger brother of James son of Zebedee. The painting above reflects this tradition. It was thought that John, as the youngest, particularly received Jesus' attention due to the love Jesus had for children. It is probable that John was at least 13, the age at which children became responsible for their own sins, with their father relieved of that burden.

Some liberal commenters have alleged that John and Jesus were gay lovers. This is completely wrong on two points. First, it betrays the commenter's confusion between love and sex. These two things can exist together or separately, and one does not necessarily imply the other. Second, the Greek of the original gospel is explicit. There are three different Greek words for love: eros, for erotic love; phileo, for familial love; and agape, for unselfish love. Every Gospel instance of Jesus' love for John uses agape.

But there is more. As the youngest, John would have been assigned the tasks usually relegated to the least disciple. This included being assigned to see to the personal needs of the master, such as bringing him his water. When the other disciples would go on a mission or errand, the least disciple would remain with the master in case he should need something.

This assignment put John son of Zebedee in a position in which he would see things and hear things which the other disciples would not be aware of. And indeed, that's what we find in his Gospel. When Jesus goes in private for a secret meeting with Nicodemus, a powerhouse in the Ruling Council of Jews, John is there with him to record their conversation. When all the other disciples go into the Samaritan town to buy food, John stays with Jesus at the well and witnesses the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan, and hears Jesus for the first time declare that he is the Messiah.

But there is even more.

Not Worthy to Untie the Strap of His Sandal?

John the Baptist declared, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals (Mark 1:7). The Baptist was speaking of a menial job which was often given to the lowest servant in a household: the least servant. The Baptist's point was that the One to come was greater than he like the master of a household is greater than the least of his servants.

John son of Zebedee may have encountered this task for himself, when Jesus was at the end of a long tiring day of hiking or preaching.

Jesus was especially sensitive to the underclass--to those usually thought of as the least important members of society. But he saw the hope in them and prophesied their fulfilment: In the end the last would be first and the first would be last. The lowly ones would be lifted up, and the exalted ones would be brought down.

Jesus Shows How Privileged People Should Behave.

At the Last Supper -- before the incident when John reclined on the bosom of Jesus -- Jesus demonstrated for his disciples how he expected them to act. Though he was the Master and the very Holy One of God, he took the lowliest job at their meal and washed each of the disciple's feet.

This was not always a pretty thing to do or see. The streets of town would be dirty, littered with things like the excrement of the village dogs. Some of the streets in and around Jerusalem had open sewer lines cut in rock at the side of the road to carry human offal out of the city. Washing feet was needed--but a dirty job.



Jesus Loved John just as Jesus Loved the Lowly.  For many hours and days, Jesus was physically close to John. John took care of Jesus and Jesus took care of John. He was always there to bring the lowly to Jesus' mind.

And lastly, Jesus knew he would never have a son or daughter born to him while he was on earth. The prophet Isaiah had said of the Messiah, "And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken (Isaiah 53:8).

John was the closest thing to a son that Jesus would experience during his sojourn with us. John was the disciple whom Jesus loved.