JOHN THE BELOVED

JOHN 19:2

A. "WHEN JESUS, THEREFORE, SAW HIS MOTHER AND THE DISCIPLE STANDING BY, WHO HE LOVED, HE SAITH UNTO HIS MOTHER, WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON. THEN SAITH HE TO THE DISCIPLE, BEHOLD THY MOTHER. AND FROM THAT HOUR THAT DISCIPLE TOOK HER UNTO HIS OWN HOME" - JOHN 19:26- 27
  1. Beloved, the words of our text give us a very enlightening view of John the son of Zebedee and Salome, as perhaps no other text can:
    1. We see the close relationship of John to his Master
    2. The two were tied together by the bond of love
  2. Also, note the absolute confidence our Lord had in His disciple John:
    1. He trusted His mother to John's care - "Behold thy mother"
    2. And, also, He had His mother adopt John as her son - "Woman, behold thy son"
    3. These facts alone make the story of John classic in the gallery of the men and women of the Bible
B. FROM MANIFOLD REFERENCES IN THE FOUR GOSPELS, THE ACTS AND REVELATION, ONE MAY GATHER THE FOLLOWING HIGH POINTS ABOUT THE STORY OF JOHN
  1. John had human weaknesses like all men have:
    1. He was one of the disciples whom the Lord named, "Boanerges" - the sons of thunder - Mark 3:17; he was ever ready to forbid those who did not follow the Lord to work for him - Mark 9:38
    2. But he was youthful and ever ready to learn from the master teacher - Mark 3:17; Mark 10:35-37; John 13:23; I John 2:9
  2. What makes the story of the life of John so inspiring is:
    1. The transformation of his life - while he followed the Lord Jesus whole- heartedly
    2. This, I believe, was one of the great reasons why the Lord loved him so
    3. John discovered the love of God in the person of the only begotten of the Father
    4. He in truth, discovered the great secret of Bible Christianity
  3. Also, God honored John with:
    1. Writing his gospel; three Epistles and the book of Revelation - a special revelation of the final triumph of the cause of Christ over all His enemies
    2. He tied his mother to John and John to his mother; thus showing absolute confidence in his integrity
C. TIMELY LESSON
  1. John, the son of Zebedee, is one of God's special specimens of the working of His grace:
    1. When we think of him, we think of God's love - I John 3:1; 4:8; 5:3
    2. We all realize that this grace is lacking among God's remnant people - Matt. 24:12; Rev. 2:4; 3:14-17
  2. The story of the life of John:
    1. Points to the true secret of Christian love - it is, "Christ in you the hope of glory" - Col. 1:27
    2. But this divine love brings all other Christian virtues with it - I Cor. 13:1-13
    3. Also, only a life motivated by the love of God can attract hearts to the truth, writes Paul. "For the love of Christ constraineth us" - 2 Cor. 5:14
  3. Our opening text raises the question, did the Lord not love all the disciples as he did John:
    1. The answer must be, sure, He loved all of them because He died for all of them; He is not a respecter of persons - Acts 10:34-35
    2. There must have been certain virtues in John that tied the Lord to Him, perhaps more so than to the other disciples; it may be that John was more pliant than some of the other disciples
  4. What is important is:
    1. That John leaned on the breast of Jesus - John 21:20
    2. That meant that John's affections for his Master were without dissimulation Rom. 12:9
    3. It was unfeigned love, differed from the pretended love of Judas - I Peter 1:22; Matt. 26:49
  5. A real challenge to us tonight:
    1. Would the Son of God trust His dearest on earth to our care
    2. Does He love us because we love Him


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