" Dr. Delff has with considerable force advanced and defended the theory that 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' was not the Apostle John, but a younger disciple, who shared all the privj. leges of the Twelve, "but who was a native of Jerusalem and a member of the higher aristocracy. While this theory explains satisfactorily some of the facts given in the Gospels, it is beset with grave ditficulties.
John was with Him all through this sojourn of over seven months in Judaia, and doubtless assisted in the administering of the baptismal rite, for Jesus did not Himself baptize (4°). At the end of this period Jesus returned by way of Samaria to GalUee. On the way occurred the incident of the Samaritan woman, so fully depicted for us in the Fourth Gospel (4'"^-). Once more the Master came to Cana, and while there cured the nobleman's son (y^. 46-5J) poj. a jjj.jef time John seems now to have been at home, and to have engaged in his customary business of fishing ; but the Baptist's imprison- ment was the signal to Jesus for more vigorous work, and He appeared at the Lake-side to call to be His permanent escort the men who had already acknowledged Him and given Him some service (Mk !>«•=», Mt 4i«-^^ Lk 5'-"). John now entered upon that second stage of discipleship which was to prepare liim for his life-work. The record of events which shows Jesus performing miracles and preaching in the towns and villages of Galilee is the record of John's training (see Mk 1^1-2^). When, some time afterwards, John was chosen to the Apostolate (Mk S"-""', Mt lO^-", Lk 6'=-"), it was but to confirm him in the position he had already occupied, and to make more definite his mission. At this time Jesus called him and his brother Boanerges, that is, ' sons of thunder ' (Mk 3"). See
As from this time onwards the most of John's experiences were common to all the Apostles, it is necessary to mark only those which were in any way exceptional for lum. They are sufficient to show that he w^as among the most prominent of the little band, and that he was especially close in fi-iendship to the Master. With Peter and James he saw the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mk 5", Lk 8='). These three were with Jesus upon the Mount of Transfiguration (Mk 9'-, Mt 17', Lk 9^). It was John who ' answered and said. Master we saw one casting out devils in thy name : and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us' (Mk9^, Lk 9'"). It was he and James who wished to call down fire upon an inhospitable Samaritan village (Lk 9"). His mistaken ambition for high place at the side of his Master is recorded in Mk 10", Mt 20-'. He took part in the questioning about the time for the fulfilment of the solemn prophecies concerning Jerusalem (Mk 13^). He and Peter were sent to make ready the Passover (Lk 22*). At the supper itself he reclined ' in Jesus' bosom ' (see art. BosoM), ,ind asked Him who it was that was to be the betrayer (Ju 13=3-2=). In the garden of Gethsemane he "was, with Peter and James, near his Master (Mk 14^, .Mt 26"). Panic-stricken, he fled with all the other disciples at the time of the arrest (Mt 26**), but soon recovered himself, and followed the procession to the palace of the high priest (Jn 18'^). Being known to the high priest, he was admitted to the court of the palace, and secured entrance for Peter (v.'*). Faithful now to the last, he stood near the cross, and there received tlie rMiniiii-^i.iii to care for the mother of Jesus (lil'-'--- I III ill'' morning of the resurrec- tion Mary Mn ..iil. im irlls him and Peter of the empty grave, .iiid tiny hasten together to the spot (20-3). In tiie account of the appearance of the risen Lord in Galilee (21="') the 'sons of Zebedee* have special mention, and again in the closing scene and words of the Fourth Gospel the impr&s- sion that he should not die before the Lord's coming is corrected, and the truthfulness of his witness as given in this Gospel confirmed (21^"-'').
Outside of the Gospels there are but few refer- ences to him in the IsT. In the Acts he appears twice in the company of Peter. As they were going together, at the hour of prayer, to the Temple, they met a man, lame from birth, at the
JOHN THE APOSTLE
JOHN THE APOSTLE
Beautiful Gate, and cured him. Tlie deed caused great excitement, and a large crowd gathered around them in Solomon's porch. While they were speaking to the people the authorities came, and ' being sore troubled because they taught the people,' arrested them, and on the following day brought them before the Sanhedrm (Ac 4'). Later, he and Peter were sent to Samaria to those who had received the word of God under Philip's ministry, and ' they prayed for these that they might receive the' Holy Ghost' (8'^-''*). About A.D. 50 we find John in Jerusalem, for at that time Paul meets him there and consults with him regarding his work among the Gentiles (Gal 2'"). He was at thi.s time one of the pillars of the Church. The only other mention of him in the NT is in Rev 1^ ».