S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The Apostle John is the author of five New Testament books: the gospel of John, the three short epistles that also bear his name (1, 2, and 3 John) and the book of Revelation. John was part of Jesu...

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July 01 2013 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jim Tumlinson Supporter One beggar leading others to where the bread is

Peter and John were the two disciples that were closest to Jesus. We can see that Peter did things out of his love for Jesus.

The thing we can learn from the life of John is this; he did things out of Jesus' love for him.

The motivation is completely different and in Peters case is work for approval. If I do something God will love me more and bless me more. This is a works mentality, and lacks the true understanding of Gods love for us. An immature christian perhaps.

Johns motivation is based on his understanding that God loves him and blesses him no matter what. John knew he did not have to compete for Jesus' approval but had it in spite of some of the things he said and did. Johns thoughts are "I don't have it all together but none the less God loves me and so I am going to do things out of His love for me since it compels me to do so".

That should be our motivation; we should do things because God loves us, out of His love for us, not do things out of our love for God because we lean to doing things to get His approval. We already have it, no matter what we do we always have Gods approval, we are the apple of His eye, always!

January 01 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What should we learn from the life of John the Apostle?

The life of John the Apostle teaches the transformative power of Jesus' love, shifting him from a fiery "Son of Thunder" to the "Apostle of Love". Key lessons include prioritising deep, personal devotion to Christ, balancing passion for truth with compassion, practising humility, and prioritising love for others as the core of Christian faith.

Some Lessons from the Life of John:

Transformation by Love: John's life shows that experiencing Jesus' love changes a person. Formerly known for a quick temper, John matured into a compassionate, loving leader through his relationship with Jesus.

Unwavering Loyalty and Devotion: John was the only apostle present at the cross, modelling steadfast commitment to Jesus even during suffering.

"Truth in Love" Balance: John balanced a passionate, zealous defence of the truth with a deep, compassionate love for others, ensuring his witness was not harsh or judgmental.

Humility in Leadership: Despite being part of Jesus' inner circle, John (as revealed later in his life) grew into a humble servant who didn't seek his own glory.

Fellowship and Abiding in God: John's writings emphasise "abiding" in Christ and walking in the light of truth, fostering a close, ongoing relationship with God.

The Power of Love as a Message: In his later years, John famously emphasised the necessity of loving one another, stating it is the central requirement of the faith.

Courage Under Persecution: John showed profound patience and, according to tradition, endured severe persecution, proving his commitment to the Gospel.

John's journey from a young, judgmental disciple to the elderly apostle of love encourages believers to grow in grace, prioritise relationships, and rely on the love of God.

John had been singularly blessed in his association with Jesus. He was apparently among the first of John the Baptizer's disciples to be introduced to the Lamb of God and one of the first four to be invited by the Lord to join him full-time in the ministry. (John 1:35-39; Mark 1:16-20) He remained in intimate association with Jesus throughout his ministry and was the disciple "Jesus loved" who reclined at Jesus' bosom at the last Passover. (John 13:23; Matt. 17:1; Mark 5:37; 14:33) He was present at the heartbreaking scene of execution, where Jesus entrusted to him the care of His fleshly mother, and it was he who outran Peter as they sped to the tomb to investigate the report that Jesus had risen.​—John 19:26, 27; 20:2-4.

Mellowed by almost 70 years in the active ministry and charged with the visions and meditations of his recent lonely imprisonment on the isle of Patmos, John was well equipped to write of things he had long treasured in his heart. Holy Spirit now energised his mind to recall and set down in writing many of those precious, life-giving sayings so that each one reading might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, because of believing, he might have life by means of Jesus' name.'​—20:31.

In John's writings, we can find expressions of his maturity and good counsel to help us to imitate his faithful, loyal, energetic course.

What is the lesson for us? Faithfulness leads to joy. (1 John 5:3) For example, we have the joy of knowing that we make God happy. He rejoices to see us reject the temptations of the world and accept the truth. (Prov. 23:15)

There is a related lesson involving the apostle John, who was present when Jesus intensely urged, "Keep on the watch." (Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:37; Luke 21:34-36) 

He was determined to keep serving with all his life and strength, whenever the Lord might come. How about us today?

2 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report