I’ve been spending time with the Apostle John lately. For several weeks, I’ve been reading in his gospel along with 1 John and Revelation. Something that strikes me is how much John’s character changed after being with Jesus. I’ve always thought of this Disciple as being the selfless and humble one of the Twelve. After all, he’s the one that wrote so much about Jesus’ command to love. Author Scot McKnight says, “The epistles of John are about 2 percent of the New Testament, yet they contain more than 20 percent of the instances of the term ‘love.’ It is not just the usage. It is about the centrality.” (from Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others)
But John was not always loving, selfless, or humble.
Mark 10 tells of the time when John and his brother James walked up to Jesus and made a bold request.
“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Jesus, humoring them, said, “Okay guys, what do you want me to do for you?”
Feeling even bolder, they replied, “We want to rule right next to you in your kingdom! Give us the best seats! Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left.”
Even though Jesus declined to give John and James what they wanted, their request didn’t sit well at all with the other disciples - in fact, they were pretty angry about it. Jesus took the opportunity to explain what leadership in His kingdom really looks like. He called them together and said,
“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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.” (Mark 10:42-43)
Oops, John. “Not so with you!” says Jesus. That had to sting a little to hear that.
Another time, Jesus sent messengers to a Samaritan village to let them know He was going to visit. The villagers, though, did not want Jesus to come. James and John had an idea on how to respond to their rejection. They said to Jesus, “’ Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’ But Jesus turned and rebuked them.” (Luke 9:54-55)
Oops, John, again. “But Jesus turned and rebuked them.” Ouch. (It’s no wonder, is it, that John and James were called Sons of Thunder?)
Jesus, though, wasn’t repelled by the arrogance and ignorance of the brothers. Over and over in the gospels, we see Jesus inviting James and John in (along with Peter - another brash, impulsive guy). James, John, and Peter – the closest of Jesus’ friends. They were there at the Transfiguration. They were part of a private audience when Jesus raised a little girl from death to life. And they were there in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus while He was overwhelmed with sorrow.
Jesus’ friendship with these men changed them. Years later, when John wrote his gospel, he was no longer seeking a special, powerful seat next to Jesus; he refers to himself only as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” throughout the book. He went from being a “Son of Thunder” to being a loved friend of the Son.
Young John said, “Jesus, give me whatever I want. And I want the best seat in the house ruling right next to you. Also, do you want me to destroy people who reject you with fire from heaven?”
Old John, now a friend of Jesus, said, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)
Being loved by Jesus transformed him. Being a loved friend of Jesus transforms us, too.