beginnings - John

There are many special moments in life. One of the very best is when one of your children or grandchildren, totally unprompted, tell you that they love you. It is a terrific thing to be loved – the love of a partner and the love of a friend count for much. John was the disciple who knew he was loved. His gospel tells of five occasions when he describes himself as being loved by Jesus. If indeed it was the apostle John who went on to write ‘Revelation’ from the prison island of Patmos, then it would have been hugely important to know the great love of God for him when he might have felt despair, abandonment and loneliness.

John knew himself loved and it held him in the face of different situations. Considering John was known as ‘a son of thunder’ and had asked Jesus if they could call down fire from heaven to consume a village that rejected Christ, this is a remarkable transformation. From someone who desired instant judgement to one who wrote that we should love one another, this is powerful stuff. He writes in I John ch 3 v16,     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 again in verse 23, And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

When Jesus rose from the dead it was John who recognised him by the lake. Knowing His love and having drawn close to Him helped him recognise the Lord. When Jesus is troubled in spirit it is to John that Jesus speaks at the last supper. When Peter is insecure about his future it is John who is secure in the Lord’s love.

May we be those people who become increasingly changed ‘from one degree of glory into another’. Like Peter may we filled with the Spirit and accomplish that to which we are called. Like Paul may we hear His voice and speak out for Christ and like John may we know the security that comes from the knowledge of being loved by the King of the entire universe.