Are you like John???

Here’s a question for you to consider today, Are you like John???

Which John? Oh, John the Apostle. He is fascinating in many ways, but especially in the way that he referred to himself. Notice these four key verses as John referred to himself:

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John 13:23)

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” (John 19:26)

Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” (John 20:2)

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. (John 21:7)

In each of these four examples, John referred to himself as the one whom Jesus loved. Think about that for a moment.

We know that Jesus loved all the disciples. That is clear. Jesus told them in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Here, Jesus talks to all twelve of the disciples and tell them all to love each other as He has loved them. He could say that because He did love all of them.

Yet, John refers to himself as the one Jesus loved.

 

Jesus loves you, too!

To the disciples, Jesus said, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” (John 15:9).

Paul describes Jesus’ love for us, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;…” Here, the love of Christ refers to Christ’s love for us, not out love for Him. Paul refers here to the love Jesus has for us serves to motivate us.

Paul also wrote about the love Jesus has for us in Galatians. He writes, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Back to John, he wrote in Revelation describing Jesus, “…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,…” (Rev 1:5).

Plus, do not forget this verse! “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

In each of these verses we read that Jesus loves us – just as He did His disciples and just as He did John.

Are you like John???

Now about your day and your attitude… When you think of yourself, do you think of yourself as John did? Do you refer to yourself in your own thinking as the one who Jesus loves?

I am not talking about a gimmick just to make you feel good or boost your self-esteem; what I want you to catch is the realization of your intimate relationship with Jesus. He loves you. He gave Himself for you. The Bible is clear about this.

So, as John, do you think of yourself as,     (Your Name)   , the follower of Jesus that He loves?