The disciple that Jesus loved

Certainly this is John, many of us are thinking right now. We believe that Christ loved John more than the rest of the disciples because of this phrase, even though not once does it say "the disciple that Jesus loved the most."😊 It only says Jesus loved John. But did you know that the phrase "the disciple that Jesus loved" appears ONLY in the gospel according to John? Guess who wrote this gospel: John! This situation is akin to two brothers, let's say Peter and John, diarising their day out with their loving dad-

Peter: John and I had a fantastic day out with daddy.

John: Peter and the child that daddy loves had a fantastic day out with daddy.

Believers, Christ loved all of the disciples but John was conscious of Christ's perfect love for him, the same perfect love with which Christ loves you and I. John reflected this in his gospel account, hence "the disciple that Jesus loved" (remember, not"loved the most") appearing only in the gospel according to John. He believed that he was loved by Christ with a perfect love - this is why he was the only disciple standing boldly at the site of Christ's crucifixion during the event. The other disciples fled and went into hiding for fear of the Jews. Remember 1 John 4:

"17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us."

When Christ's love for you is your focus and not your love for Christ and what you can do for Him to prove your love, you will be able to stand boldly in the day of judgment; this day is not just Judgment Day when the Books will be opened but any day that trials and temptations come, as it did with Peter when the devil asked for him to sift him like wheat. Unlike John, Peter was more conscious of his love for Christ than of Christ's love for him. On the way to Gethsemane (Matthew 24:31-35), Jesus told His disciples that they would desert Him that night. Peter boasted that He would never deny Jesus, even if everyone else did. How confident of his love for Christ he must have been! But Peter, who had boasted that he would die with Jesus, denied that He even knew Jesus – three times!

Let’s take a look at the first time Peter denied Jesus in John 18:15 – 17.

"15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17 The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.”

The wonderful thing here is that this woman that first accused Peter must have known this other disciple – John - quite well or else she would not have let Peter into the high priest’s courtyard at his request. Yet, she did not accuse John! No one accused John because his boast was not in his own love for Jesus but in Jesus’ love for him! John understood that-

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10.

John was with Jesus until the very end because his boast was in the Lord’s love for him and not in his own love, strength or righteousness or how he would die for Jesus!

Believers, like John, let's be conscious of Christ's love for us by His grace. Say to yourself "I am the believer in Christ that Jesus loves." He gave everything to give us life. He loves us so.

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.