There are a large number of Christians who assume the disciple whom Jesus loved is John. However, John 21:20-25 does not tell us that John is "the disciple whom Jesus loved."
John 21:20:
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
John 21:21:
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?"
Why would Peter address the "Apostle" John as "this man?" Why did Peter not ask Jesus "and what shall the other disciples do?" That Peter singles out John only should have caught our attention.
John 20:22:
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me.
Jesus had just charged Peter with great responsibility when He said, "Follow me." But instead of focusing on his own responsibility, Peter began questioning Jesus on the responsibility of this "other disciple."
Jesus, in essence, said: "Peter, quit worrying about everyone else. You carry out your own responsibility. If I want this other disciple to remain unti I come what business is it of yours? Stop getting into other people's business and follow me."
John 21:23:
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?
Isn't it incredible that they so misinterpreted Jesus' words? But they did.
Nowhere in this chapter has God's Word identified and named the disciple "whom Jesus loved." t has to be one of the seven disciples who went fishing. All but two of those disciples were named. If one were Lazarus and he is referred to in verse 23, then Peter's question, Jesus' reply, and their misunderstanding of his reply can easily be explained.
Lazarus had been raised from the dead by Jesus and became one of his most dearly beloved disciples. In being raised from the dead, he had that in common with Jesus. It would explain why Peter would be wondering about him. It would also explain why the disciples thought that he too, like Jesus, would not again die. Since he had been raised from the dead, perhaps he too would live forever. They misunderstood Jesus' words because of their own misunderstanding.
John 21:24 and 25:
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
This verse cannot be used to prove that John was "the disciple whom Jesus loved." The disciple of verse 24 does not necessarily refer to "the disciple whom Jesus loved." This is an unwarranted assumption Verse 24 and 25 form a unit as a closing to the Gospel.
As verse 25 so clearly states that Jesus did so many things than are written in the Word of God.
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Once a person truly sees the integrity of The Word the only alternative to walking by The Word is oblivion.
One must be as willing to unlean as he is to learn.
The believers' two major life suckers are: ignorance of our legal sonship rights (redemption, justification, righteousness, sanctification, ministry of reconciliation), and self-condemnation.
Last edited by Alethes; 27th September 2008 at 02:30 PM
