Saint John - The Chancery - Close to the Saviour. Known as "the beloved disciple"; Cousin of the Lord Jesus Christ. John wanted to use his privileged position to gain authority along with his brother and wanted the Lord Jesus to do them a favour by 'Allowing them to sit one at the Lord right hand and the other at the Lord left in His glory' but Jesus corrected their misconception by explaining:
When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John so Jesus called them to him and said to them: You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Mark 10:41-45; Matt. 20:24-28; Luke 22:24-27 -

John also wanted the Lord to stop others from driving out devils. - Mark 9:38 - He also begged Jesus to 'call down fire from heaven to burn up' inhospitable Samaritans. - Luke 9:54 -

For John, Jesus goes beyond the bounds of Judaism. John gospel reports a fiercer conflict between Jesus and the Jews than the other Gospels do. The gospel begin before time - John 1:1 - and it shows that Jesus is timeless. Jesus speaks not to any one nation or ethnic group but to the human condition. John portrays Jesus for the widest possible readership. This is one reason why the fourth gospel has spoken so deeply to Christians in all ages. If there is doubt to whom John writes, there can be no doubt about why John writes. The gospel contains a clear statement of purpose: "These [signs] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name".

Doubt no longer but believe. Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him: 'You believe because you can see. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe'. There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may have life through his name. - John 20:28-31; 1John 5:13 - John writes that the sole purpose of life is that 'you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in Him'. - John 30:37-38 - Thus, we might know and encounter the Father and experience life eternal through faith, hope and love in the Son. [Jesus Christ]

No one ever loved the Lord Jesus Christ more and the night of the Last Supper, John's consoled Him with his love. - John 13:23-25 - John was present at the Transfiguration. - Mark 9:2 - For John, love is not a feeling or attitude toward others. God is love and He acts in love on our behalf. Love therefore is something one does, by keeping God's commandments 'in deeds and in truth' and above all, by loving others. It is hypocritical to profess love for God and to show hatred toward others. The love of God does not take us out of this world. Rather, it draws us into fellowship with God.

In 49 AD John settled at Ephesus where he witnessed the assumption of the Virgin Mary. There he wrote the fourth Gospel and three Letters which contain the sublime definition of the divinity: "God is Love". From Ephesus he was exiled to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. John is represented in art with an eagle because of his sublime theology. Saint John died in peace at Ephesus in 101, at the age of 94. His feast day is on December 27.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -