Who Is Saint John the Apostle? | The Catholic Saints Podcast

Summary

In this video, Taylor Camp, the director of Formed, interviews Dr. Jim Prothro, a professor of sacred scripture and theology, about St. John the Evangelist. They discuss John's close relationship with Jesus, his role as an apostle, and his contributions to the New Testament. The conversation highlights John's transformation from an impetuous follower to a devoted apostle, emphasizing the spiritual insights found in his Gospel and letters, particularly the importance of love as the core of Christian faith.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dr. Jim Prothro and Taylor Camp discuss the life and significance of St. John the Evangelist in the context of Catholic tradition.
• 🗓️ The Feast of St. John is celebrated on December 27th, following the Christmas season and highlighting his contributions to the New Testament.
• 🎣 John, one of the sons of Zebedee, was originally a fisherman before becoming one of Jesus's closest disciples.
• 🔝 John, along with Peter and James, formed Jesus's 'Inner Circle,' witnessing events such as the raising of Jairus's daughter and the Transfiguration.
• 📖 Dr. Prothro emphasizes that John's role in the Inner Circle was due to his mission as an apostle, rather than a hierarchy of personal intimacy with Jesus.
• 💬 The term 'apostle' signifies being 'sent ones,' chosen by Jesus for their authoritative role in representing him and preaching the kingdom of God.
• 👀 John's Gospel is unique for its spiritual emphasis and its presentation of Jesus as the Eternal Word of God made flesh, offering a different perspective on Jesus's life.
• 📜 The Gospel of John is believed to be the last of the four gospels written, providing a spiritual complement to the synoptic gospels.
• 👴 Tradition holds that John lived a long life, preaching in Ephesus and was eventually exiled to Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation.
• ❤️ The central message of John's Gospel and letters is the command to love one another, reflecting Jesus's teachings and the essence of the Christian faith.
• 🙏 Dr. Prothro suggests approaching John's Gospel with an understanding of its spiritual depth and unique perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video discussing with Taylor Camp?

The speaker in the video is Dr. Jim Prothro, a professor of Sacred Scripture and Theology.

What is the Feast of St. John the Evangelist celebrated on?

The Feast of St. John the Evangelist is celebrated on December 27th.

What is unique about the relationship between Jesus and the sons of Zebedee, James and John, in the Gospels?

James and John, along with Peter, form Jesus's Inner Circle. They are privy to special events and teachings that other disciples are not, indicating a higher level of intimacy and trust.

What significant event is mentioned as being witnessed only by Peter, James, and John?

The raising of Jairus's daughter from the dead is an event witnessed only by Peter, James, and John, signifying their close relationship with Jesus.

Why were Peter, James, and John the only disciples taken to the Mount of Transfiguration?

They were taken to the Mount of Transfiguration to witness Jesus's glory and hear the voice of God the Father, reinforcing their roles as his inner circle and preparing them for his death and resurrection.

What is the term used to describe the group of people closest to Jesus, including Peter, James, and John?

The term used to describe this group is 'Inner Circle,' indicating their special status and close relationship with Jesus.

What is the significance of the term 'Apostle' as used in the context of the 12 disciples?

The term 'Apostle' means 'sent one' and refers to those chosen by Jesus for an authoritative role in representing him, including the power to heal and cast out demons.

How does the Gospel of John differ from the synoptic gospels in its portrayal of Jesus?

The Gospel of John is considered more 'spiritual' in nature, emphasizing spiritual realities and offering a unique perspective on Jesus's life and teachings, often focusing on his divine nature.

What is the 'new commandment' given by Jesus as mentioned in the Gospel of John?

The 'new commandment' given by Jesus in the Gospel of John is to 'love one another as I have loved you,' signifying the importance of love in the new covenant.

What is the core message emphasized by St. John in his Gospel and letters?

The core message emphasized by St. John is the command to love one another, which he sees as the essence of Christian faith and the way to recognize Jesus's disciples.

How did St. John's Gospel and letters come to be associated with the authorship of John the Evangelist?

The association comes from early church tradition and scholarly consensus, recognizing the unique perspective and intimate knowledge of Jesus's life that John the Evangelist would have had as part of his Inner Circle.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Catholic Saints with Dr. Jim Prothro

The video script begins with an informal introduction to a show called 'Catholic Saints' hosted by Taylor Camp, the director of Formed. Dr. Jim Prothro, a professor of sacred scripture and theology, is introduced as a guest. They discuss the humorous side of Dr. Prothro and the privilege of viewers to see his expressions. The conversation then shifts to the topic of the day, St. John the Evangelist, with Dr. Prothro explaining his role as a professor and the focus of their discussion on St. John's feast day, celebrated on December 27th.

05:02

🤔 The Inner Circle of Jesus: Understanding Discipleship

This paragraph delves into the concept of different levels of intimacy within the disciples of Jesus. It explains that while there are many followers, not all are necessarily disciples. Disciples are those who follow Jesus to learn from him, including Mary Magdalene and others. The Twelve, including Peter, James, and John, are set apart as Apostles, chosen for their authoritative role in representing Jesus. The paragraph highlights the special experiences of Peter, James, and John, who are part of Jesus's 'Inner Circle' and witness significant events, such as the raising of Jairus's daughter and the Transfiguration, which are not shared with all disciples.

10:02

📖 The Gospel of John: A Unique Perspective on Jesus

The script discusses the Gospel of John, which is traditionally believed to be written by John the Evangelist, one of Jesus's closest disciples. It is noted that John refers to himself in the third person as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved.' The Gospel of John is distinguished by its focus on spiritual realities and its unique account of Jesus's life, including the portrayal of Jesus as the Word of God made flesh. The paragraph also touches on John's quick belief in the resurrection and his role in the Last Supper, emphasizing the spiritual depth of his gospel.

15:04

🛶 The Life and Legacy of John the Apostle

This section explores the life of John beyond his time with Jesus, including traditions about his later years. It mentions the Book of Revelation, which is attributed to John, and his time on the island of Patmos. The paragraph discusses John's role as a bishop in Ephesus and his emphasis on the love command, which he repeatedly shared even in his old age. The love command is highlighted as a central theme in John's teachings and the Christian faith as a whole.

20:04

📝 Approaching the Gospel of John and His Letters

The final paragraph offers guidance on how to approach the Gospel of John and his letters. It suggests starting with the first letter of John to gain a sense of his teachings, which emphasize the importance of fellowship and the eternal life revealed through Jesus. The paragraph also contrasts the Gospel of John with the synoptic gospels, noting that John provides a spiritual perspective that complements the other accounts of Jesus's life. The purpose of John's writings is to share the knowledge and joy of eternal life with his readers.

Keywords

💡St John the Evangelist

St John the Evangelist refers to John, one of Jesus's twelve apostles, traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of John and three epistles in the New Testament. In the video, he is discussed as a significant figure in Christian theology, with a unique perspective on Jesus's life and teachings, as seen in his Gospel which emphasizes spiritual realities.

💡Feast of St John

The Feast of St John is a Christian celebration honoring St John the Evangelist. It is observed on December 27th, as mentioned in the script, placing it shortly after Christmas. The feast day is significant as it commemorates the saint and provides an opportunity to reflect on his contributions to the Christian faith.

💡Inner Circle

In the context of the video, the 'Inner Circle' refers to the select group of disciples closest to Jesus, including Peter, James, and John. They were privy to special events and teachings not shared with the broader group of disciples, illustrating a deeper level of intimacy and trust within Jesus's ministry.

💡Transfiguration

The Transfiguration is a biblical event where Jesus was transfigured and became radiant in glory upon a mountain, as described in the Gospels. In the script, it is noted that Peter, James, and John were the only disciples present during this event, signifying their special status and the spiritual significance of the moment.

💡Gospel of John

The Gospel of John is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament, offering a unique account of the life and ministry of Jesus. The video discusses the Gospel of John as a spiritual gospel, providing a distinct perspective on Jesus's identity and mission, such as identifying him with the 'Word of God'.

💡Apostle

An Apostle, derived from the Greek word meaning 'one sent forth,' refers to the twelve main disciples chosen by Jesus, including John. In the video, the term is used to highlight the special role and authority given to these disciples to represent Jesus and spread his teachings.

💡Spiritual Gospel

The term 'Spiritual Gospel' as used in the script refers to the Gospel of John's focus on the spiritual and theological aspects of Jesus's life, rather than the physical or historical details. It emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus and the spiritual truths of the Christian faith.

💡Love Command

The Love Command in Christian theology is based on Jesus's teachings to love God and one's neighbor. In the video, it is highlighted as a central theme in John's writings, including his Gospel and letters, where he emphasizes the importance of love as a fundamental aspect of following Jesus.

💡Ephesus

Ephesus, a city in modern-day Turkey, is mentioned in the script as the place where John is traditionally believed to have lived and served as a bishop. It is also associated with his exile to the island of Patmos and his later return to continue his ministry.

💡Word of God

In the script, the 'Word of God' is a theological term used in the Gospel of John to describe the divine Logos, or the Word through which all things were made. It is used to articulate the belief that Jesus, as the Word made flesh, is both God and the means by which the world exists.

💡1 John

1 John is one of the three epistles attributed to John in the New Testament. The video references it as a source of spiritual insight and fellowship with God, emphasizing the eyewitness testimony of the author to the life of Jesus and the eternal life revealed in him.

Highlights

Taylor Camp introduces Dr. Jim Prothro, a professor of sacred scripture and theology, who teaches biblical languages and New Testament sections.

The Feast of St. John is celebrated on December 27th, following the Christmas season.

St. John, before being a saint, was a fisherman and one of the sons of Zebedee, along with his brother James.

Jesus called St. John and his brother James to follow him, leaving their fishing business, signifying their entry into Jesus's inner circle.

St. John, along with Peter and James, witnessed Jesus raising a girl from the dead, highlighting their special status among the disciples.

The three apostles, including St. John, were present during the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus revealed his divine glory.

St. John was part of the inner circle, witnessing intimate moments of Jesus's ministry, such as the washing of the disciples' feet.

Dr. Prothro suggests that Jesus's distinction of certain disciples does not necessarily reflect varying levels of intimacy but rather specific roles in ministry and mission.

St. John's Gospel does not mention John by name but refers to him as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved,' indicating his close relationship with Jesus.

St. John's Gospel begins with the Prologue, emphasizing the divine nature of Jesus as the Word of God incarnate.

St. John's Gospel provides a unique perspective on Jesus's Last Supper, focusing on the new commandment of love.

The tradition identifies St. John as the author of the Book of Revelation, written while exiled on the island of Patmos.

St. John emphasized the love command, teaching that love for God and neighbor summarizes all of Christian faith and practice.

St. John's letters, particularly 1 John, invite readers into a shared fellowship and knowledge of eternal life with God.

Dr. Prothro advises readers of St. John's Gospel to expect a spiritual perspective that complements the synoptic gospels.

St. John's life and teachings illustrate the journey from impetuousness to humility and the importance of learning from Jesus's corrections.

The interview concludes with a reflection on St. John's emphasis on love and the invitation to share in the joy and knowledge of eternal life.

Transcripts

hello everyone and welcome to Catholic

saints my name is Taylor Camp I'm the

director of formed and with me today is

Dr Jim Pro Who's Laughing you don't like

my name I was making a face because I

didn't realize we were rolling yet we're

in people and there's no going back I'm

very happy that all of you can see this

other side of me that's good well okay

I'm really glad to be here Taylor I'm

glad to have you what is this other side

of you that you speak of uh the side

that makes faces oh yes when the

camera's not on that's true there may be

some of you that are listening to this

through podcast uh what you're missing

out on is a humorous face of Dr James

Pro yes but for those of you who are

here on video you have the privilege of

seeing it so that is good so Dr Prothro

can you tell us quickly what are you a

professor of what do you teach I teach

uh Bible uh and well I'm a professor of

sacred scripture and theology uh so I

mostly teach uh the biblical classes so

I teach biblical languages here and I

teach classes in different uh uh books

and sections of the New Testament

especially very good that is a perfect

application for what we were talking

about today on this episode of Catholic

saints we are talking about St John the

Evangelist the Apostle the gospel writer

obviously who is in scripture so uh Dr

BR can we start off with when do we

celebrate the Feast of St John yeah so

the Feast of St John is celebrated on uh

December 27th okay very good it's quite

it's quite nice because at the beginning

of the Christmas season we read a whole

lot from St John true from his epistle

especially very nice okay so that's his

feast day December 27th Mark a calendar

right after Christmas um okay so we're

talking about St John where should we

start who was St John or John before he

was St John yeah that's right he was

just John uh so he was John and he's one

of the sons of Zebedee uh so he and his

brother James are both uh fishermen they

work for their dad uh seem to be running

uh helping with the family business they

have different hirelings uh in the boat

when Jesus encounters them uh and we

meet him uh in the synoptic gospels uh

where James and John are uh there

fishing in a boat with their dad uh and

with some of their uh hired men um and

Jesus calls them and they leave

everything and they even leave their dad

in the boat they leave their Nets and

they just uh go to follow him um and uh

James John along with Peter end up in

the gospels becoming part of Jesus's you

you could say Inner Circle right so all

of the 12 are in are Jesus's like

closest companions right of all the

disciples that follow they're the uh

ones who are uh set up and will be sent

out with authority of course they'll

replace Judas out of the 12 there um but

uh Peter James and John get to do things

with Jesus that other people don't get

to do okay uh so uh uh when J iris's

daughter is uh dying y Jesus

sends all the family out except the

mother and father when he goes into to

heal her and raise her from the dead and

he doesn't bring all of his disciples in

or even all of the twel he only brings

in Peter James and John and so they are

witnesses to him raising up this little

girl where he says uh uh rise and then

she does uh those three are also the

three who are invited up to the Mount of

transfiguration uh when Jesus shows his

glory to them and this is a this is a

time where as his inner circle and

especially for Peter as a leader of the

12 this is right after Jesus has just

predicted his death for the first time

explicitly plainly to them not in hidden

riddles or figures but has said I'm

going to be

killed uh and that they take that really

hard it's not something they're

expecting and it's something they they

they struggle with of course we see that

Peter does um uh and so right after that

soon after that Jesus Takes Peter James

and John up to a high mountain and then

his Glory shines through and is revealed

to them and they see the bright Cloud

they hear the voice of the father coming

from the cloud saying this is my beloved

Son listen to him not just this is my

son they kind of know that already but

this time listen to him right he's not

leading you astray he's not crazy follow

him and listen to him all the way to the

Cross because on the other side of it

will be resurrection and Glory um Peter

James and John are also uh the three who

go off with Jesus at the Garden of

Gethsemane to pray with him right and

they're the ones who are falling asleep

because they're so tired um so that he

keeps them with them um and John as well

as Peter uh according to Luke's gospel

also get sent off to um uh prepare the

Passover for him in the night of the

Last Supper uh so there there John is

one of Jesus's Inner Circle during his

Earthly Ministry okay so we can

certainly say that Jesus uh in some

capacity chose him for a particular

intimacy even within the apostles which

is uh rather Illuminating knowing he is

respons responsible he is the author of

of a major portion of the New Testament

uh and that that is coming from a place

of intimacy so I did want to ask so if

there's if there's listeners or viewers

out there who have never really noticed

perhaps that there is this kind of

levels of intimacy even within you know

if you're talking about there's

disciples then there's apostles then

there's these three Could you actually

open up a little bit like what why would

Jesus do that obviously that is a little

speculative perhaps but why would you

would you uh be willing to put forward a

a

possible thought as to why is Jesus um

kind of distinguishing separating out

people who are following him yeah that's

right so um so we' we' we've got kind of

different levels of of groups right um

uh and some of them

are uh not necessarily levels of

intimacy that Jesus chooses they're just

they're ones that the people have chosen

okay so in the gospels you'll meet the

crowds and the crowds like Jesus and

they follow him but they're not

necessarily disciples which is a word

that means student right or like a

particular follower of a rabbi or

teacher or a prophet they're they the

crowds aren't necessarily his disciples

they're people who kind of are there for

the magic show right or they're there

because they like seeing Jesus Stick it

to the Sadducees right when he says

things about them or or or corrects them

or rebuffs them um

uh that's that's that's kind of what

they're there for right so the crowds

Jesus often in the gospels especially in

Mark you'll see him do this a lot and

it'll tell you explicitly he tried to

get away from the crowd when he does

most of his teaching he actually tries

to bring to do it just with his

followers his disciples um now disciples

includes lots of people who follow Jesus

who really are trying to learn from him

learn the way uh uh of intimacy with God

that he's teaching um and that includes

lots of other people people who follow

him From Galilee including um uh uh uh

Mary Magdalene uh salom uh including

lots of other people um they're they're

not on the outside right they're they're

they're people who follow him and know

him really well and take care of him and

he takes care of them um but the 12 are

set apart within that group not because

Jesus says you will be closer to me than

all the others and I'm going to keep

them at arms length it's not because

Jesus keeps say Mary Magdalene or or uh

uh or his mother who also follows right

kind of at arms length and says you're

not going to be close to me in that way

but that he chooses the 12 for a

specific job right so he names them

Apostle which is a word that means sent

one uh but really it it it it it uh uh

it you gets used to refer to like

ambassadors or emissaries right these

are the people who are going to have a

kind of authoritative role in

representing Jesus right he gives them

authority to go out and cast out demons

and heal the sick and preach the kingdom

of God in his name even during his

Earthly Ministry and then of course the

TW have a special role to do that after

Jesus's resurrection when he sends them

out uh where all of his disciples are

missionary disciples but the TW have a

particular role uh to represent him

authoritatively and make decisions for

everybody else so they do sometimes get

brought in a little bit closer right and

Peter along with James and John get

brought in a little bit closer so that

he can teach them specific things that

they need to know for the sake of their

um uh representing him and then they

will teach other people right yeah that

was extremely helpful so we've got you

can move from the crowds disciple the 12

Inner Circle so it's if I'm

understanding correctly you're you're

suggesting that it's not necessarily a

matter of intimacy so much as missionary

sending or um

Ministry perhaps but it doesn't like

mean that just because these three are

in the Inner Circle there there's going

to be a natural hopefully increase in

intimacy the closer the more that you

see but it's not like well you guys are

destined to be closer to me than my

mother or Mary Magdalene or something

perhaps but it has to do with mission

that was a very good explanation yeah

that's right that's right official kind

of public Mission work it I would say

though um it does seem that especially

given that John was part of this Inner

Circle and he did get to witness a lot

um that it does give kind of a it makes

me want to approach his gospel and his

letters in a particular way because

you're like that he was able to see so

many different things so um thank you

was there anything else you would like

to say just about about the man so to

speak the man John yeah well so we we a

couple of other things um so you you've

mentioned John's gospel John's gospel

doesn't mention John by name right he

mentions the son of zebedy or usually he

just talks about this other disciple

whom Jesus loved but if you compare it

with the other gospel El it seems really

clear that the only one that John's

gospel doesn't mention by name is John

um and he's usually the specific one so

he's he refers to himself kind of in the

third person um most of the time is that

disputed at all that it is John's gospel

uh it is disputed it is yeah that's

right um uh so some people uh some some

Scholars will say well the disciple whom

Jesus loved who who does it say that he

loved in the gospel whom does it say

Well it it says how he loved Lazarus

right so maybe Lazarus is supposed to be

this person or or something like that

but it uh I think certainly the

tradition and and a majority of Scholars

who uh look at this say like you're

supposed to think it's John everybody's

thought it's John um who otherwise we're

missing one of the key three uh from the

inner circle in this gospel um but he uh

uh so he's in a a a position of intimacy

with Jesus even at the Last Supper where

he is reclining on the Lord's uh uh

breast that is to say that they're

they're everybody's um it's not so in in

in paintings right everybody's sitting

up in like chairs or on a bench and then

he's always leaning over to Jesus like

this that's not what we're talking about

right we're talking about people who are

uh reclining at table right meaning that

there's not a there there's not chairs

there's a low table to the ground and

they're all lying down and then kind of

propping themselves up okay right U but

so John is situated in that kind of uh

setting really close to Jesus right it's

not like there's not a really awkward

like one person leaning from one chair

over to Jesus to to just so that he can

some of the paintings are awkward some

of the paintings are awkward you look at

it and you're like I don't know about

that a little different but hey so that

is very helpful to know but John also uh

so he's he's he's presented to us as one

who's especially close to Jesus um uh

one who um uh believes quickly so at the

in the Easter account in John's gospel

chapter 20 um John is the uh only gospel

that tells us that uh that John that

this beloved disciple ran to the tomb

along with Peter and got there first

quicker he makees sure to say like oh

they both ran John got there first Peter

looked into the tomb first but when

Peter Peter saw that there the tomb was

empty and that the cloths were all there

in the place but then it says then the

other disciple leaned in and saw and he

believed right so John Peter Peter gets

uh uh a special Resurrection appearance

um uh he's not the first of course

that's Mary Magdalene and the women um

but Peter gets a special Resurrection

appearance right in instructions but

John is the first one um uh uh in John's

gospel at least to look in and and go

he's he hasn't been moved nobody's

stolen his body we don't we're I he he

he he believes in in a way that other

people don't really quickly right after

saying the empty tomb um but he also has

his has his flaws so the two sons of

Zebedee uh get called the sons of

thunder by Jesus uh and it seems like

that's uh because they're a little bit

impetuous okay um so it's John who comes

up to Jesus one time and says hey we saw

somebody else casting out demons in your

name and we stopped him and Jesus says

don't do that they're not against us

they're with us it's okay um and it's

James and John who

uh in Mark's Gospel Matthew has their

their mother doing this but in in Mark's

gospel James and John who come up to

Jesus and say hey we're talking about

who is the greatest

M we got a favor to ask you when you

come into your kingdom can we sit at

your right hand and on your left on

Thrones and Jesus is like well and then

teaches them about uh the humility of

following him uh uh but but but but John

learns that lesson right just like Peter

um to have a high view of the Apostles

doesn't mean that we think that they

never make mistakes that wouldn't be a

high view of the impossible of the

Apostles that would be an impossible

view of these human

Apostles but they respond when Jesus

teaches and corrects them right and and

we I hope will imitate them in the same

way um uh because we who falter and have

questions and have

misunderstandings uh can also look at

the same John who comes up to Jesus and

says hey set me at your right hand right

um and Jesus says no yeah that's not the

way we're going to do this and that's

not uh uh that's already been determined

by my father um that John doesn't stay

in that state of being impetuous and

competitive for the rest of his life he

learns from that and he follows more

intimately Jesus during Jesus's Earthly

Ministry and then certainly after that

as an apostle uh to uh uh the rest of

the church that is a beautiful Lessing

lesson of because we all have desires of

of our hearts of all different kinds uh

hopefully most of them good uh but

nevertheless even good desires may be at

the wrong time or maybe there'll be a

little bit of this a little bit of that

but to have the humility to go to the

Lord in prayer in scripture um through

the Council of friends and even have

those kinds of things corrected is just

like so important part of the virtue of

prudence uh that is a good lesson that

we can pull from from J MH yeah all

righty so um these are some traits that

we've pulled out uh is there more that

we can know about him um

uh well so U there are different

Traditions about the uh the rest of his

life so uh The Book of Revelation uh

says it's written by

John uh and there were questions there

have been questions about this at

different times but a lot of the

tradition has identified the John who

wrote Revelation with John the

Evangelist and the son of zebede um uh

and uh that book is written on from an

island called Patmos and he says he's

there because of the testimony of Jesus

right because of the word of uh the

gospel and so uh uh most of the early

Traditions the the earliest ones all say

that John uh at one point moved to

Ephesus and uh was a kind of Bishop in

Ephesus for a while that's in modern day

Turkey uh but then that he was

imprisoned on the island of Patmos for a

short amount of time kind of exiled

there uh uh by the authorities but then

that he got to come back and that he

preached in Ephesus and he died and um

one of the things that he along with the

rest of the New Testament writers and of

course along with Jesus emphasizes is

the the the love Command right Jesus

says the uh all of the law of God is

summarized in two precepts right love

God the father and love your neighbor

and Augustine even connects this to the

sign of the cross right up and across

right love for God the father son and

spirit and love for our neighbor and

that really summarizes the Christian

faith if you know how uh the way that it

the way that it works right um know

everything that it means um and that's

an emphasis that we see in John's gospel

and in first second and third John three

letters in the New Testament uh from

John that we read during the Christmas

season on Sundays um uh it's emphasized

massively in Jesus's um washing the feet

of his disciples uh uh after the supper

the Last Supper he washes their feet and

says right you do likewise for one

another you're not greater than I am a

student isn't greater than his master a

disciple isn't greater than his teacher

you're going to do what I did right I've

washed your feet so you wash the feet of

one another love one another and that's

how they'll know that you're my

disciples and uh

jome tells a story uh about John being

feeble and old uh after he was released

from his captivity uh being carried

around from church to church right from

assembly to assembly

uh in Ephesus right in his in his dasis

we might say um and that he would he

would get brought there and then people

would say tell us things right tell tell

us a story from Jesus tell us tell us

something we don't know and he would say

little children love one another and

that was what he would say over and over

and over again beauti um because that

was the that was the core of the um

encouragement and the message that he

had that is beautiful yeah um would you

mind pulling out some so maybe there's

people out there who have never read um

The Gospel of John or some of his

letters would you would you offer any

kind of tips to how to how to approach

the Gospel of John in particular oh sure

so um you a lot of us are are familiar

first with um the story as it's told in

we call the synoptic gospels right

Matthew Mark and Luke which are synoptic

because they all they all see from a

similar kind of Vantage Point um John's

Gospel According to early church

tradition is written later than those

right it's the last of the four gospels

to be written uh and that seems to make

sense with the way in which he wrote it

um Clement of Alexandria uh from from

the the late 100s says that it's a

spiritual gospel um and by that he

doesn't mean that the other ones aren't

don't teach spiritual things but he he

means that uh the way that John tells

the story and the kinds of stories that

John includes right emphasize uh

spiritual realities in a way that the

others don't so the very beginning of

John's gospel uh starts off with not

well at the beginning of the story there

was Joseph and Mary right and an angel

showed up he says in the beginning was

the word of God and the Word was with

God and the Word was God and God's word

is the way that everything came into

being and then he says in John 11:4 the

word became flesh and dwelt Among Us so

when John right knows that everybody

else already knows the story the other

gospels are out there right he's not

offering a competing account he's

offering right some a gospel that will

show us different things about Jesus

that you might have missed right if

before you thought that this is another

miraculous birth where an angel shows up

kind of like Samson's or like Isaac's or

like any of the other kind of Miracle

births in the Old Testament John says

you're not getting that you're not

getting everything that's there because

really what this is this is the Eternal

Word of God with the father as the son

right from all eternity not created of

the same substance with the father who

now has become flesh and that's what

this birth story is about John's gospel

doesn't have a regular account of the

Last Supper the way that uh the other

synoptics do right where uh Jesus does

the words of institution breaks the

bread and gives it to him uh John just

skips over the supper part but then he

comes to right uh if the uh uh he comes

to Jesus saying a new commandment I give

you love one another as I've loved you

and right if you have a new covenant

which is what Jesus says his uh blood

poured out is the blood of the New

Covenant you have a new covenant then

you have new Commandments that go with

the Covenant right Commandments always

go with covenants and this one right in

the New Covenant was the chief command

there it is so John gives you that

complimentary perspective um and John's

letters uh the second and third John are

really short um and they're not the best

place to start if you want to read the

letters but if you start with first John

you just get kind of a feel of it if I

read the first few verses this is 1 John

1 1-5 and he says we declare to you what

was from the beginning what we have

heard right so he in the Inner Circle

right has heard what we've seen with our

eyes what we've looked at and touched

with our

hands concerning the word of life that's

Jesus himself right right the word right

that became incarnate this life was

revealed and we've seen it and we

testify to it and declare to you the

eternal life that was with the father

and was revealed to us we declare to you

what we've seen and heard so that you

also might have fellowship with us our

fellowship is with the father and his

son Jesus Christ and we write these

things so that our joy may be complete

and you would have fellowship with us so

notice John's in the Inner Circle he

sees the Transfiguration other disciples

don't see that even not only the TW see

that right John's in the Inner Circle

with Jesus and Peter and James right for

lots of other things but the whole

purpose of him being brought into that

special those special moments is that so

he could see and then he could bring you

to have the same fellowship and the same

knowledge so it's not something that's

exclusive to him it's something that he

gets first so that he can share and by

reading his gospel and letters and of

course asking for his intercession and

having Devotion to him uh we can share

that same joy and the same knowledge of

the eternal life that was with the

father in the beginning uh that he tells

us about that is beautiful there there

is no better place to end than I think

there do you have any do you have any

final comments that we not covering St

John pray for

us