|
|
||
|
Isaiah 35:8 |
Highway to Holiness : John the Disciple
John was one of the sons of Zebedee, a fisherman of Galilee. His mother's name was Salome and it is believed that she was a sister of Jesus' mother, Mary. John's brother James was also appointed by Jesus to be one of the Twelve Apostles. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all partners in a fishing business prior to their call by Jesus to follow Him. It is said that he owned a home in Jerusalem and probably the interview Nicodemus had with Jesus was held there. John rose to a position of influence within world-wide Christianity and shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, he moved to Ephesus. He became the pastor of the church in Ephesus and had a special relationship to other churches in the area as we know from the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia in the book of Revelation. His brother James was the first of the apostles to die where John on the other hand was the last. All of the apostles met a violent death, however, John died peacefully in Ephesus at an advanced age around the year 100 AD.
There is a church tradition which says that while John was living in Ephesus, John had with him Mary, the mother of Jesus , for a few years. While in Ephesus, by order of the Roman emperor Domitian, John was exiled to an island called Patmos. While there, the sacred text of the book of Revelation was given and recorded by him while in a cave which is now known as the cave of the Apocalypse. When he was released from exile, he returned to Ephesus and lived till the time of the Roman emperor Trajan. It is said that John, " Founded and built churches throughout all Asia, and worn out by old age, died in the sixty-eight year after our Lord's passion and was buried near the same city (Ephesus)."
John is credited with writing the Gospel of John along with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. The book of Revelation is also credited to him. There is a tradition which says that when John was evidently an old man in Ephesus he had to be carried to the church in the arms of his disciples. At these meetings he was accustomed to say no more than, "Little children, love one another! After a time, the disciples wearied at always hearing the same words asked, Master, why do you always say this?"... "It is the Lord's command, " was his reply. "And if this alone be done, it is enough!" There is also a tradition which says that John was in Rome for a time.