Who Was John?

This post is from my notes during our Bible Study Sunday Morning at Church.

 

Leaning On Jesus

 

 

Who Was John?

John the Beloved - -What was the history of his life?  What was he most known for? 

John wrote 5 books of the Bible, The Gospel of John, 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd John and the book of Revelation.

John begins his introduction in the Gospel of John chapter 1: In the ‘beginning was the Word and the Word was God and the Word was with God.  Jesus the Word, was placed back in time with God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the beginning as the world was created with spoken words.

John was a special friend of Jesus, and was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved.  Peter, James and John were perhaps closer to Jesus than the other 9 disciples.  John was there when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the water. 

As Jesus was being crucified, he spoke to John and said of his mother Mary, behold your mother, and to Mary he said, behold your son.

It was custom for Jewish children to be taught at home.  There was also a special school for many young boys to learn the law and the Old Testament scriptures.  The Rabbi would select certain ones to enroll in this school.  Not all families could afford this training and not all were chosen.

After Jesus rose from the dead, Peter and John preached boldly.  Apparently at least Peter was not from the special schools, because the people considered both of them to be unlearned. 

Acts 4: 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Jesus has chosen all of us.  John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Jesus said, ‘I want you, I desire you, I choose you, - - follow me.”

John the Baptist spent time out in the desert, as he prepared the way for Jesus.  John the Baptist recognized that Jesus was the Lamb of God and boldly stated "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." 

The Jewish people were looking for the Messiah and were living for that day to come.  They were fascinated by Jesus and His message.   All eyes were on Him as he boldly taught in the synagogue. 

We as believers must have a solid foundation on the Word of God.  Some churches have doctrines and rules that are not scriptural.  From young children they have been taught how to dress and what to avoid, but much of the teaching is not Biblical.

Why do we believe what we believe?  Can we find a scripture and verse?

Many believers today are making sacred pilgrimages and journeys to Israel and other Holy places. While this is interesting and not wrong, we must not create a shrine and worship things and places.  These are meant to honor and memorialize Saints and events not to worship and adore. 

 

How do we view Mary the Mother of Jesus?  We know she was a virgin when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but there is mention in the scriptures of her other sons and daughters by her husband Joseph.

Jesus kept the feasts and culture of his time, and he often went to the Synagogue to teach and minister.  Even there the crowd would attempt to kill him, but he was able to slip out from their midst and leave without being seen.

How does this apply to me? 

 

It would be encouraging for all of us - - to once again re-read the Gospel of John. 

 

Notice that John quotes many times from the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is the Christ.