The disciple whom Jesus loved

        We all think we know who this disciple was so let’s take a look at the context. This exact wording only occurs five times, and all in the Gospel of John. In fact, every time the name “John” comes up in this Gospel, it refers to the Baptist or to Peter’s father, never to the Disciple John, himself.

     Chapter 13:23 is the last supper. “This disciple” is reclining at the table (as was the custom in those days) next to Jesus, with his back toward Him. He leans “back against Jesus” and inquires who is going to betray Him.

        The next scene (19:26) is at the cross where, as Jesus is dying, he has the disciple and Mary adopt each other as mother and son. “This disciple” then took her to his own home.

Occurrence number three (20:2) comes on Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene reports to Peter and “the other disciple, the one Jesus loved” that the Lord’s body is missing. The two disciples run to the tomb to check.

        The fourth time we read of “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (21:7) is as the disciples are fishing on Galilee. Only seven are there: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, and two others. “This disciple” identifies Jesus to Peter.

        The last time this term is used (21:20) is after breakfast on the shore of Galilee. “This disciple” tells of following Peter and the Lord, then confirms his own identity (21:24) as the author of this Gospel. “The disciple whom Jesus loved” is John.

        We don’t want to stop there, though. John uses this special term mostly to downplay his own part in the action. We, in turn, can use his pattern. Whenever we write or talk or even think about Jesus, God gives us the right to call ourselves “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, simply because we know that “Jesus loves me.”