We continue the study of the life of the apostle John. As we noted last week, John's life has a lot written about it. Peter is the most, and the next most, writing we find in the scriptures concerning John. So we're going to have to just look at themes in two parts. This is the second part. We're going to look at some themes from the life of John. So in today's study, we're going to think about the five times that John spoke of himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. Our first reading is from John, chapters 13 and verse 23. John chapter 13 and verse 23. “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23).

John humbly refers to himself as a disciple in his gospel. At the end, he reveals that he is the one who has written this book, and he humbly refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. And there are five occasions where we read this phrase, and each one furnishes us with a very beautiful lesson. What we do learn from this is that we should dwell not on our feeble love for the Lord, which waxes and wanes, but on his love for us. There's a tremendous blessing. There's tremendous encouragement when we do that. And this is the great lesson we learn from John's life: that though he was the son of thunder, and like James as well, sons of thunder, Jesus called them, yet he turned into the apostle of love. And the one who wrote recorded those wonderful words, for God so loved the world. that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

How wonderful is the work that the Lord Jesus did in John's life to turn him into the apostle of love who spoke so much about the love of God? But how does our love for God increase? While John wrote these words in 1 John chapter 4 and verse 19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1John 4:19). And that's where it begins. Our love for him increases. When we dwell upon how much he loves us, we don't try to conjure up some kind of love for God, for that will not be possible. It is God who does that work in our hearts. When we dwell on his love, we love him in return. and we do everything that pleases him because we love him. That's how our zeal increases. That's how our discernment increases. That's how our comforts increase when we dwell more on his love for us. Let's think before we look at these five verses about the love of believers for the Lord.

Love Measured by Time

Love in the scripture is measured in a number of ways. First of all, love is measured by time. Love is measured by time. In Revelation 2 and verse 4, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” (Revelation 2:4). Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, The love of the believers at Ephesus was not as it was when they first knew the Lord, as time went by. moment came when they let that first love, and now it was just a mere affection, just a mere carrying out of duties relating to the testimony. They were very faithful; they were known for their works; they were known for their soundness in doctrine; and they would not tolerate false teachers. Yet despite all of that, the Lord Jesus threatened to remove them as a testimony, as a lampstand, unless they repent, because God is not pleased with formality.

Let us remember that. Just because we might be sound in doctrine, so we think. Just because we do everything properly doesn't mean God will not remove our assembly from this earth. Because God wants to see fervency, vitality, a real love for Him, and doing things out of love for Him. Nothing else will please the Lord more than that. The moment our love changes. And it does change over time. We asked ourselves what love we had for the Lord when we were saved. Do we still have that love for him? When we were first saved, we wanted to do everything for the Blessed Man of Calvary. Everything we did was out of love for him. It wasn't a formality or a duty. We had great joy when we were saved and baptised. But as time has gone by, the days and the calendar have gone by. As the weeks, months, and years have gone by, how are your love and my love now measured by time? Can the Lord say that you have left your first love? The love you have now is not the same as the love you once had.

Measured by Temperature

Love is also measured by temperature. Jesus said in Matthew 24 verse 12, Jesus said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12). Jesus described how love can wax cold. This is true of believers as well. There was a time when our love for the Lord was like a burning fire, a vehement flame. Love is indeed described that way in the Song of Solomon, chapters 8 and 6. We read there, So love is described like a fire, a most vehement flame. Believers can say, like the two on the way to Emmaus, In Luke 24 verse 32, Believers could say like the two on the way to Emmaus, “… Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). They said, Alas, that burning love, that burning feeling in our hearts, can grow cold and can change in temperature.

The heart is no longer burning, and coldness starts coming in. William Cooper wrote the hymn,

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!
Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

Yes, in relation to time. Love can change. Love can be measured by time. Love can be measured by temperature. The love of many can wax coal.

Measured by quantity

Sadly, love can be measured by quantity. Jesus spoke of the woman, who was a sinner, in Luke 7:47. “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47). So there is much, and there is little. There is much love, but there is little love. Love can be measured by quantity. Though in the other stories of Mary of Bethany and Mary of Magdala, love is not mentioned, you can see it in the actions. Mary of Bethany loved the Lord Jesus so much that she anointed him with the costliest ointment.

We're reading John 12.3. “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” (John 12:3). Mary Magdalene, we read, there is no doubt she loved the Lord so much, unlike the other disciples who went home. “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,” (John 20:11). After coming to the tomb, she could not go home, for there's no home left in this world without the Lord Jesus. You know you can give without loving, as it's often said, because you have to. You give without much love behind it, but you cannot love without giving. Love always gives, and here we see a costly sacrifice made by Mary and that woman, who was a sinner because she loved the Lord. very much. No amount of money was spared for the law by Mary of Bethany. She did her best, as Jesus said in Mark 14:8. For Mary of Bethany no amount of money was spared for the Lord. She did her best. Jesus said, “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.” (Mark 14:8). She gave him a royal burial—a burial worthy of a king—that the nation was not going to give him. And so love can be measured by time, by temperature. and by quantity.

How is our love if we dwell upon it? It's not much better than Peter's love. Peter boasted of his love and zeal for the Lord. Matthew 26, 33. “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” (Matthew 26:33). B“And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” (Luke 22:33). But as we know, he failed miserably and ended up denying the Lord with oaths and curses that he ever knew him. You know, when you boast of your own love, you're going to fail miserably. But when you draw upon the love of God, you become like the apostle John.

Let's think about God's love. The love that we are supposed to dwell upon. Can you measure it by time? Can you put a clock next to it? A calendar next to it? Does it change over time? No, we read these words. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Who can measure an eternal love like that? No clock or calendar could ever be used to measure the love of God. We can dwell on a love that is vast and eternal. A love that never change, that never changes. Can we put a thermometer next to it? Can we put a temperature gauge next to the love of God? No measuring instrument can weigh it. All measures are length, depth, and depth. breadth or height. No human mind can comprehend the love of God.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19). No mind can comprehend an eternal, measureless, vast love that God has for us, and thats the love John dwelt upon, not upon his own love like Peter did and failed. And this is what we need to learn. To learn to dwell not upon ourselves and our weaknesses and failures but upon the Lord's love. What can he do with a person who is a complete failure and has nothing before him?

Revelation to John

Let's think first of all of the upper room. John chapter 13, verses 21–26. “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.” (John 13:21-26). We read one of the verses earlier. Here, we can title this Revelation. Revelation to John. John receives a revelation because he was so close to the Lord and leaning upon his breast. Peter asked him to ask the Lord, Who is the betrayer? and John was told. John was leaning in the place of affection on the bosom of the Lord Jesus in his heart.

John had allowed the Lord to humbly wash his feet, and now, cleansed, he is leaning upon that bosom in perfect fellowship with him, dwelling upon his love for him as a disciple. You know, this scene of John leaning upon the breast of the Lord reminds us of the high priest of Israel. He wore an ephod with the twelve stones and the twelve names of the tribes of Israel engraved upon it. In Exodus 28–29, we read about it. Upon his heart. those names of the children of Israel upon his heart. It says it in Exodus 28–29. “And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.” (Exodus 28:29).

This is a privilege that we all have. Like John, we can say, like it says in the Songs of Solomon 7 verse 10, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.” (Song of Solomon 7:10). That we can dwell upon the love the Lord Jesus has for us, who is our great high priest, who has us upon his heart. just as John was in the heart of the Lord Jesus. You know his heart is moved with love, sympathies, and deep feelings and pities towards us. When we lean upon his breast, when we dwell upon his love, those in poverty can look to him, to their great high priest, and find that he is moved in feelings and pity towards them. because he knew what it was to have nowhere to lay his head. Those who are suffering anguish of the soul—so much anguish mentally, too much to bear—can look to him, who suffered such agony of the soul in the garden of Gethsemane that he sweated as if it were great drops of blood. Those whose bodies are wracked with pain can cry out to him for mercy. For the one who knew what pain is more than any human being has ever known. when he suffered on that cross for us. Those who are lonely can look to him. Who was forsaken by his disciples and then forsaken by God?

Those who are persecuted can look to him. Who could say that in Psalm 69 verse 4, “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.” (Psalms 69:4). Hebrews 4:14–15 reminds us of how we can do what John did? “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:14-15). In the fourth stanza of the hymn, there is a name I love to hear. As the words say, it tells of one whose loving heart can feel my deepest woe, who in each sorrow bears a part that none can bear below. Let us, like John, learn to lean upon the bosom of the Lord Jesus and dwell upon his love, sympathies, and pities towards us.

Responsibility for John

The second occasion is at the cross, and here we can call this title responsibility. John 19 verses 25–27 say, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (John 19:25-27). So John was given tremendous responsibility to look after the mother of the Lord himself. Those who dwell upon the love of Jesus can best comfort and care for others. Those who dwell upon the love of Jesus can be fitted for service and responsibility. John was the only apostle at the cross, and therefore the Lord commended the care of his mother to him. though Mary had other children.

We know that Joseph and Mary had children. After the birth of the Lord Jesus, His virgin birth, Mary and Joseph naturally had children together. Mark 6 verse 3 tells us, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” (Mark 6:3, AV). Now, they did not believe in him, but neither did his brethren believe in him. John 7.5 tells us: “For neither did his brethren believe in him.” (John 7:5, AV). But in Acts 1, verse 14, we find them all together in the upper room praying. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (Acts 1:14). And so clearly, it seemed that they were saved after the resurrection.

Before, they didn't believe in him. After his death and resurrection, His brothers are there. His brethren are there. His family is there with the mother. Now he had two mothers to care for. Salome was his own mother, who followed the Lord from Galilee with her sons James and John. We know his mother was Salome from comparing the accounts in the gospels. And now he took home the Lord's mother to care for. A very broken-hearted woman that day. What Simeon said came to pass. Simeon said in Luke 2 verse 35, “(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:35). The pain in our soul must have been so great that Simeon could describe it that way. Like a sword piercing through the innermost being as she saw her own son crucified upon that cross. Yet she knew why he had come into the world.

And so we learned that the person who dwells upon the love of Jesus is the one who is fit for service. But another interesting thing we can add is that this shows the inspiration of scripture. John had the Lord's mother with him till the day of her death. He would have known everything about the wise men, the shepherds, King Herod, the flight into Egypt, all the many years, and the 30 years the Lord spent in Nazareth. He would have known everything. If the Bible were just written by men, John's Gospel would have been the longest of all and got into many, many volumes. And he would have written everything about the Lord's life. He would have included the story of his birth and all the many things about his life. But he only wrote about the deity of Christ and emphasised that deity. And began; in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John, chapter 1, verse 1. You see, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. to write on the theme of the deity of Christ, the Son of God. This shows that the gospel writers were inspired, not just mere men writing down their recollections—absolutely proof of the inspiration of Scripture.

Running the Race

The third occasion is at the empty tomb of Jesus, and here we are entitled to run the race. John chapter 20 verses 1–4: “ The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.” (John 20:1-4). So Peter takes the lead as usual, as when we think about Peter's life, he's always the first. The first to run, the first to fight, and the first to jump into the water to walk to the Lord. He's the first to speak on behalf of the other apostles. So he's the first to take the lead and run. But he's outrun by John.

According to the law of Moses, there had to be two or three witnesses to substantiate a fact, so Peter and John were the first two men to see for themselves that Christ was indeed risen. But John outran Peter. The usual reason given is that he was younger. You see, the scriptures don't just tell us obvious things. There are spiritual reasons why these things are recorded. The reason why John outran Peter is because he was a disciple whom Jesus loved. He dwelt upon the love of Jesus, and he had more energy, power, and zeal than Peter, who had boasted of his own love for the Lord and failed. This reminds us of what it says in Hebrews 12 about our race. Hebrews 12 verses 1 and 2 say, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1). So like Peter and John ran to the tomb, we need to be running in the race that God has given to us in the Christian life. The race of the Christian life. However, verse 2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2). There we have it. Dwelling upon the love of Jesus, dwelling upon him and his love for us at Calvary's cross. That's the motivation; that's what gives us the zeal and the power, like John had to outrun Peter. We want to do well in the Christian life. We want to run well. We need to dwell on the love of the Lord Jesus. Not dwell on our failures and faults and say, Oh, we can't do anything for God, and dwell upon ourselves and ourselves. We need to dwell on the one whose love can never fail.

Recognition by John

Fourthly and fifthly, we have recognition by John in that in the Gospel of John chapter 21, both the final two occurrences, the fourth and the fifth, occur there. Verse 4 of John chapter 21: “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.” (John 21:4-7). Peter did not recognise the LORD, though he was the first to jump into the water. To go to him, John recognised the LORD.

So what we learn from this example is that those who dwell upon the love of Jesus are quick in their perception and recognition. They're quick to perceive. They have a spiritual perception. We see this again with the previous occasion when they ran to the tomb, where we read that John and Peter both looked at what was inside, the grave clothes. But two different Greek words are used concerning what Peter saw. And what John saw—the word used by Peter just means to behold like a spectator, just to look at. But the word used for John seeing means to perceive with the eyes, to see but understand. So John saw, perceived, and understood that the Lord had indeed risen from the dead. John was a discerning man. No wonder in, um... In this epistle, he writes much about discernment. John was a man of discernment, because he was a man who dropped upon the love of Jesus.

Return of the Lord

The final one is at the end of the chapter, verses 20 to 23. “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” (John 21:20-23). Here we have the return of the Lord in view. After breakfast, after Peter is restored to the Lord, after three times he confesses that he loves the Lord, we read in verse 20. What we do learn from here is this: John was following Jesus. That's what it says here. John was following Jesus. The disciple whom Jesus loved followed.

He had his eyes on the Lord. But Peter took his eyes off the Lord, and no doubt in love for his fellow brother and servant, his fellow brother in the Lord and servant was concerned about him. Peter and John were in the fishing business together. Even afterwards, they were together. They healed the lame man in Acts, chapter 4. They went to the temple to pray together. So Peter was concerned about John. What's going to happen to him? If I'm going to die a martyr's death, as the Lord revealed to Peter when he was an old man, he's going to die a martyr's death. What about him? What will happen to him? The Lord never told anyone to follow him without counting the cost. There is no easy life awaiting any of them. Death did await Peter, as the Lord told him. History tells us it was crucifixion, an agonising death.

Peter said, What shall this man do? You see, John was already following with his eyes on the Lord and his eyes upon the Lord's returning glory. A time that no one was permitted to know The third time in his life, Peter took his eyes off the Lord. The first time, in Luke chapter 5, he said, Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man. Yes, he was a sinful man, broken before the presence of a holy God, yet he said, Depart from me. He took his eyes off the Lord and upon his own sinful self. The second time, in Matthew 14, he took his eyes off the Lord and put them upon the storm, the wind, and the waves, and they began to sink. Now he takes his eyes off the Lord and puts them on another servant. And that's not good. The Lord basically said to him, This is none of your business. None of your business. If I tarry, till he comes, what is that to you? That is not your business. Follow thou me. You must follow me. And so we learn a lesson: we must keep our eyes on the Lord.

We should not try to compare ourselves with other servants who might be more successful than us or think we're superior to others, but we should recognise our need to keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's what John did. His eyes were so upon the Lord and so much upon his love for him. The very last words of John the Apostle are these: Even so come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22, verse 20. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. May the Lord bless these precious thoughts from God's Word in our hearts. Amen.