One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him (John 13:23)
So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved… (John 20:2a)
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (John 21:20a)
I find it really amazing that John used this to distinguish himself. Didn’t Jesus love all of the disciples? Of course He did! It seems almost audacious for John to qualify himself this way… “Hey, which disciple did that? Oh, that was done by the disciple that Jesus loved.” I have to wonder what the other disciples thought of John’s use of this descriptor…
However, I also have to say that it’s pretty awesome to have such a level of comfort and confidence to say, “Yeah, I’m the one Jesus loves!” We can all say that, of course, but to use that as the distinguishing characteristic is pretty amazing. It’s like John is talking about a whole different level of love when he says that.
And there truly is a whole different level of love when we are talking about the LOVE that comes from God. Just check this out, from another letter by the Beloved Apostle:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
John is saying that the worldly love – the love of things, the lust for more, the proud and selfish love that we see around us every day – this love does not compare with the Father’s Love.
The Father’s Love creates something out of nothing. The Father’s Love gives breath to all things. The Father’s Love makes death temporary, and life everlasting. The Father’s Love sends His Son on the greatest missionary trip of all time – to save the human race.
#LoveMatters