NT Characters: John

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.FamilyBrothers of James and son of Zebedee.For further details, see notes accompanying the James podcast.MinistryTraining with Jesus. Focus: Luke 9:46-55 (John's lack of humility and love towards outsiders).Preaching with Peter Acts 3-5). Focus: Acts 4:13,19-20 (powerful preaching, significant knowledge of God and his word). Uneducated, yet courageous.Later he is described as a pillar in the Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:9).Later life (traditional, uncertain)Ephesus (Asia Minor): home, ministry, Mary.Taught Polycarp of Smyrna, who in turn taught Irenaeus (late 100s).DeathTraditionally he died a peaceful death. In contrast, at least 7 of the apostles died a martyr's death.John 19:26ff -- assuming he is "the disciple whom Jesus loved" -- suggests he was one of the last to die.If so, he and his brother James bracket the apostles: James being the first to die, John being the last.MiscellaneousThe Isle of Patmos, a few hours by boat off the west coast of Turkey, belongs to Greece. It is a beautiful place, and much larger than I'd ever imagined. Still, the loneliness of exile must have been bittersweet for John the Revelator.As for Da Vinci's Last Supper mural painting, the beardless figure beside Jesus is not a woman (Mary Magdalene, according to Dan Brown of Da Vinci Code fame). It was conventional in the Renaissance to depict young men without beards, thus accentuating their boyishness.WritingsAnonymity of authorship, except for Revelation 1:4.Strength of position for traditional authorship of the 5 Johannine writings.Lesson for  you and me:The apostle of love reminds us of an urgent need: love for insiders (zealous fraternal loyalty) and for outsiders (the mission of Christ).People change. The "son of thunder" in time became known as "the apostle of love."Stay faithful to the very end, whenever that comes.