The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

Also says in Chapter 13:23, it says, “Whom Jesus loved.” He sat by Jesus’ side, leaning on His bosom.

Outwardly, it might appear as if John was the only one Jesus loved, but that was certainly not the case. Then, it can mean only one thing: namely, that He loved him more than the others—not because He was partial, but because His love for John was well founded!

Wouldn’t it be very interesting to understand what the reason could be?

By paying attention to what John in particular writes about in his gospel and in his three epistles, we can get an understanding of it.

He has, so to speak, specialized in loving in truth, in keeping God’s commandments and laws: love of God is to keep His commandments, to walk in the truth. He writes extensively about it, also about being truthful or lying and about light and darkness.

It is also noteworthy that this so-called “Apostle of Love” is very strict when it comes to drawing the line between children of God and children of the devil, between truth and lying, between light and darkness, between saying it and doing it.

It is our life, our walk, that truly says what we are, and nothing else!

The apostle John could just as well be called the “Apostle of Truth.”

Read his three epistles and his gospel carefully! Then you will surely be gloriously and greatly inspired.

Consider this: God’s Word is the Word of truth! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth!

Satan is a liar, and the father of lies!

Those who love and practice a lie will be cast into the lake of fire! Read in Revelation. It was not by chance that this revelation was given to this exceptionally truth-loving apostle John.

Give the example of Ananias and Sapphira some serious thought! They lied and fell over dead without an opportunity to acknowledge their sin and ask for forgiveness!!!

Every person is a liar by nature. We must first of all be saved from lying. We are used to being lackadaisical, without considering whether what we are saying is accurate and true. If it is not, then it is a lie.

Much of what believers say in daily life is a lie both when they speak about earthly things and about other things. They color and exaggerate what they relate or say. If one’s judgment is too harsh, it is a lie; neither is it true if your statements are too weak. When you are to be modest, it is often a lie. If you are asked how it is going, and you answer, “Everything is fine, thank you,” it is as often as not, not true. Had you dropped the word “everything,” it might have been possibly true.

Everything you express emotionally is hardly ever completely true, because feelings are not to be relied on. Ladies in particular often speak very emotionally, using words that are far too strong about all kinds of things and about all kinds of people. This easily ends up as: this is the worst they have seen or heard, which is rarely if ever true, etc., etc.

We certainly need a powerful awakening! When we, as the Scriptures state, are “of the truth,” then every word we speak and every facial expression should be true!

Note some significant words from John: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6. “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” V. 6.

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar . . . .” 1 John 4:20. “He who does not believe God has made Him a liar . . . .” Ch. 5:10. “Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.” 3 John, v. 12.

We see that this Apostle of Love and Truth was keenly interested in whether all the nice things the believers said with their mouths were either the truth or a lie. He discovered that there was a fair amount of lying. We also see from the last mentioned quotation that he himself was known for his truthfulness.

Therefore it is not at all strange that Jesus loved him so dearly and that he leaned on His bosom.

God particularly loves everyone who dearly loves to walk in the truth and to speak only what is true in every case.