“One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to Him.” — John 13:23
“When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son.'“ — John 19:26
“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’” — John 21:7
The Gospel of John is the only perspective on the life of Jesus that identifies “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” mentioning this mystery disciple not once but three times?
Which one of the twelve was designated with such favored status?
Through simple deduction, it isn’t difficult to identify the object of the Savior’s special affection. It the author of the gospel himself—the apostle John!
How arrogant to claim such a status? But John's self-identification is not arrogance. It’s the expression of humble confidence in the grace of God demonstrated toward him in the cross.
This is why, when meditating on the love of Jesus, John would write passages such as 1 John 4:9-10,
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
The truth is this: Jesus loves every disciple the way he loved John. The only difference is that John personalized and internalized this reality.
The special, agape love of Jesus was woven into the fabric of his theological conscience and spiritual experience.
What if I could be so confident in God’s grace that I could say, "I am the disciple whom Jesus loves." Not just the disciple who was chosen but tolerated. No, I’m the disciple who is cherished and treasured.
But I am such a failure. I’ve betrayed Jesus on countless occasions. I’ve rationalized my sin, caved to peer pressure, and allowed myself to be shaped by the spirit of the age more than the Spirit of God.
How can he love me?
Whenever you ask that question. Let the cross provide the answer—the cross that calls us to declare unequivocally and emphatically, “I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.”
This is grace.
What if you and I, like John, personalized and internalized it as the defining truth of our lives?
I think it would make a big difference.
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