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Our third Biblical role model is the Apostle John. This John is not to be
confused with John the Baptizer. The apostle John was the writer of the book
of John. The book is all about love as shown in the life of Jesus. What is
significant about this author is that he does not use his own name when
referring to the writer of the book. A number of times, he uses the reference
to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." (John 13:23; 21:7, 20).
A quality of John that is quite prominent is that of humility. He appears to
give first place in his writing to that of Jesus, his Lord. This is evident in
the first reference as mentioned above about him "reclining on the bosom of
Jesus" at the meal in the upper room (13:23).
A second quality is that of being observant and alert to the risen Lord in
the second reference (21:7). He says to Peter, "It is the Lord." John was the
first to recognize Jesus.
A third trait shows when John is following Peter and Jesus, Jesus has just
confronted Peter as to his love for him after denying his Lord just before the crucifixion. Peter wants to know what is going to happen to John. Jesus tells
Peter that he is to follow Him and not to worry what is going to happen to
others. This is exactly what John is doing, following Jesus.
John is the only disciple of Jesus to not die a martyr's death. He went on
to write the three epistles named after him as well as the book of Revelation.
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