Wrapping up our week’s journey with John (the disciple, not our son) <3
This week I have been revisiting the passages from John 14 – 18 and just pulling out shafts for us to glean. Snippets that have jumped off of the pages of this for me on the 2023 read through of the Bible.
I don’t know where you stand on the series about the life and ministry of Jesus called The Chosen, but Russ and I have enjoyed watching it. I have often had to remind myself that a lot of the narrative is not actually recorded Scripture, but more an imaginative take on how things could have gone to fill in the details around the concrete records that we read in the Bible.
I also have to very often remind myself that the actors are just that. Actors, portraying the roles of the men and women who we read about. But I also am thankful for the images that put flesh and blood onto these characters.
One is the disciple John.
As I have read the gospel of John this year, I can picture the character of this disciple from watching The Chosen. I picture him as a Son of Thunder and I see the episode where he admits that he has no idea what they are doing and why.
And I think of the opening introduction to one episode where the rain falls steadily outside an open window in the night. At the start of each episode, there is a brief recounting of an Old Testament or post-resurrection glimpse that adds to the story.
Inside the window we see John with paper and stylus, struggling with his words to capture what it was like to know and walk with The Word. John is much older and is thoughtfully penning his account of the good news.
It can not be far off that John was one who used his words carefully so that we would know what he had known of our Lord. In all of John’s writings, we see his thoughtful and heart felt words about his Lord and Savior.
We know that this Son of Thunder became the one asked to care for Jesus’ mother and we know that in his final days of life in exile on Patmos, cried out to us to love, love, love.
I could pull so many phrases from these passages I have pondered this week, but I think I want to speak in general terms.
Every line of the author points to the character and ministry of Jesus.
His love.
His mercy.
His grace.
His compassion.
His laser focus on the Kingdom.
His urging the disciples to know He was not abandoning them.
His assurance of the Holy Spirit coming in power to teach, correct, guide, remind them.
His connection with the Father that connects us to Him as well.
His concern that they not be surprised by troubles and persecution, but instead to be diligent to hold fast to His teachings.
I just read this week how if you are new to faith, or needing to be revived in your faith, start with the book of John.
I can see why this would be a good idea.
Would you consider just taking some time this weekend and read through the words of this disciple who Jesus loved?
That is how John referred to himself, you know.
And as you read, would you put yourself in the story?
Would you take heed of the words of our Lord as if they were being spoken, lovingly, to you directly?
Because they are.
We can take a page out of John’s book and begin calling ourselves by the name, the disciple who Jesus loves.
Laura, the disciple who Jesus loves.
__________, the disciple who Jesus loves.
Try it.
Because you are, after all, dearly and deeply loved <3