The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

Sunday, February 5, 2023

“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23 KJV).

Why do the Scriptures make so much of this “disciple whom Jesus loved?”

On five occasions, our King James Bible refers to “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26). “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him” (John 20:2). “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea” (John 21:7). “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?” (John 21:20).

From John 21:24, we gather this “disciple whom Jesus loved” was also the man the Holy Spirit superintended to write this Fourth Gospel Record: “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.” It is often asked why the Lord Jesus singled out one disciple to love. Did He not love anyone else? Dear friends, we need to grow up in the Scriptures. Of course, Jesus loved other saints! For example, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister [Mary], and Lazarus” (John 11:5). When the “disciple whom Jesus loved” is mentioned, think of it as that man being aware of Jesus’ love for him! This is his identity: “I know my Saviour loves me!”

It was not “the disciple who loved Jesus,” for it is not our feeble, fickle love for the Lord that ultimately matters. “The love of Christ [not ‘for’ but ‘of’—Christ originates the love!] constraineth [compels, motivates, drives] us…” (2 Corinthians 5:14). His love is matchless, unfailing, and eternal.

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