Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved?

The Apostle John knew the Lord’s love for him as one of His own, and four times over speaks of himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7, 20). When Jesus spoke to His disciples of the betrayer, the disciple whom Jesus loved was lying “on Jesus’ bosom” (John 13); when Jesus was hanging on the cross, the disciple whom Jesus love was “standing by,” and the care of the Lord’s mother was entrusted to him. In chapter 21, when the Lord spoke to His disciples who had returned to their fishing, the disciple whom Jesus loved was the one that recognised Him; and when Peter asked the Lord what “this man” would do, the Lord indicated the special ministry He would give to John when he said, “If I will that he tarry till I come…”

John did not continue in this way, for when we turn to his own Gospel, we find five very well-known passages where he speaks of himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. We will see at the end of chapter 21 that this disciple whom Jesus loved is the one who wrote the Gospel. John does not mention his own name in his Gospel nor in his epistles, only in the Revelation, but “the disciple whom Jesus loved” can be none other that John himself.

The Disciple whom Jesus Loved

Peter and John are often seen together. So here in their perplexity Simon Peter beckons to John as he reclined at table in the bosom of Jesus; for that John and no other was this favoured disciple cannot be doubted from John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7, 20, 24. And how truly of the Spirit that one enjoying such favour should describe himself, not as loving Jesus, though indeed he did, but as beloved by Him; and this, too, as the disciple whom Jesus loved, withholding his name as here and elsewhere of small account, though plainly described at the close where needed, and named where men might deny the authorship, as they have done!260 It is intimacy with Jesus that gathers secret, but imparts them for others' good. Falling back just as he was on the breast of Jesus, John asks who it is; and the Lord answers, not in word only, but with a sign strikingly according to Ps. 41:9, though an even more special mark of intimacy.

Peter was not in the intimacy of divine affection as was the one lying on His bosom. There can be little doubt that this was John, for he uniformly speaks of himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 19:26, John 20:2, John 21:7, 20, 24). Could you point out in this room tonight the disciple whom Jesus loves? "Oh," said one to me when I asked that question, "are you going to specify it in that way, perhaps you think it is yourself?" "Yes, thank God it is, and I would not lose it for anything. I know the disciple in Edinburgh whom Jesus loves, when I am there, but I would not take it from you. Each one may know 'the disciple whom Jesus loves."' People sometimes say, "Was there not something peculiar about John?" Yes, he was a very simple man, believed in the Lord's love to him, enjoyed it, revelled in it, and always kept near its source. I think I hear him saying, "I know He loves me, and I know He likes His love to be appreciated, and nothing pleases Him better than my being as near to Him as I can be. He liked me to lay my head on His bosom, and I did so."

I grant you the Bride, the Church, was hot formed till afterwards, but I have no doubt you get here the nucleus of that which becomes the Bride. One of the two who heard John speak was Andrew, and I am inclined to regard the other as the man who wrote the Gospel, the one who does not name himself save as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," John the son of Zebedee.

The fourth Gospel has always been ascribed to the beloved disciple, the Apostle John. He was one of the sons of Zebedee. His mother Salome was especially devoted to the Lord. (See Luke 8:3; 23:55 and Mark 16:1.) He knew Him from the beginning of His ministry and had followed Him with much love and faithfulness, and seems to have been the most beloved of the Lord. He never mentions himself in the Gospel by name, but nevertheless speaks of himself, as the disciple whom Jesus loved (Chapters 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20, 24). With James and Peter he was singled out to witness the transfiguration and to go with the Lord to the garden of Gethsemane. The three also were present when the Lord raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Mark 5:37). John was likewise an eye-witness of the sufferings of Christ (19:26, 35).

Verse 24 is decisive as to the many references to the unnamed disciple: it is of course John himself. He speaks solemnly of the absolute truth of what he has written, also using the plural “we” in this regard: “we know.” Just as believers know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John. 14:4-7; 17), so we know the truth of the word of God. Let that knowledge then have constant, vital power in our lives.

381 John 21:7. — This verse makes it certain that the Evangelist John was intended by "the disciple whom Jesus loved."

260 Here is the first mention by the Evangelist of the disciple understood to mean himself. Westcott, Drummond, Loisy and others concur, at any rate, in this opinion. Scholten started the notion, which Bacon advocates, that an ideal disciple is meant. Imagination may employ itself ad infinitum, but fruitlessly.

There seems no doubt that John alludes to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23; John 19:26; John 21:20) in the Gospel which he wrote. He also wrote three Epistles, as well as the Apocalypse, the latter during his exile in the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9).