It is divine calling that sets the stage, and human response that echoes through eternity. The story of John and his brother James begins with a simple yet profound act: Jesus called, and they followed. This immediate and unwavering response defines the essence of their vocation. As recounted in the Gospels, James and John were engaged in the practical labor of mending nets with their father Zebedee when Jesus’s invitation resonated with them. “He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him” (Matthew 4:21b-22). This decisive action underscores the transformative power of Jesus’ call and the depth of their faith.
This initial act of faith blossomed into a unique and significant relationship with Jesus, particularly for John, alongside Peter and James. These three were granted exceptional access to pivotal moments in Jesus’ ministry, witnessing the Transfiguration, the miraculous raising of Jairus’s daughter, and the intense agony in Gethsemane. Among these chosen disciples, John held a particularly intimate place. Tradition ascribes to him the authorship of the Fourth Gospel, although contemporary biblical scholarship presents varied perspectives on the apostle and evangelist being the same individual.
Within the Gospel attributed to him, John is identified as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2). This beloved disciple is depicted reclining next to Jesus during the Last Supper, a scene laden with intimacy and trust. Perhaps the most poignant demonstration of this special bond is Jesus’s entrustment of his mother’s care to John as he hung on the cross. In a moment of profound love and responsibility, Jesus declared, “Woman, behold your son! … Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26b, 27b). This act cemented John’s role not only as a disciple but as a surrogate son to Mary, further highlighting his unique position in Jesus’s inner circle.
The Gospel of John is often characterized by its theological depth and soaring insights, earning its author the symbolic title of the “eagle of theology.” This Gospel delves into profound spiritual realms, exploring the divine nature of Jesus and the intricacies of faith in ways that distinguish it from the synoptic Gospels. However, alongside this theological profundity, the Gospels also reveal the very human aspects of John’s character. Jesus himself nicknamed James and John “sons of thunder,” a moniker that hints at their passionate and perhaps impetuous nature.
The meaning of “sons of thunder” is illuminated by several Gospel accounts. In one instance, as recounted in Matthew, their mother approached Jesus with a request that her sons be granted the most honored positions in his kingdom, one at his right hand and the other at his left. When Jesus challenged them about their readiness to share in his suffering, asking if they could drink from the cup he would drink and be baptized with his baptism of pain, they confidently declared, “We can!” Jesus acknowledged their eventual sharing in his suffering but clarified that positions of honor were not his to bestow, but were determined by the Father. This episode reveals not only their ambition but also Jesus’s teaching moment on true authority, emphasizing service over power: “…whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27-28).
Another incident that sheds light on the “sons of thunder” nickname occurred when John and James reacted to the Samaritans’ inhospitable reception of Jesus. Indignant at the rejection, they asked Jesus if they should command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, mirroring the actions of the prophet Elijah. However, Jesus “turned and rebuked them” (Luke 9:51-55), correcting their impulsive desire for retribution and reinforcing the message of compassion and forgiveness.
On the first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene’s discovery of the empty tomb prompted her to seek out Peter and “the other disciple whom Jesus loved,” John. Her urgent message, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him” (John 20:2), spurred them into action. John, in his Gospel, recounts their race to the tomb, noting with perhaps a touch of self-deprecating humor, that he “ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first” (John 20:4b). Showing deference, John waited for Peter to enter first, and then followed. It was in the empty tomb that John’s belief in the Resurrection was solidified: “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed” (John 20:8).
John’s ministry alongside Peter continued after the Resurrection. They were together at the healing of the crippled man at the temple gate, a miracle that drew significant attention and ultimately led to their arrest and overnight imprisonment. The boldness and conviction displayed by Peter and John impressed even their detractors. As recorded in the Book of Acts, their questioners were “amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus” (Acts 4:13), acknowledging the transformative impact of their association with Jesus despite their lack of formal education or social standing.
Tradition attributes to the Apostle John not only the Fourth Gospel but also three Epistles and the Book of Revelation, solidifying his significant contribution to the New Testament. His Gospel stands out as a deeply personal and theological reflection on the life and ministry of Jesus. John’s Gospel portrays Jesus’s divine glory interwoven throughout his earthly life, presenting a Jesus who speaks with heavenly authority even during the Last Supper. It is in this sense that John’s Gospel is profoundly understood as the Gospel of Jesus’s glory, emphasizing his divine nature and eternal significance.
From the ambition to sit on thrones of power and the impulse to call down fire, John’s journey culminated in a profound transformation, evidenced in his later writings. His understanding of love evolved into a selfless and sacrificial concept, urging believers to emulate Christ’s love: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16). This transformation marks the remarkable spiritual journey of Saint John The Evangelist, from a fisherman in Galilee to a foundational figure in Christian theology and tradition.
Saint John the Evangelist is revered as the Patron Saint of Turkey.
