I have always been intrigued by the appellation "the disciple whom Jesus loved". As a youth I suppose it touched an unknown part inside that Jesus might possibly love another more than the rest. Jesus clearly loved all his disciples and certainly all of us but by singling out an individual, it' seemed weird. I always thought so. Of course the writer of the Gospel himself (John) would think that Jesus loved him best. It is telling though that none of the other 'authors' noted the same thing about themselves.
So in researching John further, the fourth apostle invited to follow Jesus, I found rather interesting commentaries about why the name was given John, why Jesus asked Mary to care for John and visa versa. The mental gymnastics to support a given person or denominational view about the Jesus / John story is telling. It isn't so much that they are so particularly convincing. I find it interesting that many of the same translational and biblical critique practises are used to support the idea that Jesus and John were in fact lovers.
Where does the truth lie? After changing my own opinion several times in my life, I have finally come down to a decision of my own. Based on a much more intensive study of actual words used in scripture, the actions of Jesus as they compare to the other disciples, a greater understanding of exactly how they lived at the time. and recent publications. Very intellectual perhaps but I do not dismiss the emotional aspects either as Jesus was fully human. Jesus had a need for companionship which he clearly had from Martha, Mary, Lazarus and so many others noted in scripture. But it is John who lays on Jesus' breast reclining at table. It is John who accepts not only the responsibility for Jesus' mother but also accepts that he (John) is now her son. A biblical bonding or acknowledgement of their relationship akin to David and Jonathan or Ruth and Naomi?
What I find fascinating too is the manner in which Jesus finds John. Finding a companion, friend , lover or anyone close usually does not come at the point of a direct search, advertisement or arrangement. Your 'one true' comes when you least expect it and when you are perhaps not even looking. And Jesus found a soul mate and companion in John when he least expects it. Jesus is looking for disciples, not a lover or even friend though he seems to me to find all three.
I could go on about Jesus and John, I am not an expert but certainly more knowledgeable that most. What I find most impressive is that finding the love of your life or any meaningful relationship is quite often at the hands of God. You turn a different corner, you meet someone in an odd place, you are thrown together in unexpected circumstances.
To witness and love we all are called to keep our eyes open and our ears peeled but we often don't realize the import of being that good listener or what we might see if we keep our eyes focused on what is going on around us. It might very well mean the love of our life.
Matthew 4:18-25
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
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