With respect to their personal characteristics, the only one of Jesus’ original 12 disciples we think of is Peter, right? Impetuous, a “ready-fire-aim” sort of guy, yes? How do we think about John? Do we tend to remember John the way we wrote about himself in his Gospel and in 1, 2, and 3 John? The disciple of love?

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth… (2 John 1.1, ESV)

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1.1 – 4, ESV)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4.7, 8, ESV)

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side… (John 13.23, ESV)

Why don’t we remember this John?

• One of the “Sons of Thunder”

James, son of Zebedee, John, brother of James (Jesus nicknamed the Zebedee brothers Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”) (Mark 3.17, MSG)

• Vitriolic, violent John

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9.51 – 54, ESV)

• Ambitious, prideful John

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” …And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. (Mark 10.35 – 37, 41, ESV)

We have here an example of growth and transformation. Jesus loves and accepts us the way we are, but he doesn’t want to leave us that way. John’s life in his later years seemed to show the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control – none of which was evident when he was a “Son of Thunder” ready to call down fire on Jesus’ enemies or wanting to be the future #1 guy.

That should give us all hope.

…to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness…Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4.22 – 24, 31 – 32, ESV)