When Jesus chose his twelve disciples he didn’t choose the best that society had to offer. None of them were particularly educated or eloquent. Nor were they wealthy or influential. Perhaps more telling than all this is that none of them was a model of good behavior either. Peter often spoke before he thought and could be patronizing. Judas was greedy and dipped his hand into the money bag frequently. James and John were dubbed the sons of thunder because of their volatile tempers. Yet these men, with the exception of Judas, changed the world and established the Christian church.
Of the twelve John was often referred to as the beloved disciple. He was the one who leaned on Jesus during the last supper, who accompanied him into Annas and Caiaphas’ judgment hall in the dead of night, and who stood at the foot of the cross as Jesus died. When Jesus met John he was volatile and ambitious. He and his brother were fishermen and along with their father Zebedee had a small business that kept the family afloat.
Jesus saw beyond John’s many shortcomings to the man he could be through the transforming power of God’s grace. The time he spent with Jesus opened John’s eyes to his own shortcomings. John saw what he could be when he looked at Jesus and instead of driving him away, the revelation drew him closer. The more time John spent with Jesus, the more he began to be like him. Jesus presented the perfect juxtaposition of power and tenderness, majesty and meekness, patience and strength and John craved that beauty.
John’s ministry to others was a result of his connection with Jesus. He was like a man who stood on the brink of a deep well filled with living water. The more time he spent with Jesus, the more water he drew from that well until it flowed out of him and nourished everyone he associated with.
