Jewish law decreed that if even two people spoke out against a death sentence, the accused went free. Yet in all Israel, at Pilate’s judgement seat, not one 'no!' rang out to halt the killing of God. Two hearts were breaking at what was happening, but they had no voice in Jewish society: the Most Pure Virgin Mary — her word, like that of all women, could not alter the course of events; and John, son of Zebedee, Christ’s beloved disciple — being too young, they would pay him no heed...
But love drew them onwards, following the Saviour: the way of the cross, the Lithostrotos, the Cross itself… In spirit, they hung with Him. If God’s providence had not preserved them, they too would have commended their spirits to God along with the Lord Jesus Christ. But from the Cross came the words: “Woman, behold your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). To strengthen the Church, the Lord left His Most Pure Mother and His beloved disciple on earth. All the other apostles met death for the Lord Jesus Christ. But for John and the Most Holy Theotokos, no suffering matched that of standing by the Cross on Golgotha. They remained faithful to Him, even to death, and rose with Him after their own passing. “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22-23).
Love stood firm on Golgotha; Love conquered death; Love abides forever. It was this very Love that the apostle and evangelist John the Theologian proclaimed throughout his earthly life.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time.
If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
We love Him because He first loved us.
And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:7-21)
Saint John the Apostle came from Galilee. This holy land formed the northern part of Palestine, lying west of the Jordan River. The Saviour spent His childhood here and lived here right up until He began His public work for the salvation of humankind. One of Galilee's lovely spots, Lake Gennesaret, saw many gospel moments. On its shores, the future Apostle of Love grew up, lived with his thoughts and feelings. It was here the Saviour called him to be one of His disciples. Here, John witnessed many miracles and wonderful talks by the Saviour: he saw the Lord walk upon the waters of this lake as if on dry land; he saw Him teach the crowds from Peter's fishing boat; he saw Him calm the storm on this very lake, a storm that terrified the disciples...
"My children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.
By this we know that we are in Him.
He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
And now, children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:1-28)
The Gospel calls John and his brother James partners in trade with Peter. Until they were called, they spent all their time in the same area, fishing not far from each other. It is clear the families of Peter and John belonged to were very close. A simple signal that help was needed was enough for them to drop what they were doing and rush to assist their friends. They all went together to John the Baptist by the Jordan. Together, at the same time, the Saviour called them to follow Him. Finally, John was nearly always at Peter's side, both during the Saviour's life and for much of the time after His ascension.
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.
And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:1-23)
When Pentecost arrived and the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, they received power to preach salvation and carry the good news to all people. Their words struck deep into the hearts of listeners with mighty force. For several years, the holy apostles Peter and John proclaimed the Gospel together, sharing sorrows and joys. Together, priests and Sadducees arrested them and threw them into prison for healing a man lame from birth. Together, they boldly declared before the council that “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.” (Acts 4:10) Together, they endured a flogging — their first suffering for the name of Christ. Their great and significant assembly was marked by holy harmony. Bonds of deep love in Christ united them. And by their very natures — one active, the other thoughtful — they were meant to be closely allied with each other.
Despite threats from the Sanhedrin and the beatings they suffered, Peter and John continued daily in their work. They taught in homes and in the temple, preaching Jesus as the Christ with even greater passion. Soon they lacked time even for serving at tables, looking after widows and the poor, or giving help to those in need. The apostles needed helpers. These were the seven deacons, chosen by the early Church at the Twelve's suggestion. Among them was Prochorus, who would become John's loyal friend, pupil and scribe.
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.
And His commandments are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:1-13)
As Christian congregations grew, the apostles began to travel away from Jerusalem. From this point, we no longer see Peter and John preaching side by side. According to the writer of Acts, Peter goes alone to Joppa, to Lydda, and to Cornelius the centurion; he alone preaches in Antioch. Apostle John stays in Jerusalem with the Mother of God.
For more than ten years, John lived with the Theotokos, faithfully carrying out the Saviour's dying wish. He witnessed the martyrdom of his brother, the apostle James. John himself stood ready to suffer for Christ. Where one apostle’s service ended in the blood of death, the other’s ministry was destined for a different path: the martyrdom of life awaited John. After the Dormition of the Mother of God, we first find Apostle John participating in the Apostolic Council. From then on, Apostle John devoted many decades to sharing the Good News in Ephesus and other cities across Asia Minor.
The holy apostle’s work extended beyond merely preaching the Gospel. He guided all the churches in Asia Minor; the ultimate leadership and oversight rested in his hands. The holy apostle’s life was a path filled with trials, yet it also shone with the triumph of the Holy Spirit. Through countless workings of God's divine plan, the Lord revealed His power through His beloved disciple. John confronted the false teacher Cerinthus, survived being plunged into boiling oil, witnessed miracles, endured banishment to Patmos, raised the dead, and brought the people of Patmos to Christ. At last, he received the Revelation about the future of the Church and the world, and he wrote the Holy Gospel to crown Christ’s long earthly ministry. Although he did not shed blood upon a cross as his fellow apostles did, John's sacrifice was no less powerful or meaningful.
The Paschal Chronicle records the passing of the holy apostle John 72 years after the Saviour’s Ascension. This occurred during the seventh year of Emperor Trajan’s reign, around AD 105. Following the apostle's word, his disciples dug a grave in the shape of a cross. He lay down within it, stretched out his arms in the form of a cross, and instructed them to cover him with earth. When other disciples learned of this, they hurried to uncover the grave, only to find the body of the Apostle of Love gone. The mysterious words, "If I will that he remain till I come" (John 21:23), took on fresh significance.
Each year on 21 May, at the tomb of the holy apostle John the Theologian in Ephesus, a fine, rose-coloured dust arises. Believers find this dust brings healing from many sicknesses. The Church has therefore established a further commemoration of the holy apostle on this date.
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me...
And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:3-26)
Material prepared by the editorial team of obitel-minsk.ru
Photos from the Internet
Sources:
1. St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. His Life and Gospel Ministry: A Biblical-Historical Study / by Bishop Evdokim. / 2nd ed. — Sergiev Posad: Printing House of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, 1911. — 487 pp.
2. https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Biblia2/sv-apostol-i-evangelist-ioann-bogoslov-ego-zhizn-i-blagovestnicheskie-trudy/
3. Commentary on the First Epistle of the Holy Apostle John / Theophylact of Bulgaria https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Feofilakt_Bolgarskij/tolkovanie-na-pervoe-poslanie-svjatogo-apostola-ioanna/5
