Dec. 27, 2011 Tuesday: St. John, Apostle
St. John the Apostle
St. John was a fisherman in Galilee. He was called to be an apostle with his brother, St. James. Jesus gave these sons of Zebedee the nickname “sons of thunder.” St. John was the youngest apostle and is believed to be the one called “the beloved disciple.”
At the Last Supper, it was John who was permitted to lean his head on the chest of Jesus. He was also the only apostle who stood at the foot of the cross. The dying Jesus gave the care of his Blessed Mother Mary to this beloved apostle. Looking at Mary, he said, “Behold your mother.”
On Easter morning, Mary Magdalene and the other women went with spices to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body. They came running back to the apostles with disturbing news. The body of Jesus was gone from the tomb. Peter and John set out to investigate. John arrived first but waited for Peter to go in ahead of him. Then he went in and saw the neatly folded linen cloths, and he understood that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Later, that same week, the disciples were fishing on Lake Tiberias without success. A man standing on the beach suggested they let down their nets on the other side of the boat. When they pulled it up again it was full of large fish. Now John, who recognized this man, called to Peter, “It is the Lord!”
With the descent of the Holy Spirit the apostles were filled with new courage. After the ascension of Jesus, Peter, and John cured a crippled man by calling on the name of Jesus.
It is believed that John lived nearly a century and was the only apostle not to suffer martyrdom. He preached the Gospel and may have become bishop of Ephesus. It is said that in the last years of his life, when he could no longer preach, his disciples would carry him to the crowds of Christians. His simple message was, “My dear children, love one another.” St. John died in Ephesus around the year 100.
St. John was a fisherman in Galilee. He was called to be an apostle with his brother, St. James. Jesus gave these sons of Zebedee the nickname “sons of thunder.” St. John was the youngest apostle and is believed to be the one called “the beloved disciple.”
At the Last Supper, it was John who was permitted to lean his head on the chest of Jesus. He was also the only apostle who stood at the foot of the cross. The dying Jesus gave the care of his Blessed Mother Mary to this beloved apostle. Looking at Mary, he said, “Behold your mother.”
On Easter morning, Mary Magdalene and the other women went with spices to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body. They came running back to the apostles with disturbing news. The body of Jesus was gone from the tomb. Peter and John set out to investigate. John arrived first but waited for Peter to go in ahead of him. Then he went in and saw the neatly folded linen cloths, and he understood that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Later, that same week, the disciples were fishing on Lake Tiberias without success. A man standing on the beach suggested they let down their nets on the other side of the boat. When they pulled it up again it was full of large fish. Now John, who recognized this man, called to Peter, “It is the Lord!”
With the descent of the Holy Spirit the apostles were filled with new courage. After the ascension of Jesus, Peter, and John cured a crippled man by calling on the name of Jesus.
It is believed that John lived nearly a century and was the only apostle not to suffer martyrdom. He preached the Gospel and may have become bishop of Ephesus. It is said that in the last years of his life, when he could no longer preach, his disciples would carry him to the crowds of Christians. His simple message was, “My dear children, love one another.” St. John died in Ephesus around the year 100.
