We know Christ was followed by many people. Some followed Him to get a handout, others were genuinely curious (John 6:24). More than just His disciples followed Him wherever He went. We know blind Bartimaeus from Jericho followed Him after his healing (Mark 10:52), and so too did Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna (Luke 8:1-3). Along with these, Christ had twelve specific disciples He hand-picked Himself. These were the men He revealed deeper secrets to, who were the recipients of His greater teachings. But even within the twelve, there were three who were His closest friends, Peter, James, and John. These three men were privileged to know and witness things the others did not.
Peter walked on water. John was allowed to rest his head on Christ's chest, and he called himself the disciple Jesus loved. Peter, James, and John all witnessed Jesus transfigured in glory upon the mountain, and not only that, they saw Moses and Elijah as well! These are incredible events these specific men were allowed to do and witness. The others were truly Christ's disciples as well, however, these three were favored by our Lord.
James was martyred early, the first of Christ's true original disciples to die for his faith. But Peter and John went on to become the leaders of the Apostles, and John was given the Revelation late in his life, the only Apostle to die of old age.
What made these men stand out in Christ's eye? And how can we be like them in our own walk with the Lord? First, I want to make it very clear that I'm not suggesting we try to emulate the gifts they had been given by the Lord as His Apostles. They built the foundation of the church, and as such, their gifts gave witness to their message. We are no longer laying the foundation of the church, therefore the apostolic gifts have ceased.
What I am suggesting is that we can decide for ourselves if we're going to get out of the boat, if we're going to lean upon Christ, if we want to see His glory.
Are we going to be periphery disciples following Christ for what He can give us? Adjacent disciples who hear His sermons and parables? Or Christ's closest friends who seek Him and pant after Him like a deer pants for the waterbrooks?
Even among the three men closest to Christ, there is one Apostle who stands out in Scripture, and I daresay he was Jesus's closest friend. You might think I'm referring to Peter. And Peter was indeed given many weighty responsibilities from the Lord. He was seen as a leader. Perhaps he was the most outspoken, or perhaps the most brave. Considering Peter is the one who stepped out of the boat in the midst of a storm and considering Peter is the one who first claimed Christ as the Son of God, I don't doubt these things to be true.
But no, I'm talking about the Apostle John.
All my life, I've heard men preach and assume that Peter was Christ's closest friend. But in thinking on this more and more, I don't believe he was. I believe Christ's best friend was John. John described himself as the "disciple Jesus loved". He is the one who laid his head on Christ's chest, and Peter asked John to ask the Lord who was the traitor at the Last Supper, Peter didn't ask Jesus outright. Perhaps he knew Christ would have a softer response to John than He would have to Peter. That idea seems to hold some weight, as Christ did seem to be more harsh with Peter than He was with John.
John would likely have been the youngest disciple. Perhaps he was young and impressionable. Maybe he was weaker than the others. Maybe he had a great faith. Perhaps he asked the Lord many searching questions. Maybe he was the first to recognize who the Lord was before the others. Maybe Christ took him aside and spoke with him often in a gentle and tender way. Considering he had felt at home lying on Jesus in the upper room, he was likely a tender man himself with a tender heart. I can only assume that John's heart was very much like Christ's, love for the Father, love for the lost, and a zealous devotion to Yeshua.
John's Gospel is the only one of the four to emphasize Christ's deity. John is the one who did not flee at Christ's crucifixion. Into John's hands Christ gave custody of Mary, His mother. John, along with Peter, ran to Christ's empty tomb. Perhaps here we can see the difference between these two men.
John did not enter the tomb, believing by sight alone. Peter, however, ran inside and had to handle the grave clothes. It's possible John's easy faith was well-beloved by Jesus. He did not need "evidence" to believe. It was John who was given the Revelation on the Isle of Patmos in his old age, and John alone who was allowed to die a natural death out of Christ's twelve original disciples.
Indeed, Peter was more bombastic, standing before the Pharisees and the High Priest Caiaphas in the book of Acts, accusing them to their face of crucifying their Messiah. That took great faith and great courage. But John was always with him, and I think Peter likewise had a soft spot for John the Apostle.
There is great evidence from Scripture that Christ favored the Apostle John over and above any of His other friends, including Peter. Yes, brethren, I believe John was our Lord's closest friend. Let us pray to love Jesus as John loved Him, whole-heartedly, not ashamed to lean upon Him, not afraid to learn of Him, to ask Him questions, to follow Him, to be seen with Him, not afraid to stand in boldness before the cross, not ashamed to claim Christ as his Lord and Messiah, faithful to the very end of his life.
The Apostle John was given the greatest privilege any Apostle had ever been given - the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. What glorious friendship did they share for Christ to bestow this magnificent honor? How great was their love for one another that our Lord allowed John a long life? How unshakable was John's faith in his God? How devoted was John's love for Christ? All-consuming, that's what I believe.
That is what we should strive to obtain, Church.
O, Lord Jesus, help us to love You as John loved You. Give us tender hearts, ignite our love for You to blaze forth, help us to be bold, allow us a great and mighty faith, and grant us the glory of being one of Your closest friends, seeking You in faithfulness for the rest of our days.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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