Biography Of John by Debbie Baxter

John came to know Jesus in his youth, walked with Him, considered what He had observed, contemplated Jesus for 65 years than wrote from this perspective..  John used persuasive writing and reason to prove the credibility of Jesus teachings.
He uses supporting evidence to appeal to his audience.  His eye witness account.
He appealed to the readers emotions.
John was revered a visionary a mystic he saw things on a grander scale.  He saw all things in a “glorified manner”  
Others opened a window to the wonder of Jesus.  John’s case opens a garage door to him it was billows of Glory.  
He remained single.  The Church was really his family.
Jesus asked him to take care of His mother after the crucifixion. John settled with Jesus mother in Ephesus the main city of the Roman province of Asia which is a small part of what I now Turkey.
He wrote 5  books in the Bible
The Gospel of John, the 3 Epistle of John & the Revelation.  He wrote the Gospel of John after age 80
He was exiled by the Roman emperor  Domitian to the Isle of Patmos.  The Emperor thought that would silence John.
While there he wrote the book of Revelation around age 90 to 96 when he was a very old man. He also wrote letters to the 7 Churches.
After his exile John returned to Ephesus  where he was buried.  
He is the only disciple who dies a natural death.


A little Biography:
Born 5 or 6 years after Jesus.  He lived to be 96 to 100 years old.

He probably grew up in Bethsaida, a fishing town at the northern tip of the Sea of Galiliee.  Galilee was a mixed people of many Nations, and ethnic background. It was also the hometown of Philip, Andrew and Peter.   The Galileans were looked down on by the Jews from Judea & Jerusalem. 
John’s father owned a fishing business where John and his brother John worked as fisherman.  They also had  hired servants to mend the nets. Peter and Andrew were also business partners.
Johns family was probably the upper echelon of the Judean population and as such was personally acquainted with the high priest.  The night Jesus was arrested John came to the high Priests place and being known was admitted. 
Possibly due to family connections he had exposed himself to the best learning of Jerusalem.  John was a Palestinian Jew.  Like all Jewish boys he was taught the scriptures.  
He may have learned the kind of knowledge that was traditionally not even taught to people until after they had completed their education in the entire Jewish Law and teachings.  Followed by how to interpret the scriptures for making decisions in every day business dealings, to divorce and marriage.
John knew the scriptures as an intellectual but also as a true believer.
He was a deep thinker who used  his own wits and  reason.
He believed in the existence of realities beyond human comprehension.  
He started working in the ministry about age 25.
He was 5 or 6 years younger than Jesus

He was a disciple of John the Baptist and witnessed the baptism of Jesus.
He was later hand picked by Jesus to follow Jesus. 
To John, Jesus was fulfilling the scriptures.
He saw the spirituality of Jesus.

Jesus gave John  and his brother James the name “sons of thunder”  
Jesus gave John and his brother James the name “Sons of Thunder”
Sounds like they were both impulsive, headstrong, and hot-headed, would let off steam at the slightest provocation.  Maybe overconfident, and intolerant.

He may have been the closest to Jesus because he never doubted Jesus.
John presented Jesus as God in Human form.  He speaks the word and it happens.  John believed Jesus words were the words of God.  Jesus is “the word”  the  expression of the mind of God and Jesus was the full expression of God “the word became flesh.

He rejoiced in the kindness and love of God he saw through Jesus.  He felt accepted, understood, captivated, at ease at home in his element.  This was the stuff he was eager to learn.

He refers to himself as who he thought he was in relation to Jesus “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
Jesus probably saw the potential in John and gave John extra time, attention, and encouragement, and even confided in John.
John basked in this attention. Jesus was his mentor.

His youthful thunder was apparent.
He was over zealous in protecting Jesus position.
He asked Jesus if Jesus could call fire down from heaven upon the Samaritans.  
But Jesus told John to pray for the Samaritans instead  that he had come to save lives not to destroy them.

He was someone worth respect, worth listening  too, of authority. 
He was a chief companion of Jesus then later Peter.  
Only John reports the wedding in Cana in Galilee.
He was confident in replying to the Pharisees.
He was a Pillar of the early Church.

Peter, James and John were the 3 Jesus took with Him when he didn’t take the whole group.
John was in the room when Jairus daughter was raised . At the mount of transfiguration..
John had a very close friendship with Jesus.  
He was asked to go prepare the Passover meal with Peter.  
The Passover was a joyous festival with family and friends.  It is recorded that John  the one who Jesus loved, was leaning on Jesus at the last Supper.  Some accounts say his head was laid on the chest of Jesus.
It is good to feel that comfortable in the presence of your friend at a Passover festival which is meant as a joyous meal with family and friends.  Did the wine make him tipsy?  Or was he tired and just resting his head a minute?  Look at the last supper hanging behind us.

John witnessed the trial of Jesus.  He was at the cross. 
He took on the care of Jesus mother Mary, just like a brother.
He outran Peter to the tomb.
John was  first to recognize the stranger on the shore.

He learnt to curb his thunder disposition and write about the love taught by Jesus and about loving one another and working together in harmony. He learned the value of  working together  instead of selfish ambition. 
 John was with Peter when met lame man at gate of temple they were working together.
John went with Peter to Samaria to preach.
He helped Paul & Barnabas with their ministry.
He realized others could be called into service not just the select  12.
He was willing to give a hand of fellowship to anyone in the service that God had given Him.
He loved the Church and encouraged  his fellowman to love each other.



The Church fathers wrote of John as the affectionate elder.  He kept going to meetings even when he had to be carried.  And would simply say little children, love one another.