What does the Bible say about "the desciple whom Jesus loved"?

Question

I know I've read it , as a (backslid) ordained minister.I'm not sure I'm clear on the relationship there between Jesus & John.To me there are some passages which I feel uncomfortable with involving the two of them hugging and embracing and being "too close for compfort". Please people , you don't need to get mad , just help me understand what it says here.
Thanks,
Rev. Jason Petty

Answer 1

I have not been able to understand why people today have such trouble with men being "too close." Why do people see two gay hobbits when they watch "Lord of the Rings?"

In the "synoptic Gospels" (sorry I don't remember chapter and verse) James and John ask Jesus if they should call down the thunder and lightening on some town that mocked him.

From then on out he calls them the Sons of Thunder.

Jesus was a man of great humor.

When John (brother of James) writes his own Gospel, he refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved.

If I recall correctly, it's only in ONE of the synoptic Gospels about the "beloved" disciple leaning on Jesus during one of their dinners.

This is that famous painted that Brown based his DaVinci Code on. While the painting is called the last supper, the night in question was NOT. It is of an earlier time.

Please remember that at that time, John was just a child. Of all the disciples he lived the longest. While he is usually portrayed as a grown man, he was just a child. Probably why he was Jesus's favorite. Well, at least until I came along. Now I'm his favorite.

I hope that helps. There's nothing sordid about it.

Answer 2

The passages are often misread by modern standards. What many do not know is that John was quite young compared to the rest of the early church. Because of this Christ took him under his wing in a fatherly/ big brother way. John was so young that by the time his gospel was written (about 95 AD), he was still alive to do the dictation to a scribe and an underling.

The love is the love of one human for another as you would love a family member. Many family members hug and kiss each other, it is just a close affection and not sexual. (Do you get aroused by your siblings?) Just as a father would kiss a child goodnight at bedtime, Jesus did the same.

There is also a difference in times. In biblical times it was common for men to hug and kiss those they knew in greeting both females and males. Jesus was also known to kiss Mary of Magdella, and yet little is ever said about this.

Over the centuries this custom has changed, particularly in America where it is considered unsightly. 2000 years ago it was the way things were. Just as those that had not yet married but were engaged (bibical, pledged) to be married could live together and have intimate relations. This is why it was considered no big deal for Mary to be pregnant even though she and Joseph were not yet married.

Much of our modern day problems and misunderstandings in Christianity come from the 1800's and lay-ministers that were unschooled in anchient history. They mistook something and it stuck in our society.

You on the other hand need to study the bible and the time it is in more and think about how those customs are today less. You have to put the bible into the context in which it is set.

Answer 3

You missed my question yesterday about the relationship between Joseph and Benjamin in the Old Testament and Jesus and John in the New Testament. Remember that Joseph wanted Benjamin to remain with him while the other brothers went out to give the grain to their people and to bring back their Father? Well, look at the last part of the Gospel of John when Peter and Jesus are walking away down the beach and Peter notices that John is following--Jesus says" What if I want him to remain forever--what's it to you" He was in fact letting him know that John was his little brother by the same Mother (Mary to whom Jesus gave John to and visa versa) A special family relationship due to the same blood ---John represents the Catholic who really receives his Body and Blood in Holy Communion. And a deeper understanding of Scripture just like John's Gospels are much richer deeper and more mystical so is the True Catholic believer--we who stand beneath the cross with our Mother Mary during every Mass while the other disciples look on from a distance---

Answer 4

Paul warns us not to go beyond and exceed what is written in 1 Cor 4:6 and I think that you are doing exactly that. Where does it say they hugged and embraced each other, and what are you implying by those thoughts. If the Bible doesn't say it don't base your thinking on it. Frankly I'm not really into the middle east way of greeting by hugging and kissing each other on the cheeks, and I'm not jumping to any conclusions about what that means.

Just a note to Grand_waz... how do you explaing the verse where Mary Magdelene talked with the disciple who Jesus loved if Mary was that disciple?

Answer 5

It was a very close "friendship" nothing immoral. Homosexuality is contemptable in God's eyes. I'll back this up with scriptures later. I have an appointment to make.

Just for thought........friendship is expressed in different ways by different cultures. These signs of friendship have been distorted by the media. Yet there are countries where men will hug and give each other a kiss on the cheek which would be equivalent to a handshake between two men here in the USA.

.........more later. If you don't get a satisfactory answer beforehand :)

Answer 6

If you read the book of John in the chapter 21, John reveals that He is the beloved disciple. The truth is, Jesus loved all His disciples. But John was the one that was there at the cross for Jesus.

I wondered about it also, and thought that it was Jesus 1/2 brother James. Because he is a son of Mary. And Jesus said to the disciple He loved that Mary was his mother now. But the Lord & John taught me this truth by making me read the book of John. I never knew it before. Out of obedience, I read it. Then 1-3 John. Read Revelation 1. Right now the Lord has me reading Joel Osteens, Your best life now, book. And, I know why. Plus reading KimClement prophesies. They are answers to my prayers. This is how God answers our prayers. Through the bible, books or today prophets.


In John 21, Jesus also let Peter know that Peter would give his life fore the gospel sake. That John would remain. I believe this is to write 1,2&3 John and then to write Revelation. Jesus Himself told John the beloved Disciple to write Revelation. In similar vision that Daniel described Jesus.

There is a unity factor with anyone who becomes a born again Christian with Jesus Christ. We need to love the Lord our God with all our being. The Lord God is Father, Word & Holy Spirit.

Answer 7

haven't you had a friend who's more close to you then any other?! i've thankfully been blessed with a couple in my life time. i'm sure if someone wanted to try and read into things or try to make our relationship sordid - they could. we've hugged, held hands, cried while holding each other, shared a bed and ever other things that could easily be construed to a dirty mind. we a re friends, sisters and sisters in Christ.

times then were not as they are now - people didn't try to cloud everything with some type of sexual connotation.

Answer 8

The Word never actually says who this disciple was. When I was young, I heard it was Thomas.
Now, everybody talks like they know it was John.
The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas claims that Thomas had a better understanding than the other disciples, and Jesus loved him
best.
A woman Bible scholar pointed out that John, in his Gospel
seems to show jealousy toward Thomas. Making him look
like a dumb@ss. And he does do this if you read it carefully.
So could that jealousy have been because Jesus loved
Thomas more.
Personally, I think the disciple Jesus loved best, was
Mary Magdeline.
And no, it wasn't kinky. It was platonic. Meaning the ability to
share intimacy with someone, hugging and kissing, without
resorting to sex.

Answer 9

It was nothing inappropriate. Lots of ppl make the mistake of applying modern ideas to ancient texts. Hugging and embracing USED TO BE perfectly natural and normal. Only in modern times have we cut ourselves off from each other and sexualized relationships beyond all sense.

Answer 10

To know Jesus is to love Him. He so loved us as to lay down His life for us and His love is so genuine with no abuse or hypocrisy that one casts off those weak inhibitions and innuendos of the world and truly enjoys the love of God in Christ. Its so pure that the very thought of it being sinful in any way is repulsive knowing the purity and sinlessness of our Savior. I'll accept His hugs anytime with out even the slightest sexual thought and when He says He loves me I see the proof at the cross.