John 13:23

THE BELOVED DISCIPLE

‘There was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.’

John 13:23

The title by which John calls himself is the disciple ‘whom Jesus loved.’ We too have each one of us an individual relationship to our Lord. ‘I believe in God the Father Who created me and all the world, in God the Son Who redeemed me and all mankind, in God the Holy Ghost Who sanctifieth me and all the people of God.’ One by one we are baptized, fed, trained; individually we must respond to this love. Individuals are not lost in the multitude. How John was fitted for this special intimacy! God’s love is not blind. Note, John was fitted for his special privilege by natural gifts perfected by grace through careful training and severe discipline.

Three characteristics of John we must endeavour to imitate as we would share his privilege.

I. Purity.—‘He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend’ (Proverbs 22:11).

II. Love, not weak and sentimental, but strong and brave. He was capable of receiving and of giving great affection.

III. Thoughtfulness.—His was a contemplative habit of mind. Like Mary of Bethany, sitting at our Lord’s feet and learning of Him. So John learnt the secrets of His mind and heart.

IV. John, leaning on Jesus’ bosom, is a figure of the intimate fellowship with Him in which we are called to abide.

(a) To this our sacraments and services are to lead. We feed on Him that He may dwell in us. Practices of prayer should beget a spirit of prayer. Then amid all the changes and chances of our mortal life we shall lean on Him in trustful love.

(b) The holy confidence that belongs to love. In how different a tone did the several Apostles ask ‘Is it I?’ St. Peter with doubtfulness, Judas asking because the others asked, John with holy assurance. ‘If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God’ (1 John 3:21).

(c) The security against temptation that comes from the love of God. The expulsive power of a new and high affection. ‘Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.’ Cultivate the higher, and you will be raised above the lower (Psalms 25).

Bishop A. C. A. Hall.

Illustration

‘St. Chrysostom said he wished he had seen three things—Christ in the flesh, the Temple in its glory, and St. Paul preaching. If we were to record the wish of many a Christian now it would be: “Oh that I had leaned, like John, on the bosom of the Redeemer!” ’

(SECOND OUTLINE)

ON JESUS’ BOSOM

Note that word leaning. It is not the strong who lean upon the weak. It is the weak who lean upon the strong. The bosom of Jesus—

I. Is the place of instruction.—John was near his Master, and so heard His words, all His words. His ear was close to His mouth. His attitude was this, ‘Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth.’ There are millions of souls who are utterly careless about hearing Christ’s words, and yet the words which He has spoken, the same will judge them at the last day. Others, too, are unwilling to be taught by Christ.

II. Is the place of friendship.—John never calls himself by his own name in his gospel, but always ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ Abraham was the friend of God, and John was the friend of Jesus. He belonged, as it were, to the innermost circle of His friends. You will need a friend some day. You may be healthy and happy now, but dark clouds will come, and voices will be hushed, and chairs will be vacant, and hearts will be rent, and hot tears will flow. Your sorrow will lie too deep for human aid. Then, in that hour of desolation and loneliness, you will need a friend. Seek the pitiful Friend of sinners now, and in the hour of your distress He will arise and save you.

III. Is the place of peace.—He says to His people, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation.’ We have found that true. But He promises that in Him we shall have peace, and when we lean on Him we find that true too!

IV. Is the place of sweet manifestation.—He manifests Himself to His people as He does not to the world. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man by nature the things Christ reveals to those who lean on Him.

V. Is the place of safety.—Those who are hidden there cannot perish; they are ‘safe in the arms of Jesus.’ ‘Neither shall any pluck them out of My hand,’ said the Saviour, and His word cannot be broken, His promise cannot fail. The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but nothing can ever destroy the weakest soul that clings to Christ.

O happy life—if life is leaning on Christ’s arm! O gladsome death—if death is sleeping on Christ’s breast!

—Rev. F. Harper.

Illustration

‘There can be no doubt that the disciple who leaned on Jesus’ bosom was John, the writer of the gospel. It is the first time he speaks of himself in this way, and the expression occurs afterwards four times, John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7; John 21:20. The Greek word rendered “loved” deserves notice. It signifies the higher, nobler, and more refined kind of love. There are two words in the Greek language translated “love” in the New Testament. Let it be noted that the general special love with which our Lord loved all His disciples, did not prevent His having a particular love for one individual. Why He specially loved John we are not told. Gifts certainly do not appear so much in John as grace. But it is worth noticing that love seems the more characteristic of John than of any disciple, and that in this he showed more of the mind of Christ. It is quite clear that special friendship for one individual is consistent with love for all. It is noteworthy that of all the writers of the New Testament, none goes so deep, and reveals so much of the hidden things of God, as he who lay in the bosom of Christ.’