He is usually called the "Beloved Disciple because of his closeness to Jesus. He stands to be one of the most influential figures in Christian history.
His unusual perspectives in his writings on the life and teachings of Jesus have influenced Christian doctrine, inspired a huge number of believers because they transcend time and place, and touche the depths of the human soul.
His works inspire individuals to have an intimate relationship with Jesus as he talked from his experiences. He gave testimony on the transformative power of God’s love in the world.
He is held high also because of his stress on the value of truth.
On his personal background, he was the son of fisherman Zebedee and a cousin of Mary (the mother of Jesus) named Salome.
With his brother James, he was invited by Jesus to follow him while fishing on the Sea of Galilee, and they at once heeded, leaving their father and their livelihood behind to become "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17).
With the inner circle of disciples of Jesus, he saw and stood by significant moments in the ministry of Jesus like the Transfiguration and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He was also present at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified and where Jesus entrusted him with the care of His mother, Mary (John 19:26-27).
The popular verse, John 3:16, captures the Christian message:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
His Gospel not only emphasized God’s love for humanity but also the call for believers to love one another as Christ loved them.
He also authored of the Book of Revelation which was written during a period of persecution and gave a message of hope and endurance for Christians facing trials.
The visions in the book showed the victory of Christ over evil and the establishment of a new heaven and earth, where God will dwell with His people (Revelation 21:1-4).
He also zoomed into the close relationship between Jesus and his followers.
Not like the more public teachings found in the synoptic Gospels, the account of John includes long dialogues and private interactions between Jesus and individuals, like his conversations with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42).
These conversations talk about Jesus who also cared about the personal transformation of every person.
His Gospel also includes several “I Am” like “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), and “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
These reinforce the divine nature of Jesus and his ability to bring spiritual nourishment, guidance, and eternal life to those who believe in him.
In addition to his emphasis on love, St. John also stresses the importance of truth. In 2 John, he cautions against false teachers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, appealing to believers to “walk in the truth” (2 John 1:4).
A source of inspiration across the globe, with eagle as his symbol, his theological reflections soar heights with his deep vision of the divine.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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