Daily Devotions
John
"The Author of the Gospel of John"
Text: John 1:1-18; Matthew 4:18-22
It would have been far easier for everybody if the author of the Gospel of John had identified himself clearly somewhere in his book. However, he chose not to do so, except to make some very intriguing statements such as the following:-
“This is the disciple who testifies of these things,
and wrote these things;
and we know that his testimony is true.”
John 21:24
The author declares himself simply as “The disciple who testifies”. This little piece of ‘internal evidence’ helps us immensely in our search for the identity of the author of the Gospel.
Another important piece of evidence may be found in another text which reads as follows.
“And truly Jesus did many other signs
in the presence of His disciples,
which are not written in this book;
but these are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that believing you may have life in His Name.”
John 20:30-31
The word “disciples” was used in a fairly restricted way to describe those who were called by Jesus to follow Him. There were multitudes of people who listened to Him, but they were distinguished from a special group of people called His Disciples. There were two main groups of Disciples. The first group was was specifically called “Apostles”.
The Synoptic Gospels listed the names of all the Disciples who were appointed as Apostles (Cf. Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16). In all of them, Peter was named first. Two other names were listed right at the top of the list, James and John. Let’s take a look at how Mark noted this in his Gospel.
“And He went up on the mountain and called to Him
those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.
Then He appointed twelve that they might be with Him
And that He might send them out to preach,
And to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James,
To whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is,
‘Sons of Thunder’… ”
Mark 3:13-17
“THAT DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED” John 21:7
In the Gospel of John, there was a special phrase that is most intriguing. This phrase occurred four times in the Gospel of John. Let’s note the following phrases:-
“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom
one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
John 13:23
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother,
and the disciple whom He loved standing by…”
John 19:26
“Then she (Mary Magdalene) ran and came to Simon Peter,
and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved…”
John 20:2
“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,
‘It is the Lord!’ ”
John 21:7
The number of “disciples” who could fit this description, as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” narrows our search to the Twelve. On closer inspection only one person could have worn that title well. It had to be one of the Inner Three, Peter, James or John.
Since Peter was already identified in the text of John 21:7, therefore that leaves him out. James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred. His martyrdom was recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts, and that excludes him from being considered as the author.
“Now about that time Herod the King stretched out his hand
to harass some from the Church.
Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”
Acts 12:1-2
Peter and John were very closely linked in ministry in the earlier years of the Church at Jerusalem. Luke noted this in the Book of Acts.
“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple
at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”
Acts 3:1
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John…
they realized that they had been with Jesus…”
Acts 4:13
John was the author of the Gospel that bore his name. Understandably, he modestly refrained from writing his name as the writer of this Gospel account of Christ. From the earliest times, the Church traditionally accepted the Apostle John as the author of the Gospel that bore his name. There is every reason for us to accept this tradition.