God So Loved the World

John the Apostle, born around 6 AD and living until approximately 100 AD, held a singular place among the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Referred to as Ἰωάννης in the New Testament, he was often recognized as the youngest of the group. Born to Zebedee and either Salome or Joanna, John grew up in a family familiar with the rigors of life, as his father was a fisherman. His upbringing was shared with his brother James, who would also become one of the Twelve Apostles, illustrating that the call to divine love often runs deep in the soil of family connections.

John's spiritual narrative is deeply woven into the Christian tradition through the Book of John in the New Testament. Unlike the other Gospels, which often focus on external events and actions, John's Gospel dives into the deep waters of spiritual insight, capturing the essence of Jesus' teachings on love, unity, and divine-human relationship. This is the Gospel that gives us the intimate conversations between Jesus and his followers, as well as monumental statements about love such as John 3:16. His account exudes a nuanced understanding of Jesus' message, inviting us to consider not just the surface of the events but the underlying currents of love and interconnectedness that tie them all together.

Yet, John's influence extends beyond the Gospel attributed to him. Tradition tells us that he lived a long life, outlasting all the other Apostles, and spent his later years in Ephesus. During this period, he is believed to have penned the three epistles of John and the Book of Revelation, writings that continue to inspire and challenge believers to this day. In these texts, John remains consistent in his focus on love as the central axis of human and divine interaction. His life and works stand as a testament to the enduring power of love to sustain, to enlighten, and to bring us into communion with the divine mystery.