John
A fiery fisherman called a "son of thunder," remembered for writing that "God is love."
New Testament · 1st century · Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Galatians · Also known as John son of Zebedee, Son of thunder, John the apostle
About John
John and his brother James were mending nets with their father Zebedee when Jesus called them, and they left the boat to follow. Jesus nicknamed them Boanerges, "sons of thunder." With Peter, they formed an inner circle who saw the Transfiguration and were near Jesus in Gethsemane. After the resurrection John and Peter healed a lame man at the temple and boldly told the council, "We can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Paul called him one of the "pillars" of the church. Church tradition identifies him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" and the author of the Gospel and letters of John, though the Gospel itself doesn’t name its author.
John was a common name; this John is different from John the Baptist. The Gospel of John refers to an unnamed "disciple whom Jesus loved," and from the second century the church identified him with John son of Zebedee. Scholars today discuss the authorship of the Gospel, the letters and Revelation in different ways.
The story
Leaving the nets
Jesus saw James and John "in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him."
Mark 1:19-20
Sons of thunder
Jesus "surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder." When a Samaritan village refused Jesus, James and John asked, "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?" "But he turned, and rebuked them."
Mark 3:17; Luke 9:51-56
Behold thy mother
At the cross, Jesus saw his mother and "the disciple standing by, whom he loved." He said to her, "Woman, behold thy son!" and to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!" "And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
John 19:25-27
Racing to the tomb
When Mary Magdalene brought news of the empty tomb, Peter and "the other disciple" ran. "The other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre." He looked in, then went in, "and he saw, and believed."
John 20:1-8
We can not but speak
Peter and John healed a man lame from birth at the temple gate. Arrested and ordered by the council never to speak in Jesus’ name, they answered, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Acts 3:1-10; 4:13-20
Key moments
- Called from the nets: With his brother James. (Mark 1:20)
- Named a son of thunder: Boanerges. (Mark 3:17)
- Sees the Transfiguration: With Peter and James. (Mark 9:2)
- Takes Mary into his home: "Behold thy mother!" (John 19:27)
- Bold before the council: "We can not but speak." (Acts 4:20)
Questions about John
In meetBible these answers are given in John’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Are you the disciple whom Jesus loved?
The Gospel of John never names "the disciple whom Jesus loved." It says he leaned on Jesus at the last supper, stood at the cross, outran Peter to the tomb, and is the one "which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things." From the second century the church identified him with me, John son of Zebedee. Many still hold that view; some scholars suggest other possibilities.
Why were you called a son of thunder?
Mark says Jesus "surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder," but doesn’t explain why. Luke records James and me wanting to call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus, and Jesus rebuking us. Many readers think the name fitted that fiery side of us.
Connected people
- Jesus: His teacher
- Peter: Fellow fisherman and apostle
- Mary: Cared for her
- Mary Magdalene: Brought news of the tomb
- Paul: "Pillars"
- Andrew: Fellow fisherman
- James: Brother
Read it yourself
Start with Mark 1; John 19–21; Acts 3–4.