THE APOSTLE JOHN WROTE MUCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND, UNLIKE PAUL, WROTE A GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION. People Often Call The Apostle Paul As The Greatest Of The Apostles But Even Though He Boasted Of Having Had Revelations, He Never Got To Write The Book Of Revelation. The Disciple that Jesus loved got to write the book of Revelation of Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is your favourite Apostle of Christ and why?

Harry Riches Answer requested by Liana Reye

As a young Christian, I liked to identify with the Apostle John, whom I am led to believe wrote the Gospel of John, the epistles of First John, Second John and Third John, and the book of Revelation.

This was the Apostle who understood that Jesus loved him.

• 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, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” (John 19:26)

• Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” (John 20:2)

• Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. (John 21:7)

• Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” (John 21:20)

John himself is saying that he is “the disciple whom Jesus loved” because he loved Jesus. In most instances, what we say and do is a reflection of ourselves and our own desires. Only if we are very mature, and have overcome our own egocentricity, can we begin to understand how other people might truly feel and think—something that is impossible unless brought about by God Himself.

Many people, who desire to be great, speak highly of the Apostle Paul, because they see him as the epitome of being a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ. Besides, more of the New Testament is ascribed to the Apostle Paul than any other disciple of Lord Jesus. The Apostle John comes in second, but he got to write “The Revelation of Lord Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1). This was denied to the Apostle Paul.

The Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh, for he loved to boast.

• For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. (2 Corinthians 12:7–8)

A study of the Apostle’s Paul psychological profile, before he became a Christian, portrays a man who was so full of himself that he was prepared to murder Christians to demonstrate his devotion to being a Pharisee. Fortunately for Paul, Jesus intervened and confronted him about his distorted perception of serving God. But Jesus had a poor view of Pharisees and advised that they fell short of making it into the Kingdom.

• For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

The Apostle John, on the other hand, was content to be close to Jesus and desired only to be in the presence of his Lord and Savior (Revelation 1:10); therefore, he was given the privilege to record “The Revelation of Lord Jesus Christ”.

Without Lord Jesus Christ, we possess nothing, for only He has left us an inheritance that endures unto eternal life. Therefore, these days, I identify with Lord Jesus Christ.

We Can Choose To Identify With Whomever We Like, Only Lord Jesus Gives Life