Biblical Leaders: John

I’ve said in a previous post about how much I’ve always related to Peter in my life. While that is true, as I’ve gotten older and the more time I’ve spent in scripture, the more I’ve come to resonate with the subject of today’s post, John. It’s his writing. It’s the way he used extremes such as darkness and light or death and life. It’s the way he talked about love. Like it wasn’t just something he talked about but something he knew. John, like many of the other disciples, was a fisherman but I think when he met and walked with Jesus he became a poet. There’s something both intriguing and interesting about a guy that referred to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved.”

John was one of Jesus’ closest friends and companions. He witnessed miracle after miracle like the other disciples but he also witnessed the transfiguration, along with James and Peter (Matthew 17). He was also one of the same three that “went farther” into the garden to pray with Jesus the night he was arrested (Matthew 26:37). John was also the only of the disciples that stayed at the cross. In fact, we see a beautiful picture of John along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the foot of the cross where Jesus says to John,

“here is your mother.” (John 19:25-27)

From that time on Mary lived with John and John took care of her.

What an incredible thing for John to do. He knew Jesus well and amidst his own heartache of watching all of this brutality unfold, he loved Mary. Why? Why was he one of the ones in the garden? Why was he the only disciple at the cross while the others ran or hid in the shadows? Well, it’s because he was the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” That’s obviously and specific and maybe even a little odd designation to give ones self but I think it came back to his identity. He knew Jesus but more than that, Jesus knew him.

John led well because his identity was secure. His journey took him from run-of-the-mill fisherman, to disciple, to “the one whom Jesus loved,” and eventually to writer.

I’ve learned people are usually not good at self evaluation. We’re typically too hard on ourselves or think too highly of ourselves. Usually it’s the former more than the later. What about you? Where has your journey taken you and what designations have you given yourself? I still have moments where I’m like Peter shooting off at the mouth and then trying to pry my foot from it but I’m learning to lead a little more like John. His identity was secure and his identity was in his savior. When we, well when I, lead from insecurity it usually doesn’t go well but when I lead from my truest identity, I lead well.

I hope you find yourself leading from your identity, as John did, and leading well.

Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash