THE APOSTLE JOHN.



THE apostle John was born at Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. His father's name was Zebedee, and his mother's, Salome. He and his brother James were fishermen; and it was at this occupation that Jesus found them, and made them "fishers of men."Peter, James, and John were the three apostles that ever seemed to be nearest our Saviour. Peter was bold, impetuous, rash, and a born leader among men. James was cautious, prudent, coolheaded, and eminently wise. John had all the boldness of Peter, the wisdom of James, and, withal, a sweetness of disposition and an amiability of temper that made him the heart companion of our Lord. He was "that disciple whom Jesus loved." 

He had a clearer insight into Christ's character then any of the rest of the apostles. He not only saw the works that he did, and believed in him for the works' sake, but he dwelt on those utterances of Jesus wherein he declares himself the Son of God.

When Jesus was betrayed, and arrested by the soldiers of the high priest, while the rest of the apostles fled, and Peter denied him, John followed close by, was at the trial before the high priest, and, at the crucifixion, stood at the foot of the cross.  John lived to be nearly one hundred years old, and is said to be the only apostle who died a natural death. He was often persecuted, and at one time was banished, by the command of the Roman emperor, to the island of Patmos, where he had those wonderful visions recorded in Revelation.

John is sometimes called the "apostle of love," because, in his writings, he has so much to say about the love of God, and how his children ought to love one another. 



The Bible Scholar.