A Most Unlikely Worshiper

Among Jesus' disciples, we typically think of Peter as being the impetuous, fiery one. However, we often overlook one other, whose transformation to a worshiper was equally, if not more dramatic. In truth, John was arguably the last one we might have expected to become "John the Beloved," "John the worshiper," "the disciple whom Jesus loved." He was perhaps the least likely to document some of the most remarkable worship accounts recorded in the Bible, including its concluding account of his revelation of Heaven's worship.

He was certainly not called and summoned by Jesus because he possessed 'worship tendencies.' Mk.3:17 offers this vivid insight, "...James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them "Sons of Thunder")." (NLT) [The Gk word refers to the roar, to the noise of thunder].

We find repeated examples throughout the gospels of John's many character flaws: vindictive, ruthless, intolerant, ambitious and self-serving... Notice the love reflected in this Lk.9 exchange, 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because He was on His way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, "Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up [as Elijah did]?" (NLT)

Mark records this subtle maneuver,10:35 (MSG) James and John, Zebedee's sons, came up to him. "Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us." 37 "Arrange it," they said, "so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory--one of us at your right, the other at your left." Referenced in both Lk.9 and Mk.9:38, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone using Your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn't in our group." (NLT)

Bottom line: John was not born a worshiper. He became one! There was a transition that brought John to the point of later saying in 1Jn.4, 'if love is deficient in someone's life, it's because they don't know God (intimately).' There was a reason why John was the last surviving of the disciples and why God entrusted documentation of The Revelation to him.