30 August 2026

A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 4 (TMF:2955)

Friday, September 04, 2026

Peace to Live By: A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 4 (TMF:2955) - Daniel Litton
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What else can be noted as pertains to John? As already stated, he had an older brother named James. We know James was the older one because, when the two of them are mentioned together in the Scriptures, James is always listed first, which, in Jewish custom, would note he is the older brother. Now this James we find was martyred in the early persecution of the Christian church in Acts 12, not too long after Jesus returned to Heaven. John is probably in the lower end of age of all Jesus’ disciples (see John 13:28). Anyway, their father’s name was Zebedee. Their mother’s name was Salome, who may have in fact been Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) sister. That would mean, if that were the case, that Jesus and John were cousins. We perhaps understand this from John 19:25, where it says, “standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 3 (TMF:2954)

Thursday, September 03, 2026

Peace to Live By: A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 3 (TMF:2954) - Daniel Litton
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We read, in John 21:22 to 23: “Jesus said to [Peter], “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This seems to imply, looking at this from the 80 to 90 A.D. future, that the Apostle John is apparently the last Apostle still living. The conclusion could also be made that some time has passed since Peter had been martyred by the time this is actually written. Truly, it is theoretically possible that John is still alive somewhere on the earth today, if in actuality Jesus has had him live for that long. Perhaps hidden away somewhere waiting for Jesus’ return, or perhaps rather waiting for the rapturing of God's people.

A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 2 (TMF:2953)

Wednesday, September 02, 2026

Peace to Live By: A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 2 (TMF:2953) - Daniel Litton
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Once the disciple John learns Jesus is the Messiah, he leaves John the Baptist and becomes a disciple of Jesus. In reading the account, we understand that this was with his older brother who was named James. There was also a close friend involved named Peter. Thus, these three guys come to end up being Jesus' closest friends during the time of his venture, what we call his earthly ministry. Drawing this roundabout, by the time John is writing this whole account, some fifty to sixty years after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven (around 80 to 90 A.D.), John has already had an extensive career, to use today's terminology. Notable in that is having served as one of the chief leaders in the first Christian church in Jerusalem, the first Christian church of all time (see Acts 8:14 & Gal. 2:9). A notable point of significance regarding John is that he was the apostle who will live the longest—the longest of all of Jesus' original Twelve disciples.

A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 1 (TMF:2952)

Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Peace to Live By: A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 1 (TMF:2952) - Daniel Litton
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Why this man named John? Why should it be thought that what is written out is true? To start, we learn, in the first chapter of his book, the he originally was a disciple of John the Baptist. John the Baptist—a different John afore to mentioned. Out in the wilderness at the time before Jesus’ appearance, was this man whom had been sent by God ahead of his Son, with the intent of telling everyone the Son was in fact coming. The Son would be right around the corner. The message was for people to get ready, to get ready by repenting of their sins. Thus, the writer of this Gospel was originally a follower of this man—this man John the Baptist. When Jesus appears on the scene, John the Baptist in effect tells his disciples to follow Jesus, and that’s what they do. Once the disciple John learns Jesus is the Messiah, he leaves John the Baptist and becomes a disciple of Jesus. In reading the account, we understand that this was with his older brother who was named James. There was also a close friend involved named Peter.

Jesus Presented as the Jewish Messiah, Part 2 (TMF:2951)

Monday, August 31, 2026

Peace to Live By: Jesus Presented as the Jewish Messiah, Part 2 (TMF:2951) - Daniel Litton
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And the beautiful thing he goes on to show, is that this Jewish Messiah is actually the Messiah for the whole world, saving anyone from anywhere of their sins against themselves, others, and the Creator himself. And ironically and interestingly, if that wasn't enough already, he actually is also telling us that this Messiah, this Person come to the earth, is truly God himself. God himself. God comes to his own people. Specifically, he is God the Son, the Son who is equal to the Father. It's a noteworthy, startling, and incredible conclusion. Thus, in summation, this Jesus who appeared on the earth scene for a little while was God in human flesh, God incarnate. Coming back in a bit, we can next move to the question of what actually qualifies this man named John, this disciple of Jesus, to have written this account, that which we are about to dive in to, in the first place. Why this man named John? Why should it be thought that what is written out is true?