THE DISCIPLE WHO JESUS LOVED.

INTRODUCTION.
I want us to consider this wonderful statement and the remarkable disciple that we can see described by these words. Let us see if we can find what made this disciple so particularly loved by Christ and let us imitate him so that we can know this particular love by Christ. Let us see:-

THIS LOVE OF CHRIST WAS A HEAVENLY LOVE.
It was perfect and pure, it had no stain of earth, it was beautiful, lovely, desirable, complete, eternal, satisfying.
1. Both Agapao and Phileo are used to describe this love.
AGAPAO. Jn.13v23. 19v26. 21v7,20.
PHILEO. Jn.20v2,
Thus both the deep affection and love of friendship, and the constant perfection of love are stated.

2. John was not a pampered favourite, indeed he suffered as a result of it.
a. With the Lord there is no respect of persons. Rom.2v11. God has no favourites, His grace is open to all
b. This love did not mean that John was treated as a favourite. You may ask me "Why did John have such special spiritual experiences," and I will answer
b. because of his spiritual depth and qualities, he was able to become what others were not willing, ready or able to receive. He endured the worlds hatred because of this love. (PATIMOS)
c. This love did not mean that Jesus did not love the other disciples. He loved them with a Jn.13v? Loved them to the uttermost. Perfect love, an everlasting love.
All who love the Saviour are the special objects of His love and affection. We can all say, "He loved me, and gave Himself for ME."
        He lives to bless ME with His love,
        He lives to plead for ME above,
        He live MY hungry soul to feed,
        He lives to help in time of need.
We are all especially precious to Him.
d. No one suffered as a result of this great love for John. Everybody rejoiced in it and benefited from it. When one is particularly blessed all can benefit from it. None of the other disciples objected to it.
e. It was only the wonderful grace of God that made this love possible.
It was the grace of Jesus that saved John it was not because of the works of the Law, it was the grace of God.
It was the grace that made John what he was, and grace alone.
1.The Samaritans. Fire from Heaven, ye know not what spirit ye are of.
2.Forbade man to cast out demons. Not one of us.
3.Sought chief places. What hope this gives us.

N.B. Grace redeemed, grace reformed.
Then if it is of grace it is open to all, this special love is open to all, do you want it?
It is the love of close fellowship with Christ.
f. It was not an exclusive love, it was available to all. All of the other disciples could have enjoyed this additional love, indeed we read Mary Martha and Lazarus did.

JOHN CLAIMED THAT THIS SPECIAL LOVE WAS SHOWN TO HIM BY CHRIST.
The other disciples did not know it during Christ's ministry, but John wrote this of himself.
John himself wrote that he was the disciple that Jesus loved.
a. He thought upon this with amazement and humility, and marvelled at God's grace, there was no arrogance, only amazement.
b. Let us not be ashamed of what grace has done for us.

2. John wrote with great humility that he was the beloved disciple.
He does not use this glorious fact to -------- himself, he never says it is himself. He says "one of His disciples whom Jesus loved", 13v23. "that other disciple." 2v8. "another disciple." 1v35. John hides his identity by the use of this word. Careful examination of John's Gospel and church history reveal that the beloved apostle was John.

3. He uses this glorious fact to veil his true identity.
He feels that he must let people know the full facts of the story he had to tell but rather than haunt his privileged position, he uses the phase "the disciple whom Jesus loved," to humbly hide who he was. How different from some today. What some would have said, "support the man Jesus loved, God's man of faith and love, no, John was humble.

3. John wrote this description under divine inspiration and direction, that he was the disciple whom Jesus loved. John was directed by the Holy Spirit to use this phase.
We believe John wrote his Gospel under divine inspiration, indeed we know it breathes the very life of God, it reveals Jesus like no other inspired book.
God wanted all to know that this Gospel was written by the beloved and trusted disciple who leaned on Jesus' breast.

4. John does not tell us that any of the other disciples objected to this love the he enjoyed, they were all glad of it.

WHY DID JOHN HAVE THIS SPECIAL LOVE SHOWN TO HIM. John was one of the first two disciples of Jesus.
After the terrible temptation Jesus came back to Jordan. John Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb." Two disciples followed. The first was Andrew, the other, "another disciple," which almost certainly was John. They talked with Jesus.
But this does not explain this love, there is a deeper reason.

2. John was only a young man.
Christ always cared for His lambs. John was one of the youngest, of the band. But again this does not give the answer, there is a deeper reason.

3. John was the greatest spiritual help to Christ in His earthly ministry.
He along with James and Peter were the greatest help to the Lord in His spiritual conflicts. He was the most spiritual of the apostolic band. (THOSE WHO STAND IN THE BATTLE.)
Here we are coming to the answer, or part of the answer. John was the beloved disciple

4.What kind of disciple does our Master love.
1. Is this not the answer, this is the secret, the secret was in John's discipleship.
ILL. TEACHER AND CHILD.
2. Are you the kind of disciple that cheers the Masters heart.
3. Jn.14v21. gives us the answer, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." John gave Christ the opportunity to love him.
1Jn4v12. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.v16. and we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
John was a disciple, a loving disciple.
4. John was good ground he brought forth not 30 fold, 60 fold, but 100 fold. Grace received brought, real fruit, fruit of the Spirit in abundance.
John had met Jesus, as he saw the glory and beauty of Jesus he responded to that grace. Let us see:-

THE QUALITIES OF CHARACTER THAT MADE JOHN THE DISCIPLE THAT JESUS LOVED. LET US SEE WHAT THE GRACE OF JESUS HAD DONE FOR HIM. WHAT KIND OF DISCIPLE WAS HE?
1.John was an opened hearted disciple of Christ.
a. He was sincere not devious, there was no ------ in him. Sans-cere without wax. Jesus wanted to bless them all with His love.
b. Receptive. He listened well to his master.
c. Obedient. The masters word was law. Behold the Lamb of God brought instant obedience. KEPT THE LORD'S COMMANDMENTS.
d. Expressive. Son of thunder. He loved Jesus intensely, he was an open channel
1. Don't repress Holy Ghost emotion. Don't be a shellfish, hedgehog or turtle, be an eagle.
2. Be as opened hearted in worship with Jesus as with your nearest friend. being shut up in ourselves can keep us from much blessedness and usefulness. BE POSITIVE,NOT NEGATIVE.
2. John had seen the open face and heart of Jesus, he had seen the love flowing freely to him and he wanted it to flow freely to his Lord and others.

JOHN WAS AN WHOLE HEARTED DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS.
1. He started his service for Christ with a tremendous renunciation, he left all, a family business to serve Christ. He exchanged plenty for poverty for Christ. Uncertain income. Lk.5. A time of service. Positive not negative.
2. He was willing to be baptised with the same baptism of suffering as Jesus.
3. There were no conditions, clauses or reserves in his consecration. There were no this far but no further. FULLY YIELDED. NO BUTS.
1. Some say so far Lord but don't touch my home, my job, my amusement, my pet sin or weight, but not John.
4. In his old age he said, "I was an exile in Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." He was whole hearted under persecution, there was no compromise.
5. John when he saw the Lord Jesus wanted to be whole-hearted like his master. When John saw his whole-hearted Lord who had given up all of Heaven for him, he knew he should be whole-hearted too.

JOHN WAS A LOWLY HEARTED DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.
1. He was humble, not proud. He had himself exalted Christ.
2. He remembered the meek and lowly Jesus. Mt.11v28.

JOHN WAS A PURE HEARTED DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS.
1. The Lord Jesus said that it was the pure in heart that saw God. Do you want to have a vision of God, then keep your heart clean. To the Corinthians Paul had to say they had no knowledge of God. Impurity keeps us from seeing Jesus. Keep my commandments - will manifest myself.
2. John's epistle of Holiness and Purity.
1. Walk in the light. 1Jn.1v5-10.
2. Walk in this world, as He walked. 1Jn2v6.
3. Don't love the world and its evils. Jn2v15-17. or the flesh and Devil.
4. Not defiled with bitterness of spirit. 2Cor.7v1.
3. He saw Christ the pure and Holy, and he wanted to be Holy too.

JOHN WAS A KIND AND TENDER HEARTED DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS.
1. The son of thunder became the apostle of love through the grace of the Lord Jesus. There is a beauty and warmth about John, love breathes through.
2. John did not have a cold intellect, he had a burning love. He was no cautious argument to Thomas. He had proved that he dwelleth in love in God, and God in him.
3. One can no more imagine a crabby bitter spirit in John, than one can in Jesus our Lord.
4. John saw the tender-hearted Christ and longed to be like Him.
5. John had seen the meek and lowly Jesus and His tender heart, and John had longed to be like his Lord full of divine love.

JOHN WAS A SPIRITUALLY MINDED DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS.
1. John wanted the things of God more than all else. He was panting after his master.
2. He realised Christ was alone when he saw the empty tomb.
3. "It is the Lord" he said when the miracle took place after the resurrection.
4. The unseen world was more real and lasting than the seen. "The world passeth away and the lust thereof," be he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1Jn.2v17. He was not earthly minded. THERE IS A FALSE SPIRITUALITY.

5. Communion and Meditation.
His Gospel was the result of at least 50 years Christian maturity, of walking with Jesus,. This was his continued practice.
Do you meditate on the Word of God? Do you prepare to meet with God by meditation? Have you today?
N.B. The Jews prepare Friday night for Saturday. Do you, or is it the night with the world?
Not just a chapter reading, an unhurried reading, communion, soul food, Holy imagination.

THE RESULT OF THESE SPIRITUAL QUALITIES THAT MADE JOHN THE DISCIPLE THAT JESUS LOVED.
1. JOHN ENJOYED INTIMATE COMMUNION WITH CHRIST.
1. He leaned upon his masters breast at the last supper. God and man in perfect fellowship. I am sure when he saw the Christ of love he wondered if it was all past, but no, He is the same Jesus.
2. He saw Christ in a way the others did not.
3. The disciple Jesus loved. Loved flowed to and fro continuously between them. Do you spend time to love Christ. He is always ready to show His love to you.
4. He walked in the light in fellowship all the time with his Lord. 12 years without anything to offered to the Lord.

2. JOHN ENJOYED INFALLIBLE REVELATION FROM CHRIST.
1. During his life from Christ's teaching and life. You meet a living vital Christ in the Gospel of John.
2. The Holy Mount.
3. The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

3. JOHN ENJOYED OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCES AND SERVICE AND PRIVILEGES.
1.One of the three most used apostles.
2. One of the great inspiring example of the Church.
3. One of the most persecuted members of the Church. (A great privilege.)
Do we want Jesus to manifest Himself to us?
Are you yielded. ILL. Large areas of your life are not yielded to me.

CONCLUSION. So we see the secret of being the disciple who Jesus loved is summed up in discipleship, obedience and above all love.
Do you want to share his experience? It is open to you, see the ---- of His high calling in Christ Jesus.
1. Love Christ as He loved Him.
2. Obey Christ as he obeyed Him.
3. Be as earnest a disciple as he was.
And then you will experience the same love now, and the same well done hereafter.
GRACE CAN MAKE YOU THE DISCIPLE JESUS LOVES.
John shows us that Christianity is personal affection for Christ, and that real love for Christ will produce positive results.
John was willing, able and ready to receive what others did not.
WILL YOU YIELD TO HIM.