The unidentified writer of John 21:24
commends the-disciple-whom-Jesus-loved to us, writing, “we know
that his testimony is true.” Such confidence in the disciple
suggests that the writer knew him – knew who he was. If true, then
we conclude that the writer deliberately concealed his identity from
us; that is, the writer did not just forget to mention the disciples
name.
The idea that Judas Iscariot is
the-disciple-whom-Jesus-loved is often discounted by a consideration
of the narrative of the first appearance of
the-disciple-whom-Jesus-loved. (John 13:20-26)
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that receives whomsoever I send receives me; and he that receives me
receives him that sent me. 21 When Jesus had thus said, he was
troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, that one of you shall deliver me. 22 Then the disciples
looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 Now there was
leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him,
that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then
lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus
answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped
it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the
son of Simon.
In the narrative, the writer presents
the-disciple-whom-Jesus-loved and Judas Iscariot as two separate
characters. The two characters could only be the same person if the
writer deliberately concealed the identity of
the-disciple-whom-Jesus-loved. Significantly, this is the conclusion
we made independently by a consideration of the narrative of the last
appearance of the-disciple-whom-Jesus-loved (John 21:24); and it is a
fitting conclusion for a work of scripture devoted to a God whose
glory it is to conceal a matter.
Why was Judas Iscariot the disciple whom Jesus loved? Click on the question for the answer.
Still, I offer these ideas only in my
own name.
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