GodReflection: Come and See—God Saved the Best for Now
“Come and see,” said Philip (John 1:46). “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now” (John 2: 10).
Five times in John’s Gospel the apostle refers to himself as the one who Jesus loved. It just dawned upon me. I had not seen it until now.
It was not a designation given to him by others. I doubt that Jesus ever referred to him as such. Instead, Jesus called John and his brother the “sons 
of thunder.”
I suspect they received their nickname from occasions like the time they suggested to handle the opposition with a speedy request: “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” or the request to be placed ahead of the other disciples as his number one and two people in his kingdom.
Could John’s self-designation have been an insight of genuine defect rooted deep in his heart? Was it because he realized Jesus loved him in spite of his failures that in utter amazement he self-identified as “I’m the one who Jesus loved?”
Here is what I think. There is good reason to believe John was the youngest of the twelve. In fact, he outlived Paul and the other apostles.
I wonder if as the youngest of the group Jesus may have made a deep impression on him? It is not uncommon to be overwhelmed with the loss of one’s childhood sinless state in the transition toward adolescents and adulthood.
Whatever the inadequacies John brought to the band of disciples obviously he felt total and complete acceptance by the Teacher and by the Heavenly Father.
When he pens his account of Jesus he is most likely an old man. While a youngster he learned from the Teacher as a member of Jesus closest disciples and stood witness to the death, resurrection and ascension. Then, for seven decades he matured through persecution and missionary hardship as he walked with the Spirit of his Holy Master
Through it all John couldn’t get over it. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).
It’s a gift too good to be true—but it is.
He remembered the abuse, the suffering and the cross. And he recalled what Jesus told him prior to the event:
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends . . . This is my command: Love each other (15:12-13,17).
Across the pages of time far too few have grasped what John wants us to see—yes, me as an individual, I am the one who Jesus loved. Without a doubt that is God’s best saved for my now. What would it take to join John and live with this insight as a soul-felt conviction?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: Come and See I am the One Who Jesus Love
Gary@Godreflection.org www.GodReflection.org
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