Which one died of old age?

The disciple John was the son of Zebedee and brother of James. Also known as the Sons of Thunder, these two disciples, along with Simon Peter were part of Jesus’ “inner circle.” Those three men went places with Jesus and witnessed things that the other nine did not, such as when Jesus raised a 12-year-old girl from the dead and when He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest.

Throughout the first three books of the Gospel, John is almost always mentioned with his brother James. It’s confusing, though, because there are multiple men named John in the New Testament, most prominently, John the Baptist.

In the book of John, however, one of Jesus’ followers is frequently referred to as the “one whom Jesus loved.”

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27, New Living Translation) 

I always thought it was a bit nervy for John to refer to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved.” Didn’t Jesus love the rest of the disciples – all people actually – the same? Or did He love John more because He trusted John to take care of His mother?

More likely, John was so confident that Jesus was his Savior that he felt total devotion and love towards Jesus. In return, he knew how much Jesus loved him.   

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. (John 21:20-24, New International Version)

 One last thought on the disciple John. He was the only one of the disciples to live to old age and die a natural death, instead of dying a martyr. Does this make him any less devoted to Jesus? Not at all. I think it was part of God’s plan from the start, just as He has a plan for us all.