St. John was a son
of Zebedee and brother of James the Elder (whose festival day is July 25). John
was among the first disciples to be called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18–22 ) and became
known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” as he refers to himself in the Gospel
that bears his name (e.g., John
21:20 ). Of the Twelve, John alone did not forsake Jesus in the
hours of His suffering and death. With the faithful women, he stood at the
cross, where our Lord made him the guardian of His mother. After Pentecost,
John spent his ministry in Jerusalem and at Ephesus, where tradition says he
was bishop. He wrote the fourth Gospel, the three Epistles that bear his name,
and the Book of Revelation. Especially memorable in his Gospel are the account
of the wedding at Cana (John
2:1–12 ), the “Gospel in a nutshell” (John 3:16 ), Jesus’ saying about
the Good Shepherd (John
10:11–16 ), the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11 ), and Jesus’ encounter
with Mary Magdalene on Easter morning (John 20:11–18 ). According to tradition, John was banished
to the island of Patmos (off the coast of Asia Minor) by the Roman emperor
Domitian. John lived to a very old age, surviving all the apostles, and died at
Ephesus around AD 100. [Kinnaman, Scot A. (2008-10-31). Treasury of Daily
Prayer (Kindle Locations 32817-32822). Concordia Publishing House. Kindle
Edition.]
Collect of the Day
Merciful Lord, cast
the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that we, being instructed in
the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist John, may come to the light
of everlasting life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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