Answer # 13

Some days after Jesus' resurrection from the dead, Peter engaged in an extended discourse with the risen Christ. Concluding the conversation: "Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the [last Passover] supper and had said. 'Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?' When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, 'If it is my will that he remain [alive] until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!'" (John 21:20-22, Revised Standard Version).

Verse 24 then reveals the identity of this disciple and future apostle: "This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things; and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true." This could be none other than the author of "the Gospel According to John."

John was also favored to be among the disciples who witnessed a foretaste of the Kingdom of God in vision (Matt. 17:1-6).

It was also John who was the first disciple to believe Christ had risen from the dead. Shortly after Christ's resurrection, Mary Magdalene came and saw that the tomb was empty. "So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved" (John 20:2, RSV).

John outran Simon Peter to the tomb, but Peter went in first (verses 3-7). "Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed" (verse 8).