We know several things about the Apostle John. He knew Jesus. He wrote a tender gospel account. John had a brother and a background in commercial fishing. We also know that he liked to refer to himself as, “the other disciple whom Jesus loved.” He had a meddling and ambitious mother and he could outrun Peter. In John’s account, in chapter 20, there is a lot of running. Mary Magdalene ran to Peter and John because she discovered the stone had been rolled away. The two were running to the tomb and John describes it like this, “and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.” The next mention of Peter is 20:6 and he is entering the tomb. Was John faster but Peter braver? I don’t know but John was hanging back. No shame. They both arrived and they both entered and they both believed. I am guilty of comparing myself to others. That gets harder the older I get because I cannot be the quickest or the strongest but I hope I am always a disciple whom Jesus loves. I John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
