The Apostle John: His Three-fold Spiritual Identity
I. UNDERSTANDING OUR PRIMARY REWARD
A. Jesus is our exceeding great reward. We must understand our primary reward as distinct from our secondary rewards
in this age and the age-to-come. The Lord Himself is our primary reward. Jesus being our exceeding great reward
includes being fascinated by revelation of His beauty and majesty along with receiving the tenderizing influence of
the Holy Spirit on our heart.
1 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly
great reward." (Gen. 15:1)
B. God promised Abraham great wealth, honor and a historic impact on the earth. Examples of secondary rewards
include: God’s favor on relationships (honor) or circumstances (health, wealth) or the authority to make a relevant impact
(natural or spiritual authority).
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3...And in you
all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen. 12:2-3)
C. The Lord is the greatest reward or inheritance to those who stand before Him.
8 The Lord separated the tribe of Levi…to stand before the Lord to minister to Him…9 Therefore Levi has no…inheritance
with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance. (Deut. 10:8-9)
D. The tension in our secondary rewards is in their delayed timing in which they are released and then because
they increase and decrease in different seasons resulting in disillusionment. If Jesus is our primary reward then we do
not get burned out or disillusioned.
E. The Father loves us in the way He loves Jesus. Jesus loves us in the same measure that the Father loves Him.
This gives us the right to stand before God with the confidence as “His favorites”.
23 That the world may know that You…have loved them as You have loved Me. (Jn. 17:23)
9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (Jn. 15:9)
F. These statements were made to the disciples in their weakness just before they all denied Jesus.
31 All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night… (Mt. 26:31)
II. JOHN’S TESTIMONY: 3-FOLD SPIRITUAL IDENTITY
A. John’s 3-fold spiritual identity: as whom Jesus loved, as one who was made for intimacy with God and as one who
longed for God’s secrets.
20 Peter…saw the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and
said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"(Jn. 21:20)
14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward
the LORD… (Ps. 25:14-15)
B. Jesus renamed John and his brother James, “the sons of thunder” to describe their destiny in God.
17 James…and John...to whom He gave the name…"Sons of Thunder"… (Mk. 3:17)
C. John has a “thunderous desire for greatness” in God’s Kingdom.
33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among
yourselves on the road?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be
the greatest. (Mk. 9:30-39)
32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem…He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would
happen to Him: 33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed…and they will condemn
Him to death…34 And the third day He will rise again." 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him,
saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." 36 He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." 38 But
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Can you drink the cup that I drink…?" (Mk. 10:32-38)
20 The mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He
said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand
and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask.
(Mt. 20:20-22)
21 One of you will betray Me...23 There was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Peter
motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. (Jn. 13:21-24)
D. John is rebuked three times on the way up to Jerusalem. The first rebuke came after John started a dispute about
who was the greatest. The second one was when John forbid a man from casting out devils because he did not come
under their authority. The third rebuke came when John wanted to call fire down on a city that did not receive him.
46 A dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took
a little child…48 and said to them, "…For he who is least among you all will be great." 49 John answered and said,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."
50 Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side." 51 Now it came to pass, when the
time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers
before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not
receive Him…54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to
come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do
not know what manner of spirit you are of.” (Lk. 9:46-55)