God is no respecter of persons
A word of Knowledge
On "God is no respecter of persons"
Romans 2:11 KJV
For there is no respect of persons with God.
Acts 10:34-35 KJV
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
We know that Jesus is God and therefore He is no respecter of persons.
What did He said when his mother and brethrens desired to speak with Him while He was talking to the people?
Matthew 12:48-50 KJV
But he answered and said unto him that told him,
Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said,
Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Contrary to what Jesus showed us even with regards to his own mother and brethrens, we seem to blindly and readily accept the scholars' and teachers' opinions that the Apostle John is the disciple whom Jesus loved, making it appears that Jesus is contradicting Scripture.
John 13:23 KJV
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
There are really no such evidence found to substantiate the claim in the Bible and all such claims are speculative and is really from sources outside of the Bible and men's own intellectual opinions as opposed to finding the answer from the Bible itself.
Now, the seriousness of the matter is this:
If we agree that the Apostle John is the disciple whom Jesus loved, that he is the one leaning on Jesus in the last supper, then we are accusing Jesus of being a respecter of persons, prefering one disciple (John) over the other disciples!
We are actually accusing either that Jesus is not God or that God is a liar!
Brethrens, let us not be deceived and mocked by the devil and look for the answers in the Scripture for ourselves rather than rely on another man's intellectual analysis!
~~~
Question:
Who is the disciple whom Jesus loved?
John 11:1-5 KJV
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
The only hints we have of Jesus mentioning whom He loved are Martha, Mary and Lazarus whom He raised from the dead.
This is an important clue that we will see next.
John 13:23 KJV
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Although John did not mention who this disciple is, he gave a very clear description, "whom Jesus loved".
Yes, this is obviously referring to either Martha, Mary or Lazarus.
Why is that? It is simply because the event on Lazarus being raised from the dead is just prior (chapters 11-12) to the last supper event where John 13:23 mention "whom Jesus loved".
John 12:1-2 KJV
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 13:1 KJV
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
They were having the last supper in Martha, Mary and Lazarus' house.
John 12:2 even tells us that "Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him."
So the disciple whom Jesus loved who leans on His bosom is none other than Lazarus, not John!
We can see this is true by examining the verses further down.
John 21:20-23 KJV
[20] Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
[21] Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do ?
[22] Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
[23] Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Now, why did Peter questioned Jesus "what shall this man do?" out of nowhere if "the disciple whom Jesus loved" is John?
Even more interestingly is why did Jesus reply Peter "If I will that he tarry till I come" and the saying abroad that "that disciple should not die" though Jesus did not say that?
The obvious reason is that, that disciple is Lazarus because he was raised from the dead by Jesus after being dead for four days!
Think about it, if your brother was dead for four days and then raised from the dead, wouldn't you be curious whether he will die again or when will he die, especially when Jesus himself said he will tarry until He come and that shortly after which Jesus ascended to heaven, making it even more curious?
John 21:24 KJV
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
Let us read the verse for ourselves with our own eyes the context that leads to this verse.
Is it true that as the scholars said that it is an indication of John's humility that the author of the book of John did not name the disciple whom Jesus loved because it is himself, John?
I would think that we don't know that and that is a wild guess at most. There is no basis for such an explanation.
Without wearing the preconceived idea that John is that disciple that Jesus loved, we can read this plainly from the conclusion drawn above and understand it simply:
John 21:24 (Paraphrased)
This is the disciple, Lazarus, which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things:
and we, the disciples who follow Jesus and knew Lazarus, witness that his testimony is true.
John, the author of the book of John is simply saying he got the testimonies and writings of these things from Lazarus [and organised and included into the book],
and he and the other disciples and apostles know that Lazarus' testimony is true because they were also present when those things happened.
~~~
Question:
Why did Lazarus lean on Jesus' bosom?
Imagine yourself in Lazarus' shoes.
You died and went through the sufferings of death probably in hell for four days. And then on the fourth day, you came back to life on hearing Jesus' command. You obeyed His conmand and came out of the tomb alive to Him.
Now, from this point of your life onwards, aren't you extremely grateful to Jesus and you are probably very much confirmed that Jesus is the Christ and more importantly, He is God, for only God could raise you up from the dead.
So, how full of love for Jesus would you be? I would say much more than any of the apostles and disciples present at the last supper.
In fact, it is because of your great love for Jesus that you lean on Him, disregarding everyone's eyes.
It is certainly not because Jesus favoured you more than the other disciples present.
Therefore, Jesus is no respecter of persons even in this instance.
~~~
Question:
If Lazarus is the disciple whom Jesus loved, isn't it also saying that Jesus is a respecter of persons which is contrary to the Bible?
The answer is no.
Refer back to John 13:23 earlier above,
"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved."
The phrase that John used here, "one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved", is not saying in context that Jesus preferred this particular disciple over others but it is really meant as a reference phrase to the true identity of the unamed disciple which is found in the testimony that John has described in chapter 11 and 12, that also mentioned "whom Jesus loved" quoted below again:
John 11:3,5 KJV
[3] Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, "he whom thou lovest" is sick.
[5] Now "Jesus loved" Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
We know Jesus loved everyone equally, He is no respecter of persons.
So, the sole reason that John states the obvious that He loved the three of them at the START of the chapter is just that, to facilitate the identification of the unnamed disciple whom Jesus loved.
As a matter of fact, John even mentioned that Jesus also loved Martha and Mary, stating the obvious, to show that Jesus is no respecter of persons, He loved all, not just Lazarus, so that you will not be mistaken later throughout the book when he uses the reference phrase "whom Jesus loved" again.
Further, the testimony of Lazarus is only found in the book of John and the phrase "the disciple whom Jesus loved" can also only be found in the same book and no other books of the Bible!
To conclude, John has actually left the reader an undeniable pointer to the true identity of the unnamed disciple.
This is in plain sight when we read the Word of God with our own eyes and not be tainted with those of the "teachers and Professors" that we blindly accepted anything that they taught.
How is it that all the wise scholars of the world couldn't comprehend it plainly from the Scripture itself but would rather complicate it with their own speculations, resources, traditions, education and intellect?
On "God is no respecter of persons"
Romans 2:11 KJV
For there is no respect of persons with God.
Acts 10:34-35 KJV
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
We know that Jesus is God and therefore He is no respecter of persons.
What did He said when his mother and brethrens desired to speak with Him while He was talking to the people?
Matthew 12:48-50 KJV
But he answered and said unto him that told him,
Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said,
Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Contrary to what Jesus showed us even with regards to his own mother and brethrens, we seem to blindly and readily accept the scholars' and teachers' opinions that the Apostle John is the disciple whom Jesus loved, making it appears that Jesus is contradicting Scripture.
John 13:23 KJV
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
There are really no such evidence found to substantiate the claim in the Bible and all such claims are speculative and is really from sources outside of the Bible and men's own intellectual opinions as opposed to finding the answer from the Bible itself.
Now, the seriousness of the matter is this:
If we agree that the Apostle John is the disciple whom Jesus loved, that he is the one leaning on Jesus in the last supper, then we are accusing Jesus of being a respecter of persons, prefering one disciple (John) over the other disciples!
We are actually accusing either that Jesus is not God or that God is a liar!
Brethrens, let us not be deceived and mocked by the devil and look for the answers in the Scripture for ourselves rather than rely on another man's intellectual analysis!
~~~
Question:
Who is the disciple whom Jesus loved?
John 11:1-5 KJV
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
The only hints we have of Jesus mentioning whom He loved are Martha, Mary and Lazarus whom He raised from the dead.
This is an important clue that we will see next.
John 13:23 KJV
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Although John did not mention who this disciple is, he gave a very clear description, "whom Jesus loved".
Yes, this is obviously referring to either Martha, Mary or Lazarus.
Why is that? It is simply because the event on Lazarus being raised from the dead is just prior (chapters 11-12) to the last supper event where John 13:23 mention "whom Jesus loved".
John 12:1-2 KJV
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 13:1 KJV
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
They were having the last supper in Martha, Mary and Lazarus' house.
John 12:2 even tells us that "Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him."
So the disciple whom Jesus loved who leans on His bosom is none other than Lazarus, not John!
We can see this is true by examining the verses further down.
John 21:20-23 KJV
[20] Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
[21] Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do ?
[22] Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
[23] Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Now, why did Peter questioned Jesus "what shall this man do?" out of nowhere if "the disciple whom Jesus loved" is John?
Even more interestingly is why did Jesus reply Peter "If I will that he tarry till I come" and the saying abroad that "that disciple should not die" though Jesus did not say that?
The obvious reason is that, that disciple is Lazarus because he was raised from the dead by Jesus after being dead for four days!
Think about it, if your brother was dead for four days and then raised from the dead, wouldn't you be curious whether he will die again or when will he die, especially when Jesus himself said he will tarry until He come and that shortly after which Jesus ascended to heaven, making it even more curious?
John 21:24 KJV
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
Let us read the verse for ourselves with our own eyes the context that leads to this verse.
Is it true that as the scholars said that it is an indication of John's humility that the author of the book of John did not name the disciple whom Jesus loved because it is himself, John?
I would think that we don't know that and that is a wild guess at most. There is no basis for such an explanation.
Without wearing the preconceived idea that John is that disciple that Jesus loved, we can read this plainly from the conclusion drawn above and understand it simply:
John 21:24 (Paraphrased)
This is the disciple, Lazarus, which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things:
and we, the disciples who follow Jesus and knew Lazarus, witness that his testimony is true.
John, the author of the book of John is simply saying he got the testimonies and writings of these things from Lazarus [and organised and included into the book],
and he and the other disciples and apostles know that Lazarus' testimony is true because they were also present when those things happened.
~~~
Question:
Why did Lazarus lean on Jesus' bosom?
Imagine yourself in Lazarus' shoes.
You died and went through the sufferings of death probably in hell for four days. And then on the fourth day, you came back to life on hearing Jesus' command. You obeyed His conmand and came out of the tomb alive to Him.
Now, from this point of your life onwards, aren't you extremely grateful to Jesus and you are probably very much confirmed that Jesus is the Christ and more importantly, He is God, for only God could raise you up from the dead.
So, how full of love for Jesus would you be? I would say much more than any of the apostles and disciples present at the last supper.
In fact, it is because of your great love for Jesus that you lean on Him, disregarding everyone's eyes.
It is certainly not because Jesus favoured you more than the other disciples present.
Therefore, Jesus is no respecter of persons even in this instance.
~~~
Question:
If Lazarus is the disciple whom Jesus loved, isn't it also saying that Jesus is a respecter of persons which is contrary to the Bible?
The answer is no.
Refer back to John 13:23 earlier above,
"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved."
The phrase that John used here, "one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved", is not saying in context that Jesus preferred this particular disciple over others but it is really meant as a reference phrase to the true identity of the unamed disciple which is found in the testimony that John has described in chapter 11 and 12, that also mentioned "whom Jesus loved" quoted below again:
John 11:3,5 KJV
[3] Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, "he whom thou lovest" is sick.
[5] Now "Jesus loved" Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
We know Jesus loved everyone equally, He is no respecter of persons.
So, the sole reason that John states the obvious that He loved the three of them at the START of the chapter is just that, to facilitate the identification of the unnamed disciple whom Jesus loved.
As a matter of fact, John even mentioned that Jesus also loved Martha and Mary, stating the obvious, to show that Jesus is no respecter of persons, He loved all, not just Lazarus, so that you will not be mistaken later throughout the book when he uses the reference phrase "whom Jesus loved" again.
Further, the testimony of Lazarus is only found in the book of John and the phrase "the disciple whom Jesus loved" can also only be found in the same book and no other books of the Bible!
To conclude, John has actually left the reader an undeniable pointer to the true identity of the unnamed disciple.
This is in plain sight when we read the Word of God with our own eyes and not be tainted with those of the "teachers and Professors" that we blindly accepted anything that they taught.
How is it that all the wise scholars of the world couldn't comprehend it plainly from the Scripture itself but would rather complicate it with their own speculations, resources, traditions, education and intellect?
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