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John of Zebedee (apostle)

Theme: Who are the apostles? · Page 2 of 26

Reading comfort

GRM 49.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

49.1 At 2 p.m. I see the following:
Jesus is coming along a little road, a path between two fields. He is alone. John is moving towards Him along a different path in the fields and he meets Him at last, going through an opening in a hedge.
John, both in yesterday’s vision and today’s, is very young. His face is rosy and beardless, the fair complexion of a youth who can hardly be called a man. There are no signs of moustache or beard, but only the smoothness of his rosy cheeks, his red lips, and his bright smile and pure look, not so much because of its deep turquoise hue, but because of the limpidity of his virginal soul shining through his eyes. His blond-brown long soft hair undulates at each step while he walks almost as fast as if he were running.
When he is about to pass through the hedge, he shouts: «Master!»
Jesus stops and turns around, smiling.
«Master, I have longed so much for You! The people in the house where You live told me that You had come towards the country. But they did not say where. I was afraid I might not meet you.» While speaking, John has bent his head slightly, out of respect. And yet, he is full of truthful love, both in his attitude and in his eyes, which he raises towards Jesus, while his head is still gently inclined towards his shoulder.
«I saw you were looking for Me and I came towards you.»
«You saw me? Where were You, Master?»
«Over there» and Jesus points to a group of trees far away, which, by the colour of their foliage, I would say were olive-trees.
«I was over there. I was praying, and thinking what to say this evening in the synagogue. But I came away as soon as I saw you.»
«But how could You see me, if I can hardly see the place, hidden as it is behind that hedge?»
«And yet, you see, here I am. I came to meet you because I saw you. What the eye does not do, love does.»
«Yes, love does.
49.2 You love me, therefore, Master?»
«And do you love Me, John, son of Zebedee?»
«So much, Master. I think I have always loved You. Before meeting You, long before my soul was looking for You, and when I saw You, my soul said to me: “Here is the One you are seeking”. I think I met You, because my soul perceived You.»
«You said it, John, and what you say is right. I also came towards you because My soul perceived you. For how long will you love Me?»
«Forever, Master. I no longer want to love anybody but You.»
«You have a father and a mother, brothers and sisters, you have your life, and with your life you have a woman and love. How will you be able to leave all that for My sake?»
«Master… I do not know… but I think, if it is not pride to say so, that Your fondness will take the place of father and mother, of brothers and sisters, and also of a woman. I will be compensated for everything, if You love me.»
«And if My love should cause you sorrows and persecutions?»
«They will be nothing, if You love me.»
«And the day I should die…»
«No! You are young, Master… Why die?»
«Because the Messiah has come to preach the Law in its truthfulness and to accomplish Redemption. And the world loathes the Law and does not want redemption. Therefore they persecute God’s messengers.»
«Oh! Let that never be! Do not mention that prediction of death to him who loves You!… But if You should die, I would still love You. Allow me to love You.» John’s look is an imploring one. He has bowed his head lower than ever, as he walks beside Jesus and seems to be begging for love.
Jesus stops. He looks at him, scrutinises him with His deep, penetrating eyes, and then lays His hand on his bowed head. «I want you to love Me.»
«Oh! Master!» John is happy. Although his eyes shine with tears, his well shaped young mouth smiles. He takes the divine hand, kisses it on its back, and presses it to his heart.

Detail

Physical description of Jean

Keywords

John of Zebedee (apostle)

GRM 49.3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

49.3 They take to the road again.
«You said you were looking for Me…»
«Yes, to tell You that my friends want to meet You… and because, oh! how I was longing to be with You again! I left You only a few hours ago… but I could no longer be without You.»
«Have you therefore been a good announcer of the Word?»
«Also James, Master, spoke of You in such a way as… to convince them.»
«So that he too who had no confidence — and is not to be blamed because his reserve was due to prudence — is now convinced. Let us go and give him full assurance.»
«He was somewhat afraid…»
«No! Not afraid of Me! I have come for good people and even more for those who stand in error. I want to save people, not to condemn them. I will be full of mercy with honest people.»
«And with sinners?»
«Also. By dishonest people I mean those who are spiritually dishonest and hypocritically they feign to be good, whereas they do ill deeds. And they do such things and in such a way for their own profit and to secure an advantage over their neighbours. I will be severe with them.»
«Oh! Simon, then, need not worry. He is as loyal as no one else.»
«That is what I like, and I want you all to be so.»
«Simon wants to tell You many things.»
«I will listen to him after speaking in the synagogue. I asked them to inform the poor and sick people in addition to the rich and healthy ones. They are all in need of the Gospel.»

Keywords

GRM 49.7

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

49.7 Jesus goes out onto the little square. On the doorstep there are John and James with Peter and Andrew.

Detail

James and John were present at Jesus' first preaching in Bethsaida.

Keywords

GRM 49.8

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

49.8 As soon as they are out Peter says: «I wonder what He meant before, when He said that I will be fishing with other nets and catching different fish.»
«Why did you not ask Him? You wanted to say so many things, but you hardly spoke.»
«I… was bashful. He is so different from all the other rabbis!»
«Now He is going to Jerusalem…» says John, with so much longing and nostalgia.
«I wanted to ask Him if He would let me go with Him… But I did not dare…»
«Go and ask Him now, my boy» says Peter. «We left Him so… without a word of affection. Let Him at least know that we admire Him. I will tell your father.»
«Shall I go, James?»
«Go.»
John runs away… and he runs back, overjoyed. «I said to Him: “Do You want me to come to Jerusalem with You?” He replied: “Come, My friend”. Friend, He said! Tomorrow, I will be here at this time. Ah! To Jerusalem with Him!…»
… the vision ends.

Detail

In EMV 48.6, Jesus tells John and James: "He [Peter] is casting the net and is impatient that he has to do it alone, because you didn't go out with the twin boat on an evening when the fishing was so good.... He doesn't know that before long he'll only be fishing with completely different nets to catch completely different prey."

Keywords

GRM 49.9-11

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

49.9 With regards to the previous vision, this morning, the 14th of October Jesus says to me:
«I want you and everybody to consider John’s behaviour: particularly one point that always escapes everybody’s notice. You admire him because he was pure, loving, faithful. But you do not notice that he was great in humility as well.
He, the first one responsible for Peter’s coming to Me, was modestly silent about that detail. The apostle of Peter, and consequently the first of My apostles, was John. First in recognising Me, first in speaking to Me, in following Me, in preaching Me. And yet, see what he says? “Andrew, Simon’s brother, was one of the two who had heard John’s words and had followed Jesus. The first person he met was his brother Simon, to whom he said: ‘We have found the Messiah’ and he took him to Jesus”.
Besides being good, he is just, and since he knows that Andrew is distressed because of his shy and reserved disposition, and that he would like to do so much, but does not succeed in doing it, he wants the acknowledgement of Andrew’s goodwill to be handed down to posterity. He wants Andrew to appear as Christ’s first apostle with Peter, notwithstanding that Andrew’s shyness and uneasiness with his brother have been the cause of the failure of his apostolate.
49.10 Amongst those who do something for Me, who can imitate John, instead of proclaiming himself an unexcelled apostle, without considering that his success depends on a multitude of things, which are not only holiness, but also human daring, luck and the occasional chance of being with other people less daring and less lucky, but perhaps holier?
When you succeed doing some good, do not boast about it, as if the merit were entirely yours. Praise God, the Lord of the apostolic workers, and have a clear eye and a sincere heart to see and give each the praise they deserve. A clear eye to discern the apostles who sacrificed themselves and are the first real incentive for the work of the others. Only God sees them: they are timid and seem to be doing nothing, whereas they draw from Heaven the fire that urges daring workers. A sincere heart in saying: “I work. But this fellow loves more than I do, he prays better than I do, I am not able to sacrifice myself as he does and as Jesus said: ‘… in your private room with the door closed pray secretly.’ Since I am aware of his humble holy virtue, I want to make it known and say: ‘I am an active instrument; he is a power that inspires me, because, joined as he is to God, he is a channel of celestial energy for me’”.
And the Blessing of the Father, that descends to reward the humble man, who secretly sacrifices himself to give strength to the apostles, will descend also on the apostle who sincerely acknowledges both the supernatural and silent help of the humble one, and his merits that superficial men do not notice.
It is a lesson for everybody.
49.11 Is he My favourite? Yes, he is. Does he not resemble Me also in this? Pure, loving, obedient, but also humble. I looked at Myself in him as in a mirror and I could see My virtues in him. I therefore loved him like another Self. I could see in him the glance of My Father, Who considerd him a little Christ. And My Mother would say to Me: “I feel as if he were My second son. I seem to be seeing You, reproduced in a man”.
Oh! How well the One Full of Wisdom knows you, My beloved! The two celestial blues of your pure hearts mingled into one veil only to form a protection of love for Me, and they became one love only, even before I gave My Mother to John and John to My Mother. They loved each other because they realised they were alike: children and brothers of the Father and of the Son.

Annotation

John 1:39-42:

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two disciples who had heard John's word and followed Jesus. He first found Simon, his own brother, and said to him: "We have found the Messiah" - which means Christ. Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said: "You are Simon, son of John; your name shall be Kephas" - which means: Peter.

Keywords

GRM 50.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

50.1 Later on (at 9:30) I had to describe this.
John knocks at the door of the house where Jesus is a guest. A woman comes to the door and when she sees who it is, she calls Jesus.
They greet each other with a sign of peace. Then Jesus says: «You have come early, John.»
«I have come to tell You that Peter asks You to pass by Bethsaida. He has spoken to many people about You… We did not go out fishing last night. We prayed as well as we could, and we gave up the profit… because the Sabbath was not yet over. And this morning, we went through the streets speaking about You. There are many people who would like to hear You… Will You come, Master?»
«I will, although I must go to Nazareth before going to Jerusalem.»
«Peter will take You from Bethsaida to Tiberias in his boat. It will be even quicker for You.»
«Let us go, then.»
Jesus takes His mantle and haversack. But John relieves Him of the latter. And they set out, after saying goodbye to the landlady.
50.2 The vision shows them coming out of the village and starting their journey to Bethsaida. But I do not hear what they are saying, in fact the vision is interrupted and it is resumed only when they are entering Bethsaida. I realise that it is that town because I see Peter, Andrew and James, with their wives, awaiting Jesus at the entrance to the village.
«Peace be with you. Here I am.»
«We thank You, Master, also on behalf of those who are waiting for You. It is not the Sabbath today, but will You speak Your words to those waiting to hear You?»
«Yes, Peter, I will. In your house.»
Peter is overjoyed: «Come, then. This is my wife and this is John’s mother and these are their friends. But there are other people waiting for You: relations and friends of ours.»
«Tell them that I will speak to them this evening, before I leave.»
I forgot to mention that they left Capernaum at sunset and arrived at Bethsaida the following morning.

Keywords

GRM 50.8

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

50.8 The crowd utter words of emotional approval and slowly go away. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip and Bartholomew stay.

Detail

The following apostles were present at the preaching in Bethsaida.

Keywords

GRM 50.9

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

50.9 «Well, tomorrow morning at dawn, I will leave with John.»
«Master…»
«Yes, Simon, what is it?»
«Master… are You going to Jerusalem?»
«You know I am.»
«I am going at Passover too… and also Andrew and James.»
«Well?.. Do you mean that you would like to come with Me? And your fishing? And your profit? You told Me that you like to have money, and I will be away for many days. I am going to My Mother’s first. And I will go there on My way back as well. I will stop there to preach. How will you manage?…»
Peter is perplexed, undecided… then he makes up his mind: «I think… I will come. I prefer You to money!»
«I am coming, too.»
«And so am I.»
«We are going too, aren’t we, Philip?»
«Come, then, you will help Me.»
«Oh!…» Peter is more than excited at the idea of helping Jesus. «How shall we do that?»
«I will tell you. To do good, all you need do, is do what I tell you. He who obeys always does good. We will now pray and then each of us will go and perform his duties.»
«What will You do, Master?»
«I will continue to pray. I am the Light of the world, but I am also the Son of man. I must, therefore, draw from the Light, to become the Man Who redeems man. Let us pray.» Jesus says a psalm. The one beginning: «He who rests in the help of the Most High, will live in the protection of the God of Heaven. He will say to the Lord: “You are my protector and my shelter. He is my God, I will hope in Him. He rescued me from the snares of fowlers and from harsh words” etc.» I find it in the fourth book. It is the second psalm in book four, I think it is number 90, (if I read the Roman number correctly).
The vision ends in this way.

Detail

Jesus declares to the disciples present (Philip and Bartholomew, James of Zebedee, Andrew and Peter):

Keywords

GRM 51.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I see the kitchen in Peter’s house. In addition to Jesus, there are Peter and his wife, James and John. I think they have just finished eating their supper. They are talking, and Jesus takes an interest in fishing.
Andrew enters and says: «Master, there is the man here in whose house You are living, together with another man who says he is Your cousin.»
Jesus gets up and goes towards the door saying: «Let them come in.» And when He sees Judas Thaddeus in the light of the oil lamp and of the fireplace, He exclaims: «You, Judas?!»
«Yes, Jesus.» They kiss each other.

Keywords

GRM 51.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«I have come from Capernaum, I went there by boat and I have come here in the same boat to gain time. Your Mother sends me; She says: “Susanna is getting married tomorrow; please come to the wedding”. Mary will be there, and also my mother and brothers. All the relatives have been invited. You would be the only one absent, and they ask You to come and make the young couple happy.»
51.2
Jesus bows lightly stretching out His arms and says: «A wish of My Mother is a law for Me. But I will come also for Susanna’s and our relatives’ sake. Only… I am sorry for you…» and He looks at Peter and the others. «They are My friends» He explains to His cousin. And then He mentions their names, beginning with Peter’s. He then adds: «And this is John» with a special expression that causes Judas Thaddeus to look at him more carefully while the beloved disciple blushes. He ends the introductions stating: «My friends, this is Judas, son of Alphaeus, My cousin according to the custom of the world, because he is the son of the brother of My Mother’s spouse. A very good friend of Mine, and a companion both in life and in work.»
«My house is open to you as it is to the Master. Sit down» and then addressing Jesus, Peter says: «So? Are we no longer going to Jerusalem with You?»
«Of course you will come. I will go after the wedding feast. The only difference is that I will not stop at Nazareth any longer.»
«Quite right, Jesus, because Your Mother is my guest for a few days. That is what we intend to do. She also will go there after the wedding.» It is the man from Capernaum who speaks thus.
«This is what we will do. I will now go in Judas’ boat to Tiberias and from there to Cana. With the same boat I will come back to Capernaum with My Mother, and with you. You will come the day after the next Sabbath, Simon, if you still wish to come, and we will go to Jerusalem for Passover.»
«Of course I want to come! In fact, I will come on the Sabbath to hear You in the synagogue.»

Detail

Jude came to Jesus to invite him to the wedding at Cana. He said: