• The Gospel according to John mentions in four places the disciple whom Jesus loved (Jn 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; 21:20).
• At the Last Supper, he is identified as “one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved” (Jn 13:23) [footnote text=“The Greek relative pronoun, translated "whom," is singular, referring to this one particular disciple whom Jesus loved.”] Later, in retrospect of the Last Supper, this disciple is called the disciple whom Jesus loved (Jn 21:20).
• One of the two disciples of John who followed Jesus was not mentioned again in the passage (Jn 1:37)
• The Bible makes reference to “another disciple” (Jn 18:15) and “the other disciple (Jn 18:16) at Jesus’ trial.
• The one who witnessed the crucifixion was called “He who saw it” (Jn 19:35).
• The disciple whom Jesus loved, who ran with Peter to Jesus’ tomb, is called “the other disciple” (Jn 20:2, 3, 8)
• The writer of the Gospel is identified as “the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things.” (Jn 21:24).

At the beginning of the Gospel (Jn 1:35-40)

• Formerly a disciple of John (Jn 1:35)
• Followed Jesus as a result of John’s testimony (Jn 1:36-37)
• Wished to see where Jesus was staying and stayed with Him that day (Jn 1:38-39)
• Identity left out and no further mention of him until the second major section of the Gospel (Jn 1:40)

At the Last Supper (Jn 13:21-26)

• Reclining in the bosom of Jesus (Jn 13:23)
  • The phrase “in the bosom” echoes Jn 1:18 and implies intimacy.
• Reclined on the chest of Jesus and asked Him who the betrayer was (Jn 13:25; 21:20)
• Jesus answered his question (Jn 13:26).

At Jesus’ trial (Jn 18:15-16)

• Followed Jesus at His arrest (Jn 18:15)
• Known to the high priest (Jn 18:15-16)
• Entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest (Jn 18:15)
• Went out and brought Peter in (Jn 18:16)

At the cross (Jn 19:26-27; 31-37)

• Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near by. He said to His mother, “Behold, your son,” and to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” From that hour, the disciples took her to his own home (Jn 19:26-27).
• Saw the piercing of Jesus’ side and the immediate flow of blood and water; bore true witness to what he saw so we may believe (Jn 19:34-35).

At Jesus’ tomb (Jn 20:1-10)

• Mary told Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved that the Lord was not in the tomb (Jn 20:2).
• Peter and the beloved disciple went to the tomb. The beloved disciple outran Peter, reached the tomb first, stooped to look in, and saw the linen cloths lying there (Jn 20:3-5).
• The beloved disciple, who had come to the tomb first, went into the tomb after Peter, saw and believed (Jn 20:8).
• The disciples went back to their homes (Jn 20:10).

At the Sea of Tiberias (Jn 20:1-14)

• The beloved disciple is presumably one of the “two other disciples” who went with Peter to fish. That night they caught nothing (Jn 21:2-3).
• Jesus stood on the shore. But they did not know that it was Jesus (Jn 21:4)
• At Jesus’ words, they cast the net and caught a large number of fish (Jn 21:5-7). 
• The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” (Jn 21:7)
• The disciples got out on land. Jesus prepared breakfast for the disciples (Jn 21:8-14).
• As Jesus was speaking with Peter, the disciple whom Jesus loved followed them. Peter saw him and asked Jesus about this disciple. Jesus replied, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (Jn 21:20-23)

At the conclusion of the Gospel (Jn 21:24)

• He is the one who bears true witness and has written these things (Jn 21:24).

Anonymity

• What stands out about the disciple of interest is the fact that the Gospel seems to deliberately avoid naming who this disciple was. As a witness for the Lord Jesus (Jn 21:24), the beloved disciple functions to direct the reader’s attention to the Lord rather than to himself. As the beloved of Jesus and having an especially close relationship with the Lord, the nameless disciple in the Gospel’s narrative also serves as a paradigm for all believers and followers of Christ.

Love

• The most explicit identification of this disciple is that he was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
• Through descriptions of this disciples’ actions we discern his love for the Lord and for others. Some examples are
  • Being in Jesus’ bosom at the Last Supper (Jn 13:23)
    • In chapter 13, the mention of the beloved disciple is framed on both ends by Jesus’ love for His own (Jn 13:1) and Jesus’ command to love one another (Jn 13:34-35)
  • Bringing Peter into the court of the high priest (Jn 18:16)
  • Being entrusted with the care of Jesus’ mother (Jn 19:26-27)

Devoted follower

• Assuming that he is one of the two disciples of John, he was one of the first disciples to follow and remain with Jesus (Jn 1:37-39)
• He went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest (Jn 18:15)
• He was at the cross (Jn 26-27; 31-37)
• He followed Jesus at the end of the Gospel as he did at the beginning (Jn 21:20, 22, 23). [footnote text=“Jesus mentioned the word "remain" when making reference to the beloved disciple (Jn 21:22, 23)—a word that also echoes Jn 1:38, 39.”]

Faith and testimony

• He testified to what he had seen at the cross (Jn 19:35)
• He was the first to believe after Jesus’ resurrection (Jn 20:8)
• He wrote the signs of Jesus that the readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing the readers may have life in Jesus’ name (Jn 20:30)
• He testified of these things and wrote these things. His testimony is true (Jn 21:24)
• As the narrator, he proclaims salvation through faith in the Son of God (Jn 3:16-18)