Jesus seemed to favor John. Somehow God playing favorites, however, doesn't quite jibe with the theology I was raised on. The God I learned about in Sunday School is the one who shows absolute equality in his expressions of love toward all people. He doesn't have "favorites." God loves everyone the same. Right? The Jesus I learned about on the front pew is one who would never think of playing favorites. "Jesus loves the sinner on skid row just as much as he loves the pastor. He loves us all the same." At least, that's what I was told.
Still, it appears the Jesus I read about in the Bible did have a favorite, a favorite disciple, or should I say favored? If nowhere else, it shows up in John's Gospel. On no less than five occasions, John described himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (Jn. 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 20).
Read Full Article »