John “the apostle!” During the week of “The Last Supper!”

John the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament and is traditionally identified as the author of several New Testament books, including the Gospel of John. [1, 2]

Identity and Background

• Family: He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and his older brother was James the Great, who was also one of the Twelve Apostles.
• Vocation: He worked as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee before being called by Jesus during the first year of His public ministry.
• Nicknames: Jesus referred to John and his brother James as “Boanerges,” which translates to “sons of thunder”. He is also widely known in Christian tradition as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” or the Beloved Disciple. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Role in the Early Church

• Inner Circle: John, along with Peter and James, formed an intimate inner circle among the disciples, witnessing key moments such as the Transfiguration and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. [1, 2, 3]
• Crucifixion and Mary: He was the only apostle recorded as being present at the foot of the cross during the crucifixion, where Jesus entrusted the care of the Virgin Mary to him. [1, 2]
• Pillar in Jerusalem: Paul identified John as one of the “pillars” of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. [1, 2]

Later Life and Writings

• Traditions and Locations: Tradition places his later life in Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), where he cared for Mary and led the regional church. He was also exiled to the Greek island of Patmos during a period of Roman persecution under Emperor Domitian. [1, 2]
• Writings: Christian tradition credits him with authoring five New Testament books: the Gospel of John, the three Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation. Modern scholars continue to debate the precise authorship and identity distinctions within this Johannine corpus. [1, 2, 3]

Death and Feast Day

• Passing: Unlike the other apostles, tradition holds that John outlived them all and was the only apostle to die of natural causes/old age rather than martyrdom, passing away in Ephesus around the end of the 1st century. [1, 2]
• Feast Day: His feast day is celebrated on December 27 in the Western Church, and on May 8 and September 26 in Eastern Orthodox traditions. [1]

Key Events During the Last Supper

• Announcement of Betrayal: Jesus told the apostles that one of them would betray him, identifying Judas Iscariot. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus blessed and broke bread, declaring it to be his body, and shared a cup of wine, calling it his blood of the New Covenant. He instructed them to repeat this act in his memory. [1, 2, 3]
• Washing of the Feet: Recorded in the Gospel of John, Jesus washed the apostles’ feet to model humble service and love. [1, 2]
• Foretelling Peter’s Denial: Jesus predicted that the Apostle Peter would deny knowing him three times before the next morning. [1, 2]
• The Farewell Discourse: Jesus comforted the apostles, promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, and gave the new commandment to love one another. [1, 2]

The Twelve Apostles Present

In Christian tradition and masterworks like Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, the 13 figures seated at the table are Jesus and his Twelve Apostles: [1]ApostleDescription / Role at the MealJesusSits at the center as the central figure and host.PeterReacts with shock/impulsivity upon hearing of the betrayal.JohnThe “beloved disciple,” seated next to Jesus.Judas IscariotThe apostle who would betray Jesus to the authorities.AndrewPeter’s brother and one of the first called apostles.James the Greater (James, son of Zebedee)John’s brother.PhilipAsks questions during the discourse.Bartholomew (Nathanael)Present among the inner circle.Matthew (Levi)Former tax collector and Gospel writer.Thomas (“Didymus”)Known for later doubting the resurrection.James the Less (James, son of Alphaeus)Another member of the Twelve.Jude Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James)Present at the table.Simon the ZealotA former member of the zealot movement.