His eyes were kind and bright, showing signs of age but not weakness. The Apostle John was a pillar of faith and leadership in the Early Church. He was once a young fisherman, but one encounter with Jesus forever changed his life.

John was there when Jesus performed His first miracle. In fact, John witnessed so many of Jesus’ miracles that he lost count and would later say, “If all of them were written down, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

John was there when the massive crowds pressed in on Jesus. He heard all of Jesus’ teachings, including the famous Sermon on the Mount. John was also aware of Jesus’ more personal conversations, such as His nighttime encounter with Nicodemus, His interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well, His emotional exchange with Lazarus’ sisters, and His post-resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene.

John was with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. He was in the Garden of Gethsemene and witnessed Jesus’ intense intercession. He watched Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. He was standing at the foot of the cross and personally witnessed Jesus’ brutal crucifixion and heartbreaking death.

On that Sunday, John outran Peter and saw the empty tomb the his own eyes. Then he saw the physically resurrected Jesus with his own eyes. He was there when Jesus appeared to Thomas and when Jesus lovingly restored Peter. John was there when Jesus ascended into the heavens and promised to return again.

John outlived all of the other disciples. Despite tremendous persecution, he never flinched in his proclamation that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. In his later years, John wrote his own account of Jesus. Within his Gospel According to John, he explains his purpose: “These words are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”