John the Apostle

Imagine having a best friend who was always by Jesus's side! That was John. He was one of Jesus's twelve special helpers, called apostles.

John was probably the youngest! He was a fisherman, just like his brother James and their friends Peter and Andrew. They all left their fishing boats to follow Jesus and learn from him.

John was so special that Jesus called him and his brother 'Sons of Thunder' because they were so enthusiastic!

The Bible tells us about 'the disciple whom Jesus loved.' Many people believe this was John! At a big dinner, this special friend even leaned on Jesus's shoulder. Wow! When Jesus was on the cross, he asked John to take care of his mother, Mary. John was also one of the first to see that Jesus's tomb was empty after he came back to life. He was a very important witness to Jesus's amazing life.

After Jesus went back to heaven, John helped lead the early church. He also wrote down some of the most important stories about Jesus's life, called the Gospel of John. He wrote other letters too, and some people think he wrote a book called the Book of Revelation, which tells about amazing visions he had. These stories have been read by millions of people for thousands of years!

John lived a very long life, much longer than most of the other apostles. He saw and heard so many incredible things! He was exiled to a small island called Patmos, where he had special visions. Unlike many of his friends who were martyred (killed for their beliefs), John is traditionally believed to have died of old age. His stories and teachings have inspired people for centuries.