December 27, 2025
The Saints of December -- John
John 21:24
12/27/2025
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about
these things, and who has written these things,
and we know that his testimony is true. (ESV)
Saint John, the Evangelist, who we commemorate on December
27, was the only apostle who was not martyred for his testimony
concerning Jesus Christ. As part of the inner circle of the
disciples, John was present on the Mount of Transfiguration, as
well as being one of the first disciples to see the empty tomb on
Easter.
Five books of the New Testament came from John's pen.
Certainly we remember his Gospel, especially John 3:16. John
gave us the account of Jesus' first miracle at Cana in Galilee,
where Jesus turned water into wine. He also wrote three
epistles, and Revelations.
John was the only disciple to stand at the foot of the cross
as Jesus died. Jesus entrusted Mary to John's care during the
crucifixion. Tradition says that John took Mary to Ephesus where
she later passed away.
Emperor Domitian exiled John to the Island of Patmos off the
coast of Asia Minor. It was there John wrote of the things to
come at the end of time.
At the end of his Gospel, John wrote: ``This is the disciple
who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written
these things, and we know that his testimony is true.'' He wrote
the Gospel ``so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His
name.''[1]
May our Lord grant us faith to proclaim Christ Jesus even in
the midst of persecution and exile. Amen.
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1. John 20:31