The One Whom Jesus Loved

[HoneyLamb56]

John 21:20
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 

Has there been discussion on this topic?  What is the significance? i.e. what was so special about this disciple (who was this disciple?) as I would think Jesus loved all of them equally and I always thought it was Peter who was special.

[Dave in Tenn]

This "love" is 'agapao'.  There is plenty from Ray on this sound biblical word.

John is referring to himself.  It couldn't have been Peter, because it was Peter who saw "...the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?"

Worth remembering in this context that, although we give Peter hell for denying the Lord--ALL the disciples left him.  John, many years later, surely remembered this and was glad for the agapao love of God towards him.

There is no reason to think that Jesus did not 'agapao' all his disciples "equally"--at least not from this verse.  He 'agapaoed' the whole world.  In fact, it was John just 17 chapters earlier that wrote John 3:16.    But there is significance to the fact that John recognized this and clung to this 'faith' in being loved. 

"Herein is love--not that we loved God, but that He loved us..."