This first timeline discusses the life of John from his birth to just before Jesus' last Passover in 30 A.D. Part 2 of this series covers his life from the last Passover to Jesus' ascension into heaven. Part 3 delineates the events in John's ministry from the Lord's ascension to his own death as the last living apostle.
Part 2 of Timeline - Part 3 of Timeline
c. 6 A.D.
Birth and Family of John
The Bible is silent regarding exactly when the Apostle John was born. Some traditions, however, believe that He was possibly born around 6 A.D. in the city of Bethsaida. If this is true, he would have been about twenty years old when he and Jesus met for the first time in late 26 A.D. (John 1:35 - 39).
John was born into (or what became over time) a fairly well-off family as his father could afford to hire servants (Mark 1:20).
Scripture additionally reveals that John likely had a familial relationship with Jesus Christ! Zebedee was his father (Matthew 4:21) and Salome his mother (Mark 15:40). What few realize is that Salome and Jesus' mother Mary were likely sisters.
[Genealogy of Jesus Through Mary]
"It is usually not understood, but the mother of James and John was none other than Salome (Matthew 27:56 with Mark 15:40) who was the sister of Mary, the mother of Christ (Hastings, Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I. p. 846).
"This means that Christ and John were first cousins as far as legal matters were concerned among the Jewish people" (Restoring the Original Bible, pg. 313).
John's possible bloodline relationship to Jesus also means that he and is older brother James the Greater (Matthew 4:21) were full cousins to the Lord's half-brothers James and Jude. Both James and Jude wrote New Testament books and were leaders in the early New Testament church (see Acts 1:14, 15:13).
John grows up and becomes part of a fishing business with his brother James as well as Andrew and Peter (Matthew 4:18, Luke 5:10).
[Who Were Jesus' First Disciples?]
Late October 26 A.D.
The First Meeting
Jesus, after being tempted by the devil for 40 days, travels to Bethabara where John the Baptist is preaching. The Baptist, a day after the Lord arrives in the area, loudly proclaims that he is the Lamb of God (John 1:36). Two of his followers, the (future) apostles Andrew and John, hear his cry and follow Jesus to where he is staying. They then spend the rest of the day with him, becoming the first two disciples to interact with our Savior (1:35 - 39).
After Pentecost in 27 A.D.
Fishers of Men
Pentecost in 27 A.D. fell on Sunday, June 1. Jesus, a short time after this Holy day, moves his residence to Capernaum (Luke 4:31, Matthew 4:13 - 17). He then calls John along with James, Peter and Andrew, to permanently leave their jobs and follow him. Taking the four men on an evangelistic tour of Galilee, Jesus begins training them to become "fishers of men" (Mark 1:16 - 20, Matthew 4:18 - 22, Luke 5:1 - 11).
[Why Do Fish Represent Christians?]
Witness to a Healing
Jesus visits Peter and Andrew's house with James and John in tow. Finding Peter's mother-in-law sick, the Lord heals her (Mark 1:29 - 31).
Mid-April to Early Summer 28 A.D.
Selection of the Twelve
Jesus, after praying all night, selects and ordains the twelve men who will become apostles and witnesses of his life and teaching. John, and his brother James, are two of the men given the authority to represent Jesus to the world (Mark 3:13 - 19, Luke 6:12 - 16).
October 28 A.D. to Early 29 A.D.
Raising the Dead!
A synagogue ruler named Jairus begs Jesus to heal his twelve-year old daughter. As Jesus and the disciples are traveling to the man's house the girl sadly dies. The Lord takes only James, Peter and John into the man's house and resurrects Jairus' daughter back to life (Luke 8:49 - 56, Mark 5:35 - 43).
[Who Has Been Brought Back to Life?]
Training Mission
John, and the other eleven apostles, are sent off on their first training mission to get accustomed to preaching the gospel. They are given the ability to heal, raise the dead and cast out demons (Matthew 10:1 - 33, Mark 6:7 - 13, Luke 9:1 - 6).
[Why Did the Disciples Train in Pairs?]
Late September 29 A.D.
Jesus Reveals His Glory
Jesus and his disciples travel to Caesarea Philippi. After spending a few days near the city the Lord takes James, Peter and John on a short journey likely near Mount Hermon. The three men then witness the miraculous manifestation of Jesus' glory along with the glorified forms of Moses and Elijah.
It is during what is called the Transfiguration that Jesus discusses his upcoming suffering and death in Jerusalem. After hearing the voice of God declaring, "This is My Son, the Beloved. Listen to Him!" (Luke 9:35), the vision disappears. The Lord then warns the three men to tell no one of what they saw until after his resurrection (Matthew 17:1 - 9, Mark 9:1 - 10, Luke 9:27 - 36).
Mid-November 29 A.D.
Forbidding a Good Work
The Apostle John, while the Lord is teaching about God's Kingdom, informs him that the disciples had forbid someone from casting out demons in His name. Jesus responds by stating such a good work should not be forbidden.
"Do not forbid him; for no one who does a work of power in My name can easily speak evil of Me. And the one who is not against you is for you." (Mark 9:39 - 40, HBFV throughout, see also Luke 9:49 - 50).
Mid-Nov. to Late December 29 A.D.
Rejection and Correction
While Jesus is traveling south through Samaria his sends his disciples ahead of him to prepare lodgings, refreshments, etc. for his arrival. In one unknown Samaritan village the disciples, and even Jesus, are rejected!
[Parable of the Good Samaritan]
James and John, in response to the rejection, impulsively ask if they can call fire down from heaven to kill those who refuse to accept them! Jesus' answer is to swiftly correct their carnal attitude.
His disciples James and John said, "Lord, will You have us call fire to come down from heaven and consume them, as Elijah did?"
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not understand of what spirit you are. For the Son of man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them." (Luke 9:54 - 56, see also Matthew 19:1 - 2, Mark 10:1).
February to Late March 30 A.D.
Pursuit of Glory
Jesus, as the time of his suffering and death was fast approaching, reveals to his disciples how he will die (Matthew 20:17 - 19, Mark 10:32 - 34, Luke 18:31 - 34). Shortly after this Salome, with her sons James and John in tow, makes an unusual request of the Lord.
And He said to her, "What do you desire?" She said to Him, "Grant that these my two sons may sit one at Your right hand and one at Your left hand in Your kingdom." (Matthew 20:21, see also Mark 10:37).
Jesus' answer was to challenge both James and John's assumptions regarding positions of authority in God's kingdom.
But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" (Matthew 20:22).
Jesus' response is directed solely toward James and John as it was they who pushed their mother to request they receive special treatment. This is confirmed by the fact that the other ten disciples, when they heard of the request, became angry at them and not Salome (Matthew 20:24, Mark 10:41)!
Thursday, March 30
A Colt For the Lord
Jesus, as he approaches Bethphage and Bethany on Thursday morning of March 30 in 30 A.D., sends two disciples into a village to retrieve a colt for him. He then uses the colt to enter Jerusalem in what is commonly called his "triumphal entry."
[Ministry of Jesus Prophecies!]
It is believed Peter and John were the two disciples asked to retrieve a colt (Luke 19:28 - 31, Matthew 21:1 - 3), a task that helped fulfill Bible prophecy (Zechariah 9:9).
Sunday, April 2
Signs of the Times
James, John, Peter and Andrew (Mark 13:3), on the late afternoon Sunday before Jesus' crucifixion, ask him about the end time and the signs of his return.
And after going out, Jesus departed from the temple; and His disciples came to Him to point out the buildings of the temple. But Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, there shall not be left here even a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down."
And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him alone, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the completion of the age?" (Matthew 24:1 - 23).
The Lord then proceeds to reveal to John and the other apostles what is called the Mount of Olives prophecies (Matthew 24:3 - 26:2, Mark 13:3 - 7, Luke 21:7 - 38).