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St. John's later life was passed chiefly in [[Jerusalem]] and at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia Minor. Apart from the Gospel of John, John also wrote the biblical books of [[I John]], [[II John]], [[III John]] and the book of [[Revelation]] while exiled on the island of Patmos. Tradition hold that John was the only one of [[the disciples]] who was not [[martyr|martyred]]. He died of old age in exile.
St. John's later life was passed chiefly in [[Jerusalem]] and at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia Minor. Apart from the Gospel of John, John also wrote the biblical books of [[I John]], [[II John]], [[III John]] and the book of [[Revelation]] while exiled on the island of Patmos. Tradition hold that John was the only one of [[the disciples]] who was not [[martyr|martyred]]. He died of old age in exile.
''While Jesus was hanging on the cross, "there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own"'' (John 19:25-27).
''While Jesus was hanging on the cross, "there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his
own"'' (John 19:25-27).
Since the 16th century, some have interpreted the relationship between [[Jesus]] and [[John the Apostle]], the [[Disciple whom Jesus loved]] as an erotic, homosexual romance.<ref name="Norton">Rictor Norton, ''[http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/famous.htm Lists of Famous Homosexuals]'' at Gay History and Literature.</ref> One of the factors leading to the assumption that Jesus and John loved each other is the phrase the [[disciple whom Jesus loved]] or Beloved Disciple, which is used several times in the [[Gospel of John]], but in none of the other accounts of [[Jesus]].<ref>"In the Gospel of John, the disciple John frequently refers to himself in the third person as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." McCleary thinks this is highly significant." Crosswalk: ''[http://www.crosswalk.com/1202502 Gay Jesus' Claim Draws Fire]'' by Patrick Goodenough, Pacific Rim Bureau Chief, CNSNews.com.</ref> In John's gospel, it is the Beloved Disciple who asks Jesus during the Last Supper who it is that will betray him. Later at the [[crucifixion]], Jesus tells his [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|mother]] "Woman, here is your son", referring to the Beloved Disciple is the common interpretation. To the Beloved Disciple he says, "Here is your mother."
In art, the Beloved Disciple is portrayed as a beardless youth – the figure of the Student. He is usually shown in major scenes from the Gospel of John, especially the crucifixion and the Last Supper. Many artists have given different interpretations of [[John 13|John 13:23–25]], in which the beloved disciple is resting his head against Jesus' chest.
Since the Beloved Disciple does not appear in any of the other [[New Testament]] gospels, it has been traditionally seen as a self-reference to [[John the Evangelist]], and this remains the mainstream identification. An issue is the [[Authorship of the Johannine works|identification of the Evangelist]] with [[John the Apostle]]; that is, whether the apostle is the same man as the evangelist.
== Historical references ==
[[Aelred of Rievaulx]], in his work ''Spiritual Friendship'', referred to the relationship of Jesus and John as a "marriage" and held it out as an example sanctioning friendships between clerics.<ref>Louis Crompton, ''Homosexuality and Civilization'' p.180</ref><ref name="Norton"/> The view that the two were lovers, considered a [[blasphemy]], evolved during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries; it has been claimed that it was held by [[Francesco Calcagno]], who was investigated on that account by the Venetian Inquisition in [[1550]]. [[Christopher Marlowe]] was accused of it in 1593, as was [[Manuel Figueiredo]] in a Lisbon Inquisition trial of [[1618]], as well as many others.<ref name="Norton"/>
[[James I of England]] may have been relying on a pre-existing tradition when he defended his (supposedly [[homosexual]]) relationship with the young [[George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham|Duke of Buckingham]]: "I wish to speak in my own behalf and not to have it thought to be a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same, and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had his son John, and I have my George."<ref name="Norton"/> <ref>"I love the Earl of Buckingham more than anyone else," James announced to his councilors, "and more than you who are here assembled." He compared his love for the earl to Jesus's affection for the "beloved disciple" John. "Jesus Christ did the same," the king said, "and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had his John, and I have my George." From ''Royal Panoply, Brief Lives Of The English Monarchs'', Carrolly Erickson, St. Martin's Press (May 2, 2006). ISBN 0312316437</ref>
Others who have given voice to this interpretation of the relationship between Jesus and John have been the philosophers [[Denis Diderot]] and [[Jeremy Bentham]].<ref>Louis Crompton, ''Homosexuality and Civilization'', p. 111.</ref>
The theme has been perennial, having recently been raised from within the Christian establishment by [[Gene Robinson]], the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal]] [[Diocese of New Hampshire|Bishop of New Hampshire]], who has discussed the possible homoerotic inclinations of Jesus in his relationship with John in a sermon in 2005.<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/03/ngay03.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/03/ixhome.html Jesus might have been homosexual, says the first openly gay bishop]". [http://telegraph.co.uk./ The Telegraph], London: 2005-04-03.</ref>
According to Robert Goss, assistant professor of comparative religion at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, in analyzing the interaction between Jesus and John, "What's being portrayed here is a [[pederasty|pederastic]] relationship between an older man and a younger man. [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|A Greek reader]] would understand."<ref>Hank Hyena, "Was Jesus Gay: A search for the messiah's true sexuality leads to a snare of lusty theories," 1998-04, [http://salon.com./ Salon.com].</ref>
'''Feastday''': May 8, December 27.
'''Feastday''': May 8, December 27.