Why did John always refer to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? Did he have a complex? Was he bragging? Scholars generally agree it’s the opposite… Humility: John may have stayed anonymous out of humility. Instead of boasting about his role, he keeps the focus on Jesus. A casual reader wouldn’t even know that John wrote it without making some inferences, comparing it with the other Gospels. Even then, we can’t be 100% sure. Identity in Christ: John’s primary identity

For those familiar with the Israelites’ story, we’ve all thought it… "What the heck was their problem?" They’re called a “stiff-necked” people nine times in the Bible. The metaphor comes from a stubborn ox that locks its neck muscles, fighting against the yoke and refusing to turn. Similarly, the stiff-necked Israelites continually refused to submit to God’s direction. A mere 40 days after witnessing a supernatural and terrifying manifestation of God’s presence on Mount Sinai