St. John’s feast day is a mere two days after Jesus’s birthday. This is appropriate, for John was exceptionally close to him. In fact, I use John as a model when I give my talk “Intimacy with Jesus.” Many churches are named in his honor. The cathedral church of Rome is the basilica known as St. John Lateran. Its full name includes the Savior, John the Baptist, and John the apostle. Why does John the apostle deserve such attention? He was a unique in several ways as he carried out his diverse roles.

When we first meet John, he is a fisherman, a brother to James and a son to Zebedee and Salome. When Jesus invites John to follow him, he becomes one of the first apostles. We think he was the youngest, about nineteen. Jesus favors John as a special friend, making him one of a trio of privileged apostles along with Peter and James. The three apostles in this inner circle were selected to witness the raising of the daughter of Jairus and the transfiguration. They were also called to be with Jesus during his agony in the garden.

Like us, John is a flawed human being. He and his brother boldly request places of honor to the right and left of God. (To protect their reputations, Matthew in his Gospel has their mother ask for them!) The brothers argue about who will be greatest in God’s kingdom, which prompts Jesus to deliver his lesson on humbly serving others.

At the last supper John is granted a place of honor after all: He reclines right beside Jesus. That is why Peter motions to him to ask Jesus who will betray him.

Afterwards, John shows himself a loyal disciple. Out of the twelve apostles, he alone bravely follows Jesus to Calvary and stands at the cross. There John becomes a son and caretaker when Jesus bequeaths to him a most previous gift: his own mother, Mary.

On Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene breaks the news to Peter and John that the body of Jesus was missing from the tomb. John outruns Peter but graciously waits for the older apostle to catch up and then allows him to enter the tomb first.

After the resurrection, John and six other apostles are fishing with no success. At dawn a man on the shore tells them to cast their nets to the right, and doing so, they haul in a boatload of fish. It is John who recognizes the stranger and calls out, “It is the Lord!”

Years later, John became an evangelist, one who shares the good news. He wrote his memories of Jesus (what he had seen and heard) in what is known as the fourth Gospel. It opens with the soul-stirring words evoking the creation of light as he described the dawn of the new creation: “In the beginning was the Word…and the Word became flesh and lived among us….[He was] the true light which enlightens everyone.” This Gospel that was written last is more deeply theological than the other three. Because its thoughts soar high up to God, John’s symbol as an evangelist is the eagle.

Rather than naming John, the Gospel of John refers to “the one Jesus loved” or “the Beloved disciple.”

Three letters in the Bible are named for John, but their authorship is disputed.

Tradition holds that John was also the seer who was granted the visions recounted in the Book of Revelation.

It is believed that John was the sole apostle to die a natural death instead of being martyred. It’s said that he died in Ephesus around 98 A.D.

Today John is a Saint, reunited with both Jesus and Mary. During this Christmas season you might take up your Bible and read his powerful Gospel.

• Do you remember when every Mass concluded with praying the opening of John’s Gospel? Are there churches near you named for St. John?