John’s Missionary Journeys

The Apostle John was also the Lord’s cousin after the flesh, via his mother Salome who, being one of the daughters of Joseph the Betrothed, was therefore Jesus’ stepsister according to the flesh.

The title which John has been given by Christians throughout the centuries is “The Apostle and Evangelist, John the Theologian”. The title of Evangelist is given to all four writers of the Gospels. But the title of Theologian is given only to him as his Gospel, being different from the other three synoptics, is the most lofty and theological.

The last thing we read about John in the Gospel is that, while on the Cross, Jesus entrusted his mother Mary into John’s care. There are many stories preserved in the Tradition of the Church that tell of the 60+ yearlong ministry of this beloved Apostle.

After Pentecost, lots were cast to determine where each Apostle would labour for the Gospel. John’s lot fell to Asia Minor and particularly, the city of Ephesus. John remained in Jerusalem to care for Mary until her death, and to support the faithful there. After that, John left for Ephesus, taking with him, Prochorus who was one of the 70 apostles [Luke 10:1] and had been ordained as one of the 7 deacons with the martyr Stephen [Acts 6:5].

Journey

Jerusalem: Begins

Joppa: There he boarded a ship for Ephesus.

Ephesus: There he faithfully and boldly proclaimed the Gospel.

Rome: For trial, torture, attempted execution and, since they literally couldn’t kill him – subsequent banishment to the island of Patmos.

Patmos: There he continued to spread the Gospel with a multitude of signs and wonders and wrote the book of Revelation.

Ephesus: After the Emperor Domitian was assassinated, the persecutions slackened and John was allowed to go back to Ephesus (after having converted the whole island of Patmos to the Christian Faith). There, he continued labouring for the Gospel as always, eventually dying in peace in 100 AD.