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closeness to Jesus is also indicated by the narrator’s remark that
he rested on the bosom of Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13:23).
This remark shows that the Beloved Disciple had a position of
honor at this meal. This is apparently an emphasized aspect in
the characterization of the Beloved Disciple since it is repeated
twice in John (13:25; 21:20). In the story of the Last Supper, the
intimate position of the Beloved Disciple prepares the way for
his role as a mediator between other disciples and Jesus when
the disciples are puzzled by Jesus’ words about the betrayer
(John 13:23–25). Emphasis is placed on this aspect too, as can
be seen in the fact that it is recalled in John 21:20.
At the crucifixion, the Beloved Disciple is portrayed as
the only disciple present and as the one to whom Jesus assigns
the care of his mother (John 19:25–27). The Beloved Disciple,
in fact, is here made to take over the task of being her guardian.
Since this task would have belonged to the brothers of Jesus, the
Beloved Disciple is described as becoming their replacement.
The claim that the Beloved Disciple became the guardian of
Jesus’ mother is not directly connected to his role as the author
of the Gospel of John. Nevertheless, this scene adds to the
picture that he is the most trustworthy disciple of Jesus, which,
in turn, contributes to the basis of his portrayal as the reliable
author of the gospel.

The story of the Beloved Disciple at the empty tomb
of Jesus in John 20:2–10 is based either directly on the short
account of Peter’s visit in Luke 24:12,44 or on a tradition similar
to it. Either way, the Beloved Disciple probably did not appear
in the earliest story, but was added to it by the Johannine author.
As to the relationship between the Beloved Disciple and Peter, it
is evidently seen in their race to the empty tomb (John 20:3–4).
Nevertheless, the Beloved Disciple’s faith in John 20:8 seems to
make him superior to Peter, whose faith is not mentioned in this
connection. In the next verse, where it is pointed out that both
disciples were equally ignorant of the scripture: ‘for as yet they
did not understand the scripture, that he must rise again from
the dead’ (John 20:9).

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People