Our Lord Jesus Christ was particularly close it seems to three of the 12 apostles. Peter, James and John, for instance, accompanied Him to the place of His Transfiguration. “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:1-3 NKJV). The same three accompanied our Lord further on Gethsemane than the other disciples (Matthew 26:37; cf. Matthew 4:21). Likewise, in Mark 5:35-43, only Peter, James and John were permitted by Jesus to enter the home of the synagogue ruler when the Savior resurrected the deceased daughter. It may be that James and John misread the friendship that they enjoyed with Jesus, whereupon they requested superior roles over the other apostles (Mark 10:35-41; cf. Matthew 20:20-24). Jesus, though, refused to grant their request. Subsequently, the other apostles were displeased with those brothers.
Beyond these references, our Lord especially had a close friendship with the apostle John. That apostle described himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’ (John 20:2; 21:7), and he is the one who leaned upon our Lord’s breast (John 21:20).
Does the friendship that Jesus Christ had with Peter, James and John or especially with John conflict with biblical instruction that ‘God is no respecter of persons’ (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1, 9; 1 Peter 1:17)? No!
God is no respecter of persons when it comes to providing that men of every nation have equal access to the saving Gospel (Acts 10:34-35). Likewise, God will punish sin alike irrespective of what nation a person may be (Romans 2:11-12; Colossians 3:25). Further, God has no respect of persons between slaves and masters or freedmen (Ephesians 6:8-9). Christians are forbidden to have respect of persons based on someone’s riches or poverty (James 2:1-9). God will judge all men alike irrespective of who they are or what they are in this life (1 Peter 1:17).
None of the forgoing passages discourage friendship, which does show partiality in favor of those with whom one has something in common. The ‘respect of persons’ that God does not practice and that neither ought Christians to practice is a bias or a prejudice against someone; even exercising bias or prejudice for someone is still against all others. ‘Respect of persons’ is conduct based on superficial treatment for or against someone according to one’s biases or prejudices. It is to “judge by the face or appearance” (Robertson’s), or it is “to receive face” (Wuest’s).
The first definition for “partial” does not pertain to our question, since it means “a part of the whole.” The second definition, however, for “partial” is “bias”; this the Scriptures assure us God does not practice and that Christians must not exhibit either. The third definition for “partial” means to be “markedly fond of someone or something,” which is not taught against in Scripture. Two of the definitions for “friend” are “one attached to another by affection or esteem” and “a favored companion” (Merriam-Webster’s), which are compatible with biblical teaching (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 27:10, 17; 3 John 14).
In summary, any partiality attributed to Jesus in favor of Peter, James and John was consistent with friendship. Even then, our Lord did not permit friendship to make Him a respecter of persons against the other apostles or for James and John when they and their mother requested favored positions in the kingdom. Though Jesus did exhibit a special friendship with Peter, James and John, He demonstrated no bias or prejudice for or against anyone.
Works Cited
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. CD-ROM. Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, 1996.
Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2006.
Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament. CD-ROM. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1973.
