Why is John considered the one Jesus loved most?

[pixie]

I would really love your input on this, because I have always the apostle Jesus loved most was Simon Peter. He seemed to have very close relationship with Peter. Jesus was always correcting Peter, but left a lot of responsibility with him.

John 21:17
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him [John 13:38] the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, [John 16:30] You know all things; You know that I love You " Jesus said to him, " [John 21:15, 16] Tend My sheep.

Also Jesus blessed Peter with another responsibility.

6Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,the Son of the living God."

17And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

18"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

And again Jesus honors Peter with trust.

19"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and )whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

I have heard so many people said it was John, that Jesus loved the most. Can someone show this in scripture so that I can make peace with division in my mind.

Thanks a lot. Amenixie

 

[seekermeister]

What Jesus was blessing, was the knowledge that Peter was endowed with in this instance. The rock is the Holy Spirit, not Peter. The only thing that elevates any man is the Holy Spirit, but that can only happen when that man lowers himself. This was the greatest attribute of Peter, because he realized how little that he was in comparison. If people and preists followed this example, then we would have less need for religion, and more for a universal love that would extend to God and mankind. Perhaps with a love closer akin to that of John's