Peter, James, and John sought every opportunity of coming into close contact with their Master, and their desire was granted. Of all the Twelve their relationship to Him was closest. John could be satisfied only with a still near intimacy, and this he obtained. At that first conference beside the Jordan, when Andrew, having heard Jesus, hurried away to call his brother, John sat silent, rapt in the contemplation of wondrous themes. He followed the Saviour, ever an eager, absorbed listener. Yet John's was no faultless character. He was no gentle, dreamy enthusiast. He and his brother were called “the sons of thunder.” Mark 3:17 . John was proud, ambitious, combative; but beneath all this the divine Teacher discerned the ardent, sincere, loving heart. Jesus rebuked his self-seeking, disappointed his ambitions, tested his faith. But He revealed to him that for which his soul longed —the beauty of holiness, His own transforming love. “Unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world,” He…
"And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:"
Ellen White directly references Mark 3:17 in this passage.
"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word."
Ellen White directly references John 17:6 in this passage.
"Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved."
Both passages discuss John's close relationship with Jesus. The EGW passage elaborates on John's desire for intimacy and his role as a close disciple, which is reflected in the verse where John is described as leaning on Jesus' bosom.
"John's was a nature that longed for love, for sympathy and companionship. He pressed close to Jesus, sat by His side, leaned upon His breast. As a flower drinks the sun and dew, so did he drink in the divine light and life. In adoration and love he beheld the Saviour, until likeness to Christ and fellowship with Him became his one desire, and in his character was reflected the character of his Master. Ed 87.2"
"Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved."
The EGW passage directly references John leaning on Jesus' bosom and expands on the nature of their relationship, drawing a parallel between John's physical closeness and his spiritual absorption of Christ's teachings.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Both passages discuss the transformation of individuals into the likeness of God through beholding His glory. EGW's passage uses the example of John, while 2 Corinthians 3:18 speaks more generally. The connection is strong and meaningful.
"We love him, because he first loved us."
The EGW passage describes John's longing for love and his response to Christ's love, which aligns with the principle in 1 John 4:19 that we love God because He first loved us. John's actions are presented as a direct result of Christ's initial love.
"“Behold,” he said, “what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 . Ed 87.3"
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
Ellen White directly references 1 John 3:1-3 in this passage.