2025 - John

The Apostle John joined Jesus at the same time as Peter. He was an educated man and intellectually accepted who Jesus was and followed him faithfully. Although he fled with the rest of the apostles during the arrest of Jesus, he was back and following from the time of the trial of Caiaphus to the foot of the cross.

The fellow playing Saint John has been doing so for 10 years. His role has expanded over those years. Each year we make small additions or minor variations to fit in with what he and other actors bring to the re-enactment, and what we have learned through our immersion into the Passion over the years.

John is with Jesus from the start, entering into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. A little later he is sent with Peter to prepare the upper room for the Paschal meal - which we know as the Last Supper.

John is the first to get his feet washed while Peter watches on in amazement. While Peter questions how Jesus should wash the apostles' feet, John accepts everything as another clever thing Jesus is doing.

Seated next to Jesus, John gets to see the first Eucharist first hand.

He is present at the betrayal of Judas and the arrest of Jesus. He was willing to stay with Jesus until Jesus told Peter to stop fighting and "Let them have their way in this." Then he fled with the others.

John followed and was there while Jesus was being tried by both Caiaphus and later by Pontius Pilate. He accompanied Mary along the rest of the re-enactment.

When Mary meets Jesus along the Way of the Cross, John is with Mary, protecting her from the pressing crowds.

At the foot of the Cross, he is the only apostle present at the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Jesus looked down on Mary and John and put Mary in John's care.