St. John the Apostle Coloring Page
This St. John the Apostle coloring page shows the young beloved disciple holding his Gospel book and a chalice, with his eagle spreading its wings beside him. The PDF is free to print. John was a fisherman who became one of the twelve apostles and took care of Mary after Jesus died.
The story of St. John
John and his big brother James were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. They were mending their nets in their father's boat when Jesus called them, and right away they left the boat and followed him. Jesus gave the two brothers a funny nickname: the "sons of thunder." Maybe they had loud voices or quick tempers!
John became one of the twelve apostles. With Peter and James, he was one of Jesus' closest friends. He saw Jesus raise a little girl back to life, and he saw Jesus shine as bright as the sun on a mountaintop. At the Last Supper, John sat right next to Jesus and leaned close to him. The Gospel calls him "the disciple whom Jesus loved."
When Jesus was dying on the cross, most of his friends ran away, but John stayed, standing beside Mary, Jesus' mother. Jesus looked at them and asked John to take care of Mary as his own mother. From that day, John took her into his home.
On Easter morning, John ran to the empty tomb, faster than Peter, and he believed. Later he wrote a Gospel, three letters and the Book of Revelation, all about God's great love. John lived to be a very old man. People tell that when he was too old to preach long sermons, he would simply say, "Little children, love one another."
We celebrate St. John on December 27, two days after Christmas.
What to color
- John's cloak and robe: red and green, or red and blue. Western painters often gave him a red cloak.
- The eagle: John's special sign. Brown feathers with a white or golden head.
- The book: his Gospel. Write "Love one another" on the open page if you like.
- The chalice: gold or silver.
- The sea and island: blue water and a brown island, for Patmos, where John saw his visions of heaven.
- The halo: yellow or gold.
A prayer to pray together
These words come from John's own letter (1 John 4:7):
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God.
Then children can pray: St. John, pray for us, and help us stay close to Jesus and to Mary.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on December 27, during the Christmas season.
- Many Catholic families have wine or grape juice blessed on St. John's day and share a toast "to the love of St. John."
- Learn the signs of the four Gospel writers and find John's eagle on a church window.
- Read about his brother, St. James the Greater.
- Talk about it: John took care of Mary. Who can you take care of this week?
Read the full story: St. John the Apostle in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. John?
Western painters often dress John in a red cloak over a green or blue robe. The eagle can be brown with a white or golden head, and the chalice gold.
Why does St. John have an eagle?
Each Gospel writer has a sign. John's is the eagle, which flies higher than any other bird, because his Gospel begins high up in heaven: "In the beginning was the Word."
Why does St. John hold a cup?
An old story says someone once tried to give John poisoned wine. He blessed the cup, and the poison left it, so he was not harmed. The cup also reminds us of the Last Supper, where John sat right next to Jesus.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.