John 13:23
Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved

John 19:26
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

John 20:2
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

John 21:7
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Did Jesus love John more than the others?

John referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved because it was his (John’s) primary identity that mattered. John was the only one of the twelve to witness the crucifixion of Jesus. He saw Jesus sacrifice Himself in a humiliating and agonizing death in John’s place. Ref. Answered in Quora

Wikipedia answered this way. Since the end of the first century, the beloved disciple has often (but not unanimously) been identified with John the Evangelist.

I appreciate that John did not say “Jesus loved me best” because Jesus loves each and everyone of us equally, even if we don’t feel that way. Listen to Peter as he questions Jesus’ instruction to feed His sheep.

John 21:21

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

Peter was referring to John as if Jesus was asking nothing of John except to look after Jesus’ mother as her son. Jesus had no home or earthly possessions but gave His mother to John.

Jesus gave His church into the hands of Peter to feed. Which responsibility was greater?

This is a very common human reaction of the flesh, to feel important because of what God asks of us. We look around as we grow in Christ and see greater works by others as some measure of love God has for them is greater. It is not true, but the flesh makes it feel that way.

God loves you just as much as Peter or John. What God does in us or through us has nothing to do with the quality or measure of love God has for any individual. It is a matter of His will.

That does not mean our feelings about how much we are loved are not real. They are real.

Proverbs 16:2

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Another way to say this in modern terms might be; don’t fool yourselves, God knows.

Many act as if we couldn’t get through the day without at least one good rationalization.

Let us be honest with ourselves, most of our choices in life are determined by what we care about at the moment. People in relationships tend to measure the wants of their partner in making decisions. 

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

The wrong kind of love can lead to unhealthy choices for both. Eros love is not one born of the heart but rather desires of the flesh. Philia love is measured and waivers as the scales are tipped by selfishness. Ludus love is playful, flirtatious, and holds no sway in making serious decisions. Agape love is perfect love that only God can perform perfectly.

Agape love can only work through us if it abides in us and is the sole basis of our choices.

God honors choices where the motivations of the heart are based on His indwelling love.

John 14:24
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

John 21:15
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 John 2:10
Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

When we love Jesus with His abiding love, we love what He loves. That is motivation.