2 John

Read all of 2 John here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20John+1&version=NIV

It’s the second shortest book in the Bible and again we find mysteries. It begins with the words, “The elder, to the lady chosen by the God and her children” Typically the beginning of the letter is who it is written to. But it sounds like John is referring to himself as the elder, or he’s writing to an elder and his wife, or he’s writing to- gasp- a female elder! All possiblities. It seems most likely it’s John writing to a family, but some take it metaphorically- he’s writing to a church that in scripture is always her and the children are the people in the church. That interpretation isn’t much fun.

What is fun- the crazy idea that John never refers to himself nor Mary the mother of Jesus in his gospel- so perhaps John is writing to Mary the mother of Jesus about her other children. I really like that interpretation!

He talks about how great it is to run into her children who are believers. That’s a pretty amazing thing. I have had the pleasure of a few kids with in my youth groups over the years who now have kids of their own. When they have faith it’s a sign of legacy of the Spirit moving through a family and it’s a very cool thing!

Then we hear John speak more of love- that as Christians we will walk in love and that means following the commandments. We don’t often think of following rules as love- but right now we do! Not being with our loved ones is a sign of love. It’s the most bizarre rule that I’ve ever had to follow but it’s true. A sign of love for God and for others is following their boundaries. If someone doesn’t want to follow boundaries you have set for good reason- that’s not a sign of love nor respect and the two definitely go together! But that’s another blog.

There’s another reprimand against thinking that Jesus was just God and not man that gnostic thought is a gnasty thought that John wants to eradicate.

Then we have this gem- “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son^.” Often I run on ahead myself I live in the future- how’s VBS going to happen? How can I make the children’s musical great? Now my questions are- how do I love someone today? How do I make it different than yesterday? Planning for the future seems futile- so live in the now. That’s a good lesson but also there are times when reading the Bible where I want to take it places that the Bible doesn’t say. I want to follow my own interpretations and add my own ideas to scripture. That’s a very bad version of running ahead. Don’t add to scripture. Don’t try to be novel simply restate what the book already says. There’s so much good here- adding to it isn’t going to help! And yet I try to too often.

Finally he has this gem at the end: ¹² I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. ” Boy would I love to meet with each of you readers face to face. It’s only been a month of faceless living but it feels like an eternity. I would love to have a beverage with you if you’re reading this far into the blog. Maybe facetime, but some day in person. That communication is so much better! And you know the only time that face to face communication can happen? In the now! You might be reading this years from now and I may be long gone- and I suppose that’s cool. But there’s something incarnational, intentional and awesome about things that can only happen in the now. Coffee and a Lutheran beverage are one of those- temporal can also be timeless.

I look forward to the day I see you face to face and I see Jesus face to face for then we will be like Him! God bless your Sunday!