A Family Portrait
Notes
Transcript
Third John is a portrait of the early church, almost like a family photo (with the focus being on three or four individuals).
I couldn’t help myself; I assembled some of my favorite family photos, courtesy of the World Wide Web.
[Family Photo Slideshow]
The early church wasn’t without its problems; the family portrait given us in the NT isn’t much better than some of those we just saw. We could go through each NT letter and make a list of the church’s problems.
The list of problems that faced the early church would be quite long. The same is true if we made list of problems plaguing the church today. It’d be a long, long list. And some people’s names would come up.
In 3 John, the source of the issues is one person.
There’s nothing quite like being called-out by name in a letter written by an apostle of Jesus. That letter (inspired by the Holy Spirit) then becomes part of the Bible—the best-selling, most read book of all time.
But John, the elder, is not like Frank Costanza during Festivus, airing grievances,
“Welcome, newcomers. The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now you're gonna hear about it!”
That’s not John’s heart, though I’m sure all church leaders and church members have felt a Costanza-esque frustration at one time or another.
John has the heart of a pastor, one who loves and is concerned for his church.
We’ll see the loving side of his concern and the protective side of his concern. What John the elder/pastor writes to this church is instructive for us; it’s included for us in the Bible for good reason.
If you have your Bible (and I hope you do), please turn with me Third John (the shortest book in the Bible). And if you’re able and willing, please stand for the reading of God’s Holy Word:
1 The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
May God add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!
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This letter is regarded as the most personal of John’s three letters. It’s similar in length to John’s second letter (what we studied together last week).
The similarity in length is probably due to the fact that it occupied a single sheet of papyrus (paper).
Again in 3 John, John refers to himself simply as the elder. In both, he expresses a desire to visit the recipient personally to talk further through the issues raised by the letter.
In both 2 John and 3 John, John is concerned about traveling teachers and the attitude of the congregation toward them.
The difference is that 2 John is basically warning against welcoming deceivers.
3 John, on the other hand, is warning against rejecting those who are true, fellow Christians and true gospel preachers.
One old-timey commentator thinks 2 John and 3 John were “probably written on the same day and were sent to the same place, [2 John] to the congregation, and [3 John] to one of the members.”
It’s a compelling idea; certainly the letters are similar enough for this to be plausible. But we can’t be certain.
What we do know is this: false teachers were beginning to have an effect on the church as a whole, and clearly having an effect on Gaius’ church.
Gaius had received the brothers and sisters whom John had sent. He welcomed them, supported them, showed them hospitality, took them to Swope’s and got them a burger and an order of sour cream fries. This is the way.
Unfortunately, Gaius’ church hadn’t joined in the welcome, support, hospitality. Some of the members might have wanted to show their love and support of these honest and sincere gospel preachers, but they were kept from doing so by a fella name Diotrephes.
Within the church, there are a lot of different personalities—some good, some bad.
There are people who want to be in the spotlight and those who want nothing to do with it.
There are those who want to lead, and those who would rather serve in the background.
Then, sadly, there are those who only desire authority, and those who will speak ill of those in authority.
The church is a strange and beautiful place. 3 John provides us with a snapshot of one part of the early church. We must consider, prayerfully, where we find ourselves in this portrait.
A Christian Friend
A Christian Friend
John writes this short letter to his dear friend, Gaius. Dear friend or beloved is how John chooses to address Gaius (vv. 1, 2, 5, 11).
Dear friend/beloved is distinctively Christian word—agapētos. It’s related to the word for love, the love that God has for us and which He creates in each of His children. We are united in the truth and bound together in supernatural love.
I spent a good amount of time this week thinking about my dear friends, those beloved to me and the impact they’ve had on my life and on my walk with the LORD.
Friends I would count as dear, friends I consider beloved are many. This church is full of them, my agapētos.
Christian friendship is one of God’s great gifts, an expression of His love.
This letter, addressed to one of John’s beloved friends, teaches the significance of that friendship.
Apparently, Gaius was in a minority position within the church. Diotrephes had the pull, the influence, the authority. Gaius was in a tough spot.
To open this letter and to read, from John, “To my dear friend, my beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth”—just that opening line would be bracing and uplifting.
Gaius had a friend who loved him. Sometimes that Christian friendship is the only thing that gets you through times of conflict and difficulty.
Gaius had, in John, a dear friend. And John in Gaius.
John’s prayer is that Gaius is physically and spiritually well in this journey we call life.
John has reports about Gaius’ spiritual health—some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.
This—faithfulness to the truth—is demonstrated by his love and in generous hospitality/warm welcome. Genuine truth and genuine love are inseparable. Gaius’ life was shaped by God’s truth.
He believed it faithfully, and he practiced it faithfully.
What Gaius believed, he lived out. Whenever a Christian stranger arrived, Gaius was ready to meet them and welcome them. Those who were with Gaius, if only for a short time, were encouraged by his faithful, consistent Christian life.
The report about Gaius fills John with joy. This news is the source of John’s greatest joy.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Nothing warms a pastor’s heart more than seeing spiritual health/progress in those under his care. It’s the great joy of the elders of a church to see how the LORD is working in the lives of those for whom we will give an account.
We don’t know any history about John and Gaius. We don’t know if Gaius became a Christian during John’s ministry around Gaius, or if “my children” is just a generational greeting (that John’s older than Gaius).
What we do know is that John feels a closeness with Gaius. And like a parent is proud of his child’s accomplishments and growth, John is beaming with pride and joy when he thinks about Gaius.
Gaius is faithful to the truth, and he’s faithful in ministry to the brothers and sisters.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.
These strangers have even told the church about [his] love. It’s no small thing that Gaius is treating these brothers and sisters as he is. It’s the reflection and the outgrowth of Gaius’ love for God—it’s reached out to God’s people.
These strangers, brothers and sisters, passing through found love and hospitality from Gaius. Gaius did whatever he could for these who were on an important mission.
It was for the sake of the Name that they went out.
This letter—3 John—is the only NT document that doesn’t mention Jesus by name, but that doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t mentioned.
The early church used ‘the Name’ as a synonym for Jesus.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
These strangers, these brothers and sisters, were on mission for Jesus and were in need of support from their fellow Christians. They wouldn’t take money from the pagans; they didn’t want to be like the other teachers—false teachers—who went around teaching in order to get paid.
It’s the church who had the responsibility and the privilege of supporting their work.
Gaius was ready and willing to support them, to show them them, to give them what they needed, to house them, to welcome them. Gaius gladly work[ed] together [with them] for the truth.
Gaius is a good friend, a faithful friend, a loving friend.
Some Christians are sent out in Jesus’ name; others are required to support them. Providing for the financial needs of those who have been sent out for the sake of “the Name” is a spiritual work in itself—don’t ever forget that, church. It’s a massive thing you do.
Our missionaries in Boston and Haiti, Jordan and Japan, Africa and all over the world are able to do what they do in part because they have Christians friends here in Rich Hill, Missouri supporting their work.
A Selfish Christian
A Selfish Christian
John’s thankful for his friend, Gaius, as he should be. We kind of expect that content in the Bible. What comes next, as John turns his attention to Diotrephes, is more difficult to read.
John calls the guy out. He points a finger, writes his name, and exposes Diotrephes for who he is.
John doesn’t level any accusation of false belief, but rather bad behavior. John doesn’t call Diotrephes a deceiver or the antichrist, but rather calls out his un-Christlike behavior.
This fella, Diotrephes, has some major sway in the church. We don’t know if he holds any particular office in the church—as deacon or an elder—but it’s clear, he’s got some power over what happens.
Whether or not Diotrephes held an office in the church, we know his motives and behavior were wrong.
John uses a word in verse 9—philoproteuon—to describe him. Diotrephes loves to be first, he desires to order others.
Above everything else, Diotrephes wanted to be in charge; Diotrephes loves to be first.
There are people like this in every church. If it’s not their way, it’s wrong. If they don’t get what they want, they’re content to burn the whole thing down.
John had written previously to the church, but Diotrephes had other ideas. Diotrephes had something against John and his leadership, and refused to welcome John and whoever was with him.
“Peace at any price” was not a concern for John. John says, “When I come, I will call attention to what he is doing...” not just let him keep doing it because, “Oh, you know, that’s just Diotrephes...”
It’s a problem that needs taken care of. John will raise the matter in order to bring it out into the open and to find a satisfactory resolution.
On top of his love of being first, Diotrephes wouldn’t welcome John and he was spreading malicious nonsense about [John and his coworkers].
Diotrephes is a gossip, spouting wicked nonsense, entirely without substance. Those who want power for themselves often turn to one of the oldest plays in the book: tear down your opponent by any means possible. Spread untrue stories. Gossip about them. Peddle rumors. Lather, rinse, repeat.
What matters most to Diotrephes is Diotrephes. He may not be a false teacher, but he is a selfish, unhealthy Christian who is more concerned about himself than the cause of Christ.
David Jackman writes this:
“Diotrephes has had his followers throughout the history of the church, and the species is by no means extinct today. Too many congregations have been held in the grip of such petty tyrants…There are churches today which are in the pocket of one person, or one family dynasty. Nothing can happen without the approval of Mrs. X because it is “her” church…the Holy Spirit has long ago been drummed out of office in a church like that, where ‘Diotrephes’ rules.”
That really struck me. Diotrephes is a selfish Christian, one of many throughout the ages.
There is only One who can have pre-eminence in the church, and that is its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The true Christian is one who says with John the Baptist:
30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
Diotrephes, practically, knew nothing of that. Professing to be a Christian, Diotrephes denies the faith by his words and his actions. All Diotrephes was concerned with was becoming greater.
Diotrephes loves to be first. He deals in gossip and refuses to welcome other believers. And anyone who wants to welcome other believers can’t do so without Diotrephes stopping them and kicking them out of the church.
John assures Gaius that he’s going to come and take care of the situation:
In the Mel Gibson movie “The Patriot”, they’re assembling men to fight in the revolution, going from village to village. In one town, the pastor grabs a musket to joins the ranks.
Upon seeing this, one of his church members speaks a shocked, “Reverend?”
The pastor stops, turns around, takes off his hair and puts on his hat, and says, “A shepherd must tend to his flock, and at times, fight off the wolves.”
The church can afford no selfish Christians doing what’s best for them, doing only what they want, behaving in ways contrary to love and truth.
The church doesn’t need more Diotrephes; we need more folk like Demetrius.
A Christ-Follower
A Christ-Follower
Diotrephes is sandwiched in-between the good Gaius and the good Demetrius.
As reflected in verse 11, John wants his dear friend, Gaius, and all who read this short letter to do what is good, to follow the good example.
Goodness can only spring from life with God; goodness is only produced by the life of God within.
The person who persists in evil, whatever claims they make to Christian experience or knowledge of God, demonstrates by the absence of Christ-likeness in their character that they have not seen God.
We see God in Christ, the living Word, revealed in the pages of the Bible. Those who do evil have not yet seen who God is; those who do evil have not recognized the truth of the Bible.
Demetrius, when introduced, clarifies this for us. We can’t hide what we really are for long. Diotrephes is seen for what he truly is. As is Demetrius.
Demetrius receives a good report from everyone. He’s a man of integrity and godliness. He’s well-spoken of, even by the truth itself.
When John writes that Demetrius is well-spoken of by everyone, even the truth itself, this may be John referring Jesus, the Truth Himself, or the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth.
For all we don’t know about Demetrius, he’s a man who obviously lived his life according to God’s Word of truth.
For what it’s worth, John also thinks highly of Demetrius.
We don’t know much about Demetrius, other than that he’s well-spoken of.
Many commentators think this Demetrius is the guy who delivered the letter to Gaius. A simple courier, but a faithful Christian, a simple follower of Jesus.
Demetrius is simply following Jesus, walking with Christ, doing what is good. We should strive for a report like his; I’d be glad to for my portrait to look like his.
>The early church had its problems. Not unlike the church today.
There are only three church members pictured here, three men we know little about. Yet they are representative of different kinds of church members today.
Where we should be challenged today is in our own discipleship.
The challenge to us now is how much are we really prepared to let Jesus change us?
Is it my will or His?
Who is to be first? Me or Him?
Who is the center of our lives? Does everything revolve around me, me, me? Or does everything rightly revolve around Him?
If we took a picture of the church, a family portrait, what would we see?
A bunch of selfish Christians?
Or servants and followers of Christ?
Friends and followers, seeking and sharing Jesus?
Maybe we should take a portrait to see. Maybe a good, long look in the mirror would be helpful.
We should absolutely pray for Jesus to transform us, that He would conform us more and more into His image, that He’d give us the strength to follow Him—He is, after all, our only hope.