2 John 1

2 John 1:1

John refers to himself as “the elder” because in addition to being the last surviving apostle, at the time he wrote this letter, he was most likely close to one hundred years old. That’s the great thing about ministry. A thirty-three-year-old player in the NFL is considered an old man. But in the things of God, a man that age is just beginning. Because our lives become richer and deeper the longer we walk with the Lord, there is no disqualification for age. There is debate about whether the “elect lady” to whom John wrote was a literal lady, an acquaintance of John’sor a church, the church being the elect as well as the bride of Christ. Why didn’t John identify the elect lady? If, indeed, she was an individual, I believe it is very likely John kept her identity hidden in order to spare her from the persecution aimed at believers when this letter was written. John commends the elect lady in verses 2Jn_1:1-4, commands her in verses 2Jn_1:5-6, cautions her in verses 2Jn_1:7-11, and, lastly, comforts her in verses 2Jn_1:12-13. Although John talks about love more than any other writer in Scripture, he also emphasizes truth more than any other writerusing the word “truth” twenty times in his Gospel, nine times in 1 John, five times in these opening verses of 2 John, and five more times in 3 John. I find it interesting that it was the “apostle of love” whom the Lord tapped on the shoulder to also be the one who stressed truth, because when you talk about love, it’s very easy to get mushy, to become sentimental, to begin to say, “I’ll just love that person rather than be honest with him.” Such is not the case with John. And his example is a needful one in a day when the economy has eclipsed integrity as our nation’s top priority, in an age where what is true for one person may or may not be true for another, in a culture that embraces Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” (Joh_18:38), rather than Jesus’ declaration, “I am the truth” (Joh_14:6). While I don’t want to be one who causes people to batten down the hatches whenever they see me coming, neither do I want to let the church or my kids walk in ways I know will be destructive. Our relationships with our kids, our spouses, and our sisters and brothers in the Lord cannot survive without truth. That’s why Paul says we are to speak the truth in love (Eph_4:15)for both are vital.

2 John 1:4

Mom and Dad, make sure you model absolute integrity to your kids. Never let them see you compromise truth even in little, seemingly insignificant waysfor such actions will plant seeds in their hearts that will take root, causing them to be people who do not walk in integrity or deal with others honestly. Children Walking in Truth A Topical Study of 2Jn_1:4 Irejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth…2Jn_1:4 (a) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.3Jn_1:4 At this point in my life, at the ripe old age of forty-three, I have concluded that John is right: There is no deeper delight, no greater joy than seeing my children walk in truth. Whether you’re a parent or involved in discipling someone, please take note of these five scriptures that tell us how to see our kids walk in truth… Walking Together with Them Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.Deu_6:4-7 I know you’re busy, Mom and Dad. I know there are innumerable demands on your time. But they need not prevent you from talking to your kids as you drive them to soccer practice, take them grocery shopping, or head out for a family vacation. When John was caught up into heaven, an elder approached him and said, “Who are these arrayed in white robes?” “I don’t know,” answered John. The elder then went on to explain they were those who had come out of the Great Tribulation and had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (Rev_7:14). The interesting thing about this dialogue is that it was not initiated by John, but by the elder. So, too, as moms, dads, mentors, or disciplerslike the elder in heaven, we have both the opportunity and responsibility of initiating meaningful discussion with our kidsfor if we wait for them to ask us about the danger of pornography or the question of predestination, we’ll wait forever. We must be the ones who get the ball rolling. “They’ll think I’m crazy,” you say. And so they may. But they won’t think you’re boring. If you are one who initiates discussion by telling them what you’re learningnot preaching at them, but sharing with them the things you’re learningyou’ll be surprised by their eagerness to listen. Walking Ahead of Them And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.2Sa_21:20-21 Because David killed a giant named Goliath, those who followed him killed giants as welleven though they were too young to have seen him kill Goliath. So, too, when David confessed his acts of murder and adultery, he was forgiven completely. But murder and immorality would crop up in the lives of his children (2 Samuel 13). Thus, the principle is clear: Whether or not our kids or those we disciple see what we do, they will inevitably become like us as they follow us in ways we don’t think they even know about. If, Mom, you are a woman of prayer, your children will pray. Dad, if you’re doing battle with the giants of selfishness and darkness, your kids will too. Whether we know it or not, who we are and how we walk even when we think no one is watching will directly affect those we’re parenting, mentoring, and discipling. Walking Honestly Before Them Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.Gen_32:32 About to face the brother he had tricked out of his birthright and blessing, Jacob feared for his life. So it was that when the angel appeared to him, he was desperate for a genuine blessing. After wrestling with the angel all night, it was when Jacob’s hip was dislocated that the angel said, “No longer are you Jacobor Tricky One. Now you shall be IsraelGoverned by God.” Limping into the camp where he had stationed his family, Jacob explained to them what had happened to him. And so impressed were his children by hearing of what had transpired in the life of their father that to this day they honor that event. Gang, when a dad, a mom, a teacher, or a mentor says, “Let me tell you about what I went through. Here’s the difficulty I encountered. Here’s what I learned the hard way. I limp to this day; I can never walk as quickly as I once did; but I’m changed,“those who follow in his or her footsteps will be changed themselves. Walk honestly before your kids, and they will not be disappointed in you, but will thank you and honor you. Walk honestly and you will not only earn the respect of those who follow you, but you will keep them from making the same mistakes that plagued you. Walking Away from Them And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.1Sa_1:24 “Lord, if You give me a child, I will give him to You,” Hannah prayed. “That’s what I was waiting for,” said the Lord, “because I want to bless you with a special child"which He did in Samuel. True to her promise, after Samuel was weaned, Hannah took her son to the tabernacle at Shilohand left him in the care of Eli, the priest. How could she do this? She realized her son was the Lord’s and her hovering over him would only diminish or restrict what God wanted to do in and through his life. There are times when a parent who wants to see his kids walk in truth must walk away from them in order to allow God to do what He wants to do in and through them. As prone as we are to hover and smother, we must let God be God in the lives of those who follow in our steps. Seeing a cocoon swaying from the limb of a tree, you decide to help the butterfly by carefully cutting a slit in the cocoon. Yet although your cut allows the butterfly to escape with ease, it inevitably kills him because it’s in the very struggle to escape the cocoon that the butterfly gains the strength and ability to use his wings. Thus, it was the wise father who, hearing his son was eating pig slop in the city, didn’t go and rescue him, but rather let the process play out. And when it did, his son came to his senses and returned home a new man (Luke 15). There are many times when we must walk away from our kids not in apathy or anger, but in the realization that they are the Lord’s and that He must be given a free hand to work in their lives. Walking Closely Behind Them And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.Job_1:5 Knowing that on feast days his sons would be tempted, Job offered a sacrifice every day on their behalf. In so doing, he was saying, “I want to walk behind my sons to make sure they’re covered.” So, too, I know my kids are vulnerable to sinbecause they’re just like me. What can I do? I can cover them daily in prayer. What would happen if we got up every morning and truly sacrificed in prayernot just “Bless my kids, Amen"but talked to and waited on the Father on behalf of each one of them? We can cover their vulnerable spots, the places we know they are likely to be attacked. We can walk behind them protectively and prayerfully if we are willing to take the time and expend the same energy Job did. As we walk together, with, ahead of, away from, honestly before, and close behind our kids and those whom we disciple, as is the case in every area of spiritual life, we have the example to follow of One who walked in each and all of these ways… Jesus walked with the otherwise-saddened disciples on the road to Emmaus and opened the Scriptures to them, explaining all things concerning Himself (Luk_24:27). Jesus walked ahead of John’s disciples in such a way that caused the Baptist to proclaim, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (Joh_1:36) Jesus walked honestly before the skeptic, not saying, “Listen to My sermon,” or, “Watch My miracle,” but, “Touch My wounds” (see Joh_20:27). Jesus walked away from His disciples when He sent them out to preach about the kingdom (Matthew 10). And while they were gone, what did He do? He preached in their hometowns (Mat_11:1). Had they not gone, Jesus wouldn’t have moved in. So, too, do what the Lord tells you to do and watch and see how He moves into your city, how He touches and teaches your family. Jesus walked behind His disciples as He prayed for them constantlynot only as they toiled in the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mat_14:23), but even as they slept in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 17). Jesus shows us what it means to walk with people, to walk ahead of people, to walk honestly before people, to walk away from people, and to walk prayerfully behind people. He does that with me. He’s done that with you. Now let’s do the same thing for those we’re discipling and parenting. If you do, because God doesn’t violate the free will of any of His children, there is no guarantee that your kids will be godlybut it increases the odds radically. And this is the promise you can bank on: Even if they do go through seasons or years or even decades of rebellion, the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Pro_22:6). Do what you’re supposed to do, Mom and Dadand even if your child rebels initially, he’ll come around ultimately as he remembers the training, the example, the teaching, and the prayer you lived out before him. Do these things and, like John, your joy will be great when you see your children walk in truth.

2 John 1:5

After commending her for walking in truth, John reminds the elect lady of the command to love. Truth and love are an unbeatable team, a winning combination, a dynamic duo. Truth without love makes a person harsh. But love without truth makes a person dangerous because he will allow cancers to grow and problems to take root in his life, in his family, on the job, or in the church. “I commend you for walking in truth,” said John, “and I command you not to forget love.” And then he issues a word of caution…

2 John 1:7

The Greek word translated “come” being a present participle, newer translations are correct in rendering verse 2Jn_1:7: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess that Jesus Christ is not coming in the flesh.” “Watch out,” John says, “for people who say or imply that Jesus isn’t coming in the flesh, who tell you not to get too serious about prophecy and not to look for Jesus to return physically.” Who says this? Jehovah’s Witnesses, for one. They say Jesus camebut not in the flesh. He came secretly in the Spirit and revealed Himself only to the Watchtower Society. According to the passage before us, this puts Jehovah’s Witnesses in the camp of the Enemy.

2 John 1:9

This is a strong word. We are not to get involved with people who don’t believe in the literal, physical return of Jesus. We are not to say, “God bless you,” to such people, or to invite them into our homes. Those who reject Jesus Christ, those who are not looking for Jesus Christ, those who have diminished the Person of Jesus Christ are to be shunned. It’s a good thing these strong words come from the pen of Johnfor if Paul had written them, this severe warning could simply be attributed to his forceful personality. But the fact that this warning comes from the “apostle of love” makes it all the more imperative.

2 John 1:12

Finally, after commending, commanding, and cautioning, John comforts. “I’d like to deal with many more things,” he says, “but I’ll do it face-to-face rather than with pen and paper.” Why would this be a comfort? Because keeping a balance between truth and love often raises more questions than it answers. So John simply says, “Do those things you understand, and I’ll explain the rest when I come.” We have a tendency to get tripped up by that which we don’t understand. For example, we wonder what will God do with those who are seemingly sincerely tricked by the cults or isolated in regions of the world where they never hear the gospel. In answer to such questions, the Lord says to you and me through the apostle John, “Hold on. I’m coming soon. Everything will make sense when you see Me face-to-face.” In the meantime, we are to do what we understand. We are to stay away from those who propagate heresy and we are to preach Christ to people with a sense of urgency. We must do what the Word says and let God do what He wants to do rather than say, “I don’t have to witness to him. I don’t have to share with my neighbor. They’ll probably make it to heaven, anyway. My kids are probably saved; I don’t want to bother them.” In John’s second letter, I hear an urgent heart. The “apostle of love” is one who draws a very real dividing line in the sand between Christ and antichrist, light and darkness, truth and heresy. “Stay away from heretics,” he writes, “Walk in truth. And don’t forget love.”