Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 109th. Edition.Posted
Dear Saints,
Today’s passage (3 John 11-14) concludes our meditations in 3 John. We saw in the previous passage a bad example of a Christian, Diotrephes, who defied apostolic authority, spoke against John, denied visiting preachers hospitality, and sanctioned those who dared to offer them hospitality. But Diotrephes was not the only way.
A Good Overview (v. 11). Evil is always a choice because we are presented with options – the good, or the bad. When we look at others, there always will be a good example to imitate and a bad one to avoid. This has been the case since the beginning of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3-7). It would seem strange that John should even state the obvious, but we all have been tempted to go to the side of the powerful, in the hope of self-preservation. Going against Diotrephes undoubtedly had some unpleasant ramifications, hence the reminder: God is good. Those who are his do good, no matter who says otherwise. He who does evil is not of God, no matter how powerful he is.
A Great Option (v. 12). No matter how powerful evil seems, God is never without a remnant of the righteous. In the midst of Diotrephes’ oppressive control of the church, an alternative presents itself in the person of Demetrius. He is confirmed a good person by three sources – the other believers, the truth – implying that he spoke and lived the truth, and John himself and his companions. John could have been referring to other apostles as well, although this is unlikely. Most of the other apostles were dead, already. Whoever it is he enjoins in his claim would have been known to Gaius and their integrity would have been beyond question. John is saying to Gaius and the other Christians, Be like Demetrius, not like Diotrephes.
A General Outcome (vv. 13-14). These two concluding verses sound like the conclusion to 2 John. They strengthen our suspicion that John was on an itinerary, probably visiting the seven churches of Revelation 2-3 and that all were dealing with similar challenges, hence the similarities in the letters to different ones. That John is a good writer can be seen from his gospel and from 1 John. That he wants to visit the churches personally and speak from his heart in person, is indicative of his love! for them, and of the seriousness with which he took the threat facing them. John is probably the apostle who most closely represents the heart of the Lord Jesus. He was a cousin of Jesus (their mothers were sisters) and is also called the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23).
We all ought to take his concern for truth and hospitality to heart.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.