10 key words in 2 John #4: love

Introduction:

These three short letters – 1,2 and 3 John – are traditionally thought to be written by the author of the Gospel of John, known as John the Evangelist. 1 John is written to a group of early believers, some of whom were losing sight of the truth to be found in Jesus Christ. This letter – 2 John – is written to an individual – and this individual is a woman!

This month’s approach is to pick out 10 key words from the letter and unpack those words to see what message they contain for us today. So I suggest that each day, you read the whole letter, then read my thoughts on a particular key word and then take that word with you to reflect on throughout the day.

The whole of 2 John:

1 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

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.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

The 10 key words: love

• lady
• chosen
• children
• love
• truth
• Jesus
• joy
• command
• deceiver
• teaching

Today’s word: love

Love: verb (also used as a noun)

feel deep affection or sexual love for (someone)
‘do you love me?’

like or enjoy very much
‘I’d love a cup of tea’

Love is one of those words that’s over-used and misunderstood. It’s come to mean so many different things to different people and this dictionary definition is woefully inadequate. According to this, we use the word ‘love’ when we are attracted to someone or something, that’s about it…

The verb ‘love’ in this passage is a different kind of love all together. This confusion is not new: one of the reasons Bible scholars struggled with the identity of the lady is because John declares his love for her and if she were a woman, that would not be right at all.

Everyone loves her, that’s the truth of it. This love encompasses respect, admiration, gratitude, warmth and so much more. Everyone cares for her and wants the best for her, because of her care and nurturing of everyone else. She’s easy to love. It comes naturally to love her, because she is so amazing as a woman and as a leader in the faith.

The love John goes on to remind the lady about in this letter is a love beyond that kind of love, a love beyond human understanding. It’s the love that as followers of Jesus, we are commanded to have for one another: a love that is not dependent on attraction, affection or admiration. This is a love for all: a practical love, love in action, a love that requires sacrifice. This is about loving the people who are not easy to love. It was Jesus who revealed this commandment to his followers and it is Jesus we have to look to to see what it looks like to live a life of love. We cannot in truth call ourselves followers of Jesus if this love is not at the heart of all that we do and say.

It’s a huge challenge and one as humans, we will fail at daily. Only Jesus lived a life of perfect love from beginning to end. But it is a challenge that we are required to rise to. There is no option here. It’s a command that we are all called to obey.

So let’s get to it!