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First John
This Sunday we are reading from the First Letter of John. I love this letter because it got me interested in studying Greek. I want to tell you about that but first we have to start with the basics – who is John and what is his First Letter.
John is most likely the Apostle John – the one whom Jesus loved, the youngest, the one who outran Peter to see the empty tomb, the one to whom Jesus said from the cross, “John, this is your mother [Mary],” and, “Mom, this is your son [John].” It is believed that the author John also wrote the Gospel attributed with his name. And some people (like me) believe he was exiled on the Island of Patmos where he had the vision which was written down as The Book of Revelation. In other words, John is one of the most influential and important of all the Apostles.
Many believe his letter was one of the first written Christian documents. It is not addressed to any particular congregation or region but rather the entire assembly or gathering of the followers of Christ. It is written in an easy-to-read version of Greek. There are even a couple of grammatical mistakes which have been carried forward for centuries. Clearly, the letter is written by someone who has taken Greek as a second language. More on that in a moment.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, John is passing along a message that is timeless. He is writing about the things that he has seen, heard, touched and understood as the Word of Life. It is a first-person account of Jesus in the flesh as the Logos (Word). Secondly, he is issuing a warning: there are detractors of the faith who he calls “anti-Christs” which should be taken literally – as people who are the opposite of Christ – and not demonically. Third, he is writing with hope – we are loved so much that we are called God’s children. The world did not “see” Christ so they therefore cannot “see” us. But, keep this hope: we are seen by God, loved by God and we are God’s own.
John’s First Letter is used by seminaries to teach the basics of understanding Greek. After a couple of months of doing a graduate level study of his letter, I distinctly remember holding the Greek New Testament version, in an easy chair with the soft afternoon California light shining on my lap, and just reading it. No translation needed. I read word by word. And then something miraculous happened: I understood it! I “saw” what John himself was writing. I grasped it. I was holding onto the Word that he himself held. That spark of the Word of Life has remained with me to this day.
John wrote about what he saw and touched and heard. He was compelled to write; just like I am compelled to write. And what a gift he has given us – a simple written expression about the miraculousness of God in the flesh that he knows. This written testimony may have been what caused him to be arrested and placed in exile on the Island of Patmos. But, he had to do it. I am thankful that he did. And so is the Episcopal Church. The number one name for an Episcopal Church is “Christ” with 527 churches bearing that name. The second is St. John with 524 churches bearing his name. Number three is Trinity at 520 churches.
John wrote about what he saw and touched. He also gave the early Christians this two-fold warning: there are some who did not see Jesus who therefore cannot see us; and there are people in the world who are the exact opposite of him. But, do not lose heart. Remember that God so loved the world that he sent Jesus, his only son, to redeem it. Remember that you are loved by God. Remember that you are a child of God. And even when things look dim, the light that shines through Christ shines in you and will illuminate the whole world.
- Rev. Dave
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