Sermon Notes, First Sunday of Lent

INTRODUCTION
John is a true apostolic pastor. His letters address the universal church (1 John), a particular congregation, the “chosen Lady” (2 John), and an individual Christian, Gaius (3 John). 3 John is full of names: Gaius (v. 1), Diotrephes (v. 9), Demetrius (v. 12). John is not content with speaking to crowds, but also encourages, rebukes, and exhorts individuals. He addresses the church as a whole as “beloved” (1 John 2:7; 4:1, 7), professes his love for the chosen Lady (2 John 1), and also addresses the individual Gaius as “beloved” (3 John 1). His love for the church is general, but it is also very personal and specific.

THE TEXT
“The Elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers . . . .” (3 John 1-14).

HOSPITALITY
The key issue in 3 John is the way that traveling Christians are received when they visit other churches as strangers. John commends Gaius because he acts faithfully in receiving strangers and sending them “on their way in a manner worth of God” (vv. 5-6). Diotrophes, by contrast, does not receive the brothers and prevents others from doing so (v. 10). From the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, receiving messengers from Jesus is equivalent to receiving Jesus (cf. Matthew 10:11-15).

The missionaries receive nothing, John says, from “Gentiles” (v. 7). He is talking about those outside the church, but he calls them “Gentiles” because the church is the community of the true Israel, the true “Jews.” Instead of relying on outsiders for support, the missionaries receive help from the members of the church. In this way, the members of the church become co-workers with the missionaries (v. 8). Not everyone is called to missions, but even those who remain at home are laborers as they support missionaries through prayers, hospitality, and finance.

PRIDE
The reason Diotrephes refuses to listen to John and the other apostles is that he “loves to be first among them” (v. 9). This lust for supremacy reveals itself in unjust accusations, wcked words, refusal to receive missionaries, and excommunication of anyone who doesn’t follow his instructions (v. 10). Such behavior should have no place in the church, whose Lord humbled Himself and placed His people ahead of himself. John does not hesitate to say that the people like Diotrephes are “evil” and that they have “not seen God” (v. 11). God gives generously, and is merciful; anyone who acts like a Diotrephes doesn’t know God as he ought.

IMITATE THE GOOD
In context, John is telling Gaius not to imitate Diotrephes, but rather to imitate those with “good testimony” like Demetrius (v. 12). Imitation is inherent in human life. We learn to speak by imitation, and many of our other habits are picked up from others. We are made to imitate, to be “like” another, because we are made in the “image” of God. Ultimately, believers are to imitate Christ, but Christ makes Himself known through other believers, who provide models we are to follow (1 Corinthians 11:1).