Reading: 1 John 3-4, Psalm 37

As we continue reading the first epistle of John we will find what sounds exceedingly like the Evangelist repeating himself. Yesterday we read his opposition to some early forms of Christian heresy that were already at work in the first generation of believers. Much of the New Testament epistles are dedicated to clarifying and combating these same issues. John’s repetition of his subject matter is both for emphasis and to allow him to use examples, both from the Scriptures and in the present moment. John was just as well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures as Peter, Paul, James, and the other Evangelists, it is his writing style that is different. It is extremely simple. He is clearly addressing a different group of people than Paul does with is intensely packed arguments, like in the letter to the Romans. It seems Paul wrote to those who carefully consider arguments, like an academic. John writes to children. But just because his writing is simple, does not mean it is simplistic. John’s arguments are every bit as layered and complex as Paul’s, he just does things a little differently.

Try this, for example. John puts two stories in opposition to one another in chapter three: the story of Cain and Abel, and the story of Jesus and the people of God. He brings up the story of Cain and Abel to demonstrate how people who do bad things hate those who do good things. Why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s were righteous. This is a fairly comfortable narrative. Just about anyone could see how Cain’s violent outcome is both evil and comprehensible. Jealousy escalates to rage which leads to murder. But then John pulls out the story of Jesus to juxtapose with the story of Cain and Abel. Now Jesus is the righteous one and the people of God are Cain. Not such a comfortable narrative now, because you are no longer passing judgment on Cain, you are occupying his place in the story. This is John’s way of pulling out his theme from yesterday that if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. In his third move, John puts the believers who obey the commandment of Jesus to love one another in the place of the righteous. Not that they are righteous in and of themselves, but they strive for obedience to the King who is righteous. And for that, those who follow a different king are even more apt to assault them. John has put his readers through the wringer in just a couple of sentences- going from unworthy judge to condemned man to righteous servant.

Wild ride, yes? Well, he’s not done yet. John then takes this whole journey and makes it the paradigm for what Jesus has done for his people. When Jesus laid down his life for us, he accomplished a whole reorientation of the human race. He was a propitiation for our sins, paying an insurmountable debt. He defeated the Serpent, overcoming the evil one. He has set an example for us, such that we ought to lay down our lives for one another. He did all this so that we may follow him and also have his victory, for greater is he that is in your than he who is in the world. And this is all in the second part of the third chapter of one of John’s letters.

The point of all this is to circle back to obedience. We are to do as Jesus said and did. We are to obey the great commission to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. That all definitely included the Great Commandment, but also the instruction from the upper room dialogue to love one another as I have loved you. That as I have loved you is incredibly intimidating. When he says this, Jesus has just taken the position as a lowly servant, and he is about to go to the cross. None of this is lost on John when he reminds the believers to love one another. He brings it all together in the last line of chapter 4: This commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. And he is talking about love like Jesus loved. As a sacrifice. For an example. As the only path to victory.