“Beloved, I am Writing You.” 1 John 2:78
John’s love and concern for us is boldly apparent in his actions and the words he uses. He knows how to get and hold our attention. In our text today he gives us a riddle. Paraphrased John says, “I am writing you little children something that is old but yet it is new.” How can that be? Is John saying keep the law, the Ten Commandments, but now there is something new added but yet it is the same?
John gives us a clue. “Darkness is passing away and the true light is shining.” v.8 True light, that has to be Jesus, right? How does that make an old commandment a new commandment but not change the old commandment?
Is that what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 Christ is the light that leads us, allows us by grace to live not under the law but of the law. Could it be the commandments of God have not changed but have received clarity and a performance enhancement?
Life Received, Life Together, Life Giving- John 10
Question: What connection does 2nd and 3rd John have with 1st John?
Answer: The Concordia Commentary calls 2nd John the introductory letter to 1 John and designates 3rd John as a complement piece to 1st and 2nd John.
