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Title: An Exercise in Title
Two fathers and two sons go fishing. Each one catches a fish. At the end of the day, there are four fish caught. How is this possible? (Take answers.)
The reasons riddles are so infuriating is because the answers are often quite simple, but they require that we look at things from a slightly different perspective. Once that perspective is altered, the answer becomes quite clear, even obvious.
Such is the case with the passage from I John today. If we look at this passage, and the addresses that John makes two these different groups, we have two options.
1. John is writing to three separate groups of people within the church: the children, the fathers, and the young men.
2. John is writing to one group of people, and describing them three different ways.
Today, I’m going to argue for the latter, that John is writing to the church as a whole, and uses three different ways to describe them, each way being an accurate truth, and each having it’s own lessons.
Let us Read. (Pray.)
I. Little Children
We see John address the “little children in verse 12, and agin in verse 13. If we look at the “little children” verses back to back, John’s point (much like a riddle) comes into focus rather quickly, and we are able to wean some pretty heavy stuff right away.
Are you comfortable being referred to as a child of God?
Is that an accurate description?
Why? (Take a list of answers.)
1. We are adopted sons and daughters into the Kingdom.
2. God is our Heavenly Father.
3. We are the children of Israel. (In as much as “Israel” refers to the Church.)
4. We are not fully grown spiritually.
5. John uses the term “My little children” in 2:1 in a non-derogatory way.
According to John, what qualifies these people as “Little Children”?
1. Their sins have been forgiven by the name of Jesus. (Verse 12)
2. They have known the father.
II. Fathers
The second address, found in verses 13 and 14, is the antithesis of “little children” is the elder address, “Father.” So let’s repeat the Exercise:
Are you comfortable being called a father? (Hands up)
Is that an accurate description? (Keep the hands up) Also, consider that in the Catholic faith, pastors are often called “Father.”
Why? (Answers)
1. You have your own earthly children.
2. You have your own spiritual children. (Disciples.)
3. You are a leader in the church.
4. You are a leader in your home.
5. You have been given responsibility. (You can’t be truly called “father” without being given responsibility)
According to John, what is the qualification of being a “father”?
1. They have known Him who is from the beginning. They have known the truth of the identity of Jesus Christ.
What is assumed by John. (What’s between the lines?) IMPORTANT:
1. That as Fathers, they are qualified and bear a responsibility to hand this knowledge down to their children.
III. Young Men
The last address is found twice in vv. 13 and 14, and is symbolic like the first two, but we must again, be careful to understand what John is saying figuratively here. I don’t think he is exclusively referring to those of male sexuality, follow me for a moment, let me try to make my point:
Are comfortable being called a young man or woman? Al, put your hand down.
Is that an accurate description?
Why?
1. We aren’t babes in Christ, but not fully mature either.
Now, what do you notice about the two addresses to “young men” by John. What does he reference both times? (Overcoming the Enemy.)
John was using a war time reference here. In ancient Near Eastern times, it was the young men that would enlist (as it still is largely today) in the nations army and go to war.
But here John is talking about a different type of battle, a spiritual battle, where the young men of God are strong, the world abides (there’s that word again!) In them, and because of that, they have overcome the wicked one.
I don’t need to tell you, but this is heavy stuff John is dealing here. Read between the lines, John is saying that as we mature in the faith and grow from children to young men and women, we then have to fight and internal war, each and everyone of us, and if the Word of God abides in us, we will overcome the wicked one, and become fathers, then we are to pass that knowledge on to the children, that they may begin their own battle with evil.
I appreciate heady writing, and this is some of John’s best stuff. But if we don’t look closely, particularly at the historical context, we can miss the brilliance of what’s being written here.
Tell me one thing you learned today.