2 John ~ walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father

As we all look Today - Easter, we will examine the Gospels and think of the photos and wonder about what we picture and our emotions as being part of Jesus Rises. Jesus is Alive!!!

We will wonder about the folded clothes in the tombs causing the Disciples to agree He is Risen. What does this mean? Is it the cloth folded the same way Jesus washed the feet of Peter? Does it show how carefully a Carpenter takes care of tools. And eventually we sort through the amazing and wondrous true events of Jesus taken from so many directions and we will take this Victory of God in Jesus Christ and form the details making this alive to us.

2 John

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.

5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.



I've done so many Bible Studies since I was 16 years old. And I have seen seriously angry people in youth group being forced by their parents to participate - they can be very disruptive. I remember one really angry teen boy from years and years ago demanding to know why we study this fable of Jesus from the dead? We were doing a Bible Study solely on the Resurrection.

By this time it was the second week of enduring his almost yelling. We had a really good priest. Father Clarkson. He said it's not a fable. And the teen boy was almost purple in the face. Father Clarkson asked, gently, why do you think this a fable. And the boy said it's only deluded Christians who think so. And the angry teen yelled his parents made him come.

Father Clarkson asked, "Are your parents usually delusional?"
"No,"
"Are the people here?"
"Maybe."

Father Clarkson asked, "So, you think Jesus is like the Easter Bunny?"

 "More or less." Was the reply.

"No, the Roman world changed in about 16 years and until the First Council of Nicaea from Thursday, 20 May to Saturday, 19 June AD 325 the Roman Emperors wanted all who said they were Christian to die. People put their lives on the line to believe."

But the boy said, "They all got killed no one lived. It's a fable. The disciples died."

And Father Clarkson said, "And initially they hid. Then 500 people saw Jesus and the disciples left hiding to become bold. The world changed. Millions came to see the Disciples and the 500. The Roman Empire changed. Marriage changed. Trade changed. Families changed. Women in history changed. You can point to the History and see the belief changed the world. The Light of Christ caused changes in Hospitals to be created. Changes in starving people fed. People died and miracles changed lives. John the Disciple Lived."

Do you know because Father Clarkson spoke to that young man with his real questions - the young man accepted Jesus Christ the next week. Being real and real about our faith is helpful.

Luke 24:13-35 Road to Emmaus

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 

32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

The Good News of Jesus Christ.

It's the News of the Resurrection. Compelling? The Way, Truth and Life - amazing how far Jesus would go. For you.

Good News. In this dire set of circumstances - people believed and went with Jesus. The wanted to walk with Jesus. Every day all their lives. Hearts changed. Lives were seen to change. People saw in others - they walked with Jesus. Abiding in Jesus.

Maybe the boy teenager had never had someone listen when he was yelling. Maybe it was because no one yelled at him to shut up. Maybe it was because so many were willing to pay the cost to tell of Jesus. Maybe because people Lived. Maybe it was the sheer numbers of people who couldn't be wrong.

I think it was the Prodigal Son.
There are so many mistakes spoken of in people in the Bible. The Prodigal Son is not the story of instantaneous forgiveness. The Parable is really the sadness of the dissolution of a family. Sold up, moved on, lost forever. Father lets son go. Son has to flounder a good amount of time. Forgiveness of days spent not knowing dead or alive. Forgiveness is a process.

I think the teen boy believed because no one jumped down his throat to believe. No one dictated to him to believe. He had time to process.

The Gospel of Mark did not always have the paragraph about the Risen Jesus. It's not that Mark was then written out of being part of the Gospels. There wasn't a Gospel writers meeting and Mark was drummed out. The Bible has different perspectives and Mark wrote what Peter was asked about the most. Did he write of the Resurrection - yes - but people carried - walked - ran - survived with fragments of Papyrus. Mark is placed together in its entirety like the Prodigal Son over time.

The Disciple John the Beloved was asked what he thought of the other 3 gospels. Polycarp asked John and he said the other Gospels were perfect. I'm sure Peter and Mark knew of Luke writing the Book of Acts.

And as we see the road is long, the journey is long - we find - Mercy prevails. Processing is allowed. John's Books in the Bible are about the obedience to Father God and the Love. The Prodigal was most certainly not loving when he left. He was allowed to go. The teen was not yelled at for his doubts.

The road with mercy. With teachable moments. The ability to see long-term belief. This is the Good News. Easter is not one day. This is the Good News. Easter is a life. Easter is a Journey. Easter is a Celebration. We can witness the strength and the hope in those who pray for others. We can see the mercy. Life plays out what the realities of God give us.




Father God, Abba,

We are the most Blessed of all people.

We Know Jesus is alive.

We given Thanks for all the reasons for Easter. You moved the sun and the moon and the earth. Tombs broke open, people came in and told of God's goodness. The Events were so profound Pontius Pilate, Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea wrote the Emperor of the Roman Empire.

Families reunited and prayed together when season has passed of coldness. Tolerance and mercy was found for people who ran away and were hidden. Millions had hidden and came to see Jesus and the Temple. Life had changed and radiated around the world. Israel was taken to ruin. And Mercy has prevailed for Israel again.

Your Word upholds the Heavens. Your Word brings Life and Love. We ask Easter to live in our souls, our hearts, our words and ways. We ask More Heaven on earth. And More Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We would take the Goodness and Love You are, Father God, and spread this to our loved ones! To the People You have given us! To the Nation trusting in You. Your good willingness filling all of Your creation to Celebrate Your Son Jesus.

We are the Easter People. Jesus Christ has made us His. Alleluia. Amen.