III John 13-14 “I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.”

Once again, John finds himself putting the final touches on a letter; the small piece of parchment has no more room for his present thoughts that need to be saved for a more intimate time. While reflecting upon John’s final remarks, one can’t help being carried back to John’s previous letter. If there was but one thing most all writers emphasize; it is the similarities that exist in the manner John uses to close II John and III John. In both letters, John stresses the magnitude of communication; “many things to write.” In neither letter has John exhausted the reservoir of truth. Whether the boundaries are set by the capacity of space on the papyrus or the comprehension of the saint; there is much more to be communicated to the heart of the hearer! In both letters, John stresses the means of communication, “speak face to face.” The visible letters must give way to a verbal language as the servant and the saint come “face to face.” Ronald A. Ward said, “Meeting is sometimes of greater advantage than writing.” It is during those “face to face” times that there is as much communicated to the heart as there is to the head!

In spite of great similarity, there are subtle differences worthy of being noticed and considered. When I consider these subtle differences; I associate them with progression, the moving forward in the stages of life. I hope you will understand this statement; the John that dropped his net to follow the Lord at the Sea of Galilee, is not the same man that wrote the Gospel of John, the writer of the Gospel of John is not the same man that wrote I John, and the man that wrote I John is not the same man that wrote II John, and the man that wrote II John is not the same man that wrote III John! While he may be the same person genetically; time, truth, and the trials of life have wrought a change in him spiritually as well as socially. He is no longer the same man in his relationship to His Master and to men! All of us were saved with the anticipation of growth; “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18) and “giving all diligence, add to your faith” (II Peter 1:5). There has been a change with respect to John’s comprehension. This subtle change can be seen in the word, “shortly.” That word is the noticeable difference between the closing of II John, and III John. In both, John is anticipating a visit to see those to whom he is writing, but time no longer permits a delay. The word “shortly” means directly, at once or soon. F.F. Bruce said that the word may be taken to mean, very soon after the arrival of this letter. Like never before, John is aware of the end! Much like the Apostle Paul when writing in II Timothy 4:6, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand”; John has the finish line in view. Knowing the brevity of life, Moses wrote, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). For those that have a teachable spirit, they becomes increasingly aware of the valuable commodity of time. John is aware of the emergency, “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth” (vs.10). There are some things that do not improve with the passing of time and sin is one of them; the problem with Diotrephes must be addressed, and now! The work of God and the witness for God are being hindered and hampered because of a prideful individual in leadership; time is not our ally, but rather an adversary that permits sin to abound. John now views time and trouble from a different perspective!

There has been a change with respect to John’s companions. Once again, it is not a change in the people, but the properties with which John views them. This subtle change can be seen in the word, “friends.” In studying those to whom John has been writing, we noted that in John’s Epistles, he moved from addressing the churches scatter across Asia Minor, to a local congregation in II John, to a lone Christian in III John. In each epistle John uses a different term in making a reference to those to whom he is writing. In I John, he uses the term, “little children”, in II John, he refers to the “elect lady and her children” and in III John, he refers to them as “friends.” Please note that there is a progression of intimacy or compassion as he moves from the Church, to a congregation, to a Christian. In studying the term, “little children”; it has the idea of an infant or Christian convert and was an affectionate term of a teacher for his disciples. In his first epistle, John sees himself as a professor with the interest of education. In studying the term “elect lady and her children”, the emphasis is upon the fact that they are not just children, but his children; those whom he has been instrumental in their birth. In his second epistle, John sees himself as a parent, with an interest in edification. In III John, he refers to “friends.” The term means to be fond of as an associate or neighbor. In his third epistle John sees himself as a person, with an interest in encouragement. John emphasizes encouragement when he tells them to “Greet the friends by name.” In the text, the word “greet” and “salute” are the same Greek word meaning, to enfold in the arms, by implication to welcome or embrace. Note that John’s emphasis is not only on the affection of friendship, but on the awareness of friendship which is declared in the phrase “by name.” The word “name” is more than just what someone is called, but it implies the character that describes the name, one’s reputation, dignity or authority. It has the idea of intimate knowledge of the person associated with the name. One writer said, “If the Good Shepherd calls and knows His sheep by name (John 10:3), shouldn’t the under-shepherd and the sheep know each other by name also?” For John these individuals have become more than someone to educate and edify; they are equals in need of encouragement.

Lastly, there has been a change with respect to John’s consolation. In the second epistle, their consolation was attached to the presence of the Apostle, “come unto you . . . that our joy may be full” (II John 2:13). When they were joined together there would be a unified completeness of joy that would ultimately give way to rejoicing, but it was conditional on unification. The present consolation was attached to the presence of the Almighty that left us with this sure word of confidence, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). That same Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The word “peace” that John uses, is the same word for “peace” that Jesus uses; it means peace or rest in contrast to strife and denotes to absence or end of all strife! John wants to leave his friends with this consolation; it is my desire to come and see you. If I come we can enjoy a consolation that results in rejoicing because of our union, but if I never see you again, this is what I want you to know; you have at this very moment, “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” and it “shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). In his final epistle, John leaves them with this glorious consolation; as my friend and God’s friend, you have a peace that not only passeth all understanding, but it is an eternal possession because of the Eternal God that has given it.

The final remarks have been written; the pen has come to rest; all that remains is for the ink to dry before being dispatched to it destination. There is much more to be communicated, but it can wait until their meeting, face to face. At that time they will enjoy the reciprocal greeting of friends as they embrace and exchange words of encouragement as only friends can do. But until that meeting takes place, John calls on them to maintain the bond of friendship by greeting one another by name. These are the words of a friend; they are his final remarks.