John’s Pen Flows

John contributes four more letters, beyond the gospel, to the churches. His pen flows with the Spirit and truth revealed to him.

John’s letters are short and to the point. He would rather speak face to face with those he is writing to, but that isn’t always possible. His final contribution to the works we hold as sacred in our bibles is held for future audiences. It is a vision he received that we are still unraveling and unwrapping today.

I am in NO WAY competent to unwrap the vision of Revelation. Instead, I am going to continue on, writing from the perspective of John as he writes his four more letters to the church.

Holy Spirit, I NEED Your help, especially today. I want to convey Your hand and heart in the stories I share. Help me to see John’s heart as he shares Your words.

♥ ♦ ♥

John is feeling his age today. His joints are stiff, slowing his movements as he rises from bed.

“You have seen fit to grace me with many years Lord. I would consider it a great favor if You would grant me a few mornings without stiffness.”

God smiles at John’s softly couched complaint. “Today My child, I’ll warm your bones with sunshine and My Spirit.”

John feels a tingling in his hands that begins to radiate up his arms, into his shoulders and down his spine. It reaches his hips and knees as he makes his way across the room. His heart is grateful for the Lord’s answer to his simple prayer.

After a light morning meal, John steps from his house into the warmth of the sun. It is a mild day that carries the promise of an early summer. Winter has loosened it’s grip on the world again.

As John takes his morning stroll, he greets a small group of visitors. They have come to bring him news of the happenings in the churches. John values their reports, as he isn’t able to travel great distances to keep up with events. He hopes for a good report, but he welcomes whatever they bring.

“Shalom brother John.”

“Shalom to you also brother Timothy, brother Casius. You are both looking well this morning.”

Timothy smiles politely as he returns the compliment and shares his purpose for coming.  “As are you brother. We bring news from several of the churches.”

“Just as I expected. Your reports are always welcome. I want to walk a little further, to enjoy this morning gift of the Lord before returning home. Then we can sit and discuss your news.”

Timothy and Casius fall in step with John as he walks the streets near his home, nestled in the mountains near the city of Ephesus. The group approaches an advantageous overlook point that lets them take in the view of the valley below. This is one of John’s favorite spots to stop and offer prayer for the churches in the city below.

The three men silently share a moment of Prayer.

“Amen.” John turns and begins the walk back to his home. Timothy and Casius quickly rejoin him.

By the time they reach John’s home, he is ready to sit down. “I don’t have the stamina I used to” he says as he lowers his body onto his favorite stool. “Please, join me.” He motions with his hand to indicate other low stools and cushions placed around the center of the room.

Casius takes a cushion closest to John while Timothy accepts a stool across the comfortable gathering space in John’s home.

“What news do you bring me today?”

“Our news comes from several of the churches.” Timothy begins sharing the reports they have gathered throughout the region with Casius adding his observations whenever appropriate.

During the discourse, John feels an undertone of a developing issue. It isn’t something that Timothy has points out, but the Spirit identifies for him. John silently listens until Timothy concludes his report.

“As you were sharing all that you have gathered, I sensed something in your words. I don’t know if you bypassed it to spare my heart, or of you hadn’t noticed the trend yourselves.”

The two men’s brows furrow. They never censor their reports, as that would defeat the purpose of bringing them.

“Please tell us what you heard brother. We never intentionally withhold anything, but we trust your spirit implicitly.”

“Not so much from your words of the happenings as much as the absence of praise for the people, I sense that brotherly love and possibly even unforgiveness creeping into the people’s hearts.”

Timothy quickly pulls his head and shoulders back, as if physically struck by John’s words. After a moment he begins to nod. His spirit registers it too.

“I know I’m no Paul, but I feel the need to address this is a letter to the churches. Do you have anywhere pressing that you need to be?”

Timothy and Caius both shake their heads. “Nothing that won’t wait.”

“Go and visit the churches in Ephesus for a few days while I allow the Spirit to speak His words through my pen to the people. Return to me at the end of the week.”

Timothy offers his skills. “We could stay and help you. I was often Paul’s scribe.”

“And a wonderful scribe you were to our dear brother. I need time to listen to the Lord and craft the letter He is forming in my spirit. You can however bring my greetings to the churches in Ephesus.”

“As you wish brother.”

John serves his guests a simple meal before they depart for the city. He feels a little rude, as Jews do not rush their guests off. He shakes this away though as he makes his way to his special spot by the window to pray.

“Lord, I know Your Spirit is stirring something within me. Please help me give voice to it so Your people may be blessed.”

John waits in his prayer spot for the words to come. He is startled as his body jerks and wakes him from his sleep. The sun has long since set and his house is dark as he pushes up from his mat. But his spirit is filled with the words that have to be put down on parchment.

John knows every step withing the walls of his home and he easily finds his way to his lamp. His flint and wadding are within easy reach. It only takes a moment for the spark from the flint to ignite the wadding and be transferred to the wick. Carefully extinguishing the wadding and replacing it in its space beside the flint, John picks up his bowl, his lamp, and begins gathering his writing supplies.

After settling everything in place for the task ahead, John sits on his favorite stool again. He draws his writing table onto his lap and begins the letter the Spirit has birthed within him.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word^[a] of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:1-4).

John notices the similarity between the opening of this letter and the gospel he wrote a few years ago. He smiles and wags his head. “I’m no Paul, but at least I’m consistent.” After rereading his opening, he is ready to go on.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:5-10).

“Help the people walk in Your light Lord. Show them Your truth about sin in their lives. And if You find any unclean places in my heart, reveal them to me so that I too may deal with them.”

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:1-6).

John’s brows furrow as he looks at what the Spirit has brought forth from his pen. “I thought I was to write about ‘love’ Lord. That doesn’t look like the path the Spirit is taking.”

“Patience, My child. All in due time.”

No sooner has John given voice to these thoughts, the Spirit floods his soul with words addressing the very concept he noticed was lacking in Timothy’s report.

“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:7-11).

John hears a limerick  rising in his spirit, almost as if it is being carried on the wind and reaching him from a chorus of voices in the hills. He has to include it in his letter.

“I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:12-14).

John quickly warn against loving the things of the world. This is not the kind of love he is calling the children of God to.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

There is an urgency in John’s spirit to warn the church against false teachers who would try and pervert or prevent the love of God from moving among them. He is concerned that the believers will be drawn away by those who have strayed from the truth; following their own sinful desires of the flesh and denying Jesus as God’s Son.

“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:18-22).

John encourages the believers to be strong in the truth and remain in Jesus.

“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (1 John 2:28-29).

John reminds the churches of what righteousness looks like day to day. “Lord let them hear this with all the love of Your Spirit. Not as condemnation, but as instruction from You.”

John takes a deep breath and continues his letter.

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another…  Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:4-11, 14-15).

The people need concrete examples for demonstrating love. John provides a few examples for them.

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18).

John cautions the church again against the antichrist; any would say that Jesus did not come in the flesh. “They have to be able to recognize these dangerous deceivers.”

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already” (1 John 4:1-3).

John returns to his deepest concern; that the people are not walking in love and thereby demonstrating God’s love.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:7-21).

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:1-5).

The Spirit bears witness through John’s pen regarding Jesus, as He did while Jesus walked the earth. This will be a reminder for all time to those who read John’s words to the churches. In this they cannot help but hear the truth.

“This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:6-12).

John brings this letter to a close. He wants the people to have confidence in their salvation by knowing that their love speaks of their relationship with God. The relationship of a Father and a child, where we can come to Him with our needs and concerns.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:13-21).

John lays his pen aside. He reads again the words the Spirit has given him. It amazes him how the words of the Spirit flowed from his pen, even when his own heart was searching for them. “God truly speaks through the pen.”

After putting his writing materials away, John retires for the night. Dawn is only a few hours away.

“Help me to rest Lord and wake refreshed for the morning. I look forward to another day with You. Before I forget, thank You for the loosening of my joints this morning.”

God whispers, “You are welcome” as John settles into his bed.

In the night, the Spirit speaks to John’s heart. He wants to speak specifically to two individuals through John’s pen.

John wakes at his regular time with a spirit of urgency. He hurries through his morning routine and then settles himself in place again with his writing supplies.

The first letter is both a commendation and a mild reprimand. This woman has risen to his mind in the night.

“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, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love” (2 John 1:1-3).

John hides his mild reprimand in praise of this woman’s children’s successes.

“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 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. 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. 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. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we^[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward. 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. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” (2 John 1:4-11).

There is so much more to be said and shared with this beloved sister, but John wants to do so in person.

“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.

“The children of your elect sister greet you” (2 John 1:12-13).

John feels comfortable with this letter and sets it aside to dry. He takes a new parchment and lays it on his lap desk. He is ready to begin his second personal letter. This one has more correction and warning. Not for his intended recipient, but for an influence that is dangerous to the believers under his care.

Timothy and Casius had praised Gaius with their report. John knows some of the dynamics in the church that Gaius is ministering to, as well as some of the disruptive elements within it. John feels drawn to warn Gaius of the dangers.

“The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:1-4).

John takes time to commend Gaius for his faithful help to those spreading God’s word. “He is truly a faithful brother, Lord. Bless him Lord.”

“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth,” (3 John 5-8).

“Please give Gaius wisdom in dealing with Diotrephes. He needs Your help to stand against the attacks that are sure to come.” John carefully pens his warning. He does not put himself in the place of God as judge, but he has to warn Gaius of the danger.

“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. ¹⁰ So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. ¹² Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true,” (3 John 1:9-12).

There is so much more that John would like to say, but he isn’t comfortable relying on his pen to speak all that is on his heart. Instead, he closes by saying as much.

“I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

“Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name,” (3 John 1:13-14).

This is all John can do for now. He blots his letters dry and prepares them for delivery, sealing each with his own stamp.

Timothy and Casius return after a week. John is in his garden when they arrive. He greets them with a warm smile.

“Shalom brothers. I trust your time in Ephesus was productive.”

Timothy eyes sparkle as he reports what they have found. “It was, brother John. The church is strong and continues to grow in the truth of the gospel.”

“Good. As it should be. Come, sit and rest a bit. I have letters for you to carry in my name, when you are sufficiently rested.”

Casius looks around for the letters while opening his bag to receive them. “We could leave now with them, brother.”

John puts a hand on Casius’ shoulder and shakes his head. With a smile he ushers both men into his home. “No. They are not that urgent. I will send you off with them in the morning. For now, come inside and I will fix us a meal.”

The three men share a simple meal and pass the night with stories of their own adventures. Morning dawns and John presents his letters to Timothy and Casius.

“This one is for all the churches.” John hands Timothy his first letter. “This one is for your Ima, Casius.” John holds his second letter out towards Casius.

Casius eyes well with tears. “She has been struggling lately. I’m certain a personal letter from you will bring her great pleasure.” Casius stops his hand in midair. He meets John’s eyes. “It’s not a strong correcting letter, is it?”

John laughs. “No my child. It is one of commendation and encouragement. The Lord has revealed to me that she has been struggling lately. He wants to lift her heart with this letter.”

Casius smile lights up his face as he eagerly receives the letter from John’s hand.

John gives his final letter to Timothy. “This one is for Gaius. The Lord has seen the opposition he is facing and wants to encourage him as well.”

Timothy receives the second letter and stores it in his bag. “We won’t fail you brother.”

“I have full confidence in you both. I will send you on your way, after we have eaten.”

After a filling meal and a prayer for safe travels, Timothy and Casius begin their journey.

John watches until they fade from view. “Watch over them Lord.”

The letters are received with joy. Over the next few years, all three are passed between the churches and copied several times. But persecution continues to grow in area and intensity. Many of the followers of Jesus lose their lives standing for Him.

to be continued

I truly wanted to put all of the remaining writings of John in this story but it proved to be too long. Revelation has so much in it that I’m finding it almost impossible to cut anything from it. I did skip a couple descriptions, but it’s still too much to add into this post. So, Revelation is still coming up. I’m hoping that I will be able to post it tomorrow. It all depends on how my husband is doing and what distractions he needs.

Father God, thank You for sharing Your stories with us. John was the last of Jesus’ disciples still on the earth. You had several lives you used him to speak into. I’m still receiving from what he wrote today.

Thank You for prompting me to break this in half so I’m not rushing through the vision You gave to John. I leave completing that in Your hands. I’ll go at whatever speed You ordain for me.