Dec 7 – Zechariah 1, Zechariah 2, Zechariah 3, Zechariah 4, 3 John 1:1-14, Psalm 139:11-16

3 John 1:9-12

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 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. 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.

I wonder how it would feel to be mentioned by name in the bible. I know that my name is Luke but that doesn’t really count… imagine getting a special mention by one of the apostles. Imagine getting a copy of the letter as it circulated around the churches and seeing your name in there. 

Well… that can be good. But it can also be bad. 

In these two passage John mentions two people by name. Diotrephes and Demetrius. 

The first, Diotrephes does not get a good emotion at all. John directly calls him out and says he’s talking “wicked nonsense” Just imagine a church leader today saying that about someone… they’d be hauled over social media and accused of not being loving. But John wasn’t afraid to say it like it is.

Who was this guy? Well he was probably a gentile convert as his name means “nurtured by Jupiter” (not what you’d call a traditional Jewish name) He was either a leader on in a position of influence and it seems he was abusing that for his own means. He wasn’t taking authority but building up his own name. Not only that he seems to have been slandering John and the apostles and refusing them access to his church. No good. he represents everything a good church leaders should not be. He is an example not to imitate.

Now as for Demetrius, this guy set a great example. (Incidentally there is another guy with the same name mentioned in acts – who started a riot because Paul’s preaching was effecting idol sales… don’t confuse them – a very different guy). John commends Demetrius for his commitment to the truth. He says everyone who knows him says good things about him. And we know nothing more about him. But all we do know… it’s good.

Two different reports, both names recorded forever. If an apostle was writing about you, what would they say? What report would they have?

I don’t know how either of these guys ended their race, but this report has lasted for 2,000 years. I know which one I’d rather have.