How many people do you know who break into song when they are trying to teach you something? Me either. It’s pretty rare, I’d think. But pretty cool, too. Hanging out with an old guy who did that would be pretty interesting. Guy like John. John’s been laying out all this astonishing stuff in his letter – stuff about the Word of Life, the Holy Spirit, overcoming sin, and loving in a radical way. Then, unexpectedly, he breaks into song! Like most good songs, the lyrics are pretty simple on the surface but carry a mother-lode of deep meaning for the one who stops to ponder what they say. Here it is:
I write to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children,
because you have known the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:12-14)
Don’t be fooled by how apparently simple this is. Chew on it and try to tease out what John is trying to sing/say…
