No Greater Joy

 

The Apostle John, who is sometimes called "the disciple that Jesus loved", had a front row seat in the earthly ministry of Christ.  He was the youngest of the disciples and brother to James.  James and John, along with Peter, were the "inner circle". They were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-2) and with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-37).   John leaned on Jesus' breast in the Upper Room (Jn 21:20) and took responsibility of Mary at the cross (Jn 19:26).

Considering this very special and close relationship John had with Jesus during His earthly ministry, it is surprising to see what he wrote in 3 John 3-4: 

 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

I'm sure there are many things John could point to for joy.  Certainly, his relationship with the risen Lord would be at top of this list.  But alongside the many things he could rejoice over, he specifically mentions the joy of hearing his children were walking in truth.  And of course, he is speaking of his spiritual children- those he had led to Christ and built in the faith.  His disciples were doing well in their walk with Christ, and he was thrilled to hear about it.

There are at least two reasons why John was rejoicing:

 

1. He loved them dearly.  He calls them his children in the faith.  He had invested in them significantly, even sacrificially.  Discipleship requires serious commitment. 

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 Jn 3:16)

The Apostle Paul echoed this sentiment when we said:

Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thes 2:8)

Like Paul, John had developed a fond affection for his spiritual children.  One of his greatest joys was to see them walking in truth. But not all his spiritual children were walking this way.  When writing to a local church he commented:

I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. (2 Jn 4a)

Some, but not all.

When we pour our lives into another, we become deeply invested in them.  There is great joy when they do well, and sadness when they don't do well.  Remember the story of the Prodigal Son that Jesus told.  The father waited and watched for the son's return.  He ran to him, embraced him, and celebrated his return.  That's the kind of love we develop with those we disciple.  John was no stranger to this sacrificial love. But there may be another reason for John's joy…

 

2. He saw lasting fruit. Jesus had promised fruit that would remain:

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." (Jn 15:16)

Some start strong in the faith but don't finish strong.  Some walk in the light, others in the darkness. 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 Jn 1:6-7)

There is incredible joy when we see those we have invested in walking with the Lord over a lifetime.  We know life has its ups and downs, its good times and hard times.  When someone perseveres in the faith it encourages us all.  And through faith and perseverance the believer will produce much lasting fruit.  And they will multiply.

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Tim 2:2-7)

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus points out the abundance of fruit produced by the good soil:

“And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." (Mt 13:8)

Living things multiply.  At maturity they start to reproduce.  It's the same in the Christian life.  Once we reach maturity we will begin to multiply- pour our lives into others so they can grow.  Multiplication is the hallmark of spiritual maturity.

So, John had great joy to see his children in the faith walking in truth.  They were growing in the faith and leading others.  There was lasting fruit.  As the Apostle Paul said:

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thes 2:19-20)

He had no greater joy.  How about you? Are you investing in others.  Will you have a crowd around you in heaven to rejoice over?  Let's begin today.  Pray that the Lord will lead you to those you can disciple.  It will be the best investment you could possibly make- for now and for eternity.

All passages in this post were taken from The New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).