Jesus Coveted Face to Face Encounters

What Did Jesus Do?

I had much to write to you…but I hope to see you soon,
and we will talk face to face.
3 John 13-14

There is much to be said for the written word. In fact, it is hard to overestimate the importance of books, and one book in particular. God himself inspired the authors of the books of the Bible to write down his Word and preserve it for all ages, and to this day believers esteem the Bible as our rule for faith and life. But, as powerful as the written word is, we can’t have much of a relationship with a printed page. It’s simply not possible to have a close, loving relationship with a book, even the Bible. And relationship is important to God, so much so that the Father sent the Son to both redeem us from our sins, and restore us to right relationship. The Incarnation was God’s Word leaping off the page, so to speak, and seeking us. Look through the Gospels. Can you find any place where they tell us about any proclamations Jesus printed and distributed? Any reports of press releases? Can you find any mention of Jesus writing anything at all besides the message in the sand when a woman who had been caught in adultery was brought before him for judgment (John 8:1-11)? Anything about Jesus blogging, or handing out tracts? Not to take anything at all away from the essential nature of the written Word, but the truth is, Jesus, the Word made flesh, coveted face to face encounters. And so do his followers.

The two most prolific authors of the New Testament, Paul and John, would certainly affirm the importance of the written word. But their writing also makes it clear how much more value they placed on face to face meetings, on genuine, intimate fellowship (see Romans 1:11; 2 Corinthians 1:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; 1 Timothy 3:14; 2 Timothy 1:4; 2 John 12, and here in 3 John 14). Writing, no matter how skillful, no matter how truthful, no matter how loving, can never take the place of actual face to face encounters. It is impossible for us to share the fullness of God’s truth and love through writing and correspondence alone. While I certainly don’t match up with a Paul or a John, writing is a major part of my ministry. In fact, since stepping down from the pulpit over four years ago now, most of my ministry is confined to writing. And so I believe I know something of the longing, expressed by both Paul and John, for face to face encounters with other believers.

But, make no mistake, neither Paul nor John was looking forward to merely sitting in a pew besides other believers for an hour on the Lord’s Day. The longing was for deep, extended, and rich relationship. The anticipation was for face to face, not Facebook, conversation, for meals at table together, for prayer, not in a private closet but in an intimate circle. The desire was for coming together to do the work of ministry as yokefellows, to walk the walk of faith side by side, day by day. I believe Paul and John, to say nothing of the Lord himself, would be shocked at how rare real fellowship is in so much of the Church today, at how shallow most Christian relationships, even within our very own families, have become.

Perhaps your family is an exception, and your congregation may be exceptional as well. But, if you are like much of the Body of Christ today, you too may share the longing of John, of Paul, and of Jesus, for intimate relationship and true fellowship, I know do. If so, we would all do well to follow the Lord’s example, and, coveting face to face encounters, go and seek our brothers and talk with our sisters daily, building our relationships. That’s what Jesus did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
Ps 37.4