At the end of the shorter letters of John we find a common Hebrew expression, one which gives his letters a certain warmth, despite their brevity. The apostle states that he prefers not to write with pen and ink, but to visit and discuss remaining matters “face to face.” Quite literally the text says: “mouth to mouth,” a Hebrew expression which indicates that all emphasis falls on the spoken word. In the apostle's view, living communication is better than a written letter.

Indeed, so it remains today. In all our relationships speaking face to face far surpasses written communication. Particularly in the bonds of love and marriage, written communication over a great distance is a poor substitute for being able to see and speak directly with each other. After all, communication is more than words. By seeing the person with whom you are speaking, you can judge sincerity, and also clear away misunderstandings if they arise.

The Old Testament, too, shows how the speaking “face to face” surpasses any indirect or written form of communication. Of Moses God says, “With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly and not in dark speech; and he beholds the form of the LORD,” Numbers 12:8. God spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend, Exodus 33:11. Indeed, this special way of speaking marked Moses off from any other prophet. As the mediator of the Old Testament, he received a special insight into God's ways and purposes. And he saw many heavenly things which were hidden from others, Exodus 33:17ff. The LORD never spoke to another prophet so directly as He spoke with Moses, Deuteronomy 34:10.

We know that Moses' office is fulfilled in Jesus Christ! He is the great Mediator to which Moses pointed, the true prophet that was coming! He is the image of the invisible God, and in Him we all may behold the form of God. And He dwelt among us, and so calls us friends.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from the Father I have made known to you.John 15:15

Here John is the apostle who writes of the new bond of fellowship which the Lord creates with His own on the basis of His completed work. It is a bond of friendship in which the full will of God is disclosed!

This new bond of fellowship is accentuated in the closing words of John's last letter. His is not a group or club spirit, by which he wishes to isolate those whom he and his friends do not like. Rather, he writes to the elect lady, one of the churches he knew and was familiar with. And he writes to Gaius, a leading figure in the church. And the content of his letters indicate that the basis of the new fellowship of friends is a love for the commandments of God based on the completed work of Christ. And the heart of these commandments is love – the love of God and the neighbour.

This is the bond of fellowship that yearns for the communication that is “mouth to mouth.” and “face to face.” And does this not represent the love that Christ has for His church? This is the way the Lord wants to address His people. His is a living voice! As the Bridegroom. He longs to see the Bride, and speak directly with her!

But the apostle is aware of and accepts the constraints of this dispensation. He passes on the necessary things by letter. The fellowship – rich as it is – is still not complete. There is still distance. His letters deal with those things which remain hindrances to full fellowship. The evil one sends his false deceivers, through which the fellowship is damaged. Those who present themselves as Christian workers must be tested in their doctrine. And the fellowship is also attacked from within. There are those who, like Diotrephes, put themselves first and so block the avenues of communication. The evil one still does much damage in the vineyard of the Lord.

So the apostle Paul also says that “we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face,” 1 Corinthians 13:12. The path of prophecy is still imperfect, beset with strife and struggle. And the imperfect must give way for perfection. The Lord addresses us face to face, and has given us all we need. He speaks to us today in a living way in Word and sacrament. But the distance is still there. As the bridegroom works to bring that distance to an end, so we may look forward to a richer communication that is coming.

So the conclusions to these letters typify the hope of the church. Our life in Christ is one in which we strain forward in the earnest expectation of a communication that is “mouth to mouth” and “face to face.” That is the day when, as John says, “our joy will be complete.” For then faith gives way to sight, and the fullness of communication as the Lord Himself has desired it will be established. Then we shall know even as we are known, and then we may rejoice fully in the fellowship that never ends.