Inspired to Declare Christ Jesus

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us – we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 

—1 John 1:1-4

John begins writing his first epistle, a sermon really, with the passage above. As with his gospel, he begins at the beginning, before time, before creation, when only the three persons of God existed. John introduces his writing poetically setting forth Jesus as God, He who existed in the beginning. John and others saw, looked at and touched Jesus, and they experienced the holy revelation of Jesus as God.  

Imbedded in the first sentence are two additional descriptions of Jesus. The words suggest that Jesus is “the word of life” and “the eternal life.” John and others saw, heard and touched with their hands the word of life. How might they touch the word of life? It is embodied in the being of Christ Jesus.

John continues saying, “this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.” “This life” refers to the word of life, which was revealed to them, and they now declare “the eternal life that was with the Father…” Eternal life is connected to the word of life and is also embodied in the being of Christ Jesus.

How does this connection influence your understanding of Jesus’ statements concerning eternal life or His statement that He came to earth to provide life abundant (see John 10:10)? In a single conversation recorded in chapter 6 of John’s gospel, Jesus makes the following statements about eternal life. 

“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”  John 6:27

“This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”  John 6:40

“Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”  John 6:47-51

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.”  John 6:54-57

Jesus says, “and the bread that I give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus did indeed give His flesh for the life of the world, and it is clear from His statements that this quality of life offered in and through Him and described as eternal life and life abundant is something that begins while we are still alive, in our human bodies here on earth. It is available now and it lasts forever.

So if Jesus embodies the word of life and eternal life, and He came to provide life abundant, how do we access this amazing quality of life? We access it through Him and in Him. We access it by believing in Him, following Him, communing with Him, abiding in Him, and allowing Him to abide in us.

Discussing grapevine and branches, Jesus urges us to abide in Him and to allow Him to abide in us. Then He says, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). Later in the same discourse Jesus says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:24). Through Jesus, as we engage in relationship with Him we experience His joy.

God’s holy word describes this experience in many ways using a number of different images because translating the heavenly into words and thoughts that we mere humans are capable of comprehending must be difficult. The experiential characteristic of Christ Jesus abiding in a person is referred to as “the fruit of the Spirit” which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22). As He transforms our spirits and souls we experience His joy and reveal it to others.

Through Jesus, John and others experienced this amazing life, and because they shared the amazing experience, they enjoy a unique bond of fellowship with one another and with God the Father and Jesus Christ. And while that is wonderful, John writes the document known as 1 John to declare Christ Jesus and to describe his experiences with Christ Jesus to everyone, so they too will join in fellowship with other believers and with the three persons of God.

John was inspired to the point of being compelled to write the words we now know as 1 John. He had to write them down, as if the words were bursting forth from within him and he had to communicate the thoughts to others and once he placed the words on paper his joy was complete. I have heard it said that Christianity claims exclusivity, but John wrote inviting everyone to experience what he experienced and inviting everyone to join in his fellowship with others and with Christ Jesus. Through Christ Jesus, God extended an open invitation.

I have heard similar accounts regarding George Frideric Handel’s oratoria “Messiah.” Over a twenty-four day period in 1741, the composer wrote the music, which comprised over 200 pages. Given the subject matter, his pace of composition and the beauty of the score, many believe the “Messiah” was divinely inspired, as if the notes were within him bursting to be written on the page.  

I have heard it said that Michelangelo, when asked how he was able to create the larger-than-life marble statue of King David currently housed in Florence, Italy, replied that David was in the stone merely waiting for someone to release him. What has God placed within you that is bursting to get out? What is God compelling you to accomplish to complete your satisfaction and joy?

We are each called to share the good news of Christ Jesus with others, and to include everyone within our fellowship with one another and with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I pray you experience Christ Jesus in a life changing way, you abide in Him and He in you, and you discern His mission for you to complete your satisfaction and joy. Amen.