BALDUNG GRIEN, Hans, Nativity, 1520
1 John 1:1-3
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
Here is the sweet thing about the word of life made manifest to us…it was SEEN!
Those who really saw Him and heard Him, personally proclaim it to us now. They testify and we have their testimony written down. They wrote it down so that we might have fellowship with them and with the Father and Son.
Someone once said that people might die for a lie…but they don’t willingly die for something they KNOW is a lie. The men who penned the gospels most likely did not make up a lie and then die for it…knowing that it was a lie. They…along with Christ…were either liars or lunatics (as C.S. Lewis puts it) OR they were telling the truth.
Does that give you comfort? It is what helped my son come to a decision that He can believe in Jesus even though He can’t see Him.
This passage gives me great comfort. Comfort that God came in the flesh to rescue the souls of man. That His body seen on earth and recorded is concrete evidence for me to either believe or reject. John says that that which was from the beginning has been heard, seen and TOUCHED!
The Word made flesh touched. Mary held Him as a baby. The apostles tried to hold on to Him as their earthly leader. The sick were touched BY Him and were healed. Some touched Him and believed. I think of Thomas touching the wound of the risen Christ. Christ requesting that He put His hand in His side. This is what He does with us today. He longs for us to experience Him in the gospels and believe. And those who believe and have not seen with their own eyes…they are blessed.
“24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ 28 Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29 Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
To do right now: Who is in your life that does not believe? Pray for him, her, or them. Would you consider e-mailing them a link to this online devotional or another like it? Meditate on the verses above. Write a prayer or journal about what you’ve meditated on. Listen to Fullness of Grace (clicking on this link will take you to the song on youtube).
If you would like this week’s entire 5 day devotional in as a pdf, click below.
