The Apostle John wrote five of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. They are the Gospel that bears his name, three letters (1, 2 & 3 John) and the Revelation. His books tend to focus on life, light and love as key aspects of our relationship with God. Indeed, in 1 John 1 we have already had mention of life and light.
John’s unique addition to the proclamation of the Gospel is that he is the only one of the Apostles who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. He is very clear on his role: He is a witness. “That which was form the beginning, which we have hear, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, . . . we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us. . . .” And by having fellowship with John, he means that we would believe in Jesus and have fellowship with Him, and through Him with the Father in Heaven.
The language here is reminiscent of Acts where Jesus called John (and us as we have fellowship with John) to be His witnesses. Acts 4:20 accentuates that point. As Peter and John were on trial before the Sanhedrin, part of their defense was, “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” John is saying the same thing over again for us, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you. . . .”
What John has seen and heard has to do with the separation between God and man. “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” Yet mankind – us included – tends to “walk in darkness.” Just as darkness is the absence of light, in our sin, we try to live in the absence of God. This is part of our central problem with God; we reject him when we sin. In essence, when we choose to sin, and especially when we refuse to recognize that sin, we are telling God that we do not want Him. We prefer darkness.
How then can we move from walking darkness to being in the light? How can this problem be solved?
How do you solve the problem of a room being in darkness? You bring light to it. Perhaps you light a candle. Maybe you turn on a flash light. You might turn on an overhead light. Whatever you do, bring light to the darkness.
That’s exactly what God did.
In his Gospel, John spoke of Jesus as “the light” that has entered this world. He takes our darkness away. As it says in 1 John 1:7, “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” This cleansing is like light shining on the darkness, driving it away.
The fellowship we have is rooted in the state of having been in the darkness and now being in light. Living in the light is being forgiven, confessing our sins and having the Word, Jesus Himself, in us.
Perhaps today would be a good day to say sorry and ask someone for forgiveness.
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be the light of the world. Help me to walk in the light and live in fellowship with You and all my brothers and sisters in Christ, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
John’s unique addition to the proclamation of the Gospel is that he is the only one of the Apostles who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. He is very clear on his role: He is a witness. “That which was form the beginning, which we have hear, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, . . . we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us. . . .” And by having fellowship with John, he means that we would believe in Jesus and have fellowship with Him, and through Him with the Father in Heaven.
The language here is reminiscent of Acts where Jesus called John (and us as we have fellowship with John) to be His witnesses. Acts 4:20 accentuates that point. As Peter and John were on trial before the Sanhedrin, part of their defense was, “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” John is saying the same thing over again for us, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you. . . .”
What John has seen and heard has to do with the separation between God and man. “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” Yet mankind – us included – tends to “walk in darkness.” Just as darkness is the absence of light, in our sin, we try to live in the absence of God. This is part of our central problem with God; we reject him when we sin. In essence, when we choose to sin, and especially when we refuse to recognize that sin, we are telling God that we do not want Him. We prefer darkness.
How then can we move from walking darkness to being in the light? How can this problem be solved?
How do you solve the problem of a room being in darkness? You bring light to it. Perhaps you light a candle. Maybe you turn on a flash light. You might turn on an overhead light. Whatever you do, bring light to the darkness.
That’s exactly what God did.
In his Gospel, John spoke of Jesus as “the light” that has entered this world. He takes our darkness away. As it says in 1 John 1:7, “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” This cleansing is like light shining on the darkness, driving it away.
The fellowship we have is rooted in the state of having been in the darkness and now being in light. Living in the light is being forgiven, confessing our sins and having the Word, Jesus Himself, in us.
Perhaps today would be a good day to say sorry and ask someone for forgiveness.
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be the light of the world. Help me to walk in the light and live in fellowship with You and all my brothers and sisters in Christ, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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