The Little Letters - Day 1

1 John 1:1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

First, I want you to understand that these letters are the writings of a pastor to his congregation. John loved these people and wanted what was best for them. He knew them and wanted them to live in the love and grace he had experienced as a witness to what Jesus had done. And it was as a  witness that John’s authority became authentic. He could testify to what he had seen because he had seen it with his own eyes, heard with his ears, and even touched with his hands. He was not speaking of something he was unfamiliar with; instead, he was speaking from experience. 

Interestingly, the idea of “witness” in the churches that John had planted seems to have had a specific function and role. In some ways, it takes the place of “minister,” “pastor,” or even “apostle.” John was all these things, but at the time of writing, he was probably the last apostle still alive and preaching eyewitness accounts of what Jesus had done. 

The text starts with the proclamation that he is an eyewitness to who Jesus was. His personal experience gives him the credentials and credibility to speak. However, he wants to avoid making himself the object of the conversation. Instead, he would like the focus and attention to be on Jesus. Almost awkwardly, he repeats himself about what he has seen. He wishes to underscore that he is giving witness to something that is not a figment of his imagination but to the real and authentic life and teachings of Jesus Christ. 

1. What can you give witness to about the life of Christ and how it works in your life? 
2. Have you ever thought that all this faith stuff is a figment of your imagination? 
3. How can you be sure that what you have witnessed is genuine?