Jesus is Life

May 3

Read: 1 John 1:1-4

Jesus is Life

Good morning everyone! We are starting a new series of books today. I want us to read through the three epistles (letters) we have from John. Hope you guys enjoy it.

“…the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life…: (v.2)

Jesus is LIFE. Not just in some sort of theoretical way, but practically… actually… the source of all LIFE. (cf. Col 1:15-17) So often we think of the work of Jesus as purely “spiritual”, as if it only functions in a realm that we cannot see, hear, taste, touch, or feel. This is not true. The outworking of Christ is extremely tangible. Look at what John says: “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—“ (v.1) God created through the person of Jesus. Jesus has been there from the beginning as the source of LIFE. Jesus makes things come ALIVE in a way you can hear about, in ways you can see with your eyes and touch with your hands. It is as real as LIFE itself. Sometimes we miss this because we don’t expect Christ to be working in the material world despite the fact that he is the sustainer of it! We need the Lord to open our eyes to the ways Jesus is ALIVE and GIVING LIFE all around us. This includes the ways Jesus is present in those things we can see, taste, hear, and touch… the material world. This is the essence of the Kingdom of God - God fusing the eternal / spiritual with the material… two worlds being brought together. The apex of this is in US. God calling a people to himself and dwelling - Father, Son, and Spirit - within them. We are examples of this fusing together! The indwelling presence of Christ. The Holy Spirit resting in us. God making his home in us. (cf. John 14:23)

How does this work out? In a very practical matter it starts when we - God’s people - begin to share with one another all of the ways we have seen Christ working. We begin to share with one another how we have seen “the life that was from the beginning” being made “manifest” all around us. What happens when we share with one another? : “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. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (v.3-4) When we share stories of how we have seen, heard, and experience Christ (“the life”) we are brought into “fellowship” with one another. This fellowship is an unbroken line following all the way back to Christ. Furthermore, look at what John says: “…so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ…” Not only do we draw closer to each other, but we all - in turn - draw closer to the Lord. We have “fellowship” with Christ and the Father in a deeper way when we “proclaim” to one another.

There is one other thing mentioned though, and that is JOY. “…We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (v.4) It gives the share-er great JOY to proclaim what has been experienced with the Lord! Do you want to leave a conversation filled with joy? Then share some of what you have experienced with Christ. Sharing how you have experienced Christ brings us closer together in fellowship and brings us joy. This is how we fight back against feeling alone and depressed. How have you experienced Jesus in real life lately? How has God made himself manifest to you? Are you feeling alone? Are you feeling sad? There is hope and fellowship in Christ. He is the “eternal life”. Relationships with Christ should spill over into the “real world” so much more often than it does… than we “allow it” to. I put “allow it” to in quotes because I believe it actually IS pouring over into the “real” world and we just need to have eyes to see it. Will you bring JOY to someone by sharing today? Would you be willing to fellowship with others by bearing testimony? I trust that Jesus is going to meet you today in tangible ways… provision… healing… speaking to you in a way that you can hear…in the food you eat (taste)… the embrace of others… Jesus is present here in us and with us. Looking forward to more of 1 John! Love you guys. - JDP

PS- I have been thinking of putting a forum section onthebetterdaysahead.com … where people could share and post questions. Let me know if you think that is a good idea?