Being in the Presence of Jesus

As John begins his letter, he shares that what he is discussing is not merely theology. It comes from his life experiences. It represents what he has heard, seen, and touched. It represents his life – not his intellectual knowledge.

John uses words that each go beyond the simple use of our senses. He uses words that indicate that the “seeing” is not just watching from the sidelines, but understanding and experiencing Jesus in ways that go beyond the simple act of watching Him. To hear is to understand. To touch is to find out its texture, to discover what it is made of – to get to its core. What John is left with is not just head knowledge, but a life changing interaction with the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the creator, God Almighty.

What about my preaching? Am I merely trying to share what is in my head or am I willing to share the life that God has allowed me to experience with Him. If all I share is merely head knowledge, then I may as well be only a member of the crowds that followed Jesus – a spectator. May I share what I have experienced – what I have seen, heard, and understood. May I share, not from my head, but from my heart – a heart touched by the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the creator, God Almighty.

A Reflection On I John 1:1

Some thoughts from I John 1:1 ==

John has three voices as he writes. At one level he speaks for himself. He takes time to explain what he has seen, heard, and touched. He speaks about and from experiences that only he can have.

But John also speaks for the church. Five times in this first verse he uses 1^st person plural pronouns to describe what he is about to say. Though John had many personal experiences with Jesus (he was the disciple that Jesus loved), he also shared many experiences with the other disciples. History tells us that John was the only original apostle alive as he wrote these words exiled to the island of Patmos, thus his words are the last words spoken for the apostles as the church enters the patristic age.

Finally, John spoke for God. As he wrote I John, he was inspired – so that the very words he wrote were the words God intended for him to put to paper.

As a pastor, I also speak with three voices: my own, the church, and God. I pray that the three voices will be in harmony. My prayer is that I may say nothing that does not reflect well on the church and on Almighty God as seen in all three persons of the Trinity.