REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,…” I John 1:1-3a
As a young believer I recall attending a Christian concert where a talented gospel singer billed as “the Swedish Nightingale” was featured. Except for the memory of a beautiful voice, I recall only one song she rendered, which carried the line, “I was there when it happened, and I ought to know.” It was sung as a personal testimony to the reality of her conversion experience. (Curiously, an internet search indicates that the song was more recently popularized by Johnny Cash, but in no way was his rendering comparable to what I heard years ago.)
In our nugget for today the apostle John gives emphasis to the personal nature of the gospel record; “That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon (contemplated), and our hands have handled…we declare unto you.” What he bears witness to is not founded upon fiction or imagination, but upon tangible reality, real life experience that resulted in some remarkable conclusions regarding the person and work of the man Christ Jesus.
Given John’s assertion, it is worth noting that it is reinforced by others who were “there when it happened.” Peter, for example, declares, “…we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount [II Pet. 1:16-18].” And Paul, though not an “eyewitness” in the ordinary sense, affirms a similar assurance based on his personal encounter with the risen Christ when he says, “Last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time,” in the process confirming the witness of a number of others who were “there when it happened.” (See I Cor 15:3-8ff) In addition, of course, we have the testimony of the other three evangelists who, if they were not all associates of Christ while He was here on earth, were intimately acquainted with others who were.
Living as we do so far removed from the event itself, and confronted by skepticism and overt denial of the gospel record, it behooves us to think again of the great historical ground upon which our faith rests. We may also note in passing that these all observed not only the uniqueness of the person of Jesus, but also the drama of His death and resurrection, the great seal upon the deity of Christ. It was what these saw, heard, studied and touched that drove them to their conclusion as to who He is and from whence and why He came.
These have either passed on verifiable truth or we have the greatest collection of liars—or lunatics—in history. If you are ever tempted to doubt the gospel, remember John’s implication: “I was there when it happened, and I ought to know!”
There is another emphasis in this chapter, however, which we should not overlook. If, in fact, this is what we believe, then the same kind of veracity should be evident in our testimony. Faith in the “Word of Life” brings us into fellowship (communion) with God the Father and with His Son, in whom there is “no darkness at all.” Darkness is John’s synonym for sin; all that is contrary to the mind and heart of God. If we have a verifiable Christian experience we will, then, be found “walking in the light.” The Savior Himself said, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life [John 8:12].” And later the apostle asks the rhetorical question, “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness [II Cor. 6:14]?” The two are mutually incompatible.
This hell bound world of scoffers needs desperately to see in us tangible evidence of the salvation Christ came to provide. We profess that we have fellowship with God the Father and the Son. Let us prove it by walking in the light “If you were “there when it happened,” it ought to show!
For HIS glory and our goodI John 2,
"Pastor" Frasier
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