1 John 1:1 (verse-by-verse)

Passage: 1 John 1:1

Title: The Voice and Touch of God

Summary: The Apostle John, walked, heard, seen, and touched God in the flesh Jesus; John is writing because of his desire to communicate unto us that he had experienced God personally and intimately, and this very day, this very moment, so too can we because God is giving each of us the same invitation today.

1 John 1:1–4 (NKJV) 1 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, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

Written To:

Written to Christians of All Maturity / Children – Young Men - Fathers

This book we will see is written for Christians of all ages. Christians at varying levels of spiritual growth, children, young men, and fathers; it is written to all.

(1 John 2:12 NKJV) I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.

(1 John 2:13 NKJV) I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

(1 John 2:14 NKJV) I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

Each Stage – Deeper Understanding / Read Regularly / Stay School / God’s Light – Love – Life

As I grow, from a child to a young man, to a father, then this Book will take on a deeper meaning and understanding at each stage in my spiritual growth, therefore I need to read this Book on a regular basis. This is a great book for spiritual growth, for Christian maturity, stay in school and watch what God will do in your life; God takes His Light and will shine it on areas of our heart and say, “where are you at in this area”. God will take His Love, and pour it out upon us and say, “you are my child” and this is how I want you to love, as I love. And throughout the book God will show us where Life is, it is in Him, so that we may know eternal life, and our joy may be full (v.4). Thus the Simple Outline of this Book.

Simple Outline of 1 John

God is Light – (Chapter 1-2)

God is Love – (Chapter 3-4)

God is Life – (Chapter 5)

Written By John:

Writings – Pastured Ephesus / Around 90AD

John wrote this epistle, as all early church writings agree upon. Early Church writings also say that John served as pastor of the church in Ephesus, which was founded by Paul (Acts 18-19). The writing of this epistle is dated somewhere around 90-100AD. John himself is close to 90 to 100 years old.

Review John / Know his Heart / Where from – Where God Took him / A Fisherman / Family Biz

It is good to review the author of this epistle, to know his heart, to know where he came from, and where God took Him. John the Apostle; he was a fisherman, he and his brother James were in the business together as a family with their father. Jesus called John:

(Matthew 4:21 NKJV) Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,

(Matthew 4:22 NKJV) and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Who Jesus Loved

John would write of himself, the one whom Jesus loved:

(John 13:23 NKJV) Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Not Bragging – Amazed / Apostle of Love – Not Always

I do not think he meant that as a bragging statement, but as an "amazing" statement. Jesus loves me,! When I look back over my life, when I look at my life today, I say to myself ……….amazing, how could He love me as He does? Be willing to go to the cross for me, put up with me, ohh how patient He has been and is with me. I take comfort in the life of John; he is known as the "Apostle of Love", well it wasn't always that way.

Son’s of Thunder / Fire from Heaven

He and his brother were quite the pair, Jesus called them the "sons of thunder" because of their temper. Remember when the people would not let them enter the city, they asked the Lord should we call fire down form heaven:

(Luke 9:53 NKJV) But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

(Luke 9:54 NKJV) And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"

(Luke 9:55 NKJV) But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

Not Best Ministry Practice

Not the best ministry philosophy; I would imagine when you came to town to do a crusade it would be light turn-out, for most of the town would evacuate before you got there.

No Clue in Beginning / Jesus brought along – Developed / Who Greatest

In the beginning John really had no clue about the ministry of Jesus Christ, Jesus had to bring him along and develop him. The inner circle as they were known, Peter, James, and John had argued over who would be the greatest in the Kingdom:

(Mark 9:33 NKJV) Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"

(Mark 9:34 NKJV) But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

(Mark 9:35 NKJV) And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

Jesus is like how long am I going to have to put up with you guys, get a clue:

John – James – Mommy / The Kingdom

Then there is James and John, and their mommy. When you enter the kingdom may my sons sit at your right and left:

(Matthew 20:20 NKJV) Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

(Matthew 20:21 NKJV) And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."

(Matthew 20:22 NKJV) But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able."

(Matthew 20:23 NKJV) So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

(Matthew 20:24 NKJV) And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.

Jesus Brings Along / Patient / How About You – Look at John / Philippians 1:6

Jesus is ever so patient with him, with us, and He patiently develops us, brings us along. Have you are or are you looking back at the years that have gone by and say, gone. Maybe even wasted, and nothing to show for it. God says to us today look at John, go ahead laugh it is ok, does he remind you anybody. I brought him along, I worked him all along the way, maybe he didn't get it at first, maybe he was a loose cannon early on, but he is proof of Philippians:

(Philippians 1:4 NKJV) always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

(Philippians 1:5 NKJV) for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

(Philippians 1:6 NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

You are Here Today / Doesn’t Matter – That’s All He Needs

Christian you are here today, doesn't matter where you have been, what you have been doing, how bad you have blown it, how little you have done, the fact is that you are here, and that is all God needs to keep working and doing what He wills to do in your life. Notice equation of Philippians 1:5-6, is your fellowship with the gospel.

Only Disciple at Cross / Got the Main Thing- the Cross / Had Many Accomplishments

John was the only disciple there at the cross, he may not have got it all, but he got the main thing, and the main thing was the cross. John accomplishments could read being there at the cross when all others had scattered, writing one Gospel, 3 epistles, and the unveiling of the last Days, the Book of Revelation. But you know what I think is one of the greatest moments of his life:

(John 19:25 NKJV) Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

(John 19:26 NKJV) When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"

(John 19:27 NKJV) Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Jesus Entrusted Mary to him / Forsaken – Alone / What God Entrusted to You

Jesus, God in the flesh, entrusted to him (Mary) the one God had entrusted with the greatest treasure of the world. Can you imagine God entrusting to you the care of His earthly mother. That day at the cross Mary would be left alone, she would be forsaken by many, a widow left to fend for herself possibly, yet Jesus entrusted her to John. What has God entrusted to you, what treasure of His has He put on loan to you. Is it His daughter, the one you call wife, His son, the one you call husband, is it a child, is it a widower you go visit every week, is it someone else’s child He entrusts to you to teach them His ways.

Not Far from John / I could be Apostle – Fire – Ranking - Mommy

You know we really are not that far off from the disciples; If Jesus came in 2023 I think I could have been an apostle, I think I meet the minimum criteria. No Roman Empire to despise, but I could easily be looking for a Savior to come and set the radical Islamic extremist in order. I could easy suggest fire from heaven for those who mistreated me, my pride – before I got it, would easy be wondering what my ranking would be when He established His Kingdom. If any of you know my mother, I could see her right there probing Jesus, when you come into your Kingdom can my little Ray-Ray sit at your right and Richy on the Left.

Bible Guy – Super Spiritual / Just Like Us – God brings them Along / The Apostle of Love

We think the Bible guys are some super-spiritual people (by the way youth, many believe that John was only a teenager or in his early 20’s when Jesus called him), when in actuality they are absolutely no different than us, they had their faults just like us, and they all started just like us, not getting it, but then they did, then we did, and God starts working. God moves us from a people who desire to call fire from heaven down upon people, people desiring to be the greatest in the kingdom, to people who write one of the greatest messages of love in the history of mankind, and not even start the letter off with our name, or throw our position of authority around. No, just a letter of love, for that is what he became known as, the apostle of love.

What's Going On in Ephesus:

To Understand Epistle / Like Today / 4 Factors Going On

To understand the First Epistle of John we must know something about the city of Ephesus. It was very much like your city or hometown today. There were four important factors which prevailed in Ephesus and throughout the Roman world at the time of this writing:

60 Years after Cross / Children – Grandchildren / Newness Worn off / Jesus Warns them in Rev 2

1.) There was an easy familiarity with Christianity. It is now about 60-70 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Many of the believers were children and grandchildren of the first Christians. The new and bright sheen of the Christian faith had become tarnished. The newness had worn off. The thrill and glory of the first days had faded. The Ephesians’ devotion and dedication to Christ was fading. The Lord Jesus sent a letter to the Ephesian believers through John while he was in exile on the Island of Patmos, He said:

(Revelation 2:1 NKJV) "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

(Revelation 2:2 NKJV) "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

(Revelation 2:3 NKJV) "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

(Revelation 2:4 NKJV) "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

(Revelation 2:5 NKJV) "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.

Early Christians Different / Just Blending In

2.) Blending In; The high standards of Christianity made the early Christians different, but the children and grandchildren of the first Christians did not want to be different. They pretty much were just blending in with the rest of the world around them. It is easy for us to fall into both these areas as Christians in the year 2023.

Not Persecution Outside – Seduction Inside / False Teachers / Attempt to Improve It - Respect

3.) False Teachers: Persecution was going on around them and against them, but the greatest danger to the Ephesian church was not persecution from the outside but seduction from the inside, by false teachers. Christianity was not in danger of being destroyed; it was in danger of being changed. The attempt was being made to improve it, give it intellectual respectability, and let it speak in the terms of the popular philosophy of its day, to make it more palatable to the world around them. We see it in many churches today where you will hear more of man's philosophy from the pulpit then you will hear the Word of God.

Gnosticism / Gnosis – to Know / False Teachers – Super Knowledge / Had to Follow Them

4.) Special Knowledge: Gnosticism was the real enemy of Christianity, and it still is today. Gnosticism was the basic philosophy of the Roman Empire. Gnosticism came from the Greek word, "Gnosis" which means "to Know". These false teachers of the day claimed that they had "super knowledge" a special revelation from God, and that the people needed to come hear what it was, and if they didn't follow it, they would not receive eternal life. They taught things like Jesus really didn't come in the flesh but was just a spirit, like a phantom, didn't leave footprints when He walked in the sand. They taught that you can do whatever you want with your body, it didn't matter for the body was evil, only the spirit mattered, all you had to do was profess with your mouth and you were saved. Not much has changed in 2000 years with Eastern mysticism, the New Age Movement, and of course as I call it- Easy Believism, doesn't matter what you do, just what you say.

So He Writes:

Theme:

That Your Joy may be Full:

(1 John 1:4 NKJV) And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

That You may not Sin / When you Do Sin

(1 John 2:1 NKJV) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

That You may not be Deceived

(1 John 2:26 NKJV) These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

That You may know you have Eternal Life

(1 John 5:13 NKJV) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

He Writes / Kindle - Shake – Contrasts/Standard - False Doctrine

In his themes we see:

He writes to kindle the flame of those whose love was waxing cold. He writes to shake up the Christians who were trying to just blend in with the world around them. He will write, using many contrasts, so that there will be no "middle ground" to stand on. Everyone will see and know what God's standard is. He writes to correct the false teachings and errant doctrine that was confusing the people; a doctrine that was leading some to damnation, and others to wonder if they had salvation or not.

Robbery / Not just to Know Theologically – Profess / to Experience – Light, Love, Life

All these things will rob a person of experiencing all God has for them. John (inspired of God) doesn't just want us to know God theologically, or just by profession, but to experience Him. To experience His Light, His Love, and His Life. John wants us to have the same experience with Jesus as He did.

Outline: The God Man (the Incarnation of Jesus Christ) – (1:1-4)

· God Came in the Flesh – (1:1-2)

· God Came for Fellowship – (1:3)

· God Came so our Joy may be Full – (1:4)

The God Man (the Incarnation of Jesus Christ) – (1:1-4)

God Came in the Flesh – (1:1-2)

(1 John 1:1 NKJV) 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, concerning the Word of life;

4 Beginnings

Verse 1- That which was from the beginning- There are 4 beginnings recorded for us in the Word:

(Genesis 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

(John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(Mark 1:1 NKJV) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

(1 John 1:1 NKJV) 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, concerning the Word of life;

50’s – 70’s – Today / Dan 12

It is interesting that in the 1950's the school textbooks said the earth was 10,000 years old. In the 70's they bumped it up to millions of years old, and now in the 21stcentury the earth is billions of years old. They have to add time in order to fit their theory, because the more they learn about science and the universe, the more they conclude that these things could not happen within that time period. They are fulfilling prophecy actually, what the prophet Daniel said over 2,500 years ago:

(Daniel 12:4 NKJV) "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."

As Far Back – Out Steps Jesus

Whether you are a nonbeliever, or a believer, as far back as you think it is, if you think there is a gap theory in Genesis 1, or evolution, or even theistic evolution, an old earth theory, a young earth theory, as far back as you think it is, when you get there, God will have already stepped out and met you there, and as far as you go back, whatever you think that is, there you will find Jesus:

(1 John 1:1 NKJV) That which was from the beginning……………..

Same as John 1:1 & Rev 1 / The Everlasting One / Eternal One – Limited to Nothing

John starts this epistle, the same way he started his gospel, and the same way he started the Book of Revelation, Jesus was in the beginning, He is everlasting, He is the everlasting One. As far back as your mind can go, there you will find Jesus. He is the Eternal One, therefore He is limited by nothing, and thus there is nothing He cannot do. So what is it today that you need from the Eternal One?

(John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(John 1:2 NKJV) He was in the beginning with God…………………………..

(John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

(Revelation 1:8 NKJV) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Nothing Changed – Nothing New / Super Knowledge / Message Same – Regardless of Day

(1 John 1:1 NKJV) That which was from the beginning…….John starts here in these letters to make the point, nothing has changed, there is no new revelation, no super knowledge. John’s messages from the Lord are all in unison, you can see that through all his writings. He does not change the message to come in line with the times, now that we are so much smarter we can update this message. No, that which was from the beginning, has not changed, and you can take comfort in that:

(Malachi 3:6 NKJV) "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

(Hebrews 13:8 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Take Comfort – Doesn’t Change His Mind / Says Same from John to Revelation

I am glad He doesn’t change, because I would always worry that maybe He changed His mind about me. John affirms us, and reassures us that God does not change, and everything He said in this epistle, He said in the Gospel and Revelation:

*He goes on there in verse 1 after establishing that Jesus is eternal, and He never changes:

Plural / Apostle

Verse 1 – Which We:John using plural verb form here because he is referring to being there with the other 11 apostles.

The Word Became Flesh

John said we have seen him, we touched him, and I do not believe he is only talking about when he walked with Jesus before the cross, for after the cross Jesus said to them, touch Me (dispels the errant teaching that Jesus was just a spirit, some phantom - for spirits don't have scars, or holes in them). The Word of Life became flesh:

(John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(John 1:2 NKJV) He was in the beginning with God…………………………..

(John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

1.) Heard / The Voice & More

Verse 1- which we have heard, - John heard the voice of God and more.

Woman in Adultery

I heard Him say to the woman caught in adultery, after all the rocks were dropped, go and sin no more.

(John 8:10 NKJV) When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"

(John 8:11 NKJV) She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

The Way – Proved it on Cross

I heard Him say, I am the way the truth and the life; then I saw Him prove it on the cross:

(John 14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Night Betrayed / Heard His Heart Beat

That night He was betrayed, not only did He touch me, that same night I rested my head on His chest, I heard the heart beat of God:

(John 13:23 NKJV) Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

2.) Seen – Gazed / What did John See

Verse 1- which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, - What did John see?

Saw Him / Gazed Upon Him – Theater / Understand Plot – Get Involved in the Play

John is saying we seen the Word of Life, God, in the flesh. We watched Him. There are two different Greek words used for “we saw Him and we gazed upon Him.” The word translated, looked upon, is to gaze steadfastly, to study or to have studied. The Greek word is a word from which we get our English word, theater. Where you go and you’re transfixed as you look at the play and you get involved in trying to understand the plot and the whole thing. You’re transfixed by it and that’s the word that is used, We looked upon, as the theater or gazing and studying and looking steadfastly.

Wept for Jerusalem

We saw the pain in His face when He wept for Jerusalem and the destruction that was soon to come upon it.

(Matthew 23:37 NKJV) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Wept for Lazarus

We saw His tears as He wept when word came to Him that Lazarus was dead, He was grieved to hear the news of the one He loved:

(John 11:32 NKJV) Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."

(John 11:33 NKJV) Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.

(John 11:34 NKJV) And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."

(John 11:35 NKJV) Jesus wept.

Compassion for Leprosy

We saw the compassion on His face when the man with leprosy asked will you cleanse me. People would run the other way when they saw a leprous person, how long had it been since someone touched him, didn’t turn form him, judge him, and Jesus touches Him. John saw it, He saw first hand the compassion of Christ.

(Luke 5:12 NKJV) And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

(Luke 5:13 NKJV) Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him.

Blind Bartimaeus

We saw the smile on His face when blind Bartimaeus saw for the first time in his life, and the first thing he saw was Jesus' face. Imagine never seeing anything, and then to see Jesus, I can only imagine the smile on everyone's face:

(Mark 10:46 NKJV) Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

(Mark 10:47 NKJV) And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Fed 5000 / Compassion – Sheep without Shepherd

We saw Him feed 5,000; we looked at Him as He looked at the people, like sheep without a shepherd, and He had to do something about it:

(Mark 6:34 NKJV) And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

(John 6:9 NKJV) "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"

(John 6:10 NKJV) Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

(John 6:11 NKJV) And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

(John 6:12 NKJV) So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."

(John 6:13 NKJV) Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

Bread of Life / 12 Leftover / Reminded of His Compassion – Ability / God Gives us Baskets

When it was all done, the next day, He said "I am the bread of life".

(John 6:35 NKJV) And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

There were 12 baskets left over filled with bread, one for each of His disciples. John and the disciples would look at the bread in those baskets and be reminded, we wanted to send them home, hungry, but God showed us something more about Himself. Every time John would see a basket full of bread at the market or in a home he would be reminded of that day, the power, compassion, provision of the One he called Lord. God gives us baskets in our lives, something that when we think about it we are reminded of how He came through for us, showed us something we had never noticed before about Him, and like John we tell others, I saw Him work with my own eyes.

3.) Handled / John Touched – God Touched

Verse 1- and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life – John touched God and God touched God

3 Years Walk Together / A Hill – Hand on Back – Washed my Feet

For 3 years they would be with Jesus almost everywhere He went. I can easily imagine them helping each other up a hill as they walked to another town. Jesus putting His hand on John's back as they walked and saying, how are you doing today. That night, that last supper, after we broke bread together, He touched me, he washed my feet, God washed my feet:

(John 13:5 NKJV) After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Touch My Scars

After the resurrection Jesus said touch me, touch my scars

(John 20:26 NKJV) And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"

(John 20:27 NKJV) Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

Conclusion

John writes to Communicate his Experience / So too can We Experience

John is writing because of his desire to communicate unto us that he had experienced God in the flesh, and so too can we.

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need