Life Manifest
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
This letter,
Written by John the Apostle (johannes)
Probably written from Ephesus is modern day Turkyie
Probably written later in his life to the church to encourage them in their faith. We’ll shortly see how he encouraged them.
John wrote a Gospel and the Reveleation of Jesus Christ.
Concerning the Word of Life
Concerning the Word of Life
John is going to opne by telling us what he’s going to talk about. Classic communication strategy.
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—
What is he talking about?
Let’s break it down:
From the Begining,
Which we have heard,
Whch they had seen
Which they had looked at
Which they had touched
The Word of Life.
He’s writing about Jesus.
Let’s go through it again:
From the Begining, - Jesus was preexistant. He existed with the Father before Abraham. In fact, the World was created through Jesus Christ, so he was around even before the Beginning of time. Infact he is eternally existant. He has no begining or end. For us though we need to see that he is “from the begining” in terms of human existance. He has always been there.
Which we have heard, - “We” = John and other eyewitnesess. At this time many have probably died from age or persecution, but there were still some like John who had heard Jesus withis own ears. He heard Jesus speak to him, preach to him,
Which they had seen - They saw Jesus, a living breathing man. Your eyes can play tricks on you, but not continually for three years! John saw him, beheld him, laid eyes upon a living breathing man who was so much more than a man.
Which they had looked at - Like english has “looked” and “saw” there are different words in greek for seeing. John is driving home the reality of his eye-witness testimony - the basis for establishing truth.
Which they had touched - Not only had they seen and heard - the touched. He was not some ephemeral spirit - he was flesha dn blood. Earthy, tangible, real.
The Word of Life. - This is what John call him, Word of Life. Jesus is called the “Word” because he is the revelation of God, the logic of God, the knowledge of God revealed. We have not invented telepathy yet, but even if we did it would probably still rely on language. It is the mode of communication to carry meaning and revelation. Jesus is the revelation of God, he is God expressed in humanity, he is the message fo God, and not only that, the message of Life!
This living breathing human is the Word of Life. He who created the world was once more brining life, but this time to undo the damage done to his creation.
You need to know that Jesus was a real person
Not an ideal
Not a mythical figure lost to the pages of history
Not a Spirit who looked like a man
He was a real man like you and I.
He was witnessed by many many people.
He was just like us in so many ways.
Proclimation of Eternal Life
Proclimation of Eternal Life
John continues in his prologue:
the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
John continues the theme of seeing Jesus - The Life was made manifest.
This was through the Incarnation - what we clebrate at Christmastide.
The Word of Life became real - it’s not a tall story. John has spent his life testifying about this Life and proclaiming it.
What has he been proclaiming?
The Jesus is God the Son (three persons in God) who was with the Father.
He came to earth as a man to bring eternal life.
He needed to become a man because he had to win salvation for us.
Jesus died in our place and defeated death.
Now eternal life is greanted to all God’s people.
How do you become God’s people? Apply for citizenship in God’s kingdom - give up your sin and selfish ways and turn to Jesus. Trust in him and beleive on his work. Receive by faith the gracious gift of eternal lif that he offers.
Eternal life - freed from sin, sickness and suffering.
This proclimation continues today
Listen and beleive!
Continue the proclimation.
If its true, it is the most important news ever.
Fellowship in Life
Fellowship in Life
One of the reasosn John proclaims this message is because he wants people to have fellowship with God and 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.
So that the Church can stick with the truth
So that that people can be united to God in fellowship.
Sin separates. Unclean and unworthy. Yet the Gospel is the news that you can have fellowship with god
This would bring great Joy to John.
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
John later writes that he’s writing to help people have faith and confidence that they have eternal life.
This is his Joy, and it is our joy too when we welcome people into faith, as we do at baptisms.
So you can have fellowship with God through the Gospel,
You can have fellowship here with the Church through Jesus,
You can have fellowship with Chirstians all around the world and thoughout time when you receive this proclimation.
So What?
So What?
The pre-existant Jesus was revealed in flesh - a real tangible being. He was Life incarnate.
He was witnessed and this message was proclaimed. It was passed on even to today.
As this good news is proclaimed - people enter into fellowship with God and with one another.
This is how our joy may be completed.
