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John uses the word “manifest” two times in these few verses talking about God making Jesus “manifest.”

God has made

Manifest— to reveal, to make clear

1. God has made Jesus known to us .

, “20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Praise God! — We did not deserve Jesus being sent to us, we deserved to pay the penalty of our sin

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Jesus is the Word of Life — who brings Eternal Life (v. 1b, 2b)

John continues in his letter to talk about Jesus being our Advocate and Propitiation, Jesus did what we could not do and he is our path to Eternal life.

He is the source of Life

God has made him known to us.

2. We have access to Jesus — we have a relationship with Jesus.

John begins this letter with a series of verbs describing his experience with Jesus.

He heard him

He saw him

He looked upon him

He touched him

John used these words to combat the notion that Jesus was not present in the flesh — that he was just Spirit. That his death and resurrection were spiritual, not physical.

John affirmed his personal experience with Jesus.

You and I have not seen Jesus with our eyes, touched him with our hands, or likely heard his audible voice, but we have experienced his life changing redemption!

We have access to Jesus — we have a relationship with Jesus.

Our faith is personal and interactive — not simply corporate and passive.

Aren’t you thankful that we have become intimate with God through Jesus.

God hears, sees, and knows us!

We have his revealed Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and convict us!

3. Our Relationship with Jesus leads to Proclamation of Jesus

READ v. 2-3

What John had heard and seen he proclaimed and testified.

Testify — bear witness, confirm

Proclaim — to announce, report, or tell

His experience with Christ led him to proclaim and testify about Christ.

In order to really see this, we need to turn to .

Peter and John were preaching the gospel of Christ outside the Temple in Jerusalem. They were boldly calling for repentance.

The priests, captain of the temple, and the Sadduccees came and arrested them because they were angry with there preaching.

The next day they brought them before the council of the high priest and they were charged to stop preaching in the name of Jesus..

READ 4:18

Look at Peter and John’s response (this is likely the John that wrote 1 John)

READ 4:19-20

“We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard!”

Peter and John had to speak of what they knew to be true about Jesus.

They knew the Gospel to be true — and they HAD to speak about it.

Let the same be said about us

That our gracious God has made Jesus known to us, giving us access to him, so that we would proclaim what we know to be true!

Do you have such a relationship with Jesus that you cannot but speak of him?

You can! God has made him known to us.