The Word: 1 John 1:1-4

“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life – and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us – what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our (or your) joy may be made complete.” (NASB1995)

As John opened this letter to Christians in the first century, he took them on a trip down memory lane. Those opening words, “What was from the beginning,” recall the opening to his gospel (John 1:1), and the opening of the Bible (Genesis 1:1). He continues to reflect on the point he is making by expanding on his senses: heard, saw, looked at, touched. In a way, John appears to be caught up in a sense of wonder as he recounts his sense memories, trying to make sense of what he had experienced in the past. What he is wanting to share with these fellow believers is something he clearly never got over – something that had changed his life dramatically decades before still captured him with wonder. What had made such an impact on his life? The end of verse one tells us: “concerning The Word of Life.”

This “Word of Life,” he says in verse two, “was manifested,” meaning that it was revealed to John and those with him who witnessed it (“we”). The word “manifested,” along with the former sense descriptions of verse one, are meant to detail something real that had taken place. John is recounting a reality that he had witnessed (“seen“) in real life – real time – that he had shared with these believers already. He had testified and proclaimed to them this “Word of Life” which he now calls “eternal life.” At the end of verse two, John does not just repeat the fact that this “Word of Life,” now “eternal life,” was manifested – He says that this life was with the Father, and was manifested to us. With this phrase, we are introduced to two realities about this “eternal life” that John speaks of: 1) This eternal life is with God. Its source, its origin, its location are divine. 2) This eternal life was a reality before it was ever revealed to John and his companions. In other words, before this eternal life was manifested, it was already in existence and with the Father.

Continuing on in verse three, John repeats his statements of witnessing and providing witness for this “eternal life,” but now he explains his purpose for having told them about it and continuing to tell them about it: “so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed, our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” John says that he wants to share the news of this “eternal life” with his recipients so that they can share in this life with him and his companions! Yet, only now do we receive the full picture of what John has been describing this whole time. Verse three provide clarity to the whole of the opening of this letter. He finally reveals what this “Word of Life” and “eternal life” actually mean. “The Word of Life” (v. 1) is a description of “His Son Jesus Christ,” (v. 3) and “eternal life” (v. 2) is characterized in the concept of “fellowship” with God, the Father and the Son, with the Spirit’s presence being in the word fellowship itself.

At this point, some significant truths emerge:

First, eternal life is more about a relationship with a person than a place or event. The essence of eternal life is fellowship with God (Father, Son, and Spirit) and this reality was revealed ultimately in the coming of the Son to earth as Jesus Christ. As one of Jesus’ disciples, John was there with Jesus and heard Jesus speak, saw Jesus do miracles and – most importantly – saw Him after His resurrection and touched His glorified, resurrected body. In the person of Jesus, who is the Word of Life (cf. John 1:1-5), eternal life was revealed to humanity. Eternal life is about being in fellowship with Jesus, which is only possible by the Spirit of God and faith in Him.

Second, fellowship is sharing in the eternal life of Jesus together. John told his readers that he was sharing the reality of Jesus and eternal life with them so that they could join with him in experiencing the life of Jesus. Eternal life, the truth and reality of Jesus, is meant to be shared with others. This experienced changed John life so much and brought so much joy to him (v. 4) that he wanted others to know and experience Jesus as well. On this note, John is also revealing the fact that eternal life is something that is already a reality for those who are experiencing. Eternal life is not something that believers are waiting for; eternal life begins the moment one enters fellowship with Jesus by faith!

Third, the deity of Jesus is evident in this passage. Jesus, who is simply “the life” or “eternal life” in verse two, is manifested. Yet, before that manifestation took place, John says He was “with the Father.” This language reflects John 1:1-18 which reveals that before Jesus came to earth as a man, He existed “in the beginning” with God – referring to the Father. John wants to be clear that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, but He is also much more than that: He is the Son of the Father, one in essence and mission, which He states further later in His letter (cf. 1 John 2:22-23).

John says that the purpose of writing to them about Jesus, the One who is eternal life, is joy. Debate exists over a textual variant which may be “your joy,” referring to the readers, or “our joy,” referring to John and his companions. In keeping with the reading of “our joy,” John says that his greatest joy is found in seeing others enter into the joy of fellowship with God that he has already experienced. That is his reason for writing.

The Confrontation

John’s words then continue to have relevant application for Christians today. Here’s three lessons we can learn:

1) Eternal life is about fellowship with Jesus, the Son of God. In the 21st century, we can become obsessed with the idea of heaven and looking to escape from this dreaded world full of sin and suffering to a heavenly land full of bliss and beauty. This desire is not bad; however, it sometimes distracts us from the important truth that eternal life is not a place that we are waiting for. Eternal life, John says, is about fellowship with the Triune God! This truth challenges us to recognize that for every Christian, eternal life has already begun in this life. Yes, we are waiting to see that life come to its culminating fulfillment in the return of Jesus to finalize the establishment of His kingdom, but that is the finale, not the beginning. Christian, you already have eternal life through your faith in Jesus, and His Spirit will work in your life now to bear fruit of that reality according to His word. Although sin and suffering will not have their finale in this life, the work of overcoming them can certainly begin through fellowship with Christ!

2) Fellowship is far more than “hanging out” or “going to church.” You know the picture: you show up to the church fellowship and you can expect some good food and talk about sports, politics, work, and everything else under the sun. Yet, what is often missing in anything distinctly Christian. The point here is not that Christians cannot talk about, enjoy, or be involved in these things; they should! The point is that fellowship is so much more. According to John, the essence of fellowship is sharing in the life of Jesus together. This means when we gather for “fellowship” as believers, we are gathering around Jesus. In other words, this gathering ought to be distinctly Christian.

Furthermore, since fellowship is sharing in the life of Jesus together, then fellowship has to be a gathering and experience that is unique – something that anyone who does not have that life cannot fully understand or experience! The relationships between believers in the church ought to have a different flavor than the relationships we may have with unbelievers, because we are citizen of two radically different realities/kingdoms: the kingdom of light and love vs. the kingdom of darkness and hate. Also, since we have the life of God while unbelievers do not, how we live our lives now as Christians ought to have a distinct flavor: our personal lives, our marriages, our families, our work ethic, our politics, our worship, and every other area of our lives should reflect lives that have been changed by fellowship with God.

3) We should take great joy in seeing others enter into eternal life – fellowship with Jesus. As John recounted the reality of Jesus, he couldn’t help but have joy in sharing that reality with others. Jesus came to call people into fellowship with Him so they could experience true life. John recognized that truth and continued to call people in his day into fellowship with Christ by faith. Our desire should be the same today! Of course, we cannot control how people will respond. As we extend to truth of Jesus to others and call them into fellowship with Him, some will enter, others won’t. Yet, the primary focus is simply finding joy in making Jesus known because of the great joy that He has brought to our lives! That is what evangelism is all about!