Testimony

by Hugh DeLong

As you begin reading I John, note (and memorize) these opening verses. They tell us why John was writing and what he was writing about. He had lived with Jesus for 3+ years. He had left his career as a fisherman to become a fisher of men. He has left his home by the sea and Galilee for a foreign land. He has been making disciples for many years now (Jesus having been crucified, raised, and ascended to the right hand of the Father over 50 years earlier). He is now one of the last people to have had an extensive real-life association with Jesus. There has arisen many false teachers, even as Jesus, Paul, and Peter had predicted. What are we to believe? Who was this Jesus? What did He do? Here is our answer!

"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 joy may be made complete" (I John 1:1-4).

These are not made-up stories or myths. Even as Peter years earlier had written: “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (II Peter 1:16). So now, John affirms that these things are what he had seen, looked at (studied by watching), and even touched. It was these things that he testified, proclaimed, and wrote.

What am I to make of this Jesus? What am I to understand and believe about Him? How should I respond? Interestingly, the concept of ‘keeping’ (i.e., doing, obeying) will be repeatedly stated (some seven times, plus ‘do’ and a host of other action words). These are instructions on how those who trust Jesus will live. Are you trusting Jesus as instructed? Read and reflect on this book! Make a list of all the instructions that are given herein.

“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,… (Hebrews 5:8-9).