I can read the introduction to 1 John over and over. Some days I do. Starting from verses 1-4, John begins his epistle in the same manner he began his Gospel. He makes it plain that Jesus was, is, and will always be the one true living God. Man, I love John’s boldness when he affirms Jesus’ deity.
John does not mention himself. All of his focus is on Christ. He writes,
“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…”
John is emphasizing the fact that Jesus was indeed a real person. He was not a spirit. He had flesh and bones that could be touched.
What John is doing here is counterattacking heretical teachings at the time which tried to assert that Jesus was not a man, but a spirit. These teachings were causing strife in the churches. So, instead of wasting time he went straight for the jugular. John ends this section even stronger than he began. He says,
“…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.”
See, it is because Christ was the Word of God in the flesh that John can say they had fellowship with the Father and with His son, Jesus Christ. This is why today we can all share in his joy.
As we delve a little deeper into this introduction, what I see here is the case for Christ's deity leading to action in my own heart (and I hope yours too). There is reassurance that we can trust Him without reservation. This kind of trust leads to strong faith. God has filled us up to the maximum with His love through His son. Once we can free our minds of any doubt, fear, or inhibitions that hinder us, we can fully experience God in His totality.
So, as we can see from this introduction into the first chapter Jesus is our joy. His ministry was the "big it" in God's plan for humanity. Let no one fool you about his deity. He was indeed fully God and fully man. Next time we will tackle verses 5-10, regarding the light. In Him, grace and peace!
