"From the very first day we were there, taking it all in - we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly this: the Infinite Life of God Himself took shape before us. We saw it, we heard it and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: we want you to enjoy this too. Your joy will double our joy!" I John 1:1-4 (The Msg.)
In a day when truth seems as elusive as an early morning mist, subject to individual interpretation and the feelings of the moment - an honest word from someone who has seen and heard still stands.
These words from a man who shared three years of his life with Jesus Christ, that have remained with us across the centuries, plead with us to have ears to hear and an open heart.
John was not alone in his eye witness testimony. Many others saw the One who only days before had been put to death on a cross. Some wrote about it so that the world would know. How strange that we accept as truth countless historical accounts and yet view the evidence of Jesus' life, death and resurrection with skepticism. Perhaps some will give a nod to the truth that a man called Jesus did in fact exist, but what, then, will we do with Him?
On this day, we remember what Love did for us - for every single one of us.
"For this is how God loved the world . He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
The simplicity of truth very often trips us up. We cannot believe that something so profound can also be so simple. Surely there must be more to it than that, we think. Yet John, and countless believers from every walk of life for hundreds of years, testify to this one truth:
Jesus lived; He died; He rose again; He lives!
Blessings,
Linda
