FRIDAY 27th
1 John 1:1-4
‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.’
I have re-read the verses that we have been considering this week in the devotions. They speak to us of the wonder of the incarnation, the wonder of the Christmas and Easter stories put together to bring about the means of eternal redemption for fallen humanity, the events that make it possible for humanity to be reconciled to God. The everlasting Word, the eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ becoming a man and laying down his life as a sacrifice for our sin.
I want all who read the devotions to stop for a moment and to consider what the implication for each one of us would be if the incarnation had never taken place. We would still be sinners bound for a lost eternity, we would still be under the wrath of God and facing the punishment we deserve for our sin. But HE did come, God sent his Son, at the same time the Son willingly came and he also willingly gave his life as an atoning sacrifice, therefore we can be reconciled to God, we can be delivered from the wrath that is to come.
In 1 Timothy 3:16 we read, ‘Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory’.
I suggested stopping and considering the implication for us if the incarnation hadn’t taken place. But it did, so now, stop and consider the wonder of the incarnation and what it means for each one of us if we have come to believe. It should cause us to overflow with praise and adoration, as the one hymn writer puts it, to be lost in wonder, love, and praise.
We could list so many results or benefits we have received, we are saved, forgiven, reconciled, justified, sanctified, heaven bound, and we have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. Give him praise and give him glory!
The final words of John in this section are ‘And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.’ The little three letter word ‘joy’ yet it means so much. John feels joy in writing about these things, it excites him, it enthrals him, may we too be filled with joy as we contemplate the wonder of the incarnation, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The message of the angels to the shepherds on the hillside in Bethlehem was ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’. The incarnation was good news of great joy and as we receive the good news we receive great joy, we receive real joy, we have received lasting joy.
If you are looking for real joy anywhere else you will never find it, anything the world has to offer is temporal, it lasts but for a moment, real joy, lasting joy, eternal joy can only be found in having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to what Jesus said, ‘These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full’. John 15:11 ‘Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full’, John 16:24.