1 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-- 2 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-- 3 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. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This passage closes with "we write these things so that our joy may be complete".
Have you ever written something that causes YOUR joy to be complete?
I've never even thought about it.
Yet, here is John, writing particular things down so that his joy may be complete.
So just what did John write?
He writes what he has seen and heard and touched.
He writes that what he has seen and heard and touched has been around since the very beginning.
It concerns the word of life.
it is life made manifest.
It is eternal life.
With the Father (being God).
Made manifest for us That means it was made clear and obvious, that this life was displayed or show to us by action.
It was made so clear that now John can proclaim it to others.
And so as he proclaims it we might have fellowship with him and he has fellowship with Father and his son Jesus Christ. We might have the fellowship too!
And so in writing these things, John's joy is made complete.
Hmm.. follow that thinking eh?
Sharing what we know about God... so that others might also experience him, that brings complete joy.
Complete joy. That is what John has as he writes.
Makes me wonder... does what I write bring complete joy?
Does my writing help others learn who God is and therefore want to help fellowship with him?
I hope so. But I don't know.
So generally I don't have that complete joy.
I want that joy. That joy of knowing that my words help someone know Christ better. I DO.
Do you?