I Know Him

I have been doing Jen Wilkin’s Abide Study for the last couple of weeks and I keep thinking about one of her podcasts.  This study is going through 1, 2 & 3 John.  We are still in 1 John and this podcast where she talks about chapter 1 is playing over and over in my head.  

  

1 John 1:1-2

“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 which was made manifest to us”

There is so much in this passage.  John is showing his credibility.  He saw Jesus, he touched Jesus, he heard the words of Jesus.  I long to see and touch Jesus and to hear his words audibly.  John was there at the transfiguration, he was there when Jesus spoke to the crowds about the Kingdom, he was there when he healed people, he was there when he was put on a cross and he saw the empty tomb.

Jen compares this passage to a scene in a movie that we all love.  We all have a soft spot for Buddy the Elf.  Buddy is a child at heart, he has a genuine belief.  She talks about the scene when he is at Gimbel's and the manager tells everyone that Santa is coming tomorrow at 10am.  What does Buddy say?  He says, “Santa’s coming!  I know him.  I know him!”  Everyone looks at Buddy like he is a big idiot but he knows something that the rest of them do not.  He actually knows Santa.  He has touched him, he has heard him, and he has seen him.  He believes in him. 

What Jen reminds us of is that Buddy knows Santa just like John knew Jesus.  He saw him, he touched him and he heard him.  When he is writing this letter in 1 John he is reminding us of this.  He is saying what he is talking about is real.  It really happened.

Here we are 2,000 something years later and the words of John are still true.  John is pleading with us to understand.  He wants us to know Jesus like Buddy knows Santa.  Have we seen Jesus?  His Words point us to Him every day.  Do we know Him? 

In the gospel of John we see Thomas.  We see a disciple that had to touch the places where the nails were and touch the side of Jesus to believe.  Jesus responds to Thomas in John 20:29 saying, “Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to know you.  We are not able to visibly see you and touch you.  However, we have the ability to study you and to know you by being a student of your word.