Fellowship and life, through faith

John 20: 19-31
The beginning of the Epistle of John reaffirms what John wrote at the beginning of his gospel: “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.”

John had been with Jesus throughout his ministry. He had been present at the cross when Jesus was suffering and dying. John heard Christ’s last words. John saw Christ die. And John was there with the disciples on that first Easter, when the risen Lord appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” John saw Christ’s hands where the nails were and the wound in Christ’s side from the spear. This was a physical, resurrected, flesh-and-blood Saviour.

John announces that we have fellowship with God and with one another only through the enfleshed and proclaimed Word of Life, Jesus Christ. Jesus himself says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And that’s us. Through faith in Christ, you do indeed have fellowship with God. You do indeed have eternal life.

Pastor Darryl