1 John 1:1-4That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
The word I want to look at this morning is manifested—"For the life was manifested." Jesus was not just a story passed down through generations to the Apostle John. He had seen Him, handled Him, laid his head on His bosom the night of His betrayal, and stood at His cross while He was put to death. He had eaten with Him, worked with Him, and rested with Him. Jesus’ life, as John said, was manifested to him and the other Apostles.
So then, their preaching and testimony of the Lord were so forceful and powerful because they were not speaking of something they merely heard secondhand but of what they had known for themselves. This must be the case for all those who hope to make manifest the Word of Life—it must first be made manifest to us. I have heard some speak of Jesus as if He were merely a historical figure in their studies. But then, I have heard others who have walked with Christ in their lives—who have pillowed their heads on His bosom in the midnight hours of life, who have worked for Him, with Him, rested with Him, and borne their cross by staying close to His. These people’s testimonies make the life of Jesus manifest to all who hear them.
Why is their testimony so powerful? Why is Jesus made so manifest in their preaching and testifying? Because He was first made manifest to them.
I remember a certain widow in the church I grew up in. She would stand and testify of God’s provision through extreme poverty, of His joy amidst overwhelming grief. And she had so much joy that just hearing her would fill you with joy. I wonder—does our speaking of Him fill us and others with joy? I suspect that if joy is lacking when we consider Him and speak of Him, then we don’t know Him half as well as we ought to—or we have forgotten how lovely He is.
Perhaps it has been a long time since you have handled Him, seen Him, rested in Him, worked with Him, or for Him. Today, let us endeavor to have Jesus made manifest to us in our daily lives. He doesn’t mind house chores or labor in the workplace. He has worked alongside me in the manufacturing plant, sat with me in the woods on a hunt, pulled up a seat in the workshop and fellowshipped with me—and I am sure He will do the same for you. Wherever you may be and whatever you may be doing, He can come and make His life manifest to you. And then, like the Apostles, we can go out into the world, filled with joy, and make Him manifestly known—so that others, too, may know Him and know joy.
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