December 16, 2004

THE MANIFESTED LIFE

"The life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us" (1 John 1:2, NKJV).

The portrait of Christ as the "Manifested Life" is one of John's favorite designations of Jesus. Nine times in His Gospel and six times in his Epistle, he refers to Christ as the "Manifested Life."

John bears witness that he had seen and heard the "Manifested Life" (see 1 John 1:1). He seeks to validate his experience through his personal witness. When Christ, the manifestation of eternal life, is received, the irresistible impulse is to bear witness to His power and presence. John was always fascinated by the eternal nature of his Lord and by the life that He gives to all who believe on Him (see John 3:16). Twenty-three times in his writings John associates Jesus with eternal life. This was to him the very heart of the gospel--eternal life through Jesus Christ.

In the apostle's joyous declaration there is good news for those who unlike himself, have never seen or heard Jesus. The good news is that they, together with John and other eye witnesses, "may have fellowship... with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3, NKJV).Those who have not seen nor heard Him through the physical senses are given the guarantee of eternal life and fellowship with Him through faith. To this joyous certainty may be added the blessed promise that one day "we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2, NKJV) and fellowship with Him forever. "He who receives and practices the words of Christ has eternal life. This life is in him, because he is in Christ."--Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, p. 248.

My Prayer Today: Lord, like John, I rejoice that through Christ I have eternal life and fellowship with You. Amen.