For the last 15 days, I have been reading 1 John. It was something that Pastor John MacArthur mentioned one time, so I thought it would be a good thing for my daily devotion for a month. So each morning, I begin with 1 John 1, and the first three verses in the ESV or one sentence. It is a long sentence! I'm sure my academic friends and anyone who uses Grammarly who be looking to split the one sentence into two or three, but this is how the Holy Spirit inspired John and moved him along (1 Peter 1:21) as he wrote. Here is the one sentence: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. (1 John 1:1-3)
Whew! One sentence!
But if you get past the looooong thought and take the time to break it down, John is pouring out some real truth for those Christians in Asia Minor. So let's break it down.
1. That which was from the beginning. This is Jesus, he is God, and he has always been. There never was a time when he was not. (John 1:1) But moreover, this is he who the Christians first heard about from the beginning of the preaching of the gospel.
2. which we have heard, seen, and touched. John, as a chosen disciple of Jesus Christ, had walked with him, talked with him, heard his teaching, and saw his miracles AND he had seen the risen Lord. He had a first-hand account.
3. concerning the word of life- Jesus! is the word of life and his gospel brings true life eternally.
.....still going....one sentence.... :)
4. the life was made manifest, we have seen it, testify, proclaim. Later John would speak of antichrists that were going out among them stating that Jesus was not from God, but John emphatically writes that he is, and he himself has witnessed it.
5. the eternal life which was with the Father and has been made manifest to us. Jesus is from God. He is the Son of God that has always been and will always be. And this Son has been given to us as payment for eternal life.
6. we proclaim to you...so that you too may have fellowship with us. not just hanging out and having a good time. Fellowship, in this sense, is a commonality.
7. our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. the commonality is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Period. Finally! John wraps up this extended sentence with a much shorter one:
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete (1 John 1:4).
1 sentence with 116 words comes to a conclusion stating that all of the words point to a joy that is unattainable in this world outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ. The world and its pleasures and things cannot bring joy (1 John 2:16), but Jesus can. Joy now, and joy complete at the time we stand before him after this life.
If you have never found this eternal joy, I would love to chat with you. Drop me an email here.
Pastor Walt Troup
Philemon 6
