Day 28 - Eyewitnesses
- Pastor b.Side
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
That 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, concerning the Word of 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 1:1-2
We live in a world where uncovering the truth is challenging. Media outlets often lack honesty and objectivity. People lie without hesitation. Technology makes it easier to create fake media and various forms of digital communication. Today, accurate and verifiable eyewitness testimonies are more important than ever in helping to confirm the truth.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard…”
God understands this, which is why His Word requires that “truth” must be confirmed by the testimony of at least two or three eyewitnesses in any dispute. God provided ample proof of His claims through many eyewitnesses. The first epistle from the Apostle John emphasizes this. John wrote that he heard, saw, handled, and affirmed the truth about “the Word of life.” John was there. As a historically verified individual, he was physically present to witness and understand the truth about “the Word of life.”
“Concerning the Word of life…”
What is “the Word of Life”? John referred to Jesus Christ and described Him in this way because he affirmed Jesus’ true identity as the Word of God made flesh. John saw Jesus perform acts that served as undeniable proof that Jesus was the physical manifestation of God. By recognizing Jesus as God, John also acknowledged that Jesus is the source of life. The testimony of Jesus testifies to eternal life.
“We have seen, and bear witness…”
John wasn’t alone. Many others followed Jesus, witnessing, listening, and understanding the same things he did. These were rational men with no history of mental disabilities or illnesses. They had families, and some held influence in their communities. They risked a lot when their lives were threatened for spreading the message of Jesus. Yet, these men endured intense persecution, leading to violent deaths, to ensure that the truth about Jesus was publicly proclaimed and recorded in history. It would have been easier to stay silent. They chose not to.
“Eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us…”
Why endure this level of suffering? They saw the eternal, unchanging greatness of the Creator! When John started his letter, he emphasized that the Jesus they knew was the same one “from the beginning.” The power of God that brought life into existence at the start was the true essence of Jesus’ DNA as flesh and blood. Although the appearance of God’s Word may have changed, the eternal substance remained the same. The unchanging greatness did not fade. John and many others saw the power that God revealed “in the beginning,” which was shown through Jesus during His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and ongoing work by His Spirit in the church. These truths about God have been historically documented and verified.
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, thank You for the testimony of Your Word and the abundant evidence that proves it is true! Help us remember that the scriptures are not fables. They are real, which means You are real. Give us confidence and boldness in Your Word to witness like John about Your eternally unchanging greatness, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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