STUDIES IN FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD JOHN
LESSON ONE

Intro: John is that disciple who was closer to Jesus during His personal ministry than any of the others. It was he, who leaned on the Saviour's breast as they reclined at meat on the very night He was betrayed.

1 John 1:1 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, of the Word of life;
A general statement of his eyewitness authority. John is going to tell us the things he received first-hand from the eternal Logos. (Polycarp might have been a wonderful man and teacher, but he could only write with second-hand knowledge.)

The word of life (logos) - The expression of the mind as opposed to the mechanics of speech. Parrots might say words but they are not the expression of their minds.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Jesus is the total of what God has to say to man. The heavens utter speech

(Psa 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.

Psa 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.) but it took Christ to express the will of the Father. 'Show us the Father - if you have seen me you have seen the Father.'
John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Since He , as the Word, is the expression of the mind of God, one must either accept Him for ALL He is or call God a liar by not accepting His Word; As Saviour; Lord; Bridegroom; Judge; teacher; etc.

1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1 John 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
A. Christ is the embodiment of life;

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
B. The life was made manifest, (shown openly)
Compare

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; When Christ came, there was no more speaking in veiled prophecy, types and shadows etc. but an open showing of all they had foretold.
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

C. We, (the Apostles) have seen it. ( The value of an eyewitness)
1. From the beginning (of the ministry of Jesus,) they had seen it all! V 1;
1 John 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Luke 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
Luke 1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

D. We have heard...From the 'follow me' of

Mat 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. to the command of

Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

E. We have looked upon; (gazed upon intently) They have seen Him as He wept at the tomb of Lazarus; blessed the children; multiplied the loaves and fishes; opened the blind eyes; walked upon the water; calmed the storm; lifted the adulteress from the dust; cleansed the temple; was transfigured; washed the disciples' feet; gave them the cup and the bread; was beaten, crucified, raised, and received into the heavens.

F. Our hands have handled..

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

We don't have to depend upon the word of some historian. We have the account of those who were there. We must not depend upon the ideas of men for we have the words of Christ, the Living Word given directly to us through those who received them from Him.

SOME DAY I'LL SEE HIM

I did not see the Saviour
When from His virgin birth,
He grew, then taught, then suffered,
Then was buried in the earth.

I did not see that early morning
When the stone was rolled away;
Nor was I there to see the nail prints
And hear doubting Thomas pray.

But I've read the testimony
Of those who knew Him best,
And by faith I've seen Him in the Word
And that Word has stood the test.

And I shall see Him some glad morning,
In all His glory in the sky,
When He calls me there to meet Him;
Yes, I shall see Him by and by.

Then I shall see Him in his beauty,
All His glory then behold;
And maybe then I'll understand,
The half that's not been told!

I'll praise Him then for all His grace,
And if I've won a crown;
When I behold those pierced feet,
'Tis there I'll lay it down

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NEXT John's reason for writing it down.