“The Word Was Made Flesh…!”

“The Word Was Made Flesh…!”(I Jn. 1:1-4).
It is the last but one day to the end of the year. We are thankful to the LORD who has brought us thus far.
John in his gospel narrative says when after his resurrection Jesus first appeared to the disciples Thomas was not with them. When the others told him that they had seen the risen Lord, Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my fingers where the nails were, and put my hands into his side, I will not believe it.” A week later Jesus appeared to them again and told Thomas, “Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”(Jn.20:24-29). If we were to have the doubting spirit of Thomas, none of us would accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
In the introduction to his first letter John emphasises, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word Of Life. The life appeared; we have seen it and we testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
There is what we call “Apostolic succession” whereby the message we proclaim was proclaimed to us by those who heard from those who heard from those who heard from those who heard about the Word Of Life that was from the beginning, who saw with their own eyes, looked at and touched with their own hands.
When you receive the good news you only have partial joy, but when you share the knowledge of the Christ with others, then your joy is complete. It is to this end that John completes this introduction by stating, “We write this to make our joy complete.” O yes; if the news is good, pass it on! And when you pass it on, your joy will be complete.
We do not want to delve into the polemics of John writing purposefully to contradict the Gnostics and their heresies. Suffice it to reiterate the words of the risen Lord to Thomas, Stop doubting and believe…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” We must not see, look and touch before believing. We walk by faith and not by sight. We see with the eyes of faith and believe. That is why every year we celebrate his birthday and also his memorial service.
Dear friend, as you enter the new year, make it your topmost resolution to make your joy complete by proclaiming the goodnews in word and in action.
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ i believe that you are the eternal Word Of Life that has been from the beginning. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you! Happy New year in advance.
Rev Babila Fochang.