1 John 1:1-4 (NLT2)
1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
John the Apostle wrote an eye-witness account of his experiences with Jesus the Word of Life. Take the time, when you can, to read his Gospel record – John 1:1-14. Both statements establish what truth about Jesus? He is eternal, the One who at the beginning of creation was already in existence. John testified that he personally heard, saw, and touched Him with his own ears, eyes, and hands, and all of that established His humanity. John’s further assertion was that He is life itself, the eternal Word of Life, who was with the Father, then revealed to us.
John eagerly proclaimed these truths so he and his audience could receive the revelation and then share in fellowship in it. Fellowship is an agreement that results in joint participation. So John’s hope was that he and the people would agree on Jesus’ identity and encourage each other to share it and with new believers, they would lead to faith in Christ. John’s purpose was to share truth that would enable them to fully share his joy.