From The Beginning

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our 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 testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. I John 1:1-2

Written by the apostle John, who also wrote John's Gospel and 2nd and 3rd John, epistles to the Church. First, his qualifications: eyewitness to the living Lord Jesus Christ in his earthly incarnation. One of the closest of Jesus' friends. A faithful and loving disciple who, like Peter and James, had even witnessed the transfiguration described in Matthew 17. They were with Him throughout His earthly ministry. They witnessed His baptism. They saw Him teach, feed masses, heal the sick and raise the dead. They had even participated in some of these ministries, empowered by Jesus' authority. They were with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. They failed Him there. They were with Him at His arrest. They failed Him there. They were sitting together, stunned, frightened and discouraged, when He was resurrected. He had forewarned them of all this. They didn't get it. Ah, but after He was risen and ascended, they knew, not only Who He was, but also Whose they were, and were energized by the knowledge that the world and they would never be the same. This was something entirely new. The Church was born from the Word of life, and the apostles' job was to proclaim the eternal life that was purchased by the blood of Him which was from the beginning. "We write this to make our joy complete" (v 4). There is great joy in knowing and in communicating God's Word. Unspeakable Joy.