You Can Have Front Row Seats All Access Pass


Have you ever been to a “live event” like a concert, or special speaking engagement, or even a religious event? How was your excitement level BEFORE you went? What about after? Well, here in 1 John, we get to experience what it was like to actually live, breathe, eat, and walk right alongside of Jesus!

I really like the way these two versions express what and why John writes to us…

1 John 1:1-4
NLT – 1We 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.

MSG – 1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.
3-4 We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

I think it is funny how we give “creditability” to someone when they have experienced something first-hand, in person, with their own eyes and body, am I right? If someone you know reads a good book, and they tell you all about something they read and what they got out of it, does it have the same impact on you as hearing from someone that just came home from an amazing in-person, live event? Sadly, we seem to hold more value in something that someone “shares” with us verses what someone “tells” us.
Well, the same is very true for the bible. What helps me, and many others I know, is reading the verses in several different versions. Once you find one that really fits you and how you can relate, then THAT is the one you should read from. The two I like the most are The Living Translation and The Message. However, I go to New American Standard Bible and English Standard Version a lot too.

I find it VERY intriguing that John says “we” and “have seen and heard” as well as “have touched” a LOT of times in these few verses! This is what made me think of how it is when we see a great speaker or a concert here and now. The credibility of someone that has “been there” is totally different than telling it from third or fourth hand. Not sure why that is totally, but it seems to hold true for most of us. What John is about to share with us is like he had “front row seats” – actually, it is more like he had “VIP Backstage All Access Passes” with Jesus. WOW!! The neat thing is: we get to experience it right along with him and the others who God inspired to write the bible!

Why? Why does God have us know that these people actually lived and experienced the things they write about in the bible for us to read? Like verses 3-4 say, so that we CAN experience Jesus right along with them! That we will have and share in their joy! To have an actual relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, as well as have the living, breathing Holy Spirit IN us! Wowzers – are we blessed or what?!?!

My challenge for you today is this: to read a section of the bible like James, 1 John, John, any of the gospels… and read it as if you are THERE! Walking right alongside of the person telling what is going on. Perhaps listen to the bible on an app or online. Go to the library and rent an audio version… Just read it as if you are there – and see if you get a different perspective of what God wants you to learn, do, or share. Be well my friend, be safe, and be blessed BIG time today!



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