I love a good crime drama. Emphasis on the word “good.” There are a thousand to choose from these days, which doesn’t guarantee quality. But give me the classic “Law & Order” and the chung chung sound, and you’ve got my attention.
On TV and in real life, one thing detectives and attorneys can agree on is the importance of eyewitness accounts. Especially when those accounts are corroborated by multiple people. Just one eyewitness doesn’t create a very solid case, but get two or three people who can account for the same thing, and you’ve got yourself a strong testimony of events.
1 John was written in response to some heretical problems that were popping up and causing division within the community of believers. This was mainly due to the false teachings of the Gnostics, who didn’t believe Jesus was God’s Son.
In the first few chapters, John encourages believers to have fellowship with God by walking in the light, to regularly confess their sins, and to truly love one another. All this hinges on the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. John even starts the first verse of Chapter 1 by saying, “We have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands.”
Then in Chapter 5, he doubles down, saying not only is the validity of Jesus as the Son of God something he and other believers can testify to, but chung chung …
“For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three are in agreement” (1 John 5:8).
The Spirit, who descended as a dove at the baptism of Jesus.
The water, in which Jesus submitted himself to for John to baptize him in.
The blood, which was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
These three witnesses agree to the redemptive work of Jesus as the Son of God, which shows his divinity (spirit), his humanity (water), and his death and resurrection (blood).
John reinforces to ALL believers in the reading of this letter that this is the key to eternal life now and in eternity, and not to be led astray by anything that would take the place of God in our lives.
You are a witness too. You have seen the goodness of God and can testify that he is the Son of God. Time to take the stand. Chung chung.
Reflection:
- How has Jesus shown up in your life to make you an eyewitness of him being the true God and your Savior?
- How have you been a witness of this at work in your life to those you engage with?
- Pray that God opens doors for you to reach out to the world around YOU and share the everlasting love of Jesus.