What John is stating is that he is an eyewitness to the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus Christ. As the “Word of life”, John is explaining that Jesus is God’s communication to us. He is both God’s messenger, as well as the message itself. Of Jesus, John states in his Gospel “In Him was life” (John 1:4), while Jesus refers to Himself as “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) as well as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). This life being the Christian message of eternal life Jesus defines: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). John is therefore an eyewitness to the eternal life personified in the life of Jesus Christ – a quality of life available in this life to all, Jew and Gentile alike, only through fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. John is stating that Jesus is the only source and substance of eternal life. John then makes his purpose statement for writing his letter in verse three stating his desire that the reader, too, would enjoy fellowship, or share in common, not only with other eyewitnesses who personally experienced Jesus in human flesh, but fellowship “with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” In verse four, John concludes his introduction stating, “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” This Christmas, let your own joy be made complete through the eyewitness, promised hope of eternal life in the “Word of life.” 87
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