“1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2. the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3. that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

Meaning of “The Word of Life”

The Word

The meaning of  this term is made clear in John’s gospel:

John 1:1-5: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

1. The Word was God – (Jesus) is one person of the Triune God.
2. He was in the beginning with God – is eternal
3. All things were made through Him – the Word is the creative goodness of God.
4. In Him was life – the Word was also the attribute or nature of God which is real and eternal life itself. It is this life which God breathed into Adam in Genesis 2:7, “God … breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”. But this real and eternal life was lost through sin and the fall of mankind.
4. the life was the light of men – the Word is the good and perfect infinite wisdom and truth of God
5. the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it – In contrast, the limited understanding and reason, and fallen nature of mankind, tends to follow Satans’s lies, and leads to evil or darkness. And even when the Word came to dwell among mankind, our fallen nature still could not understand.

The Word of Life

The Word as the perfect wisdom and creator became the perfect Saviour to restore mankind, to breathe true life into our hearts through his gift of forgiveness won for us on the cross. He is not only true and perfect life, but the giver of true life to mankind, to all who will receive Him.

John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

Personal

That true life is not yet made perfect in us as we struggle with the hardships of this earthly life, but Jesus has led the way for us, through his resurrection from the death he took upon himself for us.

1 Corinthians 15:20, “Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

We trust in his promise that true life will be made perfect in us when we are with Him forever.

1 John 3:2, “we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Personal witness

3. that which we have seen and heard we declare to you

I am sometimes amazed to think of what it would have been like for John and others to experience the incarnation of Jesus, and their gradual realisation of who Jesus is and his mission amongst us.
But then I am reminded of how slow has been my understanding of his presence in this world today, to become aware that his miracles are still guiding and protecting us, and of the way he has changed my life – that is no less amazing.

Thanks be to God.