1 John 1:1-4

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That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
I can't help but ask, as I read this passage, what would I have done if I had seen Jesus 2,000 years ago. What would I have thought if I had seen him give sight to the blind? What would I have believed if I seen a dead man walk out of the tomb after Jesus called to him? Seriously. Think about this for a minute.

Two thousand years ago, or even today, if you saw someone raise from the dead (John 11:38-43; Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:41-42; Luke 8:52-56, Luke 7:11-15), would you believe that the guy behind the miracle was the Son of God, the Messiah you had been hearing about every Sabbath for your entire life? Would you really have believed that Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:25-29)? Or feed 5,000 men (Matthew 14:17-21), and their families, with a few fish and loaves of bread, and walk away with 12 baskets of leftovers? Seriously? The blind? The lame?

I have to ask myself this, because even Peter didn't believe it at times. Three times, he denied he even knew the most amazing miracle worker, when he was put on the spot, after Jesus told him, warned him that he would do just that. After the apostles watched Jesus ascend in heaven, even they scratched their heads and declared, now what?

Granted, the apostles clearly said they believed Jesus was the Son of God. But it really wasn't until Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) that people truly believed that Jesus was indeed the Christ.

That brings us back to today's passage from 1 John 1. John saw, witnessed, touched Jesus. He saw the crucifixion. He saw Jesus die. More importantly, he saw the risen Lord. He saw the holes in his hands, like Peter. He saw. And he believed. God, in his most amazing work, changed the world the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

That reminds me of my favorite verse.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. -- 1 Peter 1:8-9
 And now we can believe.

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