What a joyous satisfaction the Apostle John takes in referring to the personal presence of the Saviour with himself and his fellow-disciples. In the 14th verse of the 1st chapter of his Gospel he says: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
In the 1st chapter of his first epistle he reiterates and amplifies the same thought with an added emphasis of feeling, born of years of meditation and experience, filled with a loving recurrence to the memories of his personal human association and fellowship with Jesus. With what joyful assurance he says, "We have seen with our eyes, ... we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. The life was manifested and we have seen it, ... [it] was manifested to us. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. ... This then is the message that we have heard of Him, and declare unto you." (1 John 1:1-3,5)
To all those who read and hear these glad words of John is addressed that promise which Christ incorporated in His gentle rebuke to Thomas, "Blessed are they that have not seen; and yet have believed." (John 20:29)--Present Truth, July 23, 1896--John 1:14.