Have you ever had anything that just flat out amazed you when you saw it?  I’m not talking about an incredible “miracle” shot-at-the-buzzer type of incredible.  But something like a sunset that just takes your breath away.  Lots of people love the beach. Me, I’m more of a mountains and wildlife kinda guy.  

One time on a family vacation we went to Pike’s Peak in Colorado.  It was in the late afternoon when we finally made it up to the top.  I can remember, once I caught my breath, looking around at the incredible view.  

I can remember that day, and it disappears when I turn on the news.  Even though from the mountain top it all seems ok, down on the surface there are evidences that show how ugly it can be.

One can’t help but think, “Why would God want to come down here? What is so important that He would leave heaven to come here?”  Think about all the people that you have known or know in your life.  Only John, and those who had encountered Jesus, could say that they knew someone who had been—past tense—with the Father.  We can only say, prayerfully, that one day we will be—future tense—with the Father.  What would drive Him to want to come down here?

(Being a good preacher student, I got 4 “P”s )

Let’s look at the text:


NAS 1 John 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--


First we see His passion for us and His Father.  It was with love for His Father’s glory that He came and revealed Himself to us.


NAU John 17:5 "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

NAU John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Romans 5:1-2   NAU Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:6-8   6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Not only did He love us enough to live and die, and to have the passion to be seen, but He also had the purpose of revealing Himself.  So that we might be partners in testifying that He is come.

This testimony is one of legal matters.  The evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was a living human being cannot be denied.  He was a historical person who made a major impact upon culture of His day.  But not only do we have that, but we have the testimony of those who were there, in written form, that is more dependable than any of the literature of antiquity.  

There are only 8 or 9 copies or fragments of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey that are as early as 600 years after they were originally penned.  Of the New Testament writings the earliest is part of the Gospel of John that dates to around 120 a.d. The original was written in approximately 70 a.d. Only 50 years!! There are over 16,000 copies or fragments dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

Not only do we have the historical testimony, but we have the testimony made more sure.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8  NAU 1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,  2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;  7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;  8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

May this be our testimony…as our “first importance.”

Soli Deo Gloria,

Aaron “Tree” Landis
Psalm 1.3