We Want You to Enjoy This, Too

 When it comes to unique fish stories, John has some astounding ones. They are just not in the way you might first think.  It wasn’t so much the huge haul of fish he caught, but who gave him the casting lesson.  It wasn’t the early morning fish fry on the seashore as much as it was who cooked them up.  Nor that he was in the family fishing business, but whom he followed when he left it behind. 

In a letter John gets around to writing to some of his friends, he makes it clear he has been with Jesus.  You can sense the wonderment and authority in his voice when he tells them he heard and saw and touched the Word of Life. 

What powerful stories he had to tell.   After all he was there to taste the water turned to wine and hear the clank of coins as they hit the ground from overturned temple tables.  He felt the shock of realizing Jesus was talking to a despised foreign woman and tasted the fish that fed 5000 others.  He heard Jesus shout, “Lazarus, come out!” and pray, “Father, the hour has come.” and say, “It is finished.”  He authenticated all the divine flesh and blood reality of the death, burial, and resurrection.

But John had more to say.  He wants others to be in on this with him.  He invites us to participate in this Immanuel experience.   “Now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.”  

In essence he is telling us, “Christ not only gave us Himself as a past reality, but He continues to give us Himself in communion as a present reality.  As redeemed children we have entered into an alertness and aliveness with Christ.  He draws near to heal our brokenhearted wounds and set us free from the bondages that hold us captive.” 

Now the closeness we enjoy is subtle and electrifying, gentle and ravishing, nuanced and captivating.  We are participants continually in an intimate relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

"Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too."