Can you imagine what it was like to be with Christ in person during His earthly life? To see the the Son of God incarnate? Many did. It was their unique privilege to hear him, see him with their eyes, and touch Him with their hands (1 Jn 1:1). As John puts it, the Word of Life “was manifested” in real space and time for a little over 30 years.
And because John and others experienced Christ and believed in Him, they testified of Him. When they saw Him resurrected from the dead, it solidified in their hearts the reality of the gospel, and so they turned the world upside down by preaching Christ. Many to their deaths.
Christ was really here. He really lived, suffered, and died for our sins. He really was raised from the dead. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The historical reality of Christ’s person and work is the cornerstone of our faith. Paul says in 1. Cor 15:1-8 that these historical elements make up the gospel, which is “of first importance.” And if any one of these elements, like the resurrection, is not historical, then our faith “is in vain” and “worthless” (1 Cor 15:14, 17). If none of these facts are facts, then Christians are “most to be pitied” (1 Cor 15:19).
But praise God that these facts are true. They are as real as you and me. And ultimately, we are convinced because when we read the biblical accounts of Christ, the Holy Spirit cries out in our hearts, “Yes, Christ is real…His work is true…He is my Lord and my God…He delivered me from my sins!”
We don’t see Him, but we love Him, believe in Him, and rejoice in Him (1 Pet 1:8). Through Scripture, by faith, we fellowship with Christ. And His love in our fellowship moves us to repent for putting any other gods before Him, receive forgiveness and cleansing by His blood, treasure Him, and love others.
So, keep looking into the facts and truths of the Bible to see Christ and to be changed by that sight…Because that is preparing us for the day we will look into the Word Himself and see Him like we’ve never seen Him before…not through Scripture, but through our very eyes.
