“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” 1 John 1 v 3-4
John was an eyewitness of Christ Jesus. He walked and talked with Jesus as He walked the earth clothed in humanity.
Right at the outset of the letter of 1 John, John tells us his intention in writing. “We proclaim these things so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
The question for us to consider is simply: Are we enjoying fellowship with Jesus? Are we delighting ourselves in knowing Him and being known by Him?
It’s clear from Scripture that it is God’s desire to have fellowship with the people He created. God was not merely looking for people to follow The Law, His intention was that people would follow Him. And that through The Law they would come to know Him (Gal. 3:24).
The prophets were sent so that God’s wandering people would return to Him. God says to His people through the prophet Joel “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘Return to Me with all your heart’” (Joel 2:12). The Lord calls His people to return to Him; not to return to a location, but to return to Himself and to bring all their heart with them. They were called to return to Him at the heart level.
When Jesus called the twelve disciples in Mark 3:14-15 it says “And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.” Firstly, he called the twelve that they would be with Him. They were first called to Jesus, to be with Him, before being sent out to do anything!
Jesus Himself said “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
Paul reminds the church of Corinth at the start of his heavy letter to them that they were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9).
As full as our days might be with family, work, ministry, church, do we know fellowship with Christ Jesus? Do we take time to be with Him for no other reason than simply being with Him? Do we know this fellowship that John talks about in his letter?
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus gives a wonderfully gracious invitation to His people who need to return to Him. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
It’s an invitation of intimacy. An invitation to share in fellowship. It is amazing to think about, but Jesus wants to spend time with us, so much so that He has made it possible for us to be with Him for eternity and for us to know fellowship with Him today.
By: Ben Ellershaw
