Morning Moments

Why would someone who had seen and know Jesus not recognize Him after His resurrection? There might be several honest and legitimate reasons such as 1) time of day, 2) the preoccupation with other things, 3) or maybe the intensity of conversation with someone else. There certainly may be others, but why don’t we recognize Him? When the two disciples on the road to Emmaus were talking with Jesus in Luke 24:13-35, it is clear that things were not clear to them. BUT when Jesus opened their eyes of understanding, their heart burned within them. Now that is fellowship, and in that fellowship they saw and they knew, they learned and they lit out to tell others what had happened.


John’s epistle deals with Christian Fellowship and in chapter one, we discover the Parameters of that fellowship.

Sometimes we confuse relationship with fellowship and vice versa. A couple may be married - that's relationship, and not be communicating with each other in love and respect - that's fellowship. The apostle Paul longed to learn all his life, "That I may KNOW Him (he did in salvation), and the FELLOWSHIP of His suffering (he had), and the power outflowing from His resurrection (he was). Don't be satisfied with relationship - SEEK FELLOWSHIP!

I. It is Based upon a Unique Experience

I remember speaking to a young CPA who had converted from Baptist to Muslim. I asked her to tell me about the experience. Her story was that when she walked into a mosque, she felt peace.

a. An Experience that is Real

Our experience is not based upon a titillating sensation, but upon a Trustworthy Savior. It is not based upon accumulated data, but upon Almighty Deity. It is not based upon any human feeling but upon Divine Faith.

1:1 What was from [the] beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and our hands handled, concerning the Word of the life-

b. An Experience that is Revealed

There is a great danger in telling someone they are saved. Salvation comes through regeneration as a result of God’s illumination upon His revelation which came by inspiration, and we can know without any reservation.

1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and declare to you* the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us-

c. An Experience that is Revealing

Could you keep it to yourself if you were dying of cancer and were then completely miraculously healed? Could you keep it to yourself if you had lived a life of blindness for years and then you could suddenly see? Neither can one keep to himself what happens when we genuinely trust Jesus Christ and know his fullness of Joy …

1:3 what we have seen and have heard we declare to you*, so that you* also shall be having fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship [is] with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1:4 And these things we write to you*, so that our joy shall have been made full.