Going straight to the Cross
 

We Touched Him

by J. Randal Matheny

"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-- ... we proclaim to you also" (1 John 1:1, 3a, NASU).

We touched him, John writes.

Most writers want to talk about how Jesus has touched them. John writes to say "WE touched HIM." Literally. With our hands. The living, breathing, walking, resurrected Son of God, Son of Man.

It's a doctrinal statement. Some were saying Christ had not come in the flesh (1 John 4:1-2). John makes it clear the Lord was no ghost, phantom, or figment of imagination. The gospel is based on facts. Hard facts. Divine-human facts. John refuses to let anyone retell or re-interpret the story and twist the facts.

The facts mean salvation, grace, strength; they were divinely interpreted and explained, with truths, commands, principles, examples.

Those same facts still stand today to explain the meaning of the coming of the Son of God.

The faith is always a truth matter.

It's a personal statement. John must have marveled to think that he had actually touched the Son of God, when in the OT the Jews believed that one would die if God appeared. Uzzah died when he touched the ark, just the ark, mind you. John is amazed that they had "touched [the Lord] with our hands."

We today are not eyewitnesses as was John and the other apostles. But is it not as marvelous that Jesus accompanies us to every part when we do and preach his word? Is it not just as amazing that his Spirit abides within us?

The faith is always a heart matter.

It's a resurrection statement. To startled and frightened disciples, Jesus appears and tells them, "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luke 24:39).

"Touch me." The same word as 1 John 4:2, "we touched him."

This flesh-and-blood Savior promised to return to claim his own and carry them to eternal abodes.

The faith is always a hope matter.

Truth. Heart. Hope. John binds them all together in one wonderful statement. He touched the Christ, and as a result was left with indelible prints on his soul.

Have you touched the Christ lately?

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