Making Our Joy Complete – 1 John 1

A text – 1 John 1:1-2:2

1:1 We declare to you 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–
1:2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us–
1:3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1:4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;
1:7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1:9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
2:2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

A reflection:

In this first letter from John, he declares that the contents will be a description of what he and others have seen and heard for themselves. He also says something that might have astounded his readers/hearers: It is better not to sin, but anyone who does sin has an advocate with God, our heavenly father; that advocate is Jesus Christ. Our sins will not matter to God when Jesus asks pardon for us.

I am especially drawn to chapter 1, verse 4: “We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” What does this mean? John is describing the life and work of Jesus so that John’s joy might be complete. It is not enough just to know about Jesus for ourselves. That is some joy, to be sure. But it is incomplete until we share that knowledge with another person who needs it.

If you know Jesus’s story, and if you believe that Jesus broke death so that it has no permanent hold over us, and you also know someone who is miserable or hopeless or deeply alone, it just could be that you, like John, could share the knowledge of Jesus to make your own joy complete. By sharing, you double the joy and the hope. In this Easter season, when we celebrate Jesus’s victory over death, many in the world are still grieving and dismal. If you know someone in that kind of misery, make a visit. Hear their pain and share what you can about hope and life. It may make your joy complete.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us chances to share the message of your life and your death and your rising with someone who feels hopeless. Help us to take courage and do this sharing, making our joy complete.  Amen.