1 John 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Thinking on Life Made Manifest - the author, John, writes he saw and heard Jesus to Proclaim this Joy. The Light made manifest is what advent is about - God with us we celebrate. Using Christmas Lights we proclaim the Light of the world.
King David's Palace, not where Jesus was born, was located by an Israeli University Professor reading the Bible. The house we attribute to being the House of the Virgin Mary was located by the visions of thy mystic Anne Catherine Emmerich. You have to admire the Catholic Church for their authenticity concerns. The House of Mary is not disbelieved nor accredited because there is no supporting archaeological evidence. One of Emmerich's descriptions of the house Apostle John built in Ephesus for Mary, the mother of Jesus, where she had lived to the end of her life. Emmerich provided details about location and topography. In 1881, a French priest, the Abbé Julien Gouyet used Emmerich's book and found Mary's house based on the descriptions. He was not taken seriously at first, but sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey persisted until two other priests followed the same path and confirmed the finding. The Bible says have several witnesses.
Anne Catherine Emmerich said Jesus was born in a stable created from a cave. And the photo from a hundred years ago shows us, many stables were caves in Bethlehem.
Her vision says when Jesus was born, the Light filled the stable and went UP Filling the sky with Light. A single star shone brightly...
The Catholic Church would tell you, in their investigations, light and halos have been seen around those who fill themselves with the Holy Spirit. Like the way our Father God spoke to Moses. And the Light of the Holy Spirit recorded in the second chapter of Acts. The Catholic Church beatified Anne Catherine Emmerich, but the beatification was held up because her narrator added so many things they had to take decades to decipher what were her visions. However, Light is proclaimed in John 1.
I know I go on and on about John's first Gospel Chapter, but if you were to condense the story of Jesus... I truly applaud the disciple who chose to follow Jesus into great personal danger. John's wording of the wonders he saw are truly poetic. Majestic. Inspiring. John conveys to eyes, not witnessing Him, in a hidden form using poetry of the wonder John...saw. He is telling the novice of the camel he saw go through a threaded needle and explains All Things are Possible with God.
Coincidentally enough, The Ryland Papyrus contains two examples of the Gospel of ... John. Dated to the appropriate era - saying the Author lived at the time of Jesus and is credible. Saying that all the Bible is written as the Authors suggest and - the believers are unsurprised. One small step for Faith - one giant leap for papyrus.
Housed at the John Rylands University Library, Manchester
This is why we have proof today - when Paul wrote of the Temple currently offering sacrifices, we see the 400 years of Roman Empire persecutions give us two lone papyrus surviving to say - YES - this Was Written By these Authors and they DID -
hear Jesus see with our eyes, and look upon Jesus touch Jesus with our hands saw miraculous life - describes as the Way, Truth and Life - made manifest - our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ
- we have Seen it, and Testify to it and Proclaim to you the Eternal Life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us
- This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John 5:35
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
"A Man Called Peter: The Story of Peter Marshall" by Catherine Marshall. She wrote of seeing Light surrounding Peter after he died. He was one of the most revered men in America as Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was a very warm, personable man filled with love for God proclaiming love for each other.
Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, John 1
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord!’
Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Daniel 12:3
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Luke 2:9
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
Matthew 13:43
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear!
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