For 33 years different people got to see, hear and touch Jesus.  They got to hang out with Him over meals, hear Him teach, see Him heal people, play with children and see Him pray in dependence to the Father.  The Apostle John was a witness of that and much more.  His encounter with Jesus changed his life forever.  John proclaims this to us and the Father heart of God for us in his first letter that we will look at beginning today.  As we journey through 1 John, may we see that God wants us to know and love Him, and to experience the joy of sharing such with others.