John opens his first letter with two crucial things. First, he identifies himself as a first-hand witness of Jesus and all that he did. He saw him. He touched him. He heard him. All with his own eyes, ears and hands.

From then on, Jesus had made it John’s mission to declare the One who is Life and Light to the world. John did this so that we may have fellowship with each other and fellowship with our God. Here is John’s goal for this letter:

“I write this so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:4