December 11, 2024

Today's Reading: 1 John 5:1-21

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 28:14-29; 1 John 5:1-21; 2 John 1-13, 3 John 1-15

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the closing words of St. John’s first epistle, he makes it clear why he has written: he wants all who believe in Jesus to know they have eternal life. What great words of encouragement! He also assures Christians that eternal life through Jesus is the Gift of God and that all who believe have been born of God. The action is from Him to us. Salvation is not something we accomplish or deserve. God gives it freely because He wants us to share in the eternal life won for us by Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world. Alleluia!

With bold and beautiful words, John says: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” While every Christian happily agrees with the first part of that statement, a lot of people chafe at the second part. “Too exclusive,” they say. “That might offend people.” Indeed, it will. It always has.

A lot of people today don’t like this kind of talk. It bothers them to think that some people will not have life. “How can John say that people who do not have Jesus do not have life? What fault is it of theirs that they don’t know Jesus?” They would accuse Christians of being intolerant. But John is not writing to offend; he is merely stating a fact.

Think of it this way (and this analogy is not original): Suppose the building you are in is engulfed in flames, and your life is in imminent danger. Fortunately, you know the way to the front door, so you call out to everyone else, “Follow me! I know how to get out of here.” To this, someone responds, “You go ahead; I’m going out the back door.” But you just came from that way, and you know that no one can get out the back. So you insist, “Please! We don’t have much time. We’ve got to make it to the front!” 

In that situation, you are not insisting on your way because you are arrogant; you are insisting because you know the other people are in trouble and you want to help. 

Jesus is the only way to the Father. By God’s grace, you have Him as your Savior. By man’s stubbornness, some resist Him and insist on another way even though God wants them to be saved. Those who resist need our prayers and our loving concern. They do not need an unclear message that says one way is as good as another. Jesus is still the only way. Thank God we have been given life in Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

You are the way, the truth, the life; Grant us that way to know, That truth to keep, that life to win Whose joys eternal flow. (LSB 526:4)

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

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