That which was from [a] beginning, which we heard, which we discerned with our eyes, which we watched, and with our hands touched concerning the Word of the life, 1 John 1:1.
The apostle John opens his first letter by describing his direct experience with the Word of Life. Together with the other ten apostles—excluding the one who betrayed Christ—he acknowledged that Jesus was both God in the flesh and the Messiah of Israel. They heard Him, observed Him, and even touched Him with their hands. The very Creator of the universe wrapped Himself in flesh and tented among us.
The intensity of John’s description is somewhat diminished in translation, for English requires several words to capture the full meaning of the original. John writes, “We have discerned Him with our eyes,” indicating that they were in a continuing state of having seen Him with discernment. This profoundly shaped John for the rest of his life. He could still recall in his mind the very words of Jesus, for he remained in a state of having heard the words that came from His lips. Observing Jesus likewise left a lasting impression on him, as he remembered seeing the Lord among the crowds, in the temple, walking with them along the road, and in many other places where he watched Him. John also personally touched Jesus, fully aware that He was truly human and yet fully God.