He And He Alone Is Eternal Life

How great is this verse in the introduction to John's 1st epistle?

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—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—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. (1 John 1:1-3, emphasis mine)

He is eternal life. Eternal life made manifest. Note that John does not say that He makes available eternal life. He is eternal life and apart from Him there is only condemnation and darkness.

Oh what a low view so many have of Jesus. Whether He is seen as a galactic concierge, eager to fulfill your every request, or if He is seen as merely a wise teacher and example or perhaps when He is described as someone who introduces to us the concept of eternal life but leaves the rest up to us, His very Name is diminished. He does not simply talk about eternal life or model what eternal life will look like, He is inextricably linked to eternal life. Just as there is no truth apart from the One who is Truth incarnate or love apart from the One who is love itself, so also there is no life apart from Jesus.

Our world is full of dead men walking, men giving the semblance of quickening but inside are as dead as a stone. Dead men cannot be revived by a political revolutionary or an especially good teacher or a mere man. They can only be made alive and given a new heart (Eze 36:26) by the supernatural, omnipotent God-man Jesus who is life itself, life eternal and free from sin. I will admit my tolerance of those who, Christians though they may be, nevertheless proclaim a Christ who is not and cannot be the author and finisher of eternal life has grown even shorter. I feel more acutely these days the urgency of the time we live in and the task we are entrusted with. As my health slowly seems to improve, my focus must likewise turn away from the inward and turn to face more fully the transcendent God who dwells in us and among us and calls us friends. He it is that we proclaim, the very source of eternal life.

Too long I have only sipped of the Living Water, consumed by other cares and seeking to hang on. I must drink deeply like one who is parched from the desert but has rediscovered the oasis, Jesus Christ that fount of every blessing.