The life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.
1 John 1:2
In 1 John, the apostle uses the word manifested quite a few times. It means “to reveal that which was hidden or concealed,” or “to make known what was previously unknown.” John uses this word at least four times in reference to the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
From our verse, we understand that when the Lord Jesus Christ became a man, eternal life—which was with the Father—was revealed. We should pause and meditate on this truth. As we consider this eternal life that was manifested, we must ask the question: Why? Why did Jesus come into this world to manifest eternal life?
The answer is simple: because it was needed.
In Matthew 4:16, the Lord Jesus quoted Isaiah 9:2, saying, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” Isaiah originally wrote, “The people who walked in darkness.” There is no contradiction here. The Lord Jesus emphasized our position—we sat in darkness—while Isaiah emphasized our practice or conduct—we walked in darkness. We are sinners both by nature and by practice, and because of our lost condition, we were in complete darkness.
This darkness is illustrated in the ninth plague of Exodus 10:21, where we read that the darkness God sent upon the land of Egypt was so thick that it could be felt. This serves as a picture of humanity lost in sin. Satan is described as the ruler of darkness (Ephesians 6:12), and hell is described as a place of outer darkness (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).
Scripture reminds us that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). When the Lord Jesus came into the world, we read, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4–5).
When the Lord Jesus stepped into time, the life of God was manifested. As John later declares, “We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
Anchor For Today:
The invisible was made visible. The unapproachable God drew near to us when eternal life was manifested in Christ. And this life is meant not only to be received, but also to be enjoyed in daily fellowship—and shared with others.