LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Experience of Contemplating Jesus
"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have beheld, and what our hands have felt concerning the Word of life..." (1 John 1:1).
John was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. One day Jesus crossed his path and said, "Follow me". And what did John do? He simply looked at Jesus, and he was captivated. Something ineffable pierced his heart and he could no longer be separated from him. Instantly, leaving everything behind, he followed. And with him, others went with the Master.
They did not know where they were going. There were no promises or expectations. It was just following Jesus, knowing him, listening to him and being with him. And so, throughout the next three and a half years, by day and by night, John and the twelve lived to meet Jesus, in every human circumstance possible. Can you imagine that?
Then John says: "What we have seen". And then, "what we have heard". This is experience, this is not theology. Then, "what we have contemplated". This is something progressive.
What is contemplating? When you go to an art gallery and see a beautiful painting, you spend a long time scrutinizing every detail. Or if you are a nature lover, you go to see the sunset, and you stand there in ecstasy. To contemplate is to look at something with careful and prolonged attention.
That's what John did. He not only saw Jesus pass by, but he lived to contemplate him, seeing how he did things, how he loved men, women, the helpless, how he welcomed them, how he forgave, how he healed and saved them.
John saw divine Life manifested on earth, and day by day he and the twelve were pierced by that life until, finally, they were brought into an experience of such intimacy with Jesus that they became one with him. Thus began the church on earth, with twelve men living together around Christ, listening to him, contemplating him, loving him and being loved by him.
Jesus instilled in them something that came from above: the life that he had lived for eternity in communion with his Father. In that spiritual realm, the full weight of heavenly glory descended and he lived in the twelve. There the Lord introduced them. And the predominant feature of that life that they were given to live, experience, know and touch, says Juan, is love.