Today Beside John Calvin: And He Was Transfigured Before Them, and His Face Shone Like the Sun, and His Garments Became White as Light. (Matthew 17:2)

1 John 1:1
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.”
He shows, first, that life has been exhibited to us in Christ; which, as it is an incomparable good, ought to rouse and inflame all our powers with a marvelous desire for it, and with the love of it. It is said, indeed, in a few and plain words, that life is manifested; but if we consider how miserable and horrible a condition death is, and also what is the kingdom and the glory of immortality, we shall perceive that there is something here more magnificent than what can be expressed in any words.
Then the Apostle’s object, in setting before us the vast good, yea, the chief and only true happiness which God has conferred on us, in his own Son, is to raise our thoughts above; but as the greatness of the subject requires that the truth should be certain, and fully proved, this is what is here much dwelt upon. For these words, What we have seen, what we have heard, what we have looked on, serve to strengthen our faith in the gospel. Nor does he, indeed, without reason, make so many asseverations; for since our salvation depends on the gospel, its certainty is in the highest degree necessary; and how difficult it is for us to believe, every one of us knows too well by his own experience. To believe is not lightly to form an opinion, or to assent only to what is said, but a firm, undoubting conviction, so that we may dare to subscribe to the truth as fully proved. It is for this reason that the Apostle heaps together so many things in confirmation of the gospel.
Which we have heard, which we have seen. It was not the hearing of a report, to which little credit is usually given, but John means, that he had faithfully learnt from his Master those things which he taught, so that he alleged nothing thoughtlessly and rashly. And, doubtless, no one is a fit teacher in the Church, who has not been the disciple of the Son of God, and rightly instructed in his school, since his authority alone ought to prevail.
When he says, we have seen with our eyes, it is no redundancy, but a fuller expression for the sake of amplifying; nay, he was not satisfied with seeing only, but added, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled By these words he shews that he taught nothing but what had been really made known to him. (Extracted from Calvin’s Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, Commentary on 1 John)
Scripture Extract: John 20:24-29 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Prayer: Tell me,
who would take an eternity
choosing the million flavours of peach
and not notice it pass?
Only you, Beautiful Lord.
Who would consider the patience it takes
to harmonise the subtleties of a flower’s perfume
time well spent?
Only you, Beautiful Lord.
Who would celebrate that it took not a moment sooner
to compose the sound of bird song?
Only you, Beautiful Lord.
Gracious God,
may I find time to celebrate in your garden of wonder,
to slow down this moment of heaven
that sweeps me off my feet in love for you
from some holy recognition
too deep for words.
And if a burden is too great,
or a pain too fresh,
may that same garden wait for me
to bloom once more
into the life you shape for me,
that I might see in the waiting
the place of resurrection
calling me, claiming me. Through Christ in whose glory the reality of our God is really made known. Amen.
(Only very slightly adapted from Pray Now 2007 Day # 30 found in the Church of Scotland website’s Worship on the Web Pages)