We tend to think of life as a biological function, enabling physical structures to function.  But life is much more than biochemistry.  John tells us that life existed before creation, before any structure had been created.  Life is eternal because it is a part of the nature of God.  He is not only the life-giver: He is life itself.  When God the Son came to earth, Jesus said that He was the life (John 14:6).  In Jesus people saw the purity and power of eternal life and experienced God loving them.  The joyful task of the apostles was to tell the world that they can also have eternal life when they trust in Jesus … they knew because they had met Him!

All the foundational apostles were witnesses of Jesus.  They were there with Him, they saw Him and touched Him (1 John 1:1).  After His death, the apostles saw Him alive (John 20:19-20); they were witnesses of the resurrection.  They saw that Jesus was just the same person who knew them and loved them, and, although He had a transformed body, they had the same fellowship with Him.  They were experiencing eternal life.  Jesus had said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)  Eternal life is not the ability to function as we want, for ever; but an intimacy of loving fellowship with both God the Son and God the Father which never ends.  

The greatest desire of the apostles was for many other people to enjoy that same fellowship with God as they were experiencing.  They also knew that eternal life relationship with Jesus could never end, even after their bodies ceased to function: it was the ultimate ‘Good News’ for the world.  It was the reason for their joy, and it was multiplied when they introduced other people to share in that same fellowship with God.

The apostles gave their lives to tell that message; it was their greatest joy - like the joy Jesus had in knowing His Father and introducing the disciples to Him (John 15:11; John 17:13).  That responsibility has now been passed to us and it brings great joy.  Indeed, nothing brings more joy than seeing a sinner come to Christ knowing their sins are forgiven and that they can enjoy the love of God for ever.  When you love someone, it is a joy to speak about them.  Who will you introduce to Jesus today?