The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is the conqueror of the world. When Jesus appeared on the scene preaching the good news and working signs, many hailed him as a great person because of the mighty things God was accomplishing through him. Most of those who encountered him unanimously agreed that he was a holy man. Some regarded him as a rabbi while others saw him as a great prophet (cf. Mark 8:27ff). But apart from his followers, not everybody accepted Jesus as the Christ. Those who fell short of seeing in Jesus the promised Messiah of Israel cited, among other reasons, his humble background and the fact that they knew him and his family (cf. Mark 6:3; John 7:27). Even when Jesus asked them to focus on his works rather than their knowledge of where he comes from, they would still not be persuaded to change their position. To them, Jesus could not be the Christ. It was as simple as that.
In today’s First Reading, John writes to his community to remind them that it is he/she who accepts Jesus as the Christ who will conquer the world (overcoming the challenges that arise from our imperfection). John reiterates to them that Jesus is indeed the Christ. But he tells them not to simply rely on what he tells them. God himself has testified that Jesus is the Messiah as could be seen in the restoration of creation that God had worked through Jesus. The Messiah’s coming was longed for because it was to mark the beginning of a new chapter in God’s relationship with humanity. By sinning, men and women had forfeited that end for which God had created them: eternal life with God. When Jesus appeared on the scene, therefore, it was clear from the start that restoring this relationship was his mission. It was for this reason that he began his ministry by calling on the people to turn away from those things that were damaging their relationship with God. Although it was an open invitation, Jesus made it clear to them that hearkening to his call was necessary – in fact indispensable – for claiming membership in the kingdom he had come to inaugurate. In other words, only those who accepted him and his message were en route to repairing their relationship with God and as such were assured of eternal life. It is this very message about which John is reminding his community.