Words Written to Children and Fathers

1 John 2:12-13a “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.  I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.”
            Hallelujah!  Lord, there are not enough words in all of the languages of men, angels, and beasts to express my gratitude for the fact that my sins are forgiven!  I am no longer separated from the Father and other believers, not because of works of righteousness that I have done, but because of Your sweet mercies and shed blood on the cross on my behalf.
            Lord, I find it strange that John writes this sentence though.  If he were writing to Jews in general, he might have written that they “should have” known You who is from the beginning.  However; when You cam here in human form, You were rejected, persecuted, and finally crucified by the very ones who “should have” known who You were.  This makes me think that John is writing to a small group of true believers where the fathers did indeed know You.
            Fathers teach their wives and children, whether intentionally or unintentionally, what they do and do not believe to be true.  Christian fathers are held to a higher standard than non-Christian fathers, as the fate of their children's salvation may hang in the balance.