Jesus!
By Rev. Dr. Brent Russett – Asbury Free Methodist
April 24, 2022
Revelation 1:9-18
Today I am going to start of new series on the churches of Revelation. This series will be interrupted for a couple of special speakers, but I am expecting it to take us to the July long weekend.
There are a couple of reasons why I want to preach through this passage of scripture. Jesus is talking to seven first-century churches. It amazes me how much things change and how much they stay the same. There is a lot that we can learn from these churches in the 21st century. I am hoping that this series will help you see who Jesus is and that it will help you take steps toward him.
If you have ever read the book of Revelation, you know that it is a weird and wonderful book. In places, it is really difficult to understand. The apostle John wrote this book to churches that were located in modern-day Turkey. It was written in poetic language, and some would say coded language so that the first-century church could understand, but the Roman persecutors could not. For this series, we are not going to focus on what we don’t understand; we are going to focus on what we do understand.
Before we get into the scripture this morning, let me give you some history. In the sixties, not 1960, but sixty A.D., there was a Roman emperor whom you have probably heard about. His name was Nero. Nero started the Caesar cult. He demanded that people bow down and worship him as a god. Of course, the Christians couldn’t do this, so he despised them.
He also had another problem. He wanted to get rid of the slums in the city of Rome. So, he devised a plan. He set Rome on fire, but he blamed the Christians for doing it. He outlawed Christianity and persecuted anyone who called themselves Christians as traitors to the Roman empire. He threw people to the lions; He used Christians as torches to light his garden at night. But the persecution of Christians seemed to be localized around the city of Rome.
Nero was killed in 68 A.D. Nero’s successor was Vespasian. He was a trained soldier. He went on many conquests. One notable campaign was against Jerusalem. In the year 70 A.D., he slaughtered over a million Jews and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Back in Rome, he received accolades of honour.
Now Vespasian had two sons. His older son’s name was Titus. He was groomed to take over as Caesar when his father died. He was a talented soldier. He was also known for his glorious conquests. The younger son was name Domitian. He was neglected because of his older brother and very much embittered because of it.
Vespasian died after almost 12 years as Caesar. His Son Titus came to the throne. But he was murdered after only 2 years. The person next in line to take over was Domitian.
And he felt he had something to prove. It wasn’t long after he came to power that he restored the Caesar worship that Nero had instituted. But he took it a lot further than even Nero. He made the proclamation the length and the breadth of the Roman empire. Failure to comply with Caesar worship was a crime punishable by the most horrendous tortures.
To solidify his position, he accused the Christians of treason, child sacrifices and cannibalism. There was talk that at the Christian’s secret meetings that they would say, “This is my body, This is my blood, take and eat, take and drink.” Every natural disaster, plague, earthquake, or famine was blamed on the church. Anti-Christian mania swept the empire. And as the hatred grew, so did the multitude of paid spies.
If anyone retained the title Christian, death was the sentence. They were thrust behind bars, they were stretched upon racks until their bones were pulled from their sockets, they were burned, scourged, stoned, seared, and branded. They were cast into the arena to be skewered by wild, horned bulls, or if among the fortunate few, they were allowed to die quickly upon the gallows. Nor could they receive burial; their corpses were ordered left to rot on public display as a lesson to others who would neglect the emperor’s will.
It was into this situation that John wrote his letter to the seven churches.
John, who is now over 80 years old, was captured and left to rot on the Island of Patmos. It was 10 miles long and six miles wide. It used to be an island filled with Palm trees. But the trees were cut down in one of the early environmental tragedies. The terrain was as barren as Sudbury in the seventies.
The Island of Patmos was now a penal colony. It was also a labour camp. Mining was to take place on the island. It was here that John, the only Apostle still alive, was sent to rot.
And it was on this island that he received the vision we are about to look at. Verse 1 tells us what the book is about.
Revelation 1:1 (NIV)
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
What this book is going to tell is what Jesus wants to say to the seven churches about what must soon take place. It is also a revelation or an uncovering – that is what “revelation” means – of who Jesus is. That first line could also be translated as “The revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Verse 4 tells us who the letter is from and to whom it is addressed to.
Revelation 1:4–5 (NIV)
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
The letter is from the apostle John. He was one of the 12 disciples who had walked with Jesus. But also note verse 5. The letter is from Jesus.
Can you imagine going to your mailbox tomorrow and getting a letter from Jesus? He says I want to tell you about who I am and what I think of you. Would that be good? Would that be scary?
The first thing he wants us to know is that God loves us. God loves you. “To him who loved us and freed us from sin by his blood. We have just come through Easter. Last week we talked about that great love. But the first thing he wants his people to know as he writes this letter is that he loves them.
Revelation 1:9–11 (NIV)
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day (That is Sunday), I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
John says I am suffering like you are. Let me tell you why I am writing this letter. I was in the Spirit – or the Lord showed me a vision, or God by his Spirit showed me what I am writing, and he commanded me to write these things down and share them with you.
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Now Jesus is going to show up in a way that we have never seen him before. When you picture Jesus, how do you picture him? Maybe you picture him as a baby in a manager. Maybe what comes to mind is him teaching the crowds on the shores of Galilee. Maybe you picture him on a cross, or maybe you picture the resurrected Lord. All those are valid pictures.
But here is what you need to know about Jesus. He is constantly revealing who he is and who he wants to be for you. Now that is very different than us trying to make him who we want to be for us. Sometimes I think that people think Jesus is a white middle-class Canadian who wants us to be nice and wants us to be comfortable. Don’t try to make Jesus over in your image – he is someone much more profound than that.
Let me read how Jesus shows up to John. See if you can picture this as I read it
Revelation 1:12–18 (NIV)
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Before we take a closer look at this description, here is what you need to know. Part of this description turns up as Jesus speaks to each one of the seven churches individually. Like
Revelation 2:12 (NIV)
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
Or
Revelation 2:18 (NIV)
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Jesus shows them something they need to know about himself so that they can deal with the circumstances they find themselves in. Jesus wants to do the same for you. There is something that Jesus wants to show you about himself that you can live well in your life well right now.
Some of you may need to know about his kindness or his faithfulness. Others of you may need to know about his love or his goodness. There is something that Jesus wants to show you about himself so that you can live your life well.
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Let me walk you through this vision of Jesus – because maybe you will see more of who he wants to be for you.
Revelation 1:12–13 (NIV)
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,
So John turns around and sees someone like the son of man. That is a title that Jesus constantly used to refer to himself. It is also a title used in the book of Daniel to describe the Messiah.
John sees Jesus the Messiah – he leaves no doubt about who he is in verse 18. I was dead, but I am alive forevermore. John sees Jesus standing amongst seven golden lampstands.
As you read Revelation, you need to understand that it is full of symbols. As you know, a symbol is something concrete that represents something else. We are told what the lampstand means in verse 20. The seven lampstands represent the seven churches.
Jesus is amongst the seven churches. When you think about Jesus – where do you think he is? Some picture him in heaven. Others think about him in their hearts. Others kind of think of think of him like air, where he is all around us but not that tangible. Some think of him as being in a church service. But here, Jesus is pictured as being amongst the churches that John is writing to. There is something very tangible, very concrete about this image. It is not just about a church service, it is about the people of God in a specific area.
He sees what is going on. He knows your circumstances. He understands what you are going through. He cares.
The next thing that John describes is at the end of verse 13
Revelation 1:13 (NIV)
13 … someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
This is the garb of the traditional High Priest and some of the prophets. This is what they would wear. The high position of the sash, “Around the chest,” shows his standing. He is exalted above all.
It is interesting that Jesus chose to reveal himself, first of all, as the people’s high priest. He could have come as a soldier dressed for battle. He could have come in his carpenter’s clothes to give people a sense of familiarity. But he chose to come in the clothes of a high priest.
The role of the high priest was to act as a representative for the people to God and a representative of God to the people. If you want to come to God, you come through Jesus. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Jesus is the one who ushers us into the presence of God.
I find it interesting that in verse 6, he talks about the people of God as being priests. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you are called to represent God to people, and you are called to bring people to God. But Jesus – he is the high priest. You and I function under him. I wish I had time to flesh this out – but I don’t.
Revelation 1:14 (NIV)
14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
In Daniel 7, God, the ancient of days, is described as having hair as white as snow. This description of Jesus links him with God the father. His eyes are like blazing fire. As I said before, Revelation uses symbolic language. If you take this picture literally – it is rather grotesque. But these eyes symbolize the all-seeing eyes of Christ. Again, this is linked to God the father.
In many of the cities that John was writing to, there were secret cults. Jesus wanted to remind these churches that nothing was hidden from his sight. Many of these churches, because of persecution, had to meet in secret. Jesus wanted to remind them that nothing escapes his gaze.
There were people who were suffering in silence. They thought that nobody noticed them. They needed to be reminded that they were not forgotten.
There are a lot of you who are going through a lot of stuff. You have health challenges, and family challenges, and work challenges. I want you to know that Jesus sees. Jesus cares. Jesus understands. I want you to know that he loves you and wants the best for you.
Revelation 1:15 (NIV)
15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
Bronze was one of the strongest metals they had at the time. Jesus’ foundation was strong and sure. He is secure to hang onto in the middle of a storm. His voice sounded like rushing waters. If you have ever stood before a waterfall, you know how loud it is and the power it conveys.
In the face of the Roman government, the people felt weak. They needed to know that their God was strong. In the middle of persecution, they needed to know that their God was powerful. In the middle of their circumstances, they needed to know that they could hang onto Jesus, and he would not be moved.
I don’t know what you are facing, but I want you to know that Jesus is the strength that you can rely on. I have heard a number of you testify that God’s strength has shown up when you needed it.
Revelation 1:16 (NIV)
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
The sword stands for truth. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) says
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
It seems that truth has become personal. You have your truth. I have my truth. Which is a little weird when you think about it. We can have different perspectives. But the truth is about reality. Your truth may tell you that you are a bus – but you are not a bus. That does not conform to reality.
The thing is that we live in a world that has been broken by sin. Our view of what is good and right has been skewed by this world. But it is not what I say is true that matters, and it is not what you say is true that matters. Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and the life. He is the one who judges what is true. His view on things is what matters.
There may be some of you that need to hear that today. If you want to get a clear view of who you are and what your life is, see it through God’s eyes.
Verse 16 goes on to describe the face of Christ as “The sun shining in all its brilliance.” That is a reference to the glory of God. Jesus shows the beauty, the majesty, and the wonder of who God is.
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As I have described Jesus this morning – what is it about him that you need to take home. Maybe you need to contemplate that he stands amongst the churches. That he sees what is going on in your life. Maybe you need to remember that he is your high priest and that he wants to help you meet with God and help God meet with you.
If you have been walking in guilt and shame and fear that God will not accept you – go to Jesus – he is your representative.
Maybe you need a higher vision of who Jesus is – He is in very nature God, and he sees all. He sees your challenges and your sorrows.
Maybe you need to know that he is strong and that you can hold onto him in the storm. His voice is powerful; listen to him.
Maybe you need to say, Lord, I need your truth in my situation.
This morning after looking at who Jesus is, we have this wonderful opportunity to share communion together. We get to remember his love and what he did for us.
Here is what I know. Jesus loves you, and he wants to meet you where you are at.
Sermon Questions –
Revelations 1
April 24, 2022
Introduction
1. What are you celebrating this week?
2. What are you praying about this week?
Digging In
3. Read Revelation 1:9-18. The churches that received this letter were being persecuted. How might that affect how they heard this scripture.
4. Read Revelation 1:1-6 – What does this tell us about the book of Revelation?
5. Read verses 9-11. What does this tell us about John and Jesus?
6. John describes what he sees of Jesus. Part of this description turns up as Jesus speaks to the seven churches. ( See Rev. 2:12, 18 etc.) What does this tell us about who Jesus wants to be for us? How does a revelation of his character help us in hard times?
7. Read Revelation 1:12-13 and 19-20. What does the term “Son of Man” mean? What are the golden lampstands? Why does Jesus use symbolic language? What do verses 12-13 tell us about Jesus?
8. Read Rev. 1:14 and Daniel 7:9. What is the connection? Why does John describe the eyes the way he does? What is John trying to tell us about Jesus?
9. Read verse 15. What do these symbolize, and why are they important?
10 Read verse 16. Read Hebrews 4:12. What does this tell us about Jesus, and why is it important?
11. What is the big idea of this passage of scripture? (What is God trying to communicate to us?)