I haven’t updated my blog in a while, but I’m going to try and get back into doing so more regularly, including typing up some of my notes from Contagious 2007: The Resurrection. I’m kicking off with the first “Big Teach”, which was preached by Ian Fry. MP3s should be on the Contagious website at some point soon!
1: JESUS the Living One (Revelation 1)
v9-11 The Speaking Vision
John was exiled to Patmos for preaching Jesus, which was a dangerous activity. The island of Patmos was an unpleasant place where Christians were put to work in mines. John heard a voice behind him, and is told to write what he sees. John saw the vision, we get the book.
v12-16 What did John see?
This book shows John struggling to capture an amazing vision in words, and he does so with powerful images and symbols. What does he see?
“One like a son of man” (v13) – this is a reference to Daniel 7, where “one like a son of man” is led into the presence of the Ancient of Days and given authority, glory and sovereign power, and the worship of all the world. His clothes are described as “a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash round his chest”. The robe is like those the priests would wear, while the golden sash shows he is someone of great importance. He stands among the lampstands, which represent the churches (see v20). This is the kingly high priest who is supreme over every language, nation and tribe.
“His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow” (v14) – just like the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9); the person who John sees is God, ancient and forever. We respect the dignity of age less and less, but the Bible values old age highly. In our Fallen world, we associate ageing with death and decay. But redeemed, old age loses all its negatives. There is all the gain of wisdom and maturity with none of the qualities of youth being left behind. “His eyes were like blazing fire” – eyes of sharpest clarity that miss nothing that happens in the universe, aflame with inexhaustible joy and hope. He is not tired or bored, but burns with passion and joy.
“His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters” (v15) – He is burnished, he has been tested in the fires of death and has come out the other side. His voice is like a waterfall, as full of power as the roar of the Niagra Falls.
“In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (v16) – He holds the churches in his right hand (which denotes his hand of power). His word is living and active, like a two-edged sword, an instrument of surgery, or of judgement. He burns more brilliantly than the storm at the heart of the sun. What an amazing sight!
v17 The Impact on John
What effect does this have on John? He falls down – bam! – as though dead. John had lived with Jesus, glimpsed his glory on the mount of transfiguration, but this sight of Jesus’ unveiled majesty was enough to knock him right out. None of the rest of the wonders in the book of Revelation, as amazing and shocking as some of them are, has the same effect on him. He is no longer a little baby, meek and mild; he is not just a human teacher; he does not hang any longer on the Cross or lie there in the tomb. This is the risen Christ; this is your God!
But Jesus reaches down to him with his right hand, with power and kindness. He tells us, “Don’t be afraid!” This is the mighty mercy of God.
v17-20 The Risen One
Jesus gives three reasons not to be afraid:
- Firstly, “I am the First and the Last”. He is eternal; there are no birthdays or funerals when it comes to God.
- Secondly, “I am the Living One! I was alive, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever!” The Living One is a name for God. He has life in himself, is the source of all life – how could he possibly die? “‘Tis mysery all, the immortal dies; ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free.”
- Thirdly, “I hold the Keys of Death and Hades” – Jesus is the one who is in control of death and hell. We need not fear death, we need not fear punishment. He opens and locks the gates of hell and the gates of life.
Application
Do you see Jesus for who he really is?
The universe is all about him: from him, through him, to him. He is worthy of all honour and glory and praise. He’s beautiful and wonderful, and worth worshipping. He holds the ultimate power in the universe. He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, ultimately death. We should approach him with both fear and love.
Maintaining a proper sight of Jesus
Jesus shouldn’t just be mere background noise in our lives. Jim Elliot prayed “Deliver me from the dread asbestos of other things”. Seeing is becoming – whatever we delight in most, whatever we gaze on, whatever occupies our thoughts and desires, shapes us. 1 John 3:3: “We know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”. The primary way of gazing on Jesus, of becoming like him, is in his Word. The Bible is written not to give us information only, but to give us an experience of the Living One. Not for data, but for awe. Bible knowledge isn’t an end in itself, but stepping stones to delighting more truly and deeply in Christ.