Christ the King Revealed

Context

Today we are looking at the very last stage of the Christian life — when faith becomes sight.

Our guide: John the apostle. Same author as the gospel of John and the letters that bear his name.

The book of Revelation likely written in the 90s CE. About 60 yrs after Jesus’ death. Which John witnessed, while he stood at the cross comforting Jesus’ mother, Mary.

Emperors of the 1st ce sometimes demanded to be known as Lord. Christians recognized only one Lord, Jesus. John, now an old man, the last living of the original apostles, was the senior representative of the faith.

Stood firm in the affirmation that there is only one Son of God and Lord, Jesus.

Exiled by the Emperor Domitian to the island of Patmos, near Crete.

While on Patmos, He had a vision of the resurrected Jesus. The Book of Revelation is a record of the many things that Jesus reveals to John and commissions him to share with the churches of the first century.

The book of Revelation is at its core a message of encouragement and hope. The Christians of that time were vulnerable to persecution, needed to be strengthened.

We are reading from the very first chapter, the greeting that prefaces the revelation.

Text

Revelation 1:1–8 (ESV)

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, (this is before there were printed Bibles) and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come (the Father), and from the seven spirits who are before his throne (Holy Spirit), and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth (God the Son).

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Introduction

Most of us have come and gone from church. We wander from the faith. I did this during my college years.

Reasons: Intellectual questions. Moral injury. We experience fatigue or distraction or pressure from an anti-Christian environment.

There is always the felt danger that we could fall away from the faith…not reach our discipleship destination.

We’ve seen in each stage of the spiritual life that Jesus is intimately involved with us. Proactively involved. He cares about us making it to the finish line.

In the greeting of Revelation, Jesus reveals himself with three titles.

Each title speaks directly to the needs of his people to help complete life of faith.

EXEGESIS 1: “the faithful witness."

Christians of the first century lived a precarious existence

Did not fit in with the romans who worshiped many gods and even worshiped the emperor; for they believed in one God.

Did not fit in with the established Jewish communities. Believed that Jesus was the son of God, the Christ, and died and rose again.

One’s confession of Christ as Lord: Christ the King; could lead to estrangement between family members; ridicule in public; in some places even physical abuse, imprisonment, or death. In John’s case: Exile.

It was always a temptation to water down one’s belief in Jesus when talking with others. But the danger was that overtime this also could lead to watering down one’s faith for oneself too.

Through John, Jesus greets the churches: Grace and peace to you from the Faithful Witness. His FIRST TITLE.

Jesus was a Witness. A witness testifies. points to the truth.

Jesus was a witness to God’s plan of salvation. that he had sent his only son into the world to sacrifice for sin. So all could believe and become children of God and have life in his name.

A NEEDED message!

Jesus was FAITHFUL. (Key adjective!!)

Did not water down his message. Did not give into fear or intimidation. He did not sometimes testify to himself and to God and at other times did not. He consistently spoke the truth about himself.

John’s gospel, Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “it is as you say... For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth."

The Risen Lord knows his 1st ce people are worried about whether or how to share their faith. Could be consequences.

He sends them grace and peace, with his title as a reminder: FAITHFUL WITNESS. Jesus was a witness, just like them. They should be faithful, like him.

A comfort to John, who had been a faithful witness and was now suffering for it.

A comfort to the hearers of John’s letter. Jesus is THE faithful witness and he greets us!

APPLICATION 1: We are witnesses.

Thanks be to God that those ancient Christians maintained their faith and it has come down to us!!

It has never been easy to state one’s belief in Jesus in the face of disbelief or hostility or ridicule or indifference.

But we want to be faithful like Jesus, and like our forebears.

People don’t want to be brow-beaten or argued at or condescended to. But they do want truth. People rejoice in the truth. They are looking for faithful witnesses.

We have Jesus within us.

We are called to be faithful witnesses.

To share what we know and what we have experienced. We have experienced God’s grace and peace in Christ.

It can’t be wrong to witness to what you have experienced. When I was sad, my church got me through, when I turned toward God he was really there for you. and I think he will be there for you too.

Another dimension: When I keep my faith to myself it weakens.

EXAMPLE: INTRO TO PRAYER OF CONFESSION: The gospel need breathing room. Like grass under a pot. It is alive down there, but pressed down and dying. Give it some air and light and it thrives.

We want to be faithful witnesses, because one Jesus the FAITHFUL WITNESS will be revealed.

EXEGESIS 2: "the first born from the dead."

Grace and Peace to you from Jesus

The firstborn from the dead. 2ND TITLE.

Jesus died for his witness to God and himself.

They crucified him for claiming to be Christ, which was true even though they did not believe it.

But that was not the end of the story. But the cross was a pivot point.

God raised him from the dead.

RatifiedJesus’ testimony, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. They have passed out of judgment into life.

Thus he is the First Born from the Dead. The first born of many. The great family of God. The first among many brothers and sisters.

When Jesus appears to John as the 1st born: about 60 years had passed since John had last seen Jesus, who died around 30CE.

John is 80 yrs old. Frail.

Jesus hasn’t changed a bit, except in Glory! Young and beyond death and decay!

John in exile in Patmos, his mortality in view, now a vision of eternal life.

Comfort to John: Even if you die for testifying for me, yet you shall live.

Comfort the churches: Christians afraid of death for being a Christian:

Stay the course, the prize is eternal life.

Grace and Peace to you from the Firstborn from the Dead.

APPLICATION 2 - We should be alive, lively, going from life to life.

We will not be put to death for our faith here in the safety of the US.

But 90,000 Christians a year are put to death in other parts of the world. One every 6 minutes. (Gordon-Conwell's Center for the Study of Global Christianity)

5 have died since we’ve gathered to worship this morning.

Would that cause remaining Christians to consider recanting their faith? Sure.

To Christians in that situation, Jesus says Grace and Peace, The Firstborn from the Dead.

By appearing as the Living One, Jesus reframes the entire situation: Every 6 minutes a saint is entering glory.

Death is a reality that we all face. Growing older, infirmities, remind us that we are mortal and life here is uncertain.

Jesus has gone through all that and ahead of us.

Example. A recent conversation with a member while he was in the hospital: He had had a few serious bouts. This time, he said, there was no hope. For his body. He was going to die. Heavy spirit in the space. Then we talked, and I think I said, something simple like, “Jesus died too.” Suddenly, his spirit was touched by Jesus. A change came over him, as if Jesus said to him, I am the first born from the dead. This member was filled with hope. Eternal life.

Jesus says stay the course.

We will see Jesus the first born. We shall be alive like him.

EXEGESIS 3: the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Lastly, grace and peace to you from the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.

Jesus went about preaching, The kingdom of God is at hand.

Pray this way, Thy kingdom come.

Jesus was passionate for the kingdom of God and presented himself as the center of it.

Didn’t look like a king….nowhere to lay his head...only crown he ever wore was composed of thorns.

But now the humiliated one is the exalted one.

Glory and dominion forever. He will come with the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.

John thinking of when Jesus was in Caiaphas the high priests courtroom on trial for his life. Asked tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God! when Jesus said, you will see the son of man coming on the clouds. (Matt. 26:63)

Now John is seeing the one in glory who will come with the clouds.

Comfort for John.

Domitian had sent him into exile. Message: I have the power, I am the Lord and Emperor.

But when Jesus appears as Ruler of the Kings of the earth, John is reminded: I am a citizen of heaven and Jesus’ rule is over all.

Comfort for John’s hearers.

Jesus is the supreme king, and nothing can happen to you that will take you from his realm!

Grace and Peace to you from the Ruler of the kings of the earth.

APPLICATION 3: We live accountable to him.

Max Lucado on the election of November 2016 (tensions were high about who would be elected, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump): “my prediction” I have a prediction. I know exactly what November 9 will bring. Another day of God's perfect sovereignty. He will still be in charge. His throne will still be occupied. He will still manage the affairs of the world. Never before has His providence depended on a king, president, or ruler. And it won't on November 9, 2016.

Maybe the current president or the president elect causes you fear…or maybe your boss…or a teacher….or a lay-off, or downsizing, or inflation

Jesus is still on his throne.

Whatever comes, we are a people who know to whom we belong.

We aren’t going anywhere, nothing is going to happen, apart from him on the throne.

Jesus can and will be with us in any and all circumstance.

You life is not falling apart, it is falling into place. I’m on the throne, stop holding on, and just believe.

We will one day see the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.

CONCLUSION

will we fall away?

not if Jesus has anything to say about it

and he says: Grace and peace to us. From Jesus the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth

Prayer of Intercession

Almighty God, you have exalted Jesus over all creation to lead us into truth. Receive the prayers we offer in his name and for the world you so dearly love.

Give wisdom to all leaders and people to resist the earthly powers that destroy our common life; guide us in the way of peace.

Bring unity of mission to your church and fill us with a joy for your gospel as we invite others into your reign.

Enfold all who suffer in body, mind, or soul into the comfort of your healing, and enable us to extend our arms in kindness as witness to your love.

Eternal God, our beginning and our end, we remember those who are dying and have died; may they know the joy of your never-ending realm of peace.

Sovereign God, you sent Jesus to inaugurate a world of justice and peace through the power of your Spirit.

May the words we pray be more than words this day; let our lives reveal your love. Amen.