Lessons from Laodicea

INTRODUCTION

Biblical Context

Revelation

Written by the apostle John as an old man, exiled to the island of Patmos — a prison island — for the sake of the Gospel.

While on Patmos, the risen Christ appears to John in a vision, and begins to dictate to him.

Ch. 1

John opens with a vision of Jesus in all of his glory.

He’s walking among 7 lampstands, representative of 7 churches in Asia Minor.

Encouraging and terrifying.

Tells John to pen a letter to these same 7 churches.

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea

Starts with praise of good things, ends with rebuke/correction.

Laodicea is the only one that’s different — there’s no praise or encouragement.

Historical Context

To understand the letter, we have to understand the city.

Known for 3 Major Developments:

Banking

Located at intersection of 2 major Roman trade routes.

Meaning — a lot of money/goods moved through Laodicea.

As a result, banking became a major industry in the city.

Banking also made the city very wealthy — wealthiest city in Phrygia.

It held large reserves of money/gold.

Wool

Laodicea sat in a fertile valley that was good for grazing sheep.

As a result, wool became a major export for Laodicea.

Not just any wool.

Laodicea was famous for breeding a specific line of sheep that produced a particularly soft, black wool that was almost glossy.

This particular black wool was a sign of wealth.

If you wore clothes made from this black wool, you were immediately identified as wealthy.

Medicine

Also home of one of the most well-known medical schools in the world at the time.

This particular medical school discovered the first ointment for injured eyes.

It was a powder of combined minerals that when mixed with water became a sort of salve.

If you injured your eye — scratched from sand, for instance — you could apply this salve, and it would heal the eye, restoring eyesight.

Just like any wealthy city that sat on a trade route, they began to export this salve — making it just another way that Laodicea brought massive amounts of money in to the city.

Beyond their commerce and exports, Laodiceans were a prideful, arrogant people.

They relied on their own wealth/accomplishments.

This is what Christ is primarily addressing in the letter.

Case in Point:

In 60AD, Laodicea was destroyed by a major earthquake.

The Roman gov. came in to offer aid — an ancient PPP Loan.

Instead, the Laodiceans REJECTED Roman help, saying that they had plenty of money/resources to rebuild themselves.

This was a city that prided themselves in pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps.

They were a people who relied on themselves.

Bearing that in mind, let’s read what Christ has to say to the church in Laodicea.

READ

PRAY

3 Problems in Laodicea

As we move through the text of Christ’s letter, we’ll see that for everything the people of Laodicea had, and for everything they had accomplished, they had 3 major problems.

An Idolatry Problem (v. 14)

Look at how Jesus introduces himself…

Amen — from Heb. root meaning, “be firm, steady, trustworthy.”

FINAL WORD — “So be it.” It’s a punctuation meaning whatever has been said, is affirmed.

When Jesus calls himself the “Amen,” He’s the final word. He has the last say.

Faithful/True Witness

He’s the revelation of God to mankind — and this revelation is trustworthy.

Beginning of God’s Creation

Colossians 1:16 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Jesus is eternal — presided over creation at the beginning of time.

Main Idea: JESUS CHRIST IS GOD HIMSELF. He’s not just a man, he’s the God-man. God in flesh, revealed to humanity.

Significance: Colossians.

Paul writes a letter to the church at Colosse. The primary focus? A proper understanding of who Jesus is.

Colosse was only 10 miles to the west of Laodicea.

Laodicea is mentioned 5 times in the book of Colossians.

Including, Col. 4:16

Colossians 4:16 ESV

And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

We’ve lost Paul’s letter to Laodicea. But let’s use our divinely designed brains and exercise some common sense.

If Paul wants both churches — Col. and Laod. to read BOTH letters, we can assume what? THEY’RE STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME ISSUES.

What’s the letter to Colosse addressing? A proper view of Christ.

We can assume then, that the Laodiceans also had an wrong understanding about who Jesus is.

Reality: If our Christology is wrong, everything else is going to be wrong.

If our understanding of who Jesus is is out of line, everything else is going to crumble.

Ephesians 2:19–20 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

The cornerstone sets the direction of the building.

When the cornerstone isn’t square — when it’s anything other than Jesus Christ himself — whether it be a wrong understanding, or something else entirely — the whole building is subject to collapse.

So, Jesus introduces himself, reminding the Laodiceans exactly who he is — God in the flesh.

See, the Laodiceans had removed Christ from his rightful place.

They had made themselves — their wealth, their accomplishments, their status — the cornerstone.

Christology isn’t just about theology. It’s not just knowing the right answers on paper. It’s about practice.

So often we claim to have right understanding about who Jesus is, and yet functionally, he’s not the cornerstone.

We’ve replaced him with

Money/Wealth

Accomplishments

History/Pedigree

Traditions/Programs

The problem is, when Christ isn’t the cornerstone, everything else is out of whack.

This isn’t just a functional problem — it’s a sin problem.

Whenever we remove Christ from his rightful place and replace him with something else, we’ve made whatever that something else is an idol.

We’ve put it in a place that should be reserved only for Jesus Christ himself.

Laodicea had an idolatry problem.

A Purpose Problem (v. 15-16)

They didn’t just have an idolatry problem, they had a purpose problem.

One of Laodicea’s biggest weaknesses was their water supply. It was muddy and almost unusable.

HOWEVER, 6 miles to the north was Hieropolis.

Sat on a volcano, which created volcanic hot springs — still active today.

These hot springs had healing properties — medicinal qualities.

10mi west was Colosse.

Had natural spring water that was ice cold when it came from the ground.

Water was refreshing to all who drank it.

To fix their water issue, they built massive stone aquifers to pipe in water from the hot and cold springs.

Problem: By the time the water reached Laodicea from Hieropolis, it was no longer hot. It was lukewarm.

The water from Colosse had the same issue. It was no longer cold and refreshing, it was lukewarm.

The water absorbed so many minerals from the stones used that the water would make anyone who drank it nauseous.

Water that was intended be hot an used for healing, was no longer good for anyone.

Water that was intended to be cold and refreshing, was no longer good for anyone.

Jesus is saying, “You have a purpose as a church — to bring healing and refreshment to the broken. You’re not meeting that purpose.”

Don’t miss this — They’ve taken Jesus out of his rightful place, and now they are no longer able to fulfill their purpose as a church.

The result? He says “I will spit you out of my mouth.”

You make me want to vomit — physically ill.

A Self-Reliance Problem (v. 16-17)

Watch this…

The hot springs in Hieropolis and the cold springs in Colosse were both naturally occurring, meaning they were created by who? Christ himself.

v. 14 — beginning of creation. All things made by him.

They were made to be a blessing to those around them.

The Laodiceans relied on their own ingenuity to try to take the blessing intended for the people of Hieropolis and Colosse and bring it into their own city.

The result was water that wasn’t good for anyone.

When we take matters into our own hands — when we rely on our own wealth, knowledge, ingenuity — we take Christ out of the equation. The results are disastrous for us.

Look at how Jesus addresses them in v. 17…

Jesus is saying, “You think you have it all figured out! You think you have enough money, you’re smart enough, you’re strong enough, you’ve been around enough. Meanwhile you don’t even recognize your real condition!”

Here’s the reality: We cling to our own strength. We rely on ourselves and our own resources and plans, meanwhile Jesus is standing in front of us, saying “I have something so much better!”

Remember the primary industries of Laodicea? Banking, black wool, and eye salve. Watch v. 18…

They trusted in their wealth…he says buy your gold from me.

Gold refined by fire — the impurities rise to the surface and are removed. The refiner knows the gold is pure when he can see himself in it.

Their own riches couldn’t buy them righteousness — only Christ could.

They trusted in their export of black wool, a symbol of status/wealth…he says he’s offering white clothes, ones that cover something the black ones never could — the shame of sin.

They trusted in their export of eye salve….Jesus is offering a salve that would open their eyes to their own spiritual condition.

The Remedy (v. 19-20)

Jesus doesn’t leave them stuck…

Repent

Turn around — go the opposite direction.

Leave your pride/arrogance behind you and turn to Christ.

Behold I stand at the door….

We use this with evangelism — but Jesus is addressing the church — believers.

Notice something….if Jesus is standing at the door, where is he? OUTSIDE.

We’ve dethroned the King of Kings, replaced him with a cheap substitute, and pushed him completely out of the building.

Yet, he’s standing at the door knocking — waiting to be let in.

We’re clinging to our own wisdom, our own wealth, our own strength, our own plans and ideas….

We’re clinging to our own traditions, our own programs, our own buildings and facilities, our own resources…

MEANWHILE, Jesus himself is standing at the door, knocking — saying listen! What I have for you is so much better!!

All you have to do is open the door and let him in.

Put him in his rightful place, and let him have control.

The Reward (v. 20-21)

I will come in and eat with him….

Not about food — it’s about intimacy! Jesus is saying if you’ll give me control — turn loose and let me have it — you’ll experience a fellowship with me like you’ve never known.

The one who conquers…

We’ve read the end of the book — Jesus wins!

He’s already won the victory for us. When we give him control, let him have his way, we get to share in that victory with him.

When we remove him and rely on ourselves, we’re fighting a losing battle.

He who has an ear let him him hear.