Rev. 1: 9-20 Seeing Christ Glorified!

Dearly loved people of God,

On Thursday we marked an anniversary on the church calendar: Ascension Day. Luke tells us, both in the gospel and in the sequel, Acts, that Jesus visited with his disciples over a period of 40 days after his resurrection. Counting from Easter Sunday, this past Thursday marked 40 days. In our daily readings we read Luke’s description of Jesus’ ascension from .

Next Sunday is another big date on the church calendar: Day 50. It’s a celebration of Pentecost. Not the OT harvest festival, but the day God the HS came upon the believers in power.

Now consider where this left the church of Jesus. The HS is powerful. God the HS is comforting. The spirit is the one who allows us to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the Spirit is not as tangible as the flesh and blood of God the Son.

I mean, even at Pentecost, God the HS came with a wind and with tongues of flame. Jesus was a little more tangible. You could have a campfire on the beach with Jesus, sharing a freshly cooked fish that had been swimming in the Sea of Galilee half an hour earlier.

Jesus was a little more tangible. You could have a campfire on the beach with Jesus, sharing a freshly cooked fish that had been swimming in the Sea of Galilee half an hour earlier.

Jesus was human. It was a little easier to read his body language; easier to relate. He knows what it’s like to have brothers and sisters, to cry for sadness, to think and pray all night anticipating the horrors that await him the next day. Jesus knew what it was to face temptation - not that he ever gave into temptation, but he was tempted in every way just as we are. Someone like that feels a little more approachable than God the Father enthroned in heaven or God the HS who is like the wind: you hear the sound of it blowing, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

Some of the Christians in Asia Minor were far removed from Jesus’ life and ministry in Palestine. Jesus’ death happened 30, 50, 70 years earlier. His resurrection was a long time ago. The generation of eyewitnesses to these events were getting older and older. Some had been executed by the Roman Empire or local governors, others were beginning to to have dementia or dying from old age.

And then there was the other challenge. Pierre Trudeau famously compared living next door to the USA to sleeping next to an elephant. The churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, etc. could relate. Except that the Roman Empire was everywhere. Compared to the size and power of Rome, the Church of Jesus looked small. 100 people gathering for worship here; 400 people worshipping Jesus there; 53 disciples of Jesus over there. It’s all small potatoes compared to the Empire that stretched throughout the Mediterranean Basin and throughout the known world.

Compared to the governors in our cities and the Emperor in Rome - with his statue erected on the hill above our city and his face on all our coins, where is Jesus? If he has ascended to heaven, does he even know what’s going on down here?

Maybe we sometimes wonder the same thing. Tillsonburg isn’t a big town. We’re not a big congregation. There are bigger CRCs in our classis and better preachers. Even when our renovations are done there will be bigger, fancier church buildings. And there are all the other people in town, streets and streets full of houses in which the people don’t come to our worship services, don’t go to any of the worship services in town. If Jesus has ascended to heavenly glory, does he even know what’s going on in this small corner of his Kingdom? Does he care?

These are the concerns that John’s vision begin to answer.

You know how that goes in a story. After you follow one character through their adventure for a while, then the narrator says, “Meanwhile, back at the ranch, back at the house, back in the city . . .” That’s what the Revelation of Jesus does. While the Kingdom of God is advancing in the world, the author of history stops you for a minute and says, “Meanwhile, back in the throne room of heaven . . .”

As you see Jesus in heaven through John’s writing, some of the images might seem odd. This is a vision. You know how odd things can happen in dreams. You know how you can see and do things when you’re asleep that you cannot see and do when you’re awake? That’s what we experience here.

The sights and sounds and smells are bigger, brighter, sharper than usual. But that doesn’t make them untrue. Like an abstract painting or a graphic novel, the images John sees and records appeal to our imagination and all our senses to convey the truth about the risen and ascended Jesus.

So look, there’s Jesus. His glory is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Revelation 1:13–16 NIV

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. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 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.

Maybe you haven’t seen Jesus look like this. But the vision John has connects Jesus with the visions of the Lord God in the OT. His glory and power shine forth from his face. His face shining like the sun brings to mind the glory of the Lord as Moses encountered him on Mt. Sinai.

If you’ve read about the Exodus from Egypt recently or how the Israelites encountered God most high at Mt Sinai, you might remember how Moses’ face radiated with the glory of God. The lingering glory of God left such lasting mark on Moses. He needed to cover his face afterwards because God’s people couldn’t bear the brightness. That glory is what John encounters when he sees Jesus standing among the lampstands. Jesus has been in the presence of God Most High. Jesus’ human face continues to shine with the glory of God, but it isn’t veiled. John has been purified and is able to see and enjoy the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Note where Jesus is standing. The meaning of some of the symbolism in this vision is explained. Jesus tells John,

Revelation 1:20 NIV

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

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If Jesus is standing among the lampstands, then he’s not far away. If Jesus is standing among the lampstands and is in touch with the angels of those churches - the stars representing the angels are literally in Jesus’ right hand! Jesus knows what’s going on in Smyrna and Pergamum. He knows the joys, challenges, and daily life of the Christians in Thyatira. The truth of this vision is about to be revealed. The King of kings is doing to deliver a personal message to each of these churches. The messages are tailored to the unique culture and the current experiences of these churches. After Pentecost, we’ll study these 7 message to the 7 churches and marvel at JEsus’ knowledge and concern for his people in their ups and downs.

John’s vision of Jesus is an affirmation of the gospel:

We were stuck in disobedience; we were tied up in the dire consequences of our disobedience to God

Because of human rebellion - my rebellion and yours - we were on death row. We were doomed to die because of sin.

In his compassion, God the Father sent God the Son to rescue his dearly loved people

he took our punishment, dying on the cross

in his resurrection eh offers eternal life and forgiveness to all who believe

What would keep you from accepting God’s forgiveness through Jesus? Don’t you want to enjoy God’s grace and mercy for all eternity?

For those days when we do feel small and insignificant, for those times when it feels like even Jesus is far away, when it seems too good to believe that God is closeby or hears your prayers, we have this assurance from God’s word.

If Jesus has taken such pains to redeem us. If he has died and risen to life to bring us close to himself, why would he abandon you now? The hard work has already been done. God by his Word and Spirit remains close to his dearly loved people.

Jesus continues to stand among the lampstands. He knows the light we shine in this community. He knows the joys and challenges