Life at the Crossroads #6

John the son of Zebedee

Good morning church! I want to ask you a question that is on some peoples minds. I see it pop up on my facebook feed occasionally. Here is the question, “Are we living in the last days?” I mean, God doesn’t see time the way we do. he isn’t bound by it. So yeah we could be living in the last days. Or maybe we aren’t. The last days as we see it in the Bible is more of a theological reference than a countdown timer about how long is left. If you’ve ever watched a football game the last two minutes can be the longest two hours of your life.

The idea of the last days means that everything has been done that the Lord needs done before he returns. It could happen anytime because we don’t know. The command for us from Jesus is to watch and pray. Right now, our lives are in a crossroads, the world is in a crossroads. There is a lot of guessing happening about how we move forwards, because life will look different on the other side of this. Most of us will face changes that we either will want to make or be forced to make. When pressures like this hit us we all feel squeezed in some ways. A dramatic change like this naturally leads to us thinking, is this it? Is this the last days? Maybe you are in tight quarters with other family, maybe your single and are in isolation. Maybe you are doing online schooling for the first time, or you have to become your kids teacher and supervisor and your answer to, “is this last days?” is “For my children maybe.” When pressures like this come at us we naturally start to see cracks appear in our lives and in our relationships and it can be unsettling.

What do you think you need today? As I have been processing this with God and Lisa a big theme I have seen emerge for what I need right now is confidence. Confidence that my hair looks OK when I go on a zoom chat. Confidence that I won’t inadvertently pick my ryone in our church family is doing OK. Confidence that we all have tools to keep our close relationships healthy. Confidence that at some point we will meet together as a big group again. Confidence that God knows what he is doing and is still active. Confidence that I still have friends after this is all over.

What I can say is that I do have confidence in Jesus today. He is my only hope. And today we all need to have confidence in him and I want to present a picture of him to you from one of his followers, John. I really resonate with John and identify with him because he was the “one whom Jesus loved.”

So before we jump into our text, lets get to know John a little by watching this short clip.

(Video)

Some people get nervous when the book of Revelation is mentioned. There is so much controversy and speculation that have gone into the book. But it is actually a pastoral book, a book of encouragement. It is a book of comfort for suffering followers. It was written to the seven churches that John lists in the passage we will look at. And it was written as an assurance to them that God was in control even through intense suffering and persecution. It is a book that would have made sense to them and that they could understand. And it is a book that we also can understand and be encouraged from. Revelations promises victory in the end, all through Jesus Christ.

We are going to look at a vision that the writer John had while in exile on the Island of Patmos in his very old age. Patmos is a small Island off the coast of Turkey. It is a vision the John had of Jesus that we need to see and realize. So often we have a picture of a human Jesus who did great things while he was here on earth, and that part of his life is vitally important to us. In Hebrews it shares how Jesus had flesh and blood just like us, He shared our humanity so that by his death he could free us who are held in slavery by our fear of death (Hebrews 2:14).

But it is also important to see him the way John say him in the book of Revelation.

Kids I want you to draw me a picture of how John is describing Jesus here, then have them send it to me and I’ll put them up on our webpage.

Revelation 1:9–20 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 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.” 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. 19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 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.

This image is why we can have hope and confidence today.

This is a powerful picture of who Jesus is. It isn’t a literal picture in the sense that this is what he looks like now, it is a description of the qualities he possess. It is these qualities that we are going to look at.

This passage gives us a picture of an all powerful God who is among us. This section is book ended by a shared vision of lamp stands stars and churches. “The seven lamp stands are the seven churches.” John saw this vision of Jesus among them. John saw a vision of Jesus not separate from the churches but among them. Not distancing himself from them but holding them in his hand. “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.”

There are a few different ways to view the seven stars…

1. They are guardian angels over the churches protecting them.

2. They are the pastors over those seven churches.

3. They represent the spiritual dimension of the church. The church is an earthly community but there is a heavenly background to it. This community is a reflection all be it an imperfect one of the perfect community that we will become part of when Jesus returns.

Whatever your view, it shows the value that God has for His church. Not your church, not my church, but his church. His bride. Let’s make sure we do everything we can to present to him a beautiful radiant bride.

We are a body of believers that Jesus is in the midst of, guiding us, challenging us, leading us. It can be a tremendous encouragement to keep being about the work that Jesus has called us to, people helping people find and follow Jesus. This is why we are here and Jesus is here with us.

Why can we have confidence in Jesus? Why is Jesus enough for us? Why is he sufficient for me? Why can I have hope?

1. Jesus hasn’t left his position as head of the church and ruler of everything that is!

In the picture we have here of him he is dressed in the clothes of a priest. The gold sash and the robe are symbols of the position of the priest.

In the Old Testament the Priest was like a go between. In our family when our kids were young the go between was our youngest child Connor. Guess which one he is. If there was tension or something to be asked for, Connor would intervene, or come and ask for what the others wanted. You couldn’t say no to him. In ancient times the priest would be the one who represented the people before God, offering sacrifices on their behalf. When Christ came and accomplished what the Father had set out for Him…dying on the cross and being raised to life again, he took the position of the only priest permanently.

Hebrews 7:23–24 NLT

23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.

Even now, Jesus is among us interceding, speaking with God on our behalf. Proclaiming us clean before His Father. Saying about those who have chosen to follow Christ. They are clean! I have made them clean! I accomplished what you sent me to do Father!

You have Jesus in heaven representing you! Preparing a place for you!

Are you living in that forgiveness? Or, are you living in a religious system? Trying to be good enough…waiting for the day when you can say…look what I have accomplished? Ask yourself, “will that day ever come?” Only through Jesus, our great high priest can we come before God, pure and blameless. We all sin; we all do things we wish we could take back. But, we can’t stay there, thinking to ourselves that once I’m good enough I’ll be God’s child. Because on your own that will not happen.

Thank God, that he has shown us grace, his underserved favour by sending his son to die for us so that we can become,

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT)

…for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10 “Once you were not a people;

now you are the people of God.

Once you received none of God’s mercy;

now you have received his mercy.”[3]

Will you receive Jesus not just as your savoir, not just as your friend, but as your high priest.

Someone who will stand before God declaring you holy? Someone you can confidence and hope in?

Who is this priest? What are his qualities that make him someone we can put our confidence in?

Why can we have confidence in Jesus? Why is Jesus enough for us? Why is he sufficient for me?

He knows what he is doing

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire…His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

It is a picture of perfection, holiness and wisdom.

I don’t know what you think of when you see white hair, but my first thought is experience and wisdom. There is a similar picture that you can find in Daniel. Proverbs 16:31 gives us a picture of someone who lived a healthy life and was able to show it through their gray hair.

Proverbs 16:31 NIV

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.

This is a picture of someone who has more than just some wisdom, he has all wisdom. In 1:8 Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” In the Greek alphabet Alpha is the first letter of the alphabet and Omega is the last letter. Jesus knows the end from the beginning. He knows what has happened and he knows what will happen.

Jesus knows everything there is to know about you. Your hopes and dreams. The plans you are making and whether they will succeed or not. Everything. It can seem unsettling. Except that he offers us his wisdom.

James 1:23 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God who gives generously and without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

When I was new in my faith and was studying what Jesus was all about. The first thing I would do every morning as soon as I was awake. I would ask God for wisdom, because I new on my own that I possessed a very limited amount of wisdom. I wanted the wisdom to live right. Not just making decisions that I thought were good ones but making decisions that would please God.

This week when you find yourself in a difficult situation, I hope you will ask Jesus, “Give me your wisdom.” When you are in the middle of a problem with a family member and you know that something you say could be disastrous you say, “God give me wisdom.”

Not only does Jesus knows what he is doing

He knows what it takes to get there.

The white hair and face and the brightness is also a sign of purity and glory. Jesus was among us and still he did not sin. There was no charge of sin that could be brought against him. And because of that we can be made pure.

Hebrews 4:15 NIV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

How are we made holy? By Christ purifying us.

And this ties in with his eyes. It says, “they were like flames of fire.”

This is a symbol that Jesus offers purification to us. He offers to guide us and set us on the right path. Mel talke last week about God’s timing. He said, “The more I give myself to God’s purpose the more I will understand & the easier it will be to understand God’s timing.”

Do you let God examine your life, all of it, your possessions, your family, your job with his eyes?

There are certain eyes that we respond differently to. My mom had great eyes and you knew exactly how to respond to her by the way they looked at you. (Cleaning room)

I hated having my mom that upset at me and yet I still didn’t really change. Do you respond to God that way?

In Revelation 3:18 Jesus says, “I counsel you to buy from me Gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich.” When a goldsmith refines Gold he puts the impure gold in a pot and lights a fire under it. The heat causes the Gold to melt and sink to the bottom and all the impurities come to the surface. Then the goldsmith skims off the impurities and what is left is pure Gold. The impurities are called dross.

He wants to take our lives and refine them. He wants to take our character and change it so that it reflects his character.

Often he does this in our lives through other people and situations. This Covid situation is naturally revealing cracks in how we do life. How our families relate to each other. For some of us we are feeling the strain of close proximity and we want to cut and run. Maybe a roomate or sibling is becoming unbearable to us and we want them away from us.

What if God wants to change that in your situation today. There is a beautiful biblical word that is used for what God wants to do in our lives and relationships:

Redeemed

Jesus set the standard

Mark 10:45 NIV

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The word ransom there is redeemed. Then it mean buying back someone from slavery so they could be fully free.

For us it means that through Christ we can be set free to a new present and future, where he can take the past even and heal it. Christ redeems us from self-destruction. Christ redeems broken relationships. Christ redeems failed dreams.

Whatever situation you are in, start to seek Jesus and ask, “Jesus, I saw what you did to redeem me. Jesus how do you want to redeem this?”

Jesus knows what he is doing

He knows what it takes to get there.

He has the authority to back it up

Revelation 1:15 NIV

15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

There are many similarities between this description of Jesus and the description that Daniel gives in his book. In the book of Daniel, The king of that time had a dream of a statue that was powerfully built except that it had a flaw. The feet were made of clay and iron. When it was struck at the feet it crashed to the ground. It was a vision that no earthly kingdom could withstand the kingdom of God. Contrast that with the picture of Jesus with bronze feet. Bronze is made up of two things: Iron and copper. Iron is really strong, but it rusts. Copper does not rust but it can be shaped. Bronze combines the endurance of copper and the strength of iron. This picture of Jesus can be seen as someone who is unshakable. Not someone with clay feet that can be smashed but someone with solid feet that cannot be moved. Is your confidence in Jesus who cannot be moved, or is your hope in things that when tested by Jesus will be consumed?

1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Where is your foundation?

Combine that strength with the power of his voice…like rushing waters… and the truth of his Word…out of his mouth comes a double edged sword and you have a picture of someone whose word is final and will be heard above the rest. There is no greater truth or authority than Jesus. His promises are true and his Word is final. When you hear people speak in our system of democracy you always wonder whether what they say is final. You wonder whether it is true. With Jesus, the promises he has made that our part of history have all been fulfilled and the promises that are still in the future we can have full confidence that they will be fulfilled. There is nothing that will stand against them.

There is a day that is coming when everyone in existence will bow before Jesus. Even those who have been the proudest and the most stubborn will bow before him. They will confess that Jesus is Lord. And this brings up a question.

Am I living my life under Christs Lordship?

So we have Jesus who is over everything. Who knows everything, who did what it took to set things right and who will never be taken down. That is a powerful being!

Even in all this power, all this holiness we see a picture of Jesus who is compassionate. John said,

Revelation 1:17–18 NIV

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.

Even when we think we don’t deserve to be touched there is Jesus willing to reach down and touch us. He’s saying I was on earth. I saw all the struggles, I went through most of them myself and I came out victorious. Now I’m going to give you the victory. I’ve got work for you to do.

To one of the churches John wrote to this is what Jesus said to them,

Revelation 3:18 NIV

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Jesus has work for us to do. He has a church that he wants people to belong to. Lost people that need to be reached, worship that needs to be offered, people that need to be loved.

Today I want to leave you with this church, It is something I want to say together, “I am held in the hand of Christ.” Say it with me, “I am held in the hand of Christ.”

This picture of Jesus, this picture given to us through John:

Jesus knows what he is doing

He knows what it takes to get there.

He has the authority to back it up

What is more, he is for you. There is no better hand we could rest in.

Lets pray