Firstborn from the Dead

Revelation 1:1–6 CSB

The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near. John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has set us free 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.

Introduction

It is Easter, the day we celebrate the Lord’s victory over death. We could spend our time today reviewing the events of that day and its importance. For today, however, let’s celebrate the One who conquered sin and death and has brought us to the Father. This passage points towards four aspects to Jesus that we should celebrate and we will celebrate them in slightly different order than written: Jesus, the faithful witness; Jesus, the ruler of the kings of the earth; Jesus and who He is to us who know Him; and Jesus, the firstborn from the dead.

Jesus: Faithful Witness John 12:20–36

John 12:20–36 CSB

Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die. Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.

He went and hid because the witness would not truly happen until he was lifted up.

And if I be lifted up, I will draw… The largest faith worldwide is Christianity. Though in decline in our America; thought thoroughly rejected in Europe, our faith is still the most pervasive faith: people embrace Christ far from where you would think they would embrace Him. I have stood in African villages and have preached the message of Christ and have seen Him draw men and women and boys and girls to Himself. He is a living Lord; He is a faithful witness.

Jesus: Ruler

He is the absolute ruler of the Universe; the One who rules in the affairs of men. Joe Biden; he rules by permission of Christ Jesus. Vladamir Putin: he reigns by permission of the risen Lord. Every president; every king; every leader is under the authority of Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As Christians, we never worry even when the tyrants control our countries because we know the absolute ruler of the Universe who speaks the word of control over every supposed king or ruler.

Jesus: Who He is to Us

He is the One who loves us

Such a wonderful song: Jesus, lover of my soul. I love how this verse expresses God’s love for us for two reasons: One special aspect: not the ordinary word for love; not the ordinary word for God’s love. It’s like God’s love on steroids: He passionately loves us.

Another special aspect is the verbal design: His love is continually active, never failing. There is never a moment, even when I am deeply confused; deeply depressed; deeply overwhelmed by the complexity of life that God ceases to have passionate love towards me.

Second: Jesus is the One who has set us free from our sins by His blood

The is not the miracle of the Resurrection; this is the far greater miracle of the Cross. He shed his blood for me. Never a day living in fear because of my behavior. I am free from the effects of my sin because His blood has washed the way clean between me and the Father. He doesn’t see me the way He did; instead, He sees me through the sacrifice of the Cross. I am free, but never to live without memory of the most important thing in the equation: the Blood. I am not free because I am good; I am not free because I deserve to be freed; I am not free because I’ve done anything good. I am free because Jesus died for me…I am free because of the Blood.

Third: Jesus is the King who has made us citizens of His Kingdom.

Most of you immigrated to the United States. Some of you are here on various kinds of visas: student, work, etc. Some of you have made the decision to take on American citizenship. Citizenship, when leaving one place and coming to another can be complicated. I adopted a Bulgarian orphan and in that day the prescriptions of INS were exhausting. I work with a Haitian pastor who finally was able to bring his adopted daughter to the US after three years. The regulations are complicated. Yet the Hague conventions have made international adoption less difficult from a citizenship standpoint. Now, if American parents adopt through the proper laws, citizenship is granted instantaneously to their children. Like natural children, it is the citizenship of the parent that makes them citizens of the United States. We, you and me, are citizens of heaven…we have been granted citizenship. How? He has made us a kingdom and given us citizenship. We, you and me, are citizens of heaven. We don’t live there yet…but we are citizens of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. That kingdom has no boundaries; that kingdom has no limits; that kingdom includes heaven. Jesus has made us citizens of His kingdom.

Last: we are priests to His God and Father.

Dual responsibilities of priesthood: represent man to God and represent God to men. We are a special class: a nation of priests dedicated to His cause.

Jesus: the Firstborn from the Dead

Stand beside too many graves; stand to try to give comfort to too many families who grieve loss. I have stood beside too many graves personally in the past five years: my father-in-law, my father, my first wife. I preached the funeral message for my secretary of many years, who was much like a sister. Last month, I preached the funeral of my second wife’s mother. I stand beside too many graves.

I much prefer today.

We celebrate the Resurrection: when Jesus left a tomb by the power of Deity: he had said “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up”. The hearers thought that He was speaking of Herod’s temple…that ornate, beautiful worship place of Israel. The only true temple in the area when He spoke was the temple of His Body. After three days with His body in the tomb, He conquers death; He conquers the grave: He becomes the Firstborn from the Dead. His victory is our victory. And old hymn says it this way: He arose the Victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign.

And how He reigns: verse 6: the glory and dominion are His forever and ever. Amen

It’s Sunday. We give this specific Sunday a title today: we call it Easter; as believers, it might be better that we call it Resurrection Sunday. But it is forever, the Lord’s Day. The day where we understand that the sacrifice of Friday has been glorified by the transformation of Sunday.

Have you experienced the transforming power of His resurrection?