The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Assistant Pastor
The Revelation of Jesus Christ. So says verse one of
the book of Revelation. So what do we learn of Jesus,
our husband, just in that first chapter? Many revealing
things!
First, we see that our husband speaks to us, his bride, with symbols, which reach much further into our souls than just prose: “…which God gave Him to ‘signify’ to his servants the things which must soon take place.” Symbols convey meaning and depth on top of, or below, the facts.
Second, we see that Jesus ensured the symbols get promulgated by sending them through a trusted servant, John. He wanted the churches to hear what he said, because it would be a blessing to them.
Third, we are greatly comforted, even emboldened in our lives as ambassadors for Jesus, to find out that Jesus is a “faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the land.” Jesus is the model of faithfulness in trusting God our Father; he rose from the dead, ensuring us that death can no longer hold us captive by its power; and, not only is Jesus faithful and alive, but he has been enthroned by his Father as King of the rulers of the land. In other words, Jesus can do what he promises will happen in the symbols to come!
Fourth, Jesus ransomed us from our sins by shedding his blood on our behalf, becoming a sacrifice for us, and through that action has made us a kingdom of priests to his God and Father. Jesus is a king that has a people; us, the church, his bride, washed white as snow and enabled to die for others as priests and kings as he died for us.
That’s quite a revelation of who our Lord is in this first chapter, and there are still fourteen verses to look at!