King Jesus Reigns: Our Eternal King
Revelation 1:4-8
Introduction
Easter is Passed, the Resurrection is now a living history.
Read: John 20:19-25. In this after-Resurrection meeting of disciples we see: The witnesses of Jesus’ work in their lives and The wonderers who just can’t see it. Jesus doesn’t reject either group but reaches to both.
With the Resurrection…
-Evil is defeated
-Death is defeated and lost its sting
-Jesus is proven to be the Son of God with power
-Faith is moved from speculation to certainty
-Attention turns from Jesus who was and is to Jesus who is coming
- Jesus takes His place as King, ruling over His Kingdom
Does anyone want to say … “but wait…” We look around our world and we see the broken, the hurting, those captive to sin and enslaved by its power. As John writes his Apocalypse, Revelation, He is not immune to these realities. He writes as a persecuted Christian to persecuted Christians, exiled to Patmos. So how can we even say that victory has been found in Jesus and He is reigning? Take heart! Our King is an Eternal King, and these considerations do not dishearten Him. Because Jesus is the Risen Eternal King what do we find in serving Him?
1. Confidence in Uncertain Times (Revelation 1:4)
Things here may seem uncertain from our perspective.
"Sometimes … it is hard to remember that Christ has triumphed, already, over all of this. There will come a day when I will look out the window and be unable to see any brokenness … That day is not yet here though.” -Lauren F. Winner.
The world is broken, no one can deny. From Heaven’s perspective there is no uncertainty! John writes to seven churches - challenged by persecution, blasé attitudes toward sin, and too tolerant of teachings that diminish the King. He writes from Patmos - a prison island. Even so, Jesus is not defeated. Instead His eternal reign is affirmed above the weakness of men and work of the Enemy.
"From beginning to end, this text is saturated with words and images of God’s complete dominion. -Charles D. Reeb
2. Strength in Times of Weakness (vs 5 -Three Strong Descriptions of the Risen Christ)
*Faithful Witness - He has seen resurrection power and the Father’s love in action - what He tells us is truth.
*Firstborn from the dead. The truth of the resurrection tells us that no matter what we face, Jesus has the ultimate enemy under containment.
"As firstborn Jesus … becomes the promise, the absolute conviction that neither death nor Satan nor the powers of Satan have the final word. Resurrection here becomes the promise of the “new heaven” and “new earth,” not a trick by which one individual is resuscitated but the renewal of creation itself. - Gaventa
*Ruler of Kings - no King has more authority or power than our Eternal King! No matter what makes us feel uncertain or weak, put your trust in the Eternal Risen King!
3. Freedom For the Captive (5b-6)
*The Eternal King is not detached from us, but loves us.
- Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God.
*He freed us from our sins. He meets our greatest need: our need for forgiveness. Freedom was bought for us at Calvary - the absolute, irrefutable proof of God’s love for us.
*He gave us purpose and meaning - Kingdom and Priests
*Freedom for the captives! He is to receive glory an power for ever!
4. Hope for Eternity (7-8)
Jesus the Risen Savior is Coming Again! He is coming with the clouds. Every Eye will see Him! Paul said ‘every knee would bow’. In Thessalonians we are told to ‘encourage one another with these words’. Focus here is on those who have not made Jesus their King! Those who pierced him will see Him! People will mourn because of him! We are living in the in-between; expecting and watching for the return of Jesus - our Eternal King.
He is the Alpha and Omega! Alpha and Omega … “Lord over everything that takes place in the entire course of human history” (Mounce).
Those who are being threatened with extinction must be reminded that God stands both at the beginning and end…" - Holladay
Nothing escapes the notice of our Eternal King!
Conclusion: John 20:25-29
1. The Risen Savior meets both the believers and the uncertain with the same message. Which are you today? In Our Eternal King you can find…
- Confidence in Uncertain Times
- Strength in Times of Weakness
- Freedom for the Captive
- Hope for Eternity
2. “My Lord and My God” Our Eternal King Reigns - but is He reigning in your life today?
----------------------------------
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever had such a real, vivid dream that when you woke up, you were not sure what was real and what was not? Would you be willing to tell us about it? How do you think John felt when these visions came to him?
2. One of the main themes of Revelation is the call for us to stand firm and grow further in our faith. Does this surprise you? What do you normally expect to find in Revelation?
3. How does the truth of Jesus’ love for us and freeing us from our sins have significance to the broken world in which we live? A cartoon in the New Yorker magazine showed an exasperated father saying to his prodigal son, "This is the fourth time we’ve killed the fatted calf." God does that over and over in our lifetime. (In what way can you relate to this?)
4. Revelation 1:5 has three titles given to Jesus Christ. What does each one mean to you?
- “Faithful Witness”. A witness is one who tells what his eyes have seen and what his ears have heard.
- Firstborn of the Dead. “Firstborn” means one with power and honor, or one who occupies the first place.
- The Ruler of the kings of the earth. Some point out the connection between this title and the temptation scene.
What did the devil offer to Jesus in exchange for worship? In what way has Jesus obtained for himself through his own power what the devil had offered?
5. In Revelation 1:5b-6 Jesus is pictured as making us a kingdom of priests. The priesthood of all believers is the result of Christ’s work on our behalf. In what ways do we serve as priests? How can we take upon ourselves a greater consideration of serving the church as priests?
6. Jesus is called "Alpha and Omega” more than once in Revelation. What does that mean to you and how can it encourage you?
7. Spiritual Practice: In a time of contemplative prayer, consider this question: What needs to take place to better connect your relationship with Christ more firmly? How would this help you receive hope and encouragement?
Resources
Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol 2 articles by Charles D. Reeb
Texts for Preaching, Year C, article by Beverly R. Gaventa
The Book of Revelation, NICNT, revised, Robert H. Mounce
Preaching Through he Christian Year, Vol. C, Carl R. Holladay
Sermon Leftovers
God loves us. God has already freed us from our sin (and we know there is still brokenness aplenty in this beautiful Easter world). God will come back, with the clouds, to finish the work Easter unleashed. -Lauren F. Winner, Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol. 2.
“Every day brings reminders that the promises of Easter are not yet fully realized. …Sometimes I look out the window and see resurrection everywhere, but sometimes I just see brokenness. Sometimes that is all I see when I looking the mirror, too. On those days it is hard to remember that Christ has triumphed, already, over all of this. There will come a day when I will look out the window and be unable to see any brokenness, because all my attention will be fixed on Christ’s glorious return in the clouds. That day is not yet here though.” -Lauren F. Winner, Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol. 2.
We are hearing the early church at worship as it acclaims God as Alpha and Omega and Christ as faithful witness, firstborn of the dead and ruler of all the kings of the earth. But these words are addressed to churches in crisis that are under threat, who are assured that the enemies of Christ will eventually be confronted by him in judgment. Those who are being threatened with extinction must be reminded that God stands both at the beginning and end, and else their hope vanishes.”
- Carl R. Holladay, Preaching Through he Christian Year, Vol. C
