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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 His head
and hair were 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 out of his mouth came 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 behold 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.
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.
Revelation 1:17
What
Would Jesus Do? There are lots of situations in which this question helps us
to focus on what the best course of action may be. So it is not surprising
that in North America, a movement of sorts has emerged with "WWJD?"
imprinted on all kinds of clothes, wristbands, key-chains, you name it.
Further, the wearing of such labeled clothing has itself become a form of
evangelism. When people ask why you are wearing such a hat, etc., not only do
you answer with a testimony to the way of life and truth we find in Jesus,
but one also invites others to "join the way" and wear its symbol
too. Our
text for today prompts us to ask a slightly altered question: "What
would YOU do?" Specifically, the text for our devotions today asks us to
imagine what we would do if we were suddenly confronted by Jesus. In this
portion of scripture, John is exiled on the island of Patmos. He, along with
countless Christians of his day, had suffered persecution for the sake of
Jesus. But there, out on the island, on the day that Jesus rose from the
grave victorious over sin and death, John is suddenly caught up in a vision
and is confronted with the living savior. What would you do? We
should not underestimate the drama that is caught up in this event. John
describes the appearance and presence of Jesus in startling terms. The figure
speaks and it sounds like trumpets (remember the role of the trumpets in
leading Israel through the desert?). The figure appears like a son of man
(remember other prophets who described the promised messiah with these
words?). The figure is dressed with royal garments, and the appearance of his
hair, white as snow and eyes like blazing fire, suggest the purity of
holiness. He walks through a furnace (who else did that?); His voice sounds
like rushing waters (whose words healed and restored people to eternal
life?); He holds the forces of the world in the palm of his hand (who else
was served by angels?); the words of His mouth are a double-edged sword, and
he shines like the sun. John
falls at his feet as though dead. What would you do? Here is the grace of
God: Jesus reaches down to us again, saying, "Do not be afraid."
Down through the centuries, this has been the gentle, reassuring voice of God
to us. Whether in exile, facing hostile armies, unexpectedly pregnant, hauled
before kings and magistrates, locked up in prison or just worn down by daily
persecution, God comes to us in Jesus and says: Do not be afraid. This is the
grace of God. The
grace of God in Jesus is the first and the last. He is the living one. He
prevails over sin and death. He is alive forever and ever and he offers life
and peace to all who follow him. What will we do? When confronted by the
sites and sounds of the world, when hounded by persecution and strife, when
faced with seductive choices of power and privilege-whatever the daily
circumstances we face, what will we do? John
suggests that companions in the suffering, partners in the kingdom, and those
who endure in the faith can expect to face this situation. Jesus will
suddenly appear in our midst, and His word of grace, "Do not be
afraid," will be offered to those who fall at His feet. Is this what you
will do on that day?
Father,
I want to see Jesus. We want to see Him more clearly. I want to feel His
presence more intimately. I want to learn from Him more carefully. God, draw
near to me in Jesus again today. Reach out to us with mercy and grace and
remind me not to be afraid. Guide and comfort and empower me by Your Spirit,
so that I may live in truth and purity today and always. Amen.
None
of us have had the "pocalyptic" experience of seeing Jesus in the
way that He appeared to John on the Island of Patmos. But just as surely, we
are all confronted with the living presence of Jesus appearing in our world
day by day. Reflect
for a few moments on the ways and means that Jesus has appeared to you over
the course of your life? What were the signs and symbols of those appearances
that fit with the Old Testament portraits of the messiah? What signs and
symbols contained within the New Testament record of Jesus interaction with
His people were also apparent? Remember
what you did when suddenly confronted with Jesus' presence in your midst? As
with John, it was no doubt very scary. Did you experience the reassuring
comfort of Jesus and not fear in the midst of it all? [Top] [Living Life Home] [SWIM Home]
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Copyright (c)1995-2000 Tyrannus Press & SWIM.All rights reserved. |
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