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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 14th October 2007 AMJesus Christ unveiled Pastor Colin MeadowsPsalm 2:1-12, Revelation 1:1-20 Ø Unveiling of what was hidden Have you been to the opening of a new building? Speeches are given followed by the special time when the invited dignitary comes forward and unveils a plague or statue. I remember as a small child going to the opening of a pipeline for the new water supply to Narrogin. At the appropriate time, the distinguished guest pulled back a cover that revealed a huge tap! He then slowly opened this valve and water gushed out into a tank!! It was spectacular for me as a small child to see. The hidden had been revealed and made known! The mystery was over – now we could see the promised water gushing forth from the pipeline. In the amazing final book of the Bible we have revealed with great clarity a wonderful message and it is focused on Christ – Jesus Christ the glorious all powerful Savior. The Greek word for revelation is apocalupsis which literally means ‘to unveil’. The book of Revelation should not be seen as a book of deep mystery and confusion. Many Christians have not carefully read the book and thus understand very little of what it contains. There is great value to be had in carefully reading if for it is the only book in the Bible where God promises a special blessing to those who read it: Rev 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” What then is the central focus of the book? Ø Unveiling Jesus Christ The focus of the book is on Christ and no one else. He takes centre stage throughout. It is amazing the listing of titles and attributes linked to him in the first chapter of the book. This first chapter is like a list of contents for the rest of the book, a summary of what lies ahead. Let us look at some of these titles given to Christ: · The Word of God (Rev 1:2) – Jesus is the revealed Word of God, having come in the flesh to live with humanity. John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus has revealed all that we need to know about God. Do we want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus for he has revealed him to the world. · The Faithful Witness (Rev 1:5) – Jesus bears witness to the truth. His words can be trusted. A witness is one who tells what he was seen and heard, who faithfully tells what has taken place. Jesus is such a witness. We can trust what he says for it is the truth. John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” We can trust what Jesus says for he is the faithful witness. · The Firstborn from the dead (Rev 1:5) – Jesus conquered death when he rose again on the third day. Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Jesus has conquered death. We thus do not need to fear death for Christ has conquered! Rev 1:18 “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.” As first born from the dead Jesus now awaits each of us who have put our trust in him for the day when we will join him on the other side of death. There is no need for us to be afraid of death! · The ruler of the kings of the earth (Rev 1:5) – It just gets better and better! Jesus is the mighty king of all kings. Human leaders may shake their fists at Jesus and seek to rebel against his rule but he will have the final say. He is the king of kings and lord of lords. All should thus humbly submit to him now. Psalm 2:10-11 “Therefore you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Read also Philippians 2:9-11. Do you at times wonder at injustice in the world, of rulers who refuse to submit to Christ? There is coming a time when all will submit to Jesus as Lord. · The Saviour who is coming again (Rev 1:7) – Jesus Christ returned to heaven after his resurrection but the day is coming when he shall return to this world. Acts 1:9, 11 “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Jesus will return again to this world. We can have total assurance of this. When he does return, he will raise those who have trusted in him to go to be with him forever but those who rejected him to go into eternal torment. He will judge the world in righteousness. Yes, he is coming again. · The Lord God Almighty (Rev 1:8) – there is none but Him! Rev 1:8 “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” Our Lord Jesus is the beginning and end of all things. His presence covers the whole alphabet! He is the God of history, the one who has created, who sustains, who cares. He is God alone! Just in case we were unsure of whether these titles apply to Christ, they are repeated again in the last chapter. Rev 22:12-13, 16 “’Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End… I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright morning Star.’” This is the Jesus we worship! What should we do? Ø Let us respond by faith to the revealed Son of God. Who then is this Jesus who has been revealed? He is the Word of God, the faithful witness, the first born from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. It is he who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God and Father. Do you know him? He is the one who is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Do you know him? He is the one like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair are white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes like a blazing fire. His feet are like bronze glowing in a furnace and his voice is like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he holds seven stars and out of his mouth comes a double edged sword. His face is like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Do you know this Jesus? He is the first and the last, the Living One. He was dead and behold he is alive for ever and ever! He holds the keys of death and Hades. Do you know this precious Jesus? If you don’t why not today begin a journey of discovering who Jesus is, of submitting to him as Lord and Master of your life. The revelation is all about Jesus because he is the one! God has pulled back the veil and revealed Him to the world. Submit to Jesus today!
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