December 13, 2024

Today's Reading: Revelation 1:1-20

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:15-30:14, Revelation 1:1-20

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood…” (Revelation 1:5b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A man in my congregation was a renowned high school basketball coach and the son of a Lutheran pastor. He had a collection of wise sayings, and one of my favorites was this: “There are some things in the Bible I can’t understand, but there are many things I can’t misunderstand.” That’s a great saying to keep in mind when reading the last book of the Bible.

The book of Revelation is notoriously difficult to interpret. Bible scholars and churchmen throughout the ages disagree on what every last symbol or image refers to. That can be frustrating when you really want to know what every word means. But even though some details elude us, there are many things you “can’t misunderstand.”

For example, in the first chapter, it is clear that John was given a prophecy from God, and all who read it and take it to heart will be blessed. It is also unmistakably clear that John is living with the expectation that Christ’s return in glory is imminent, and he wants Christians to be prepared for that day. He also wants them to know how great and glorious our Lord Jesus is, and this is perhaps the best part of this book, namely, what it tells us about Jesus. 

In this introduction, we learn that Jesus is the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of the kings on earth. He loves us, He has set us free from our sins by His blood, and at His coming, every eye will see Him. He is eternal and almighty, the Alpha and Omega, who was and is and is to come. And John’s description of Jesus’ appearance is striking! He is powerful, glorious, and terrifying. No wonder John fell at his feet as though dead when he saw Him.

In the four gospels, we read of the great mercy that Jesus shows and demonstrates to those desperately in need, while in Revelation, Jesus is described as an all-powerful judge. But the two are one and the same. The Almighty and eternal Son of Man is the one who loves us and humbled Himself for us. The timeless one without beginning or end entered into time and was born of the Virgin Mary. No one less than the King of Heaven came down and died for us to free us from our sins. The All-Powerful judge who holds the keys of Death and Hades is, for us, a suffering servant who opens heaven to all who believe.

I may not fully understand a number of things about the Lord Jesus Christ, but when it comes to His love for us, I cannot misunderstand. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold Him Robed in glorious majesty; Those who set at naught and sold Him, Pierced and nailed Him to the tree, Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, Shall their true Messiah see. (LSB 336:2)

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

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