September 28, 2023

Today's Reading: Revelation 12:7-12

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 9:1-13, 10:18-29, Philippians 2:12-30

And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”(Revelation 12:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When was the last time you read the book of Revelation? I teach Religion at a Lutheran High School, and this past Spring, our final unit was on Revelation. There were a few students who were nervous about that part of the class. I’ll tell you what I told them. In Revelation, Jesus wins. In fact, by His death and resurrection, He already has. There are scary things that will happen between His ascension and return, but those will happen whether or not you read Revelation. And if you study Revelation, you’ll see the beautiful comfort that Jesus revealed to John, so that he could share it with the church who faced persecution in the late first century.

That being said, look at today’s text! There’s a battle. All out warfare in which an angel named Michael commands an army of angels to fight against the dragon, that ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the world. And the good guys win. But then, we’re re-introduced to a theme that showed up near the beginning of Revelation: conquering. That was the title Jesus used to describe the faithful in chapters 2-3, the letters to the seven churches. In each letter, the “one who conquers” would receive some share in Jesus’ life. But what is conquering? It doesn’t necessarily mean living a successful, wealth-filled, happy life right here and now. Remember that Revelation was written to the church as she patiently endured persecution at the hands of the Romans. According to Revelation 12:11, conquering has very little to do with winning, at least in the way we usually think about winning. Instead, God’s people conquer and overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb—by Jesus’ blood that covers every sin the devil could have hurled at them—and by the words of their testimony. That word, “testimony,” is the same Greek word we translate “martyr.” You and I are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us and gave Himself for us—even if we are called to testify of His love by the shedding of our blood. If suffering—or even death—is the worst that we may suffer, Christ is still risen, and our lives are in Him. Death (and the devil) have nothing over us! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Long on earth the battle rages, since the serpent’s first deceit; twisted God’s command to Adam, made forbidden fruit look sweet. Then the curse of God was spoken: “You’ll lie crushed beneath His feet!” Jesus came, this word fulfilling, trampled Satan, death defied; bore the brunt of our temptations, on the wretched tree He died. Yet to life was raised victorious; by His life our life supplied. Amen (LSB 521:3-4)

-Pastor Dustin Beck is pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.