Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Revelation 1:4-18
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  April 28, 2019

There can only be one champion. Only one person finishes first. Only one will be last one left standing. Only one. Sounds like the preview for a heavyweight title bout or the latest rendition of “Wrestlemania,” doesn’t it? But we’re not talking boxers or wrestlers today, we’re talking Saviors, rather the Savior. Today kicks off a series of sermons entitled: Revealed. If something is revealed, it’s made known. If something needs to be revealed it means that we would never find out about it on our own. And that’s the truth when it comes to the gospel. Paul talks about the “mystery of Christ,” in his letter to the Ephesians. This mystery had to be revealed to us. We never would have known about our Savior unless God made it known. And he’s done that in his Word. And in a very unique way, God reveals Jesus to us in the book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation is a vision. It’s a vision that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the author of the gospel and the three letters bearing his name, saw while exiled on the Island of Patmos. John tells us “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingship and patient endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. I was in spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard a loud voice behind me, like a trumpet, saying, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

It was a difficult time for the Church. The favor that the Church enjoyed early on in its existence was long gone. Persecution was now the norm. The Roman government was inventing ways to intimidate and harm Christians. John refused to stop preaching the Word, so they exiled him to Patmos where he couldn’t talk to anyone. The temptation was certainly there for John and the other Christians to despair, to think the devil and the evil forces of this world were winning. So, Jesus comes to John with this vision.

“I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was clothed with a robe that reached to his feet, and around his chest he wore a gold sash. His head and his hair were white, like white wool or like snow. His eyes were like blazing flames. His feet were like polished bronze being refined in a furnace. His voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in his right hand. A sharp two-edged sword was coming out of his mouth. His face was shining as the sun shines in all its brightness.” We could spend hours with all of the imagery we see here, but briefly John turns and sees Jesus himself. Jesus is standing in the middle of seven lampstands which are symbols for the seven churches in the seven cities John is to send this vision. The picture of Jesus is fantastic. John can hardly describe what he’s seeing, so he uses pictures that are relatable. The overall picture is one of power and holiness, and John didn’t miss it.

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.” Isn’t that a strange reaction? I mean this is Jesus. John had seen him like this before, at the Transfiguration. In fact, Matthew describes Jesus face the same way. “His face was shining like the sun.”  You would think John would be happy to see him, especially after being exiled. Yet, it’s not that strange of a reaction, is it. We see it all the time in the Scriptures. When the angels appeared to the shepherds on the night of Jesus birth we’re told, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” We see it from hardened Roman soldiers. “For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and going to the tomb, he rolled away the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards were so terrified of him that they shook and became like dead men.” What prompts this reaction? It’s sin. It’s the fact that sin cannot stand to be in the presence of holiness. It’s the realization that sin deserves to be punished. Even John, the friend of Jesus, knew he couldn’t stand in Jesus’ holy presence.

Living in fear is a constant state for the sinner. We fear threats from the outside world. We fear not being able to provide for our families. Whether admitted or not, everyone knows deep down that they will face a day of reckoning.  It’s not too hard to relate to what John was going through. We know our sins. We hear the voice of Satan trying to convince us that there’s no hope for us. We confess each week that we deserve nothing but God’s wrath and punishment. We sing with the hymn writer: “I tremble as I feel your hand, expecting retribution.” It is significant that Adam’s first words after the fall into sin contain the statement, “I was afraid.”  But that has changed for the believer.

“He placed his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last—the Living One. I was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell.” John must have shuddered as he felt Jesus’ hand upon him. But then he heard sweet words of Gospel: “Do not be afraid.” The same words spoken to the shepherds in the field and the women at the tomb. But it’s really stronger than that. Literally it’s “Stop being afraid.”  Our sins need not cause us to fear because Jesus has removed them. And notice how he comforts John. “I am the First and the Last—the Living One. I was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell.”

We lose a little in translation here. But Jesus is emphatic about why John should stop being afraid. He says I, I am the only First and the only Last. Earlier in verse 8 Jesus said, “I, I am the Alpha and Omega.” It’s the same picture. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Those letters are found on the front of our altar and in the hem of my robe. What’s the point? Where’s the comfort? As the only First and the only Last, as the Alpha and Omega, Jesus is demonstrating his eternity. None come before, there will be none after. Because Jesus is the eternal God, we can be confident in his promises. Because Jesus is the eternal God, he doesn’t change. Because Jesus is the eternal God, because he alone is First and he alone is last, he is in complete control of everything. He is the Living One. Is is alive forever and ever. He hold the keys of death and hell.

Jesus reveals to us today that because he is the First and the Last, that fear is no longer necessary. Because Jesus came to be our Savior, the first spoken words in the earliest historical account of the New Testament are, “Do not be afraid.” And here at the end of the New Testament those words are repeated, “Do not be afraid.” Why? Jesus, and Jesus alone is the First and the Last. Jesus and Jesus alone is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus and Jesus alone is the Living One. And Jesus our eternal God has promised, “Because I live, you also shall live.” Jesus our eternal Living One has claimed the keys to death and hell. Jesus our eternal Living One will carry on to completion the good work he’s begun in us. Jesus our eternal Living One is the author and perfecter of our faith. Jesus our eternal Living One will be with us always to the very end of the age.

A story is told of a young Dwight L. Moody. He was asked to preach for a funeral. And so he went and scoured the Gospels to try and find a funeral sermon that Jesus preached. He searched and searched but never found one. It turns out Jesus broke up every funeral he attended. Death could not exist where Jesus was because he is the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega, the Living One. Friends, the same will be true for us. No matter what happens in this life, our comfort is found in Christ, the First and the Last.

There can only be one champion. Only one person finishes first. Only one will be last one left standing. Only one. His name is Jesus. And because he lives, because he won, the victory is ours! AMEN