94 ENCOURAGEMENT IN HARD TIME F O O T ================================
- H O L D
READING
94 ENCOURAGEMENT IN HARD TIMES
PRAY Help me to see Jesus more clearly today, please God.
READ Revelation 1:1-20.
THINK What does this chapter teach about Jesus? List several aspects.
FOCUS Have you been through some difficult experiences and wondered what the point of it all was? Even wondered perhaps whether God cared about it at all? Imagine how John must have felt. He was an old man in exile on the island of Patmos probably condemned to hard labour in the quarries. he was deeply concerned that the churches he loved and cared for were being persecuted. And then God speaks (8). He reveals himself as the One who is, who was and who always will be. WHAT JOHN SAW AND HEARD. This wonderful, symbolic picture of the risen Lord Jesus emphasises his power, majesty and holiness. Some of the truths about him are explained – compare verse 12 with verse 20. The rest we have to work out prayerfully and by comparing with other Bible passages – for example: (a) HAIR WHITE AS WOOL. Daniel 17:9 describes God in exactly the same way. So Jesus is put on a level with God. ‘Whiteness’ is a Bible picture word for purity. So this adds up to Jesus being the Holy One equal with God the Father. (b) HIS EYES BLAZED WITH FIRE, seems to reflect Daniel 10:6 – a picture of purification or destruction. (c) A TWO-EDGED SWORD. Hebrews 4:12 helps here: words come out of the mouth, and Christ’s word pierces deep. John’s response was a deep sense of worship. —————————————————————- PRAY Spend some time re-reading the picture of the Lord Jesus. Allow its words to lead you in worship also.