Introduction
Jesus is a Fearsome King (12-16)
Review: John sees Christ glorious/holy priest, king, judge, and warrior who is at once beautiful and fearsome.
His sovereign power clearly on display: makes war on sinful in world/church; demands purity/holiness; wrath aroused by sin/things that defile; holds all authority/power in church/world; esp. rules destiny of church.
Jesus is to be feared: revered, held in awe; such view of Christ helpful guard to our hearts/lives; motive to seek holiness (w/out which.....). But not just fearsome-more than fearsome....
Jesus is a gentle and gracious friend (17)
John's response reviewed: (17a) Typical for one commissioned as a prophet: Isaiah, Daniel, Moses Natural/ right: every reason to/should feared! Mighty/holy/warrior Jesus, too much to take in!
Yet Jesus remained his gracious Master: (17b) Same one John loved; John 14:27; Mk 6:47-50; note right hand on John, comforting/strengthening (cf. Daniel strengthened same way/same vision!). Encouraging! Loving/gracious.
While you must fear Jesus, does not mean he is not your friend: same yesterday, today, forever. Loving Shepherd Psalm 23:1ff/John 10:11; Greater love has no one than this... If he would die for you/would withhold fr you no comfort/encouragement. Promises of Scripture his/gift of Comforter his/gives authority to pray in his name. You have/can have no greater friend than Jesus. Proof of this found in his self-revelation...
Jesus is a mighty Saviour (17b-20)
I am the First and the Last: (17b) merism again-statement consisting of polar opposites highlighting everything in between. One who was at beginning of time/will be at end of time-ruler of time/history! Quotes Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12;
Meaning of this- declaring his godhood/deity (useful text for dealing w/cults denying this). John should not be afraid because he is in the presence of his friend, Jesus, who is also God the Lord of all/ruler of history. This will also encourage the churches he writes to under persecution/suffering for Christ-he has them in his care.
I am the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive, forever and ever!: (18a) He lives-he died acc. to the Scriptures/raised acc. to the Scriptures; clear ref. to his saving work.
Meaning of this- declares his sovereignty over death itself (cf. Next vs). He is the ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9-14; Trinitarian implications! He is both Son of Man and the Ancient of Days/Son and Father. So John should not be afraid bec he is in the presence of his friend, Jesus, who is also the one who rules death because his death and resurrection for his sins also defeated death itself (thus taking the wages of sin due to John). Also encourage the churches to confess/repent of compromise, bec. Jesus willing to receive/forgive them.
I hold the keys of death and Hades: Death-wages of sin; Hades-realm of the dead/intermediate state between death and paradise exp. by Jesus after his death ( Acts 2:27,31 [Ps 16:10]-Peter: For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption....he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.).
Meaning of this- John should not be afraid because his in the presence of his friend, Jesus, who by his death and resurrection, rules over death and keeps death from permanently harming his servant. Many in churches John writes to must have feared death-this revelation of Jesus meant to calm their fear of death for Jesus.
Write therefore what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later: (19) John being commissioned by his friend, Jesus (11). Cf. Isa 6:8ff. Pattern-prophet sees Christ/commissioned by him to bring message to church. His message-book of revelation, containing things explaining past, present, future-signals fulfillment of Dan 2:44-45 (context of 31-43). John to see meaning of history/what history holds in future. All explained by the sovereign will/actions of Christ his friend-and bec this is his friend, who controls all of history, John is not to be afraid. And neither should the church be afraid.
Uses of all of this for us: You should not be afraid either because Jesus is your friend
Jesus is your friend who rules history: therefore do not allow yourself to be controlled/defined by events you cannot control in personal life/our nation/society. And do not be afraid of them either-for Jesus is your friend.
Jesus is your friend who rules over death and hades: therefore do not fear death; just a transition to glory. Do not fear it in your own life/life of your loved ones. Do not be afraid of death-for Jesus is your friend.
Jesus is your friend who loves you: He will forgive you all of your sins, even the worst of them. For he is your friend who laid down his life for you. So do not be afraid to come to him w/your blackest sins/seek his pardon and help to repent of them-for Jesus is your friend.
Conclusion
Because you are by his grace a Christian, You have the privilege of saying w/the hymn writer- He's my friend, and again, in the words of another hymn- Yes, Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
Rev. Arthur J. Fox, Pastor
10 Spruce Street
Middletown, PA 17057
(717) 944-5835