Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Rev. 22. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- There is dilemma when it comes to the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He came into this world as a man – born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. We assert these things – and no one in their right mind would deny these historical facts.
- However, when people think of God they think of Him as ethereal, sublime, spiritual – and as quite different than we are, far too dignified to be likened to us, mere human beings. And so we struggle to make the connection – that Jesus is God, the Divine Son of God, equal to and One with the Father and the Holy Spirit, as Jesus expressed in His prayer recorded in the Gospel Lesson for today.
- The description of Jesus in our text intensifies the dilemma – for it describes Jesus in all His glory and power, and as the Principle Person by Whom and with Whom human beings have fellowship and interaction with God. He is both frightening and comforting all at once, full of warning and full of invitation – the Truth; by Whom we can honestly acknowledge our sin and yet be cleansed, redeemed and brought into the very presence of God, and into all bliss, comfort, and perfection.
- This Word from God, from the Lord Jesus Christ, given through His own prophets, shows us what must soon take place, and enables us to begin understanding Jesus properly – that we may receive His blessings, receive His healing, have His Name on our foreheads, and see His face, and live in His presence and bliss eternally, sharing His glory!
- So let us see that:
I. The Glory Of Jesus Is The Glory Of God
A. There Is No Question That His Glory Was Hidden Under His Human Nature During His Time Of Humble Service As Our Savior
Phil. 2:6-8 “Though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be seized, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
So Jesus prayed: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that you have given Me because you loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
B. But The Glory Of Jesus Is Soon To Be Seen By All
1. All believers will see His glory in heaven – all those blessed to have washed their robes “so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”
2. All people will see Him on the Last Day, when He comes again in glory
Matt. 25:31,32 “”When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
Text: “He Who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ ”
Statement: For those who are frightened and intimidated by the thought of being in the presence of God, Jesus covers His great glory and urges us: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” [Matt. 11:28-30] Though we are fearful to come near to Him because of our great sin and guilt, He shows us His hands and His side, and urges us to “wash our robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb,” and assures us that His blood cleanses us from all sin. He says to us: “Come . . . let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
Application: For those of us who know the great forgiveness, mercy, and love of God in Christ Jesus, we are thrilled and elated to grasp the glory of our dear Savior! Nothing could be better than to know that the Lamb of God Who has taken away our sins has the very glory of God, and is exalted above all in heaven! Yes, we long for the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer, when we will see His glory!
Transition: And just as joyfully we celebrate that:
II. The Power Of Jesus Is The Power Of God
A. He Sits On The Throne
Text: “the water of life . . . flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
B. He Is The Light Of Heaven
Text: “They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light.”
C. He Has The Recompense, Each Person’s Reward, And The Power To Determine Life And Death, Blessing And Curse, For All People
1. The believers, the righteous cleansed in His blood are richly blessed
Text: “They will reign forever and ever . . . they have right to the tree of life . . . they take of the water of life . . . His servants will worship Him . . . they will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads.”
2. The unbelievers and wicked will be cursed forever
Text: “I will repay everyone for what he has done . . . Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. . . . I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
Statement: For the rebellious and wicked, there is great and serious warning – and our sin should give us alarm. However, Jesus calls us to repent, and to be cleansed with His forgiveness – and promises great blessedness to all who trust in Him!
Application: For those of us who know Jesus, His great love, mercy, and forgiveness, nothing could give us greater delight than to know that all power, the very power of God, is in His hands! For this means that all of His promises of forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation – all the joys of heaven, are sure and certain to be ours! It also gives us great comfort to know that our enemies will be vanquished and destroyed – forever on the outside!
Conclusion: Our relationship with Jesus is always between these two realities of His awesome Divine power and glory, and His humble compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and love for us! Thankfully, and gloriously, both are true, sure, and certain!
The apostle John wrote that “if anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” Who is the blood atonement for our sins. This advocate, the Lord Jesus, is surely “gentle and lowly in heart,” but He is also Almighty, glorious in power and might! This gives us the greatest comfort and assurance, so that we too pray: Come, Lord Jesus!
So let us rejoice to adhere to His Word, to come to Him to receive cleansing from all our sin, and strength to turn away from all sin – especially that of perverting His Word – that we always retain our share in the tree of life and in the holy city! God grant it to us all, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.