Title: Revelation 01:17-20 After seeing Jesus
Content After seeing Jesus, Revelation 1:17-20
There was a time when pen pals were popular. These days, it's like chatting on PC communication, where people who don't know each other communicate through letters, and I remember it was popular for a while when I was in middle school. After dating as a pen pal for a certain period of time, there are days when we finally get to see each other face to face. If it wasn't the face he was expecting in particular, the feeling of despair...
Most of our faith is to have fellowship with the Holy Trinity through the living Word without seeing God and Jesus directly. When we come face to face with the Lord, what will our feelings and reactions be? What is clear is that the feeling is different from when you meet someone you meet through pen pals or chatting. This text is John's reaction after seeing the glorious figure of Jesus in a vision under the special inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
See verse 17. “He fell at his feet and became like the dead.” This is a typical reaction of those who have met the Lord in the Bible. When John saw the appearance of the Lord, he was more shocked than joy or other feeling, and fell at his feet like a dead man. The great glory and majesty of Jesus could not be borne as a human being in the flesh, so he fell down and became like a dead person. What's more, how can you bear it when your humble, humble, filthy, and ugly appearance is exposed in front of that shining glory, power, and majesty?
This is the typical reaction of those who have met the Lord.
Those who realize this have the Lord's infinite comfort. The second half of verse 17. The Lord puts his right hand on John and says: "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last; I am the living, I was dead before. Behold, I am alive for ever and ever, and I have the keys of death and Hades."
The Lord, who has the keys of death and Hades, tells John not to fear. John himself is afraid of dying like a dead person before the Lord who has the keys of death and hell, but the Lord comforts John like this. The Lord did not appear to John to fear, but to give him comfort and hope. The Lord comes to those who meet the Lord and feel their insufficiency in front of the Lord and fall on their knees as the Lord of comfort. And he tells you not to be afraid and gives you the promise.
In fact, how much do we need this voice of the Lord, 'Do not be afraid'? How much do we need these words of comfort from the Lord, who overcame death, as we hold on to the word of the Lord and fight the mighty power of this world and the power of darkness and the spiritual battle? I died before too. But are you not now living forever? I am interceding for you with the keys of death and hell. Be loyal to death. Then how much is the need of these words, that I will give you the crown of life - the fullness of life -? Are you guys listening to this voice? Do you feel this right hand of the Lord? First, humble yourself before the Lord. Get down on your knees like a dead person and pray before the Lord. I am so lacking... I am so incapable... Then the voice of the Lord not to be afraid will comfort me and you.
Today's last is the Lord who gives the mission behind comfort.
Verse 11. "Write what you see and send..." This mission is given to John.
This is John's mission as well as a mission that falls on those who have met the Lord and have experienced the Lord's comfort. The Christian experience, the comfort Christians receive, is given for our witness, for our mission. Like John today, whether you see the Lord in a vision, through the Word, or understand the truth through the Holy Spirit, all grace is not only for yourself, but for the sake of witness. The grace, the truth, the comfort we have, and the hope that we have realized are not just for ourselves. Prove what you saw. Let the comfort of the Lord not end with our comfort, but comfort many through us. The Bible says that the grace and hope that the Lord has given us should not end with our grace and hope, but should be the grace and hope that will be witnessed to many people. Do you remember your mission today? Are you running for your mission? Remember, every grace the Lord has given you is ultimately tied to your mission.
Today's text is speaking to the modern church members who forget their mission and believe only for themselves. what you see.....