Title: The Living Lord
When Jesus died on the cross, the disciples and those who followed Him fell into deep despair and fear. And most of them went back to their former lives after Jesus died. Peter, John, and the other disciples returned to the lives of fishermen (John 21). However, those who had gone back to their former lives in despair and fear came back and began to preach the gospel boldly. No one could stop them. How did these people change so much? It was because they had met the risen Lord. People change like this when they meet the risen Lord. May you also meet the risen Lord today.
Apostle John Exiled to Patmos
The disciples who met the risen Lord preached the gospel without fear of death. The disciples were scattered all over the world and were martyred while preaching the gospel. In particular, the Roman Empire at that time severely persecuted Christianity. It is said that there was only one Apostle John who lived his life span without being martyred. The text begins with the scene where the apostle John is exiled to the island of Patmos. “I, John, your brother and a sharer in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus, was on an island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (verse 9). He was exiled to an island called
But the heavens opened to John, who was exiled to Patmos, a rocky island where all he could see was the sea, and the living Lord appeared. This fact shows that the Lord who died on the cross and rose again on the third day is still alive. The Lord Himself said: “I am a living being, I was dead before, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of hell” (verse 18). Exiled to a remote island as a body. How much comfort did that John receive when he met the living Lord? The Lord is still alive and provides comfort and hope to us who live by keeping our faith in tribulation, sin, and suffering.
Lord of the Church
The Apostle John, moved by the Holy Spirit, heard a loud voice from behind like a trumpet. And when he turned to recognize the voice that spoke to him, he saw the face of the Lord. He records the appearance of the Lord he saw at that time as follows. “A man like the Son of Man between the candlesticks is clothed with a robe that is drawn to his feet, and has a golden girdle on his chest, and his head and hair are white as white wool, like snow, his eyes are like flames of fire, his feet are like shiny tin refined in a furnace, and his voice is like many It was like the sound of water, and in his right hand he had seven stars, and out of his mouth a two-edged sword went out, and his face was like the powerful shining of the sun” (verses 11-16).
The Lord was clothed in a robe that was drawn to the feet and stood between the candlesticks. This is similar to how the priest performed his duties among the golden candlesticks in the Old Testament sanctuary. The Lord is our High Priest. The Lord is the High Priest who solves all our problems before God today. The gold belt means that Jesus is King. The Lord is the King of kings, who alone has all authority in heaven and on earth. His hair, like white wool and snow, represents the purity (innocence) and holiness of Jesus. Eyes of fire signify that the Lord is all-seeing and all-knowing about us. The shining tin-like feet, forged in a furnace, represent the Lord, the conqueror and victor.
In verse 20, the golden candlestick represents the church, and the star represents the church's messenger. “What you saw is the mystery of the seven stars in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.” It means that you are in charge of the church. The two-edged sword coming out of his mouth shows that the Lord is the judge. “A sharp sword came out of his mouth, with which he will strike against the nations, and he will rule over them with an iron rod” (Revelation 19:15). The Lord is alive today, and he rules the church himself. How glorious and precious is the Church?
the ever-living lord
When John saw the Lord, he fell at his feet and became like a dead man. It gives us an idea of how glorious and holy the Lord is. Then the Lord laid his hands on John and said, “Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last; I am the living; I was dead before, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, and I have the keys of death and Hades” (verses 17-18).
Jesus died on the cross to save us. And he overcame death and rose again, and now he lives forever. The Lord Himself tasted death, and now He lives forever and has the keys of death and Hades. He has dominion over death and hell.
What people fear the most is death. Everyone dies. But the risen and ever-living Lord reigns over death. At that time, many saints including John were being persecuted and dying to keep their faith in the Lord. To them, the Lord who overcame death and was resurrected said this. "Fear not. I was dead. But I have overcome death, and I rule over it!" Think how much comfort and courage these words must have given to the saints who were experiencing extreme persecution at that time.
Today, the Lord lives and is with us. The saints who suffer for the Lord receive amazing comfort through the living Lord today. Are you afraid of death? Look to the Lord who conquered death. Those who give their lives to keep their faith in the Lord and are faithful will receive the special comfort, grace, and power of the Lord who rules over death. I hope that you will become believers who are faithful to death and keep your faith while looking to the Lord who is still alive and rules even death.
At this time, we partake of the sacrament of the Lord's body and blood. I must remember the grace of the Lord who saved me by dying on the cross and participate in this bread and cup. But there is one thing you should never forget. The Lord, who died for us, lives for ever and reigns over the church, over death and Hades, and over all history now and in the future. At this time, when we participate in the body and blood of the Lord through the sacrament, we meet the living Lord. I hope that the blessing of meeting the Lord who lives and reigns forever after being resurrected at this time.