Alpha and Omega, the living One, sovereign, almighty, conquering, loving, King. Revelation 1 gives us an astonishing vision of our resurrected Lord through the eyes of the Apostle John. Revelation 1:9-20 serves as part of the introduction to the Revelation to John. And as with any opening chapter, it introduces the theme of the book. But really, we only need look to verse 1 to learn this theme — Jesus Christ. John didn’t want so much to tell us about the end times. John wanted to tell us about who reigns over time. John didn’t want to tell us so much the identity of the antichrist. He wanted to tell us who has the power to defeat all evil and death. In short, God in Revelation wanted to “reveal” Christ. He wanted to show the resurrected Christ in all His glory. He wanted to show how the reigning Lord would be victorious in the end.
OK, but why? What is the reason for the revealing? Why would God want to reveal Jesus Christ to John? The answer: For His church. His church was being persecuted. Christians were suffering for Christ. They were even dying for Christ. This was the time of the emperor Domitian — “a man of Nero’s type of cruelty,” says one historian. John himself suffered in exile on Patmos because of this tyranny. So, in Revelation 1, Jesus revealed Himself as the beautiful, victorious, sovereign Christ to a suffering, dying, persecuted people of God.
You see the purpose! Christ revealed Himself so that His church would be comforted and gain strength for the mighty tests to come. And, though the letter was written to first century believers, I believe this same gift of the Revelation to John is for us today as well. Christ has given a picture of Himself to enable us to gain strength for a radical life given to Him today. Nothing will comfort us, nothing will give more hope, nothing will enable us to live entirely devoted Christian lives more than keeping a picture of the sovereign and triumphant Christ before us.
One could spend hours delving into the richness of the picture of the reigning Christ that is presented in Revelation 1. Meditate on what this would have meant for a first century church afflicted by the powerful, persecuting Roman government. Meditate on the significance of a reigning Christ for you. Look at the significance of Christ standing in the midst of the lampstands — which symbolize His church. Meditate on the fact that Jesus is with His bride. Christ is standing among His people — even as they are persecuted, burned, crucified. As John Piper states, “He moves among His lampstands, trimming the wicks and carving wax, breathing life back into flickering flames.” Look at the significance and symbolism of Christ’s appearance — His clothing, His hair, His feet, the sword in His mouth. Finally, end by looking at His face. Meditate on the glory shining therein. The glory of Christ. Our great King. Our Lion of Judah. Contemplate His power over time, His authority over death, His defeat of sin, His holiness.
It’s all there in Revelation 1. And when you do look at Him, as John did, be ready. We might and should cry out our helplessness. We might and should fall flat like John and like Isaiah and Ezekiel. Indeed, when God reveals Himself, we will realize our inadequacy, our sin, our powerlessness. Yet, that is exactly where God wants us. He wants us to look on Christ. Depend on Him. Trust in Him. Lean on Him. Gain strength from Him for the radical life to which He has called us. …
Never lose sight of Him.
(BRYAN CRIBB)