March 20, 2024
Praying Friends,
As John opens his final book, the book of Revelation, his mind is filled with Jesus Christ, his Savior and Lord. He gave three beautiful titles that describe His character and behavior.
“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen” (Revelation 1:4-6).
Firstly, Jesus is the Faithful Witness. He is the only one in the human family whose life fully lived out the truth of God.
He came from heaven as God’s representative. We know that He is the eternal Son of God, the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), but as the faithful witness, He is the dependable, truthful, and visible testifier to the truth of God.
He was completely committed to the truth every day of His life in every way. He never failed to uphold the truth of His God, which includes everything about God. Truth is a large umbrella that encompasses God’s holiness, love, grace, righteousness, and every other attribute. Jesus lived out all of these truths of God perfectly.
Trust is dependent on truth. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ fully trusted Him to bear witness to the truth, and He did it. This is why you too can trust Him fully. He is faithful, steadfast, and unchanging.
Secondly, Jesus is the Firstborn from the Dead. He is the first one in Adam’s family to rise from the dead and never die again.
There were those who had died that were miraculously brought back to life. Three are recorded in the gospel records: the centurion's daughter, the widow of Nain, and Lazarus. But Jesus was different. He rose from the dead and is still alive. He will never die. To John, Jesus said, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18).
He is the firstborn from the dead, which gives us the assurance that we who have trusted in Him will also be raised in the same way. Paul devotes a whole chapter to this subject in 1 Corinthians 15, guaranteeing that we too will be raised.
Maybe you are in a dark place personally today. Maybe you are struggling with the trials and difficulties of life. Maybe you are facing adversity from the enemy. Maybe there are doubts and uncertainties that are filling your mind. If so, this reminder that one day you will rise just as Jesus rose can be a great encouragement to you. His present life at His Father’s right hand is reason enough for you to trust Him!
Lastly, Jesus is the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. He is the highest ranking official in all human history.
Emperors, kings, monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers who have ruled over nations have come and gone down through history. They have wielded power and authority for a limited time. They have conquered other kingdoms and some have risen to great influence and authority. Some were good and some were evil. History records the rise and fall of many such leaders.
What John is saying is that there is one ruler who is above them all. The Lord Jesus is the ultimate leader of all earthly leaders. He is in absolute authority over every one of them.
Today, it may seem that the political situation in our world is out of control, and from an earthly vantage point, it surely looks like it. But the ruler of the kings of the earth knows exactly what He is doing and will in His time bring all the nations under His reign.
Solomon tells us that, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1 ). This reminds us that Jesus is directing, controlling, and channeling the hearts of leaders to His desired end.
There is coming a day when His rule will be fully recognized, and, thankfully, we will reign with Him. If you are anxious about the downward slide of our world, take courage and know that our Lord and Savior has it all under control. You can trust Him!
Thank you for praying for revival among us and for our prodigals.
Love in Christ,
Bryan and Rachel