The Risen Redeemer Revealed
The First and Last
A sermon based on Revelation 1:9-19
Sunday, April 7, 2013 – Easter 2C
"Wilson! Wilsooooon!" The slightly deranged man played by Tom Hanks shouted as his best friend—a Wison brand volleyball with a face painted in blood—floats away, out of reach, out of his life. Tom Hanks played the part of a castaway in a movie by that name; a man who barely survived a plane crash and lived alone on an island struggling to survive for several years.
Ten miles by six miles. That was the size of the island… Not the island in Castaway, but the island of Patmos, where the apostle John lived, not in retirement, but in exile. Not a survivor of a plane crash, but banished from society by Emperor Domition because he wouldn't stop talking about Jesus. There he sat, all alone, legend has it, living in a cave, struggling to survive when he had a vision—not of a living volleyball, but of a living Savior—not of a deranged delusion, but in the Spirit of God. We call it "The Book of Revelation."
Many people are intimidated by that book. It's full of some pretty weird visions. It's been interpreted in countless different ways. And it seems to be a pretty difficult book to understand; not exactly a 101 course.
But the book isn't as complicated as it seems. The major story is pretty simple actually: In the end times, things will bad. They'll be really bad. satan will seem to have the upper hand. But satan won't win. Jesus is victorious. He'll kick the devil's… tail. Jesus wins! Hands down! And by extension, so do we, who, by God's grace, are on his side. Our ringer, our Savior, our Redeemer is victorious and so are we.
Over the next six weeks, starting today, we're going to take a look at portions of that vision that John saw. And we will see the risen Redeemer revealed for who he is. I say "is" and not "was," because he is the Living One. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the eternal Savior who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Redeemer that John saw is the same Redeemer you and I have today.
So as we study the Book of Revelation, we see the risen Redeemer revealed to us. Today, we see that he is the eternal, never changing, First and Last. Listen to Revelation 1:9-19…
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later."
I. Revealed in His Word
It wasn't a storm that caused the apostle John to be a castaway. Well, not a literally storm. It was a storm of fury by the Emperor Domition who longed to dominate Christianity. He banished John to the island of Patmos in an attempt to rid the empire of what he thought was a rebellious cult. He gave himself the title of Dominus et Deus, Latin for Lord and God. And for those Jews and Christians who refused to acknowledge him as such, he had little tolerance.
So John was exiled to the tiny island, "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." And there he sat, suffering in his lonely little cave.
And thank God for it! You see, had John been free to come and go as he pleased, he may very well have just told the Galatian churches about the vision he received from God face to face. But because of his exile he was forced to write his congregations a letter—a letter that's been preserved for you and me. And what comfort we get in the Book of Revelation.
But before we look at what John wrote, let's consider again the source. John said, "On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: 'Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches'"
Notice carefully what John said: "…I was in the Spirit…"
He didn't say, "I came up with a great idea for a book!" or "I came up with some neat illustrations for what I wanted to say." No! The Book of Revelation was not John's idea. As the title implies, it was revealed to him by God. John was "in the Spirit…" That is, he was inspired. (That's what in/spired means: in Spirit.) God the Holy Spirit told John what to write. Jesus told John, "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later."
And so we can believe what we read and hear in the book of Revelation as the Word of God himself. And as added assurance we have Thomas' doubts: he didn't make up the story of Jesus' resurrection out of some expectant longing, but in spite of himself. We have John's terror at the sight of Jesus: He didn't make up the story of Jesus' resurrection, but saw Jesus shining brighter than the time he saw him on the Mount of Transfiguration and was terrified all over again.
That's comforting for us too because we too will suffer, "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
And everything that follows in the Book of Revelation is meant to give us comfort in the face of that suffering. But it's only comforting if you know it comes from God, and not just John's deranged and lonely mind. No, what John saw was not just a delusion, like Tom Hanks' character thinking his volleyball was actually talking to him. This was the real deal. This was the Risen Redeemer, "the First and the Last… the Living One," giving comfort to John and giving comfort to us, revealing in picture language and illustration, his comfort for believers in the difficult end times in which we live.
So what did Jesus want John to know? Let's read it again…
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later."
II. Revealed in His Glory
John saw Jesus standing in the middle of lamp stands (which Jesus would explain in verse 20 were representative of the seven churches mentioned in verse 11). And Jesus' appearance must have caused John to have flashbacks to the Mount of Transfiguration! He was glowing white, like snow. His face was shining as bright as the sun, just like it did on that mountain so many years ago!
But there was more this time. His eyes were burning like a fire that could burn right into your soul, seeing every sin, knowing every wicked thought and deed. His feet were burning like bronze in a furnace, ready to trample and melt all who stood against him. Out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword, ready to cut down any who dared to oppose him.
No wonder John was terrified.
He knew that in his selfishness he had stood against Jesus. In his arrogance he had opposed God's will. He who was privileged to stand at the foot of the cross had since rebelled against his dearest Friend. And now that Risen Redeemer stood before him, shining in all of his glory!
Would he finally rebuke John for abandoning him on Maundy Thursday? Would he chastise him for the poor way he'd taken care of Mary? Would he punish him for the selfishness that continued to consume him even after Jesus had done so much for him?
And John practically fainted in the presence of the Resurrected Redeemer. "When I saw him," he wrote, "I fell at his feet as though dead."
But Jesus' greater glory isn't revealed in his glowing presence. It isn't revealed in the way that he would crush his enemies. His real glory is revealed in the Gospel—in that he comforts, not rebukes.
When John heard Jesus voice like the sound of many waters, many have seen in that the symbolism that his words give life like cool, refreshing, life giving water. "[Jesus] placed his right hand on [John] and said: "Do not be afraid."
Don't be afraid?! Why not? Jesus explained: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
"Don't be afraid, John, because Jesus lives! Don't be afraid because Jesus is victorious! He has defeated even death and hell! Don't be afraid, John, because Jesus is on your side and you are victorious through him."
And the same is true for you, dear friends in Christ.
The same Jesus that appeared to John when he was a castaway on that little island is the exact same Jesus today. He is the Alpha and Omega. (That's the first letter of the Greek alphabet and the last.) He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, there before the world began and there long after the world's destroyed. He is "the Living One… alive for ever and ever!"
And he does not change. He is still in the midst of his Church, still the same glorious Jesus. He still has eyes that burn though our souls and see our deepest, darkest secrets. He still judges all people with the sharp sword of his Word that comes out of his mouth. And we still deserve to be cut down for our sin, to be cast away from God's presence, to fall down dead at the feet of the One we've seen crucified and come to life, yet, still choose to daily rebel against.
But Jesus' greater glory is still revealed in the Gospel—in that he comforts, not rebukes.
He still brings the cool, refreshing, life giving water of the Gospel to us. The Living One still, "hold[s] the keys of death and Hades." And his, "Do not be afraid," still applies to you.
You don't need to be afraid of death. You will die exactly when Jesus wants you to—no sooner; no later. If he wants you dead, nothing will keep you alive (no matter what your diet, no matter how much you exercise). If he wants you alive, no one and nothing can kill you (no matter what happens, no matter who tries to end you). Your life (and your death) are entirely in his hands.
But that's comforting because you don't need be afraid of hell. Jesus rose from the dead. He was dead. But death couldn't contain him! And now he is alive forever and ever! And this is the proof that your sin is forgiven! "[Jesus] loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." (Revelation 1:5)
And that means you can have no fear of pain. Make no mistake. Pain will still come. Persecution will still happen. You too will suffer. "Suffering… [is yours] in Jesus." But you can handle it. "Patient endurance," is also yours, "in Jesus."
So live boldly. He is victorious and so are you. He still stands in the midst of his church saying, "Do not be afraid." Take heart. And live for the Living One. Even if you're castaway to a deserted island and left all alone (either literally or figuratively), be assured that you're not really alone. You're safe. You're secure. The One who holds the keys of death and hell has conquered both for you. Jesus wins! Hands down! And by extension, so do you, who, by God's grace, are on his side. Your ringer, your Savior, your Alpha and Omega, your First and your Last, your risen Redeemer is revealed. He is victorious. And so are you. Amen!
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