Our Incomparable Savior

Do you know what you have in Jesus? If I were to sit down with you, what’s the first thing that would come to your mind? Many of might say, I have a Savior who died for me so I could be forgiven. Or you might say, I have a Teacher who can show me the way to live. Or you might say, I have a Friend who loves me no matter how badly I’ve failed. And all those answers are true. But sadly, most Christ followers go through life never realizing that in Jesus we have so much more. Many of us have no idea how incredible, powerful and gracious Jesus truly is. Because of this, when trials or trouble comes our way because of our faith in Jesus, we don’t always handle it well.

In fact, many believers struggle when trouble comes their way. Why? It’s because they buy the lie that following Jesus means your life will always be free of troubles and hardships. That following Jesus means He will always protect you from pain and heartache, troubles and suffering. So then, when pain or suffering comes their way, rather than trust God, they blame God, or turn away from following Jesus, simply because they don’t really know Jesus. They don’t really know all they have in Jesus.

So, I’ll ask it again: Do you know all you have in Jesus? Do you know how merciful, wise, caring and compassionate Jesus truly is? Do you know how awesome, powerful and good He is? And do you know how much He cares for you in the midst of whatever you are going through? Well, if you’ve ever wanted to understand all you have in Jesus; then let me encourage you to open your Bible to Revelation 1:9-20, where we’re going to find a fellow believer in the apostle John who is suffering for his faith, but in receiving his call from Jesus to write this book, receives one of the most powerful and gracious visions of Jesus that reveals all we have in Jesus.

So, if you’ve found Revelation 1:9-20, we’re going to begin with John’s greeting, and see how we actually share a number of things in common that reveals all we have in Jesus. Let’s look now as

He Reveals Our Common Calling: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Revelation 1:9-11 As John begins his greeting, he refers to himself, not as an apostle, but as a brother in Christ, who is a partner with other believers in three things: in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus. These are three things that every Christ follower shares in common with John. Because we are all in Christ. Let’s look at these:
First, we share together in suffering. Here John uses the word “tribulation.” Which means pressure, trouble or affliction. John was suffering as he was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. Patmos was a penal colony for exiled criminals banished and sentenced to hard labor in the rock quarries. John was considered a criminal because of his faithful witness of Jesus. And the conditions he lived under were harsh: Exhausting labor under the watchful eye of a Roman overseer, insufficient food and clothing, and having to sleep on the bare ground were all part of his suffering.

And John writes that he is a partner with other believers in his suffering. In other words, he wanted them to know he is suffering like they are suffering. That suffering is normal part of the Christian life. As Paul reminds us in Philippians saying, “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for Him” Philippians 1:29 No one who follows Jesus is immune from pressure, trouble or affliction in this world. We are all called to suffer for Jesus.

Second, we share together in the kingdom. Even though he was under the control of his captors, his heart was still under the control of Jesus, his King. He had a kingdom mindset. He recognized this world is not all there is. And what that tells me is this: No matter how bad your circumstances may be, they have no control over your heart. When Christ is your King, you are always free to let Him guide your life and obey His Word no matter what you are facing. You are always free to enjoy the spiritual blessings of His kingdom, which Paul identifies as “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) So no matter how hard life gets, you’re never outside the scope of His kingdom if you are in Christ.

Thirdly, we share together in perseverance. To persevere means to hang in there under a heavy load, to stay the course in the midst of trouble, to not to throw in the towel or drop out of the race. John wrote this to encourage other believers who were facing persecution. God has a purpose for us when we persevere under trials. James says it this way: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

All this to say, is that perseverance in the midst of suffering will be a theme throughout this book. Over and Over Jesus will call His people to overcome adversity. So, perseverance is one of the marks of a faithful follower of Jesus. And the good news is that God saw this quality in John. So, while John is in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, Jesus Himself calls out to him in a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

What did John mean when he said, ”I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” He means that he was taken up into a trancelike, visionary state. This is not a spiritual experience common to all believers but was given to God’s special messengers. And so, we see that the introduction to his vision comes in the form of a loud voice, commanding him to write what he sees in a book and send it to the seven churches. But before we unpack His message, Jesus wanted John (and us) to see Him in all His glory. So, that leads us to the next thing He reveals to us today, that is this:

He Revels His Majestic Splendor: Here now is one of the most incredible visions of Jesus in all the Scriptures: Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest. The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full strength. Revelation 1:12-16 John turns to see the One whose voice was like a trumpet. What John saw would encourage his heart. It would also knock him off his feet.
First, he sees “seven lampstands.” Verse 20 reveals that they are the seven churches. John also saw a person standing in the midst of the lampstands. His identity is no secret: He is the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus. This title goes back to Daniel 7:13-14. and was Jesus’ favorite self-designation. According to Daniel, the Son of Man is the One worthy to receive “dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.” And here he is seen standing among the lampstands. What that tells us is that the Lord Jesus, the King of kings, dwells in the midst of His churches. He knows what His churches are dealing with. He’s watching and working in our midst. He is right there in the middle of all they experience.

So now John is going to describe His appearance to us. However, in doing so, the purpose of this vision is not to show us what Jesus looks like, but rather to reveal to what us what Jesus is like – all we have in Jesus! So here, seeing Jesus “clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest” we are reminded that His Clothing Reveals His Priestly Role This image of an enrobed Christ standing among the lampstands recalls for us the priests who served in the temple. But what Jesus wants us to see is that He serves in our midst as our great high priest. Just as priests offered sacrifices to atone for sin, Jesus offered himself for our sins and removed God’s wrath from us once and for all. And now His offering has opened the way for anyone who believes in Him, to come into God’s presence. This was the message of Hebrews. And it was placed here as of first importance to us. To encourage us. For one of the keys to persevering when we facing hardship is knowing that because of Jesus, we have access into God’s presence whenever we need Him. That’s the first thing we see about what we have in Jesus. We have a great high priest who’s made a way to God.
Next, we see The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. This image associates Jesus with the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9. Here, the ancient and pure appearance of the Father is applied to Christ, revealing the union that Christ and the Father share in the Godhead. But it also reveals something else we have in Christ: His Hair Reveals His Profound Wisdom John wants us to see the wisdom and dignity that is found in the eternal Christ.
John Piper makes an interesting comment about this image. He writes, “In American culture today, we respect the process of aging less and less. A person is admired if he can keep looking young, not if he has the dignity of age. The Bible saw it another way. Proverbs 16:31 says, “A white head is a crown of glory,” so much so that in the law God commanded, “You will rise up before the white head, and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32)
One of the reason we don’t want to grow old is that we associate age with the fading powers that make life worth living – the capacity to see and hear and think clearly and move about and not have pain. But all of those things do not belong to aging as aging. They belong to aging in a futile and fallen world of sin. Once God does away with sin and the curse, we will not have any of these negative connotations. Aging will only be associated with growing wisdom and insight and maturity. All the strength will still be there. All the mental powers. All the sight and hearing and agility. Nothing that is great about youth will be left behind. There will only be added all the powers and beauties and depth of age.” This is what John saw in Jesus. Jesus was like the Ancient of Days with all the wisdom of eternity. This is what we have in Jesus. He is wisdom personified. And He gives His wisdom today to all who ask so we might make wise choices in this present evil age.

Let’s look at the next image: His eyes were like a flame of fire His Eyes Reveal His Role as Judge Daniel Akin speaks of this image saying, “In fiery holiness, the true condition of each church and each Christian is transparent to the gaze of his eyes.” In other words, what we have in Jesus’ presence within His church, means that He always knows their spiritual condition, which results in either blessing or judgment. We will see Christ’s penetrating insight in the chapters to come.

Next: His Feet Reveal His Role as Conquering King “His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace” Here is a picture of Jesus the Conquering King who treads the earth in power. This is a profound image, reminding us once again, that no matter what we face on this earth, Jesus reigns in power, and we reign with Him. He is the King of kings and Lord of Lords. In other words, with Jesus we are more than conquerors in the face of evil. As Paul reminds us: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:35-37 That’s what we have in Jesus, the conquering king who is with us to help us overcome the troubles of this world.

There are four more images. First, “His voice was like the roar of many waters” This reminds us that the voice of Christ is filled with power and authority. That’s what we have in Jesus. His powerful Word.

Next, by seeing that In His right hand He held seven stars we are reminded that whatever is in His hand is His possession and under His protection. Here is refers to the seven angels of the seven churches. But since we too are His treasured possession, it means that we too are under his protection. So then, no matter what circumstance you are dealing with, Jesus holds you in His hands.

Third, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, reveals to us Jesus Role as Prophet. His word is a double-edged sword that has the power to save those who trust in His Word. That’s what we have in Jesus. His Word births faith in us. His Word guides our paths. His Word defeats our strongholds. His Word cleanses our hearts.

Finally, in describing Christ’s face being “like the sun shining in full strength” we see an allusion to Judges 5:31, where the same is said of the victorious Israelite warrior. Here the portrayal in Judges points to Christ as the ideal end-time messianic warrior.
What we have in Jesus is a warrior who fights for us.

This is an incredible vision of our incomparable Christ. There is so much about who He is and what He does, that is meant to encourage our faith in times of trouble. But this incredible vision of Jesus was almost too much to take in for John. Look at his reaction: When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But I want you not notice something. Even though this vision of Jesus just about did him in, John didn’t run away in terror. Rather he fell at His feet. Why? Let’s look now as Jesus…

He Reveals His Compassionate Touch: When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Rev. 1:17-20
John did something quite profound here. Instead of turning away from God in terror – an ungodly fear that loathes God – he turned to the Lord in reverent humility. He shows us something we can learn from: That the feet of Jesus is always the safest, most blessed place in all the world.
The reason why we are safest when trembling before God at Jesus’ feet is found in Christ’s character as our compassionate Savior. Jesus showed this in two actions. First, John related, “He laid his right hand on me.” This was an act of great symbolic and personal significance. All through the Gospels, whenever Jesus healed or raised the dead, he usually touched them. Whether it was an unclean leper, a dead son, or a shamed sinner, Jesus not only spoke words of power but also placed his holy hand on the person in need. In this way, Jesus showed his compassion and, above all his personal acceptance. We a beautiful picture of God’s grace. Imagine what it meant to John, having come completely undone at the vision of Christ’s splendor, but then to have Jesus reach down to touch him and comfort Him. That’s what we have in Jesus. This incomparable prophet, priest and king, this Messianic Warrior and Judge, who is there to touch you with His hand of power and grace, to lift you up and comfort you in your time of need.

And now, having laid his right hand on John, Jesus said: “Fear not” Literally, “stop being afraid?” “I am the first and the last.” In other words, Jesus reassures John that He too is Lord over all history. Everything is under His control and power. And then he adds, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

So, John has nothing to fear, and neither do we. For what we have in Jesus the one who controls history, has defeated death, is alive today, and opens the door with His keys to life eternal with Him.

That’s what we have in Jesus. Jesus is our incomparable Savior. He doesn’t just forgive us our sins. What we have in Jesus is the Son of Man who is always with us. What we have is the Great Hight Priest who’s made a way for you to come into God’s presence. What we have in Jesus is the Ancient of Days who gives wisdom to all who seek Him. What we have is A Conquering King who reigns in power and helps us overcome. What we have is the Word of God filled with power and authority. What we have is a protector who holds you in His hand, and a Warrior who fights for you. But at the end of the day, when you’ve come undone, what you have in Jesus is a Compassionate Savior who heals you with His grace, lifts you up with His strong right hand and gives you life… Why? So, you will not fear or fall away when trouble comes.

Like he said to his disciples in the upper room: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33