Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness
“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,” (Revelation 1:5).
Happy New Year! This New Year 2013, our church’s motto is “Following Jesus”. It is my hope and prayer that all of us, the Victory family, may follow Jesus closer than before in this year 2013. In order to do so, we must get to know Him more and more. In other words, we must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus is a Savior. He is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11). When we look at Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked His disciples “Who do you say I am?”. Then Simon Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v.16). And when we look at John 20:27, Jesus who was resurrected from the dead appeared again to His disciples. And He said to Thomas “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Then Thomas said “My Lord and my God!”(v.28). Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mt. 16:16). Jesus is “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).
When we look at the today’s verse Revelation 1:5, the Bible says that Jesus is “the faithful witness”. Tonight, I would like to think about “the faithful witness” Apostle John so that we all may become His faithful witness.
First, the faithful witness testifies to everything he saw.
Please read Revelation 1:2 - “who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Here, the Bible says that Apostle John testifies to everything he saw. What did he see? That is “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ” A similar phrase appears in verse 9 too: “… was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” The thing that Apostle John testified was all things that he saw in heavenly vision, that is the revelation of Jesus Christ (v.1). And the revelation of Jesus Christ is what God gave John to show his servants what must soon take place (v.1). The one thing that will soon take place is as verse 7 says “Look, he is coming with the clouds.” Jesus Christ is coming back. Therefore, as we are His faithful witness, we must testify the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Second, the faithful witness reads, hears and take the words of God’s prophecy to his heart.
Please read Revelation 1:3 - “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” The bible says that those who reads the words of this prophecy and heard it and take to heart are the blessed ones. What the Bible teaches us is that as we eagerly wait for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must read the words of this prophecy and hear it and also take to heart. And among those words of prophecy, I would like to share just one very important God’s message from Revelations chapters 2 through 4 – from the letters to the seven churches: Repentance! Why must we repent? It’s because we have forsaken our first love. Please read Revelation 2:4-5a (to the church in Ephesus): “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” It’s because we are worshipping idols and are committing sexual immorality. Please read Revelation 2:14-16a(to the church in Pergamum): “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore!” Please read Revelation 2:20-21(to the church in Thyatira): “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.” It’s because our deeds are not complete in the sight of God. Please read Revelation 3:1b-3a (to the church in Sardis): “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.” It’s because our deeds are lukewarm. Please read Revelation 3:15-16, 19(to the church in Laodicea): “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. … Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.” It is my hope and prayer that all of us may hear Jesus’ word “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” and obey it.
Lastly, the faithfulness witness participates in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance.
Please read Revelation 1:9 – “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.” What does it mean? It means that as the Lord’s faithful witness Apostle John participated in Jesus’ suffering, Jesus’ kingdom and Jesus’ patient endurance. Here, Jesus’ suffering and Jesus’ kingdom is a result of us being united with Jesus. And Jesus’ patient endurance is a result of the example of Jesus’ suffering which gives us strengthen to be patient and to endure (Moffat). Suffering is way to God’s kingdom and patient endurance is strengthen to walk that path(Park). This is what Apostle Paul said in Acts 14:22 – “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” And when we look at James 5:10, Apostle James said to take the prophets as an example of patience in the face of suffering. I hope and pray that we all may be able to participate in Jesus’ suffering, kingdom and patient endurance.
Desiring to be the Lord’s faithful witness,
James Kim