Dear new Relay worker,
Welcome to the family! As you'll be told numerous times in the next ten months, UCCF is made up of students, staff and supporters, you'll also come to find out that you'll always be a Relay worker. We're a family. A few years and a few thousand miles removed, those ties feel just as strong as they did. So, from a member of the class of 06-07, welcome, it's good to have you.
Let me warn you, this is no dispassionate weighing up of the pros and cons of Relay life. It is impossible for me to exaggerate the debt i owe to UCCF. It's because of UCCF that i love the local church, because of UCCF i love the Bible, because of UCCF i preached my first sermon, and because of UCCF i make my living thus.
So what is Relay all about? Grace. You know that of course, if you paid attention at all during your stay at the Quinta. But it's not about grace as a phrase, or an idea, it's about grace when the rubber hits the road.
Grace extended to you when you fail, grace extended through you when others fail. Grace discovered in the pages of the Bible, from the shiny head of Wayne Grudem. Grace in coffee shops, in campus cafes, in late night conversations. Grace to keep you smiling on the Thursday of mission week, grace when you haven't slept in your own bed for a very long time. Grace when the CU you work alongside want to do something left of center, grace to not compare where you've come from to where you are. Grace when you answer, for the 150th, time the question, 'so what exactly do you do?' Relay is all about grace, and you'll learn that in ways i can't describe. And you'll keep learning that.
Relay is about relationships, With your fellow relays, supervisor and students. Relay will give you friendships you'll never forget. Relay will teach you to laugh at yourselves, taking the work seriously, but yourself, not so much.
Relay is hard. Most of you will be in a new town, or even a new region, miles away from anything familiar. Let this hardness drive you to Jesus, and open the door to new friendships. Relay is tempting. All you are is who you are on your knees before Jesus, don't ever forget that, whether your campus sees an historic revival, or nothing really happens during your time there. Relay is a unique opportunity. Go meet new people, go study, and study hard, go drink good coffee, go do something that has nothing to do with Relay at least once a week, go and run hard in a local church, go for walks in the country. Love people. Love people who belong to a different tribe, and people who are just like you.
Welcome to the family new Relay Worker, you're going to love it here...
Friday, 31 August 2012
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
On Being Married
I've been married for just over three years now. This in itself is incredible to me, the time seems to have gone in the blink of an eye. Three and a bit years of marriage is nothing at all, but it is a little bit. And in that little bit, there are maybe three things that i'm learning from marriage, about being a Christian.
First of all, when i said yes to Rachel at St Thomas's Church in Bath on that June evening, i was also saying no to every other woman out there. Rachel is mine, and I am hers. No one else enters this union, no third person, no other voice or passion. Just the two of us. Yes to my wife, no to everyone else. There's a lot of women in the world, but only one of them in my heart.
When we are saved, we say yes to Jesus, and no to every competing god. No to competing passions, no to alluring temptations, no to selfish ambition, or whatever else it may be. There's only room for the Jesus that demands total allegiance, no one and nothing else can get in the way of a Christian's commitment to their Lord.
Marriage is like a long conversation. Rachel and I can be driving down the road and resume a conversation that we left off days ago. There's an ease in the seriousness of our relationship. Isn't that same true for the Christian and Christ? We grow closer to Him knowing that He knows our thoughts, our concerns, our dreams. We can talk to Him whenever we want, we can turn to Him whenever we need. Rachel is always there for me, we're always each other's priority in this world, how much Christ for the Christian.
Everyone says that one of the things they learn the quickest about themselves in marriage is how selfish they are. I thought i'd be the exception that proved the rule. How wrong i was. It was a battle, in those early days, to motivate myself to do anything just because Rachel wanted to do it. There's the first flush of enthusiasm, but once that's passed, it can be a struggle. That's slowly, too slowly, changing now though. I love to just be with her, and do things just because they please her.
In our relationship with Christ, first there's the stage where everything seems new, but then maybe, our love grows cold. But the more we spend time with Him, the more we know Him, the more pleasing Him and being with Him brings us joy. The more we read the Bible, the more we see Christ, the more we want to. The more pleasure and closeness we gain through obedience, the more we want.
There are a million other lessons to learn about our relationship with Jesus from our relationship with our spouses, but those are three of mine.
First of all, when i said yes to Rachel at St Thomas's Church in Bath on that June evening, i was also saying no to every other woman out there. Rachel is mine, and I am hers. No one else enters this union, no third person, no other voice or passion. Just the two of us. Yes to my wife, no to everyone else. There's a lot of women in the world, but only one of them in my heart.
When we are saved, we say yes to Jesus, and no to every competing god. No to competing passions, no to alluring temptations, no to selfish ambition, or whatever else it may be. There's only room for the Jesus that demands total allegiance, no one and nothing else can get in the way of a Christian's commitment to their Lord.
Marriage is like a long conversation. Rachel and I can be driving down the road and resume a conversation that we left off days ago. There's an ease in the seriousness of our relationship. Isn't that same true for the Christian and Christ? We grow closer to Him knowing that He knows our thoughts, our concerns, our dreams. We can talk to Him whenever we want, we can turn to Him whenever we need. Rachel is always there for me, we're always each other's priority in this world, how much Christ for the Christian.
Everyone says that one of the things they learn the quickest about themselves in marriage is how selfish they are. I thought i'd be the exception that proved the rule. How wrong i was. It was a battle, in those early days, to motivate myself to do anything just because Rachel wanted to do it. There's the first flush of enthusiasm, but once that's passed, it can be a struggle. That's slowly, too slowly, changing now though. I love to just be with her, and do things just because they please her.
In our relationship with Christ, first there's the stage where everything seems new, but then maybe, our love grows cold. But the more we spend time with Him, the more we know Him, the more pleasing Him and being with Him brings us joy. The more we read the Bible, the more we see Christ, the more we want to. The more pleasure and closeness we gain through obedience, the more we want.
There are a million other lessons to learn about our relationship with Jesus from our relationship with our spouses, but those are three of mine.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
How Does Love Conquer?
The following was written by A.F.C Vilmar, in 1880 and quoted by Bonhoeffer in 'The Cost of Discipleship.' It's dated 1880, which is extraordinary, given it's timeliness today. It's long, but well worth reading in full...
The commandment that we love our enemies and forego revenge will become even more urgent in the holy struggle that lies before us and which in part we have already been engaged for years. In it love and hate engage in mortal combat. It is the urgent duty of every Christian soul to prepare itself for it. The time is coming when the confession of the living God will incur not only the hatred and fury of the world, for on the whole it has come to that already, but complete ostracism from human society as they call it.
The Christians will be hounded from place to place, subjected to physical abuse, maltreatment and death of every kind. We are approaching the age of wide spread persecution. Therein lies the true significance of all the movements and conflicts of our age. Our adversaries seek to route out the Christian church and the Christian faith, because they can not live side by side with us, because they see in every word we utter and every deed we do, even when they are not specifically directed against them a condemnation of their own words and deeds. They are not far wrong. They suspect too that we are indifferent to their condemnation. Indeed, they must admit that it is utterly futile to condemn us. We do not reciprocate their hatred and contention, although they would like it better if we did, and so sink to their own level.
And how is the battle to be fought? Soon the time shall come when we shall pray, not as isolated individuals, but as a corporate body, a congregation, a church; we shall pray in multitudes (although relatively small multitudes) and among the thousands and thousands of apostates we shall loudly confess and praise the Lord who was crucified and is risen and shall come again. And what prayer, what praise, what hymn of confession will it be? It will prayers of earnest love for these very sons of perdition who stand around and gaze at us with eyes aflame with hatred and have perhaps already raised their hands to kill us. It will be a prayer of peace for those erring, devastated and bewildered souls, and prayer for the same love and peace we enjoy ourselves, a prayer that will penetrate right to the depths of their souls and rend their hearts more grievously than anything they can do to us.
Yes, the church which is really waiting for the Lord and which discerns the signs of the time of decision must fling itself with the utmost power and with the panopoly of it's holy life into this prayer of love.
The commandment that we love our enemies and forego revenge will become even more urgent in the holy struggle that lies before us and which in part we have already been engaged for years. In it love and hate engage in mortal combat. It is the urgent duty of every Christian soul to prepare itself for it. The time is coming when the confession of the living God will incur not only the hatred and fury of the world, for on the whole it has come to that already, but complete ostracism from human society as they call it.
The Christians will be hounded from place to place, subjected to physical abuse, maltreatment and death of every kind. We are approaching the age of wide spread persecution. Therein lies the true significance of all the movements and conflicts of our age. Our adversaries seek to route out the Christian church and the Christian faith, because they can not live side by side with us, because they see in every word we utter and every deed we do, even when they are not specifically directed against them a condemnation of their own words and deeds. They are not far wrong. They suspect too that we are indifferent to their condemnation. Indeed, they must admit that it is utterly futile to condemn us. We do not reciprocate their hatred and contention, although they would like it better if we did, and so sink to their own level.
And how is the battle to be fought? Soon the time shall come when we shall pray, not as isolated individuals, but as a corporate body, a congregation, a church; we shall pray in multitudes (although relatively small multitudes) and among the thousands and thousands of apostates we shall loudly confess and praise the Lord who was crucified and is risen and shall come again. And what prayer, what praise, what hymn of confession will it be? It will prayers of earnest love for these very sons of perdition who stand around and gaze at us with eyes aflame with hatred and have perhaps already raised their hands to kill us. It will be a prayer of peace for those erring, devastated and bewildered souls, and prayer for the same love and peace we enjoy ourselves, a prayer that will penetrate right to the depths of their souls and rend their hearts more grievously than anything they can do to us.
Yes, the church which is really waiting for the Lord and which discerns the signs of the time of decision must fling itself with the utmost power and with the panopoly of it's holy life into this prayer of love.
Monday, 27 August 2012
Revelation 1:7-8
The book of Revelation has been described as the ultimate action thriller. Remember we saw last week that this book is about Jesus? Well, John also tells us about Jesus John also tells us about the end of the world. This book talks about the rise of an evil ruler, a war to end all wars, and most terrifying of all, the final judgement itself.
But Revelation has a happy ending. It, like Mark, is a eucatastrophe. All Heaven is breaking lose by the end of this book. Jesus is on His throne, He is worshipped as God by His people in perfection forever. Revelation ends with the second coming, and John gives us a preview of that second coming here in 1:7-8. We learn five things about the second coming in these two verses. We learn about it’s necessity, glory, scope, response and certainty.
First of all, the second coming is necessary. Look at the first four words of verse 7. Behold, He is coming.. Behold is a word in the Greek that mean something like ‘pay attention,’ or ‘listen up.’ John is telling us something important here. And that is? Jesus is coming. His return is necessary. More than 500 verses in the Bible talk about Jesus return, maybe as many as one out of every 25 verses in the NT talks about Jesus second coming. Jesus repeatedly spoke of His return and warned His followers to be ready for it.
Are we ready?
Alongside these references in the Bible, there are many reasons why Jesus’ return is necessary. God’s promises require that Jesus return (Gen 49:10, Ps 2:6-9). Secondly, Jesus Himself promised that He would return, as we’ve mentioned. Thirdly, the HS guarantees that Jesus would return. He is the Spirit of truth, so every promise of Jesus’ return in Scripture is also a promise from Him. Fourth God’s plan for the church, the world and Israel demands Jesus return (Rev 3:10, Rom 11:1-2)
Secondly, verse seven tells us that Jesus second coming will be glorious. John tells us that Jesus will come ‘with the clouds.’ Clouds in scripture symbolize glory. Like Moses on Mt Sinai. These clouds show us Jesus descent from Heaven. They symbolize the brilliant light that will accompany Him. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that this is the radiance of God’s glory.
At the end of verse 7, we see the scope of the second coming. Every eye will see Him. You won’t have to guess, you’ll know. Even those who pierced Him. Even Jesus enemies will be forced to admit who He is. They’ll mourn, some in repentance, some in fear.
What about you?
Look at John’s response in verse 7. Even so, amen. Two words, strong plea for Jesus to come. Do we pray like that?
Finally, in verse 8, we see the second coming is certain. Jesus is the alpha anc the omega. Greek alphabet, beginning and end. He has all the knowledge there is to have. If He says it, it’s going to happen!
Jesus is, and was, and is to come. He’s not confined by space or time. His word is not contingent on anything. His promise settles the issue.
Third, He is the almighty. Nothing can stop Him. His plans are made, and His is coming.
Jesus Christ once left heaven for earth in humiliation, He'll be back in exaltation. He once left heaven to be killed, He will do it again to kill. He once left heaven to serve, He will do it again to be served. He once left heaven to offer grace, He will do it again to demand justice. He once left heaven to seek and to save, He will do it again to search and destroy.
The question always in this book is: are you ready? He is coming. John Phillips writes, "One of the most stirring passages in English history tells of the conquests and crusades of Richard I, Richard the Lionhearted. While Richard was away trouncing Saladin(?), his kingdom fell on bad times. His sly and graceless brother John usurped all the prerogatives of the king and misused the realm. The people of England suffered longing for the return of their king and praying that it might be very soon. Then one day Richard came. He landed in England and marched straight for his throne. Around that glittering coming many tales are told woven into the legends of England, one of them is the story of Robin Hood. John's castles tumbled like nine pins, great Richard laid claim to his throne and none dare stand in his path. The people shouted their delight, they rang peel after peel on the bells, the lion was back and they cried, `Long live the king.'"
And one day a King far greater than Richard will lay claim to a realm far greater than England. And those who have abused the earth in His absence, and those who have seized His domains and mismanaged His world will all be swept aside. And only those who love Him and bow the need to His sovereignty will participate in His Kingdom.
Friday, 24 August 2012
John Mark
On Wednesday in Teen Church we started a new study in Mark's Gospel. I want to take a long, lingering look at Jesus with our teenagers. In preparation for this i read the excellent 'Question Mark' by Douglas Moo, which introduces the narrative, structure and talks about the author and dating of the book. It was his chapters on Mark's life that warmed my heart the most, for two reasons.
First of all, Mark was a young man that grew up in the Gospel. His mother was probably an influential woman in the Jerusalem church. Moo tells us that the last supper may even have taken place in their house. Imagine! There's Jesus teaching on the new covenant, there's Peter and John and Simon the Zealot and the rest of the guys. I imagine a young Mark crouching outside the door, listening in, trying to catch a word or two from some of the greatest men who ever lived. No wonder Mark got on a boat with Paul and Barnabus and Luke as soon as he could. He probably followed Peter all the way to Rome, and constructed his Gospel based on Peter's preaching.
What an incredible set on influences Mark had on his life. Literally some of the best men who had ever lived made a mark on this man's life. I wonder what influences our lives? Are we in the way of God? Finding ways to spend time around great men, whether living or dead? Do we read books by the great men? Do we spend time with the preachers and leaders in our own churches? Are we plugged into the community that Jesus wants for us?
Who are you being influenced by?
For all Mark's great influences, he still had his struggles. He probably followed the disciples to Gethsemene, and then he was probably the young man who ran away naked. Then there was some sort of falling out with Paul on one of their journeys, and Paul didn't want him to go with him again. Mark wasn't perfect. He had his struggles, he had his failures...and yet...the Holy Spirit uses him to write a Gospel! Isn't that cool?
Why can't Jesus use you? Have you failed? Then you're in excellent company! Isn't that what the church is? A bunch of people who have admitted they've failed and they need help? Mark is among that number, and i know i am! Don't let past failures determine your future. Mark didn't, and the Lord is still using him today!
First of all, Mark was a young man that grew up in the Gospel. His mother was probably an influential woman in the Jerusalem church. Moo tells us that the last supper may even have taken place in their house. Imagine! There's Jesus teaching on the new covenant, there's Peter and John and Simon the Zealot and the rest of the guys. I imagine a young Mark crouching outside the door, listening in, trying to catch a word or two from some of the greatest men who ever lived. No wonder Mark got on a boat with Paul and Barnabus and Luke as soon as he could. He probably followed Peter all the way to Rome, and constructed his Gospel based on Peter's preaching.
What an incredible set on influences Mark had on his life. Literally some of the best men who had ever lived made a mark on this man's life. I wonder what influences our lives? Are we in the way of God? Finding ways to spend time around great men, whether living or dead? Do we read books by the great men? Do we spend time with the preachers and leaders in our own churches? Are we plugged into the community that Jesus wants for us?
Who are you being influenced by?
For all Mark's great influences, he still had his struggles. He probably followed the disciples to Gethsemene, and then he was probably the young man who ran away naked. Then there was some sort of falling out with Paul on one of their journeys, and Paul didn't want him to go with him again. Mark wasn't perfect. He had his struggles, he had his failures...and yet...the Holy Spirit uses him to write a Gospel! Isn't that cool?
Why can't Jesus use you? Have you failed? Then you're in excellent company! Isn't that what the church is? A bunch of people who have admitted they've failed and they need help? Mark is among that number, and i know i am! Don't let past failures determine your future. Mark didn't, and the Lord is still using him today!
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Book Review: Delighting In The Trinity
Delighting in the Trinity, by Michael Reeves is a short, heartwarming book on the Trinity that you have to read.
Hold on, you say, there are so many problems with that opening sentence i don't even know where to start.
A short book on the trinity? How is that? Well it is short. Short and to the point. Weighing at 130 pages it manages to cover everything you need to know for an introduction to this most Christian of beliefs. Michael Reeves with an introduction and conclusion forming the bread for a sandwich with chapters on creation, salvation and Christian living in between. And yes, the doctrine of the trinity has a huge impact on each on of those areas of our faith. So it's a short book, but a weighty one. It loses nothing by being brief. It's short, but well put together. It hold the attention of the reader, as Reeves has a style and a wit all his own.
Ok, so it's short, but heartwarming? Isn't the trinity something made up by 'bored monks on a rainy tuesday.' Some that's interesting if you're keen enough to read and think about it, but not really relevant to life. And not something worth getting excited over. Well it's heartwarming in two different ways. It's heartwarming because in this book we are lovingly confronted with who our God is again and again. We're reminded that God isn't a Master, or a Slaverdriver but a Father. And, crucially, that God has always been a Father. We're reminded that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit who spread their love to us. We're invited to bathe in this loved and let it heat up our Bible reading and inform our prayers.
It's heartwarming in that this love is turned to us. Jesus came to spread this goodness, this love, to make known who His Father is. Jesus came to let us know, and let us in on this love. And we will spend eternity enjoying and exploring this love. Delighting in the Trinity is heartwarming because it reminds us who our God is, and heartwarming because it reminds us that this God is for us.
A book you have to read? Definitely! The doctrine of the trinity is at the centre of what we believe, and at the centre of, well, everything. Why are we saved? Because God is trinity, how can we be sure that God loves us? Because He is trinity, why does everything exist? Because God is trinity.
If Christians are coals then Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the fire. Take a coal from the fire and it cools down quickly. Why do we need to read this book? Because it sets our hearts in the center of God's amazing love, and amazing love for us. And we need that. The Gospel leaks out of us, read this book, be filled, and go out!
Hold on, you say, there are so many problems with that opening sentence i don't even know where to start.
A short book on the trinity? How is that? Well it is short. Short and to the point. Weighing at 130 pages it manages to cover everything you need to know for an introduction to this most Christian of beliefs. Michael Reeves with an introduction and conclusion forming the bread for a sandwich with chapters on creation, salvation and Christian living in between. And yes, the doctrine of the trinity has a huge impact on each on of those areas of our faith. So it's a short book, but a weighty one. It loses nothing by being brief. It's short, but well put together. It hold the attention of the reader, as Reeves has a style and a wit all his own.
Ok, so it's short, but heartwarming? Isn't the trinity something made up by 'bored monks on a rainy tuesday.' Some that's interesting if you're keen enough to read and think about it, but not really relevant to life. And not something worth getting excited over. Well it's heartwarming in two different ways. It's heartwarming because in this book we are lovingly confronted with who our God is again and again. We're reminded that God isn't a Master, or a Slaverdriver but a Father. And, crucially, that God has always been a Father. We're reminded that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit who spread their love to us. We're invited to bathe in this loved and let it heat up our Bible reading and inform our prayers.
It's heartwarming in that this love is turned to us. Jesus came to spread this goodness, this love, to make known who His Father is. Jesus came to let us know, and let us in on this love. And we will spend eternity enjoying and exploring this love. Delighting in the Trinity is heartwarming because it reminds us who our God is, and heartwarming because it reminds us that this God is for us.
A book you have to read? Definitely! The doctrine of the trinity is at the centre of what we believe, and at the centre of, well, everything. Why are we saved? Because God is trinity, how can we be sure that God loves us? Because He is trinity, why does everything exist? Because God is trinity.
If Christians are coals then Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the fire. Take a coal from the fire and it cools down quickly. Why do we need to read this book? Because it sets our hearts in the center of God's amazing love, and amazing love for us. And we need that. The Gospel leaks out of us, read this book, be filled, and go out!
Monday, 20 August 2012
Revelation 1:1-6 Notes
At the request of the class, we started looking at Revelation during Teen Sunday School this week. Here are my notes from chapter 1:1-6
V1a: Revelation is a book that shows us the truth. It’s full of strange and wonderful images, but it’s essential for our understanding of the truth about the end of the world.
V1b: It’s theme is Jesus Christ. That’s ultimately who this book is about. Not when the rapture is, not who will be ruling when the antichrist comes, but Jesus. It’s about His ultimate victory? Simply put, what is revelation about? Jesus winning! Revelation is such an exciting book to read and understand, because it shows us how Jesus will ultimately sit on the throne and receive all the glory He is due.
V1c: This revelation was given to Christ, by God to show to his servants. Not everyone can receive the truth that is contained in Revelation, but only those who believe in Jesus, only those who love Jesus. That’s the meaning of the word translated as servants here. A doulos was a special type of slave who served his master out of love, rather than because he had to. This revelation comes to Christ’s followers.
V1d: Revelation is focused fully on future events, and this is what sets it apart from other NT books. There’s no history here, only prophecy. We’re told that these things take place soon. It’s not our place to try and figure out when soon is, but to have faith that these things are coming. Remember that to the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. The Lord is patient in His coming, but coming He is.
V1e-2: God made this revelation known though an angel and a servant. This perhaps is how John was taken up into Heaven to receive the revelation, by an angel. So what have we learnt from the first two verses of this book. Firstly perhaps, that there’s nothing to be scared of in studying Revelation. It may seem complicated, and parts of it are, but it’s a Revelation, not a mystery. Second, everything in this book centres around Jesus. If we can’t figure something out, thinking about how it relates to Jesus will help. Thirdly we’ve seen that this book is written to help us deepen our relationship with Christ, and because of that, we should pay attention.
V3: We see this last part in verse 3. When we hear God’s desires and demands written in His Word we have to obey, because the time is near. Time is running out before Christ comes again. He’s closer now that He was when you woke up this morning, so we must pay attention if we are to receive the blessing. And what a blessing it is.
V4-5: We see the setting for this letter, John is writing to churches in Asia who are being persecuted. He will later address each one of these churches, but it’s interesting that Revelation doesn’t look like a normal letter. Most of it, as we’ve said is set well into the future, what is to come should shape the way we live today. These verses contain John’s greeting, and we learnt that it’s not just John who is writing this letter, but that it comes directly from Jesus. This is even more reason to pay attention to what’s being said.
V6: Here John just bursts forth with praise. ‘to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.’ Jesus deserves all praise and worship, and one day that’s exactly what He will get. That Jesus has freed us from our sins by His blood is the heart of the Gospel, and it’s that thought which causes John to praise Him here. Jesus will eventually take His rightful place on the throne, and all will worship Him, Revelation tells us how that happens at the end of human history.
V1a: Revelation is a book that shows us the truth. It’s full of strange and wonderful images, but it’s essential for our understanding of the truth about the end of the world.
V1b: It’s theme is Jesus Christ. That’s ultimately who this book is about. Not when the rapture is, not who will be ruling when the antichrist comes, but Jesus. It’s about His ultimate victory? Simply put, what is revelation about? Jesus winning! Revelation is such an exciting book to read and understand, because it shows us how Jesus will ultimately sit on the throne and receive all the glory He is due.
V1c: This revelation was given to Christ, by God to show to his servants. Not everyone can receive the truth that is contained in Revelation, but only those who believe in Jesus, only those who love Jesus. That’s the meaning of the word translated as servants here. A doulos was a special type of slave who served his master out of love, rather than because he had to. This revelation comes to Christ’s followers.
V1d: Revelation is focused fully on future events, and this is what sets it apart from other NT books. There’s no history here, only prophecy. We’re told that these things take place soon. It’s not our place to try and figure out when soon is, but to have faith that these things are coming. Remember that to the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. The Lord is patient in His coming, but coming He is.
V1e-2: God made this revelation known though an angel and a servant. This perhaps is how John was taken up into Heaven to receive the revelation, by an angel. So what have we learnt from the first two verses of this book. Firstly perhaps, that there’s nothing to be scared of in studying Revelation. It may seem complicated, and parts of it are, but it’s a Revelation, not a mystery. Second, everything in this book centres around Jesus. If we can’t figure something out, thinking about how it relates to Jesus will help. Thirdly we’ve seen that this book is written to help us deepen our relationship with Christ, and because of that, we should pay attention.
V3: We see this last part in verse 3. When we hear God’s desires and demands written in His Word we have to obey, because the time is near. Time is running out before Christ comes again. He’s closer now that He was when you woke up this morning, so we must pay attention if we are to receive the blessing. And what a blessing it is.
V4-5: We see the setting for this letter, John is writing to churches in Asia who are being persecuted. He will later address each one of these churches, but it’s interesting that Revelation doesn’t look like a normal letter. Most of it, as we’ve said is set well into the future, what is to come should shape the way we live today. These verses contain John’s greeting, and we learnt that it’s not just John who is writing this letter, but that it comes directly from Jesus. This is even more reason to pay attention to what’s being said.
V6: Here John just bursts forth with praise. ‘to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.’ Jesus deserves all praise and worship, and one day that’s exactly what He will get. That Jesus has freed us from our sins by His blood is the heart of the Gospel, and it’s that thought which causes John to praise Him here. Jesus will eventually take His rightful place on the throne, and all will worship Him, Revelation tells us how that happens at the end of human history.
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