JESUS REVEALED

Time with Jesus - Friday, 25 May 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about the apostle John and the writing of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Friday, 25 May 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	JESUS REVEALED
The first chapter of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ deals with the appearance of Jesus to John on the Isle of Patmos. At first it was a frightening experience. This was not the Jesus he remembered. Not the one he had leaned back on as they gathered to have a meal together. This was Jesus as He had never been seen before. The description of Jesus in Chapter one is awesome! The next two chapters are Jesus’s seven letters to each of seven churches. It seems John knew each of them fairly well. Only God knows what our reaction would be if Jesus manifested Himself to us in this manner. I suspect it would be one of abject terror. Perhaps a bit like the allied soldiers who landed on the Normandy beaches in 1944. I’m told that as the landing craft drew close to the beach, all the men experienced fear of some sort. I suspect I would have been no different. We are told that Jesus appeared to John on the Lord’s day. We have assumed that this was on a Sunday. Any Sunday in the year. It wasn’t. It was a special day which took place once a year. It was the day on which every man, woman and child was required to appear before the local priest. There they were required to say, “Caesar is Lord”. Those who refused would be killed by order of the Caesar. It was called “the Lordly day”. John would never do this. So, instead of killing this old man, they banished him to the Isle of Patmos. There, living under impossible conditions, John was kept a prisoner. Then the Lord’s day – the Lordly Day, came round again. Once again John would have refused to say the required words. Suddenly, Jesus appeared to him. Not as the man he knew and loved so well. He appeared with all the splendour and glory of the Son of God. John was overwhelmed. I’m sure that His appearance would have a similar effect on me and most of the readers. It seems to be fairly conclusive that everything recorded in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ came directly or indirectly from Jesus Himself. There are two portions of Scripture which must have come directly from God. One is the first two chapters of Genesis. The other is the content of the book of Revelation. I suppose in this context we can say that Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end of the Bible. He’s most certainly the Alpha and Omega. He is the starter and finisher of our faith. John saw this in vivid detail in a way no other man has ever seen. Thank You Lord! Jim & Phyllida Strickland	18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. Revelation 2:18 TNIV 9 "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT 8 You keep track of all our sins; every misdeed since we were children is entered in your books. Psalms 90:8 MSG 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord's words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me." 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. Luke 22:61-62 NLT 24 But Jesus did not fully trust them. He knew what people are like. 25 He didn't need others to tell him what people are like. He already knew what was in the human heart. John 2:24-25 NIrV 14 He knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust. Psalms 103:14 NIrV 3 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. Isaiah 42:3 NLT 19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 2 Timothy 2:19 TNIV 14 "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me. My sheep know me as I know the Father. John 10:14 GW 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28 ESV	Jesus Christ wrote letters and put them in the book, We know as “Revelation”. He said He’d had a look, At seven of His Churches. It now was time to state, Exactly what He thought of them and what would be their fate! He told John the apostle that he must write them down. The details of His comments and send them to each town. To all those seven churches, He wanted to make clear, If they had been “successful” or was their judgement near? John tells us just what happened and how the Master looked. No longer like the victim whose goose the priests had cooked! This wasn’t baby Jesus wrapped up in swaddling clothes. This was the Lord Almighty from head down to His toes! They had been “buddy-buddy” and Jesus was His friend. But this was someone different to Whom his knees must bend. This was the God of Abraham who knew what’s in men’s hearts; Who knows how “good” or “bad” we are in detail, not just parts. The sort of cardiologist who looks inside to tell, The motives that are driving us - to Heaven or to Hell! When Jesus looked at Peter, we know it made him cry. But as the Lord looked at him, John felt that He would die. He knew the Lord remembers and knows that we are dust. He wouldn’t crush the weakest reed; provided He could trust. That person to be diligent and write down what he’d seen. And John would surely write down exactly what had been. Then, seeing the Lord Jesus as he’d never seen before, He fell down at His feet like a dead man to the floor. Then the Master touched him and told him not to fear. This sounded like the Shepherd he’d wanted to be near. The One he still remembered as the One who loved His sheep. The One who knew His Father and said that He would keep, His followers forever. He’d keep them “in His hand” No one would be “snatched away” or perish in the land. They would closely listen and go the way He led. That is what He promised; exactly what He said. When he had recovered, Jesus told him to write down Everything He showed him about those seven towns. John was very fussy and noted every word, That on the Isle of Patmos he knew that he had heard. Now we know what happened precisely on that day. The day when all the ;people were instructed they must say, “Caesar is the Master and Caesar is the Lord.” John would never say it. It’s Jesus he adored. No matter what they did to Him The only words He’d say Were, Jesus is the Lord of all forever and a day”! Jim Strickland – Written 25th May 2012