Hello and welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. It is good to be with you again this week. I want to start this week by thanking the Lord for once again providing the resources I need to make through another month.
I would ask that you would please pray about a couple of different things this week. First of all, I feel that the Lord is leading me to get more involved in the ministry again. More than just putting sermons on this blog and writing. In order to finance what I believe the Lord is leading me to, I am going to sell my house and much of what I currently own. I've already sold quite a bit , but during the month of August, I need to sell more, and hopefully, I can get my house sold by the end of September. Please pray that I can sell what I need to sell to do what God is calling me to do.
I would also ask you to please pray for a writing friend of mine who found out that his dog has cancer. Please pray for healing.
Finally, please continue to pray for peace in Syria. It is really sad what is happening in that part of the world.
In last week's sermon, we saw that Jesus was a faithful witness of the Father. Jesus lived a holy life. He died for our sins and has washed us and redeemed us with His precious blood. Jesus rose from the dead. One day, He will come again, and He will rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
We also saw that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. He has always existed as the Second Person of the Trinity, and He will always exist. Jesus is the Lord God Almighty.
Now, we look at John's vision of the Son of Man beginning in Revelation 1:12 and continuing until the end of the chapter. John says that he heard a loud voice that was like the blast of a trumpet. When John turned around to see where the sound was coming from, he saw seven golden lampstands. I believe that these lampstands signify the seven churches that the book of Revelation are addressed to. In the middle of these seven lampstands, John saw "One like the Son of Man."
The term Son of Man is interesting. One of the main usages of this term in the Old Testament was in Daniel's vision recorded in Daniel 7. Jesus also frequently referred to Himself as the Son of Man. John is saying here that the figure he saw resembles the Son of Man as described in Daniel 7. This is another example of Jesus as the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy. It demonstrates the reliability of the Bible.
John says that the Son of Man was clothed with a long garment, and there was a golden band around His chest. This dress signifies the high priestly role of Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that Jesus is the Great High Priest of a new covenant. He is the one who makes intercession with the Father on behalf of those who believe in Him.
John then goes on to describe the Son of Man as having hair that was white like wool and snow. This signifies the purity, holiness and sinlessness of Jesus. He is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
His eyes were like a flame of fire. Often in the Bible, fire signifies judgment. When the Lord returns, He will bring judgment on all who do evil.
His feet were like brass signifies the almighty power of the Lord. He speaks with a powerful and thunderous voice.
From the mouth of the Son of Man comes a sharp sword. This can have two meanings. It can signify the judgment of Christ, and it can signify the fact the Jesus will triumph over all of His enemies. Jesus has won the victory over the forces of evil that array themselves against the majesty of God.
Finally, the Son of Man is shining like the Sun. This recalls what happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus was displayed in all of His glory. Jesus is so glorious that He shines more brightly than the Sun shining with all of its power.
When John saw this awesome vision of the Son of Man in all of His power and glory, John fell at Jesus' feet. This is the same type of reaction that the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel demonstrated when they encountered the awesome presence of the Almighty God in His glory and power.
Jesus reached down His hand, touched John and told Him not to be afraid. Jesus told His disciples this many times while He walked with them on the Earth. One of the notable occasions was when Jesus was walking on the water. The disciples saw Him, and at first they thought it was a ghost. They were terrified. Jesus told them, "It is I, do not be afraid."
We don't have to be afraid of Jesus. He loves us. He is the Mighty God of the universe, and He cares for us as lowly as we are. John would say in one of his epistles, "perfect love casts out fear." Whenever we are afraid, we should ask Jesus to speak His peace into our troubled heart.
Jesus goes on to tell John that He was dead, but now He is alive forevermore. Jesus holds the keys of Hades and Death. By the power of His death and resurrection, Jesus has broken the power of sin, death, hell and the grave. They can have no power over the one whose life is in the hands of Jesus. Sin brought both spiritual and physical death. When Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross, He paid the penalty that are sins deserved. He took our place. When Jesus rose from the dead, He defeated the effects of sin. Those who put their trust in Jesus need not fear death, because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We will live with Him for all of eternity. Hell is reserved for the devil, his followers and his angels. Those who trust in Jesus will have Heaven as their home.
In the last section of the chapter, Jesus tells John to write the things that He is going to show Him and send it to the seven churches of Asia.
Next week, Lord willing, we will begin with chapter 2 and Jesus' message to the church at Ephesus. I will post another book review on Wednesday. May God bless you. Amen.
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