The Glorious King – Part 2

Last week we took our first of two looks at the vision of the risen, ascended and glorified Lord Jesus revealed to John in Revelation 1. The Churches are compared to golden lampstands and one ‘like a son of man’ moves among them.
“Jesus moves among his lampstands, trimming the wicks and carving wax, breathing life back into flickering flames.”
John Piper
Who is this one like a son of man moving among the lampstands?
Last week we saw that he is the Lord who rules and reigns over all. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is also the Righteous King. It is often said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but our king is righteous in all his ways. He has never sinned, yet he laid down his life in love for sinners like us.
Thirdly, we see that Jesus is the Revealing King
‘His eyes were like blazing fire’
Rev 1:14
Never tired, never jaded, never failing. The eyes of Jesus see through every act and every pretence, every lie and every secret. A King in the ancient world functioned as the high court judge, our judge sees everything as it truly is and always judges justly.
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:13
Our King’s all seeing eyes also see our sorrows and our needs. He knows every member of his kingdom personally and loves us profoundly. What a friend we have in Jesus.
Finally, we see that Jesus is the Radiant and Resplendent Christ
“His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance!”
Rev 1:16
Here we see the life-giving, awe-inspiring, glorious power of our Lord Jesus!
He is the glorious King who came down to save sinners such as us. And he still reaches down today to comfort and encourage his people as he did with John; “he placed his right hand on me and said do not be afraid”(v17) He also still puts his people to work in his name. Having told John not to fear and reminded him that he was on the winning side (v18) he told him to get to work; “write, therefore, what you have seen.”
The last supermoon of the year was on Thursday night. If you managed to look out of your window you would have seen the moon looking bigger and brighter than ever- dazzling. The moon, by itself, is little more than a dull, dead, lifeless lump of rock. And yet when it reflects the light of the sun it has the power to guide, to reveal and to inspire awe and wonder.
In Christ we have nothing to fear. Our King is with us and he is for us. But with this blessing comes a responsibility to work. By ourselves we have nothing to offer, but as we grow in Christlikeness, as we learn to reflect something of his beauty and glory to the world, he will be pleased to use us in ways which far exceed our expectations. That is our calling in Christ Jesus, to be those golden lampstands that hold forth the light of Christ to a lost and needy world.
May we shine for him. Or may we ensure he shines brightly through us as we live under the lordship of the risen and ascended Righteous, Revealing, Radiant and Resplendent Lord!
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
Psalm 67
and make his face to shine upon us,
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
Amen.
Ross Murphy – Pastor of Airdrie Ebenezer Evangelical Church
3 Responses
Thanks again for your Message to us Ross,
Every Blessing,
Roy & Nancyx
Hello Ross,
Nan and I have been blessed by reading your Pastoral message.
Encouraging us to live as Christ would have us live and always ready to tell others of our faith.
God bless.
Ken & Nan xx
These sermons are wonderful and I am able to forward them to friends who have received so many blessings from them thanks
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