Jesus in the Book of Revelation (1)
Pray Psalm 110.1, 2.
The LORD said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
Sing Psalm 110.1, 2.
(Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation
“Sit by Me at My right hand,” the LORD says to my Lord,
“until I make Your foot stand on all who hate Your Word.”
The LORD sends strength from Zion: “Rule all Your enemies.”
While those who Him rely on go forth their LORD to please.
Read Rev. 1.10-18; 14.14-16; 21.5-7; meditate on Rev. 21.5-7
Preparation
1. How do you see Jesus in these passages?
2. What does He say to us?
Meditation
From His throne in glory, Jesus is making all things new (Rev. 21.5). Not some things, all things. All that we are, soul and body. All our relationships, roles, and responsibilities. Everything. Jesus is making all things new according to the pattern He Himself showed on the mount of Transfiguration: radiant, glorious, beautiful, and completely satisfying to God (cf. Matt. 17.1-5).
How is He doing this? By giving the water of life—His Holy Spirit (Jn. 7.37-39)—to everyone who asks. Not just as a one-time work of salvation, but daily, every moment, filling and refreshing and transforming us to be like Jesus (2 Cor. 3.12-18).
To whom does He give this Spirit? To those who “thirst” (v. 6). If we would thirst for Him, we must know Him as the One Who alone can slake our thirst, however we may feel it. He brings us into true knowledge. He makes our heart pure and our conscience clean. He empowers good works that edify others and glorify God. He brings forth holy fruit and working gifts in us, as well as the power to bear witness for Jesus. He brings us into the Presence of Jesus in His Word, shows us His glory, and works to transform us into His image. He is holy and works in us to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God. To thirst for the Spirit is to desire Him and His work in us above all else, so that we cry out for it, position ourselves to receive it, put aside everything which prevents us from being filled with the Spirit, and are careful to walk in Him, rather than in our flesh.
The Lord Jesus, from His holy eternal throne, promises that, if we will thirst for the Spirit in this way, He will give Him freely to us, and all the benefits of His indwelling Presence will be ours. This will certainly be true in the new heavens and new earth, but it is true now as well, and we should cultivate thirst for the Spirit, so that we might be increasingly filled with and transformed by Him now, as we journey toward our final home.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet…” (Rev. 1.10).
If, in fact, we desire to be filled with His Spirit, and brought into the Presence of Jesus in His Word, to be shown His glory, so we can be transformed into His image, then we need to go there, be in, and meditate daily in His Word. It only makes sense.
If we want to talk to someone we call or text them.
If we want to cool off, we turn on a fan.
If we are hungry, we go to the kitchen and find food to eat.
If we are dirty, we get in the shower to clean off.
If we want to be entertained or learn something we read a book.
So, if we want to learn about Jesus, we read about Him in His Word; and we look for Him in His creation.
Before sin entered the world, God met with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” (Gen. 3.8)
Sadly, on this occasion they tried to hide from Him; but previously they had shared sweet fellowship with their Creator in His beautiful garden.
Daniel had set up such a pattern of daily worship that even his enemies knew where to find him.
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed [a decree meant for his death], he went home.
And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God” (Dan. 6.10, 11). Daniel went to the place he found strength, daily, in God’s Presence.
Jesus, the holy, just, and perfect Son of God, went to quiet places to be with His Father in fellowship and prayer. “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Matt. 6.12). “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mk. 1.35).
“To thirst for the Spirit is to desire Him and His work in us above all else, so that we cry out for it, position ourselves to receive it, put aside everything which prevents us from being filled with the Spirit, and are careful to walk in Him, rather than in our flesh.”
John was set, and ready to hear the Words of the Lord Jesus, and be filled to the full with His Spirit.
So must we go to the Word, set our hearts aright, and be ready to meet daily with the glorious, life-giving Lord Jesus. To be filled with His Spirit, and to “hear a loud voice like a trumpet” proclaiming: His love, His forgiveness, His guidance, His Law, and His call to action (Eph. 2.8-10). To follow Jesus; in His living Spirit.
“I AM He Who lives,
and was dead,
and behold,
I AM alive forevermore” (Rev. 1.18).
Reflection
1. Have you established a daily pattern of prayer and Scripture reading and meditation?
2. If so, how might you improve your time with the Lord, to grow even closer to Him?
3. How would you help a new believer become firmly grounded in the Word and prayer?
Christ makes all things new. If we are willing and desirous that the gracious Redeemer should make all things new in our hearts and nature, he will make all things new in respect of our situation, till he has brought us to enjoy complete happiness. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Revelation 21.5
Pray Psalm 110.3-7.
Praise the Lord, exalted in glory. Call on Him to fill you with His Spirit, to refresh your soul, and to make His Spirit overflow from you today. Offer Him yourself as a living fountain for His grace.
Sing Psalm 110.3-7.
(Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
Your people in Your power, arrayed in holiness,
like dew of morning’s hour shall serve like youth refreshed.
The LORD has sworn and never will He His promise check:
“You are a priest forever after Melchizedek.”
The Lord is at Your right hand to execute His wrath,
and judge all kings and all lands—doomed sinners in His path.
Then, all His foes defeated, He takes His hard-won rest,
in glorious triumph seated with us, redeemed and blessed.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” turns to consider the work we’ve been given to do. In our Read Moore column, we continue working through the book, Understanding the Times. And I encourage you to follow our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert, nicknamed “The Navigator.” Join us and find out why. Click the Articles tab on the home page to see all the selections available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
