Sunday 15th January 2012 - 2nd of Epiphany
(White)
Theme: Follow Me
Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Revelation 5:1-10 John 1:43-51
Psalm 139:1-9
Theme: Follow Me
Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Revelation 5:1-10 John 1:43-51
Psalm 139:1-9
Collect:
Eternal Lord,
our beginning and our end:
bring us with the whole creation
to your glory, hidden through past ages
and made known
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Comment
‘Follow me,’ said Jesus. The book of Revelation shows his suffering followers where he wants to lead us to. It does so in a way that might have been well understood by its first readers, but is strange to us.
Nevertheless, it is worth struggling with.
The setting for this passage is heaven – not the future life, but the present spiritual reality that is at the heart of what is going on in the world. It is described in imagery that cannot be imagined properly, such as a lamb looking as if it had been killed, but standing in the middle of a throne, and having seven horns and seven eyes. We aren’t supposed to visualize these images, but to try to understand what they mean.
The passage begins with a sealed up scroll, covered with writing on both sides. As the seals are broken in the next chapters, things happen; so the scroll represents the plans of God which end with new creation, and as it is opened his plans are put into effect. However, God insists that his plans for creation are put into effect by that creation, or at least, by a suitable representative. That representative is found – and is of course Jesus. No-one else in heaven or earth or under the earth fits the bill – no other being, whether spirit or human, alive or dead, will do.
Look at how Jesus is described. He is ‘The Lion of Judah’ (referring to Genesis 49:9,10) yet when John looks he sees a ‘Lamb’, a sacrificial lamb who had already been sacrificed. Yet that lamb is alive, at the centre of the throne and of the circle of worshipping beings – the place of Divine rule. His seven horns and eyes represent perfect power and knowledge; ‘seven’ represents perfection, as in the seven days of creation. They are linked to the ‘seven spirits of God’ (the perfect Holy Spirit) who is at work on earth, accomplishing the plans of God.
The message is clear. Jesus, who died as a sacrifice for us, is reigning from heaven! He is the one who will accomplish God’s plans on earth and bring about the new creation! So he takes the scroll.
The focus changes to the circle of worshippers. They fall down before the Lamb in worship – he is Divine. They have harps for praise, and bowls of incense – the prayers of God’s people, every one of them. Our prayers matter! The worshippers sing about Jesus, and the song explains what has been going on. But it adds several new insights: Jesus has ransomed people from every race, and they have become ‘kings and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth.’ As we follow Jesus, we have already become royal family – ‘kings’ even – with a dignity and status and power which at the moment are not visible. We are priests, representing God to creation and creation to God, and serving in worship. And in the new creation, there’ll be even more important work to do!
Questions
1) How might this passage help a suffering church? How does it help us?
2) How important is worship?
Eternal Lord,
our beginning and our end:
bring us with the whole creation
to your glory, hidden through past ages
and made known
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Comment
‘Follow me,’ said Jesus. The book of Revelation shows his suffering followers where he wants to lead us to. It does so in a way that might have been well understood by its first readers, but is strange to us.
Nevertheless, it is worth struggling with.
The setting for this passage is heaven – not the future life, but the present spiritual reality that is at the heart of what is going on in the world. It is described in imagery that cannot be imagined properly, such as a lamb looking as if it had been killed, but standing in the middle of a throne, and having seven horns and seven eyes. We aren’t supposed to visualize these images, but to try to understand what they mean.
The passage begins with a sealed up scroll, covered with writing on both sides. As the seals are broken in the next chapters, things happen; so the scroll represents the plans of God which end with new creation, and as it is opened his plans are put into effect. However, God insists that his plans for creation are put into effect by that creation, or at least, by a suitable representative. That representative is found – and is of course Jesus. No-one else in heaven or earth or under the earth fits the bill – no other being, whether spirit or human, alive or dead, will do.
Look at how Jesus is described. He is ‘The Lion of Judah’ (referring to Genesis 49:9,10) yet when John looks he sees a ‘Lamb’, a sacrificial lamb who had already been sacrificed. Yet that lamb is alive, at the centre of the throne and of the circle of worshipping beings – the place of Divine rule. His seven horns and eyes represent perfect power and knowledge; ‘seven’ represents perfection, as in the seven days of creation. They are linked to the ‘seven spirits of God’ (the perfect Holy Spirit) who is at work on earth, accomplishing the plans of God.
The message is clear. Jesus, who died as a sacrifice for us, is reigning from heaven! He is the one who will accomplish God’s plans on earth and bring about the new creation! So he takes the scroll.
The focus changes to the circle of worshippers. They fall down before the Lamb in worship – he is Divine. They have harps for praise, and bowls of incense – the prayers of God’s people, every one of them. Our prayers matter! The worshippers sing about Jesus, and the song explains what has been going on. But it adds several new insights: Jesus has ransomed people from every race, and they have become ‘kings and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth.’ As we follow Jesus, we have already become royal family – ‘kings’ even – with a dignity and status and power which at the moment are not visible. We are priests, representing God to creation and creation to God, and serving in worship. And in the new creation, there’ll be even more important work to do!
Questions
1) How might this passage help a suffering church? How does it help us?
2) How important is worship?