Revelation 1:4-8 (Common English Bible)
4 John, to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace and peace to you from the one who is and was and is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before God’s throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 who made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and always. Amen.
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him, including those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. This is so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.”
Summary:
Through Christ, we are empowered to be “faithful witnesses” like Christ. Through good and bad times, we testify that we have a God and King whose primary characteristic and value is love. We have a King who created humankind in God’s image and called us “very good.” We have a King who knows our pain, walked in our shoes, and showed us how to really love and be part of God’s kingdom, even when it’s really hard and unpopular. We have a King who walks with us now and promised to one day wipe away every tear, make all things new, and restore and redeem all of Creation.
Reflection Questions:
- What does it mean to be a “faithful witness?”
- How was Jesus a faithful witness?
- How are you a faithful witness of Jesus Christ?