Revelation 1:4-8
In the early part of the 11th century, there was a king in England named King Canute. As often happened with kings of that era, Canute was surrounded by men and women who would fawn over him and flatter him with extravagant praises about his greatness, power and invincibility. They hoped, by their words, to gain his favor and support. A godly and Christian man, Canute eventually grew tired of all this and wished to stage an event that would cause these syncophants to cease their incessant flattery. One day, he gathered all of his court and ordered that his throne be carried down to the edge of the sea at low tide. Then he sat before the ocean and commanded the waves NOT to come in. But, the sea didn’t obey. Gradually, the waves came closer until they were lapping around his feet. Legend has it that King Canute never wore his crown again from that day forward. Instead, he found a church building and hung his crown on a statue of the crucified Christ.
This story illustrates well the ultimate meaning of the Book of Revelation. For millennia God has been working out His plan of grace and mercy toward all mankind. But, there are many that still have not bowed their knee to the One who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Revelation reminds us that ultimately everyone will see Him in His exaltedness and acknowledge Him as Lord of all. The right time to do this is now, while He can forgive you and make you His child. At the final judgment every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but the eternal destiny of those that rejected Him will be settled forever.
Amidst the opening verses of the Revelation as John considers the exalted Lord, he breaks out into praise to God for Who He is and all He has done. Each member of the Trinity is mentioned and we are specifically reminded that Jesus is the One that was the sacrifice for mankind’s sin; who rose again to redeem all that come to Him. Not only that, it is Jesus that will ultimately return and overthrow the enemies that have defied His rule, establishing His Kingdom on earth. No one knows the time or date for this Second Coming, but as surely as He came the first time in Bethlehem, He will come again...only then it will be in power and glory.
While exalting God is this passage, John reminds us of three specific things that He has done for us through Jesus Christ: 1. He loved us (1:5a), 2. He washed (or freed) us (1:5b), and 3. He made us kings and priests (1:6). These are three truths that we should never get over as believers in Jesus!
1. He loved us! (1:5)
In the first epistle of John he writes, Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (1 John 3:1)
When he uses the word “manner” to describe the Father’s love, he is drawing our attention to something that is unlike any other love that has ever been known. Actually, the only way to know and express this type of love is to know God through Jesus Christ for yourself.
The Greek scholar, Dr. Kenneth Wuest, writes, “John is calling upon all the saints to wonder at the particular kind of love God has bestowed upon them. ‘What manner of’ [means], ‘from what country, race or tribe?’ The word speaks of something foreign. The translation could read, ‘Behold, what foreign kind of love the Father has bestowed upon us.’ The love of God is foreign to the human race. It is not found naturally in humanity.”
This love isn’t something that is predicated on our worthiness to be loved. It is a love that is the very nature of God Himself (cf. 1 John 4:8). God chose to love us even though there was nothing about us that was lovely.
Austin Fischer, in his book, Young, Restless, No Longer Reformed, writes, “God does not love us because of something he sees in us, but in spite of what he sees in us...God does not love us because we love him. God loves us because he wants to love us despite the fact that we do not love him.
“And so when God opens his heart to us and we get a glimpse of what makes it beat (Jesus Christ crucified), we see a desire to love at all costs, not glorify himself at all costs. That said, it would be a mistake to think you must choose between God’s love and glory because God wills to glorify himself as the God who, freely and sovereignly, loves at all costs (see Deut 7:8, Jer 31:3, Isa 63:9, John 3:16, Rom 8:31–39, Titus 2:14, Phil 2:5–11, Rev 5:6–10)...
“...the mystery [is no longer] how a good God, how the God revealed in Jesus, how the crucified God, could create people in order to damn them...The mystery is that God is [condemned] damned in order to save. The mystery is that in his absolute freedom, God puts on flesh, goes up on the cross and down into the grave. The mystery is that the heart of God is filled with an infinite supply of the self-giving, redemptive, reconciling energy we call love. The mystery of God is that he loves us—all of us.
He continues, “‘God is’ [love] means God—in absolute, sovereign freedom—loves. This is compelling. This is glorious. This is biblical. This is the God revealed in Jesus: a completely free, sovereign, and transcendent God who chooses to give himself away in love on a cross. What in the world would move God to do such a thing? He tells us to call it love...” (Austin Fischer, Young, Restless, No Longer Reformed)
It’s important to note that the verb “loved” (“to Him who loved us”) is in the present tense and emphasizes His constant attitude toward us. And, the greatest demonstration of His love is found at Calvary where He gave Himself for our sins.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-5)
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:2)
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all… (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
...looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:13-14)
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15:3)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit… (1 Peter 3:18)
See also Romans 5:8; 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10. The love of God for his people is mentioned frequently in scripture (John 3:16; Romans 9:13; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Ephesians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 16; Hebrews 12:6; 1 John 4:10).
The one thing that is certain today is that you are loved and there isn’t anything you can do about it. And, He loves you not for who you are, but because of who He is.
Some time ago there was an unusual survey that was done. Participants were asked this question, “What 3 word sentence would you most like to hear or have said to you?” The top three answers pretty much sum up the needs of all of mankind. First, they wanted to hear, “I love you.” Second, they wanted to hear, “I forgive you.” And, third, they wanted to hear, “Supper is ready.” Those three statements define mankinds most fundamental needs. We have emotional, physical, and most importantly spiritual needs. We need to be loved, forgiven, and we need provision. And, God meets every one of these needs. In fact He meets all of these needs because of one primary thing, and that is the eternal, unconditional fact that He Loves Us.
2. He washed (freed) us.
According to the majority of the Greek manuscripts, as well as the oldest Greek manuscripts, this phrase should be translated, “he has set us free (λύσαντι; a minority of later readings have ‘washed’ (λούσαντι), which is probably due to scribal error) from our sins by his blood.” There is only one letter difference between the two different Greek words. However, both truths are marvelous in their own way.
What the Old Testament sacrificial system could not do, Jesus did in His death on the cross. The shedding of the blood of animals under the Law only served to “cover” (atonement) sin until Jesus came. In His death He has once for all removed our sins by washing them away in His Own blood!
Warren Wiersbe, writes, “None of the Old Testament sacrifices could take away sins...But the Lamb of God shed His blood, and that blood can take away the sins of the world (John 1:29; Heb. 9:24–28).”
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin (“washed”) by his own death as a sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:24-26 NLT)
More likely, though, John intends for us to understand that what Jesus has done for us is FREED us from our sins. The truth of forgiveness is the same in each word picture (“washed” or “freed”) and each just emphasizes a different aspect of it.
If the Greek word here means “freed us from our sins” (as I believe it does), the meaning is that we have been freed from from at least three things: 1. The penalty (consequences) of our sins (Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). 2. The power of our sins (i.e., the domination of sin in our lives), which is a truth Paul developed at length in Romans 6:16–23.). 3. The pain of our sins (guilt is gone forever).
The Greek word for “freed” (λύειν) literally means “to release, rescue” in the literal sense of setting free from being tied up, chained, or imprisoned (Louw-Nida, § 18.18). In a figurative sense in means to set free from political domination, sickness (cf. Luke 13:16), or sin (cf. Revelation 1:5). (Louw-Nida, § 37.127).
Thus, “to free someone from sin” is a metaphor implying that the person was once held captive by sin and has now been released through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
It’s also important to note that the tense of this verb here (“freed”) is aorist, which denotes a one-time event. In His death on the cross, Christ has, once and for all, freed us from the penalty of our sins and their power over us. The work of redemption is finished, and its cost was the blood of Jesus Christ. No wonder Jesus said from the cross, “IT IS FINISHED” (John 19:30).
The Greek word for “finished” is tetelestai and was used by various people in everyday life in those days. A servant would use it when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned to me” (cf. John 17:4). When a priest examined an animal sacrifice and found it faultless, this word would apply. When a bill was paid in full, the accountant would stamp on it tetelestai.
The word means, “It is finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished!”
These words don’t specify the end of Jesus’ life, but the completion of His task. The verb tense is perfect. “It is finished!” In other words, the purpose of His hour has been completed, and the consequences of His work are enduring.
Max Lucado writes, “The history-long plan of redeeming man was finished. The message of God to man was finished. The works done by Jesus as a man on earth were finished. The task of selecting and training ambassadors was finished. The job was finished. The song had been sung. The blood had been poured. The sacrifice had been made. The sting of death had been removed. It was over.”
And, the consequence of the finished work of Christ is that those that have believed in Him have been freed from their sins.
This whole concept of being freed from sin (penalty, power & pain) evokes the story of the Exodus when God set free His people from Egyptian bondage and gave them their liberty.
3. He made us kings and priests. (1:6)
There is some discrepancy as to how this phrase should be translated from the Greek text. The mostly likely understanding is that those Christ has freed from their sins are made to be a “kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” This is a reference to something God said about the people of Israel in Exodus 19:6. Now He transfers their role as a kingdom of priests to all that have been “freed” from their sins by Jesus Christ.
There are two things designated by this distinction:
A. He has given us royalty. Through Him we may become the children of God; and, if we are children of the King of kings, then we are part of the most royal ancestry of all.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light… (1 Peter 2:9)
B. He made us priests. Under the Old Testament Law only the priest had the right of access to God. When the Jews entered the Temple, they could pass through the Court of the Gentiles, the Court of the Women and the Court of the Israelites—but they had to stop before entering into the Court of the Priests. Only those born as priests could enter the Court of the Priests and only the High Priest dared enter the Holy of Holies.
Now, God has given to all those who are His children direct access into His presence and allows them to serve as His personal representatives to others that do not know Him.
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
As priests we offer to God some specific things: A. Our persons, B. Our possessions, C. Our praise, and D. Our service.
Conclusion:
Is it any wonder when considering the three persons of the Trinity, the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ, and some of the blessings that accrue to the Child of God, that John breaks out into a doxology in this passage?
...To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)
The September 11, 2002, issues of TIME magazine had a touching article about 31-year old Genelle Guzman. Genelle was the last of just four people caught in the debris of the Twin Towers to be found alive.
After the planes hit the World Trade Center, Genelle was descending a staircase from the 64th floor of the North Tower. Steel beams weakened to their breaking point. Solid concrete was pulverized. But somehow her body found an air pocket.
Her right leg was pinned under heavy concrete pillars. Her head was caught between stacks of wreckage. But somehow she was still alive.
For twenty-seven hours Guzman lay trapped and seriously injured.
In the months prior to the attack Genelle had started attending a church called Brooklyn Tabernacle, and wanted to get her life turned around. So while she was stuck in the rubble, she started to pray. She’d trail off into sleep – wake up and pray some more.
Shortly after noon on Wednesday the 12th, she heard voices. So she screamed as loud as she could, “I’m here! HEY, I’M RIGHT HERE!” A rescue worker responded, "Do you see the light?" She did not. She took a piece of concrete and banged it against a broken stairway overhead—probably the same structure that had saved her life. The searchers heard the noise.
Genelle wedged her hand through a crack in the wall, and felt someone grab it. She heard a voice say, "I’ve got you," and Genelle Guzman said, "OH GOD, THANK YOU.”
It took 20 long minutes, and then she was saved.
In many ways, Genelle Guzman represents the plight of all people. We are buried under an enormous mess of spiritual black rubble and pinned in the darkness of our own sin, having wronged our perfect God. The Bible calls these things sin. We have no hope of freeing ourselves and are desperately in need of rescue.
By admitting our need to be forgiven – by reaching out and saying, “God, help me! I can’t get out of this unless you save me,” we can be confident that He hears and helps.
The One that “loves” us stands ready to “free” us and “make” us part of His kingdom of priests to His God and Father. (SOURCE: Matthew Rogers. Citation: TIME Magazine, 9/11/02, p. 38.)
