In New Testament times when they wrote a letter they put their name at the start. The letter opens with the words “grace” and “peace”. Grace is God’s unmerited favour. Peace comes from grace. He is writing this book from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. John gives a tribute to Jesus Christ.

1 – His identity

There are three things to note:-

• He is faithful (vs. 5) – God had intended for Israel to be his witness to the world. They had failed to do this. See Isaiah 43:12. Their lives often duplicated the lives of those they were supposed to be witnesses. The Church has been largely silent when it comes to being a witness for the Lord. The Church is to be a faithful witness for the Lord. We are to not be ashamed.
• He is the firstborn (vs. 5) – He is the first begotten of the dead. There were others who were raised from the dead. It is different than that. The position of Jesus.
• He is the fabulous one (vs. 5) – He is the prince of the kings of the earth. God laughs at those oppose him. See Psalm 2:4. His kingdom will come. Satan and his kingdom will not be able to resist. The book of Revelation makes it clear that Jesus is Lord. The whole world will be forced to recognise this fact. See Philippians 2:9-11.

People who glimpsed the glory of Jesus Christ were changed people. We see it in the Old and New Testament. We see it with Peter and the apostle Paul.

2 – His magnanimity

Notice two things:-

• This love (vs. 5). Jesus has loved us. We can’t understand why. God knows all of sins yet he still loves us. We can’t stop him from loving us. He proved his love. See Romans 5:8. God loved us when we were his enemies. He must really love us now we are saints. He just keeps on loving us. It is an amazing love that never seems to run out.
• His liberation (vs. 5). We have been released from our own sins. The purchase price was his own blood. This is what it means to be saved.

3 – His kingdom

Jesus Christ also has made us a kingdom (corporately) and priests (individually) to God. See Revelation 5:10; 20:6; Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:5, 9). This more evidence of His present love for us. In the future faithful Christians, His bond-servants, will also reign with Jesus Christ on the earth. The phrase “Amen” means “So be it!” Here it signifies the writer’s assent to the truthfulness of these affirmations about Jesus Christ.

Categories: Revelation