After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day, he met over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:5).
Although these encounters had an encouraging character, nothing earth-shattering happened. Jesus’ disciples went their own way again.
Jesus sent all the disciples back to Jerusalem.
The expectation of the disciples was great that Jesus would now set up the kingdom. But Jesus did not want to set a time for this and promised them divine power through the Holy Spirit, who would lead them into the whole world (Acts 1:6-8).
As Jesus ascended into heaven before their eyes on the Mount of Olives and disappeared from their sight through a cloud, Jesus opened a new chapter.
Jesus finished his first commission on earth. He went bodily to a real otherworldly place where he promised to prepare place to live for his followers (John 14:2).
He is now seated at the right hand of the heavenly Father (Mark 16:19 / Acts 7:56).
From there he will come again to set up God’s kingdom visibly.
Jesus taught his disciples that there is a real transcendent world and has now entered it. God’s presence is experienced anew through the Holy Spirit.
The followers of Jesus live in the expectation of being accepted into this other world. They look forward to the return of Jesus when he will set up his kingdom in glory.
Perhaps the Ascension Day has become a symbol that we too want to go to another world in prayer and then come back with new eyes.
The Jesus Movement of Smyrna is materially poor, but they have discovered the riches of faith (Revelation 2:9) even as they are persecuted.
In Smyrna was a Jewish community that made life difficult for the people of Jesus (Revelation 2:9). Paul also made life difficult for the followers of Jesus at the beginning and was later attacked himself.
The Jews of the synagogue in Smyrna were supposed to be serving God, but their behaviour played into the hand of the enemy. Likewise, people can call themselves Christians, but their actions is rebellion against God.
Imprisonment and death are reported as common. Because Christ himself was dead and came to life again (Revelation 2:8), the first death loses its fear.
People who suffer for the faith and are willing to die for it, are among the victors who receive the laurel wreath. This doesn’t just mean the first to reach the finish line, but all those who hold on to their faith and are willing to trust in God in everything.
In the face of the divine Jesus, John gives up all his own strength. “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17).
Some people think that once they meet God, they will ask him many questions. I see here and also in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:28) that whoever encounters God or Jesus says nothing more.
But those who stand to Jesus meet Jesus as friend. Jesus said in Luke 12:8, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God“.
The encouragement to John is: “Fear not … I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17). Jesus has all authority and the keys. Jesus decides.
In Matthew 7:23 Jesus himself says to godly people, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness”. The key question is not whether we know Jesus, but whether He knows us. Do we open ourselves to Jesus? He knows us when we reveal ourselves to him and talk to him. It starts in the here and now.
Jesus is the key person of revelation. He reveals what will happen to the called-out ones so that they don’t get worried. They should know: Jesus has everything in his hand. He wants to save people from their own destruction and invite them to repent. In addition, he lets them see how little they have in their own hands.
For believers, the book of Revelation is a book of comfort. They are walking towards an accomplished Jesus.
In describing Jesus (Revelation 1:14-16), John seems to be struggling for words.
I find the image of the resurrection of Jesus on the Isenheim Altar very appropriate. The face of Jesus shines like the sun.
This is how I imagine how John saw Jesus. For his face shines like the sun (Revelation 1:16). So it is obvious that John is blinded and does not see everything clearly.
The statement is: The bruised Jesus is now a majestic appearance. The symbol of beauty and perfection. I don’t know if we would have chosen the same words. But the picture that John had of the crucifixion and what he now saw was like day and night.
The two-edged sword in the mouth of Jesus does not fit into the picture. But Simeon already said about Jesus in Luke 2:34-35: “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
With our reaction to the words of Jesus we judge ourselves.
In his introduction to Revelation, John focuses on the central person of the book.
Jesus is the divine person visible to us.
He is the origin and source of all things and will bring everything to completion.
Jesus’ characteristic is that he loves us. “Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5).
He is the high priestly king for his churches and leads us back to our destiny. As priests (Revelation 1:6) and representatives of God, we be present to serve and encourage one another.
Nicodemus is the perfect believer. Jesus said to him, “Unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
At first it seems promising that a representative of the Jewish elite would seek out Jesus, address him as a teacher, and acknowledge his miracles.
Jesus addressed Nicodemus on the central point of their different views: It is the personal focus and love for the God-sent Son of Man and Son of God with which eternal life begins and not through belonging to a group. It takes a spiritual beginning (born from above).
It’s like the serpent in the desert at the exodus from Egypt. All those who consciously turn to Jesus are no longer part to the deadly poison of rebellion against God.
the gifts of genius that ensured the survival of the Jesus family.
In Haggai 2:8 God says, “Gold is Mine.” Jesus is not just any child; God is paying the bills.
Incense represents purification, worship, and prayer. The life of Jesus is a ministry to God.
Myrrh disinfects and heals. Myrrh reduces the pain of life.
Sometimes we wish our security in advance. But it is a characteristic of God that he often intervenes at the crucial moment. The gifts of the wise men also came at exactly the right moment – just before the escape.
The gifts were easy to take with them and all served well as payments. God knows, what we need, when.
The solstice is already behind us (December 21/22).
We count our years after the birth of Christ. We celebrated this on the night of December 24th to 25th.
What do we celebrate on New Year’s?
The Bible tells the following: After eight days, Jesus was circumcised and given the name Jesus/Yeshua, as the angel had said (according to Luke 2:21-22).
So we actually don’t count the years after Christ’s birth, but the years after the name of Jesus was made public. Jesus, Hebrew Yeshua, means saviour derived from the Hebrew word Yeshuah (salvation).
The Jerusalem Post published an article Continue reading New Year – What are we actually celebrating?
The longing for particularly gifted person who will redeem us from the evils of this world and lead us to a “promised land” or a “golden age” is an ever-existing desire. The hope for a divine Messiah (anointed one, Christ) has its roots in Judaism.
The goal is to bring man back to lost paradise as described in Isaiah 11:6-9, where the wolf, lamb, lion, and other animals coexist peacefully with man.
At the time of Jesus there were different expectations of the Messiah.
The Sadducees were the liberals. They rejected any supernatural influence.
The Pharisees were conservative. They expected that if all Jews lived according to their commandments, God would intervene in supernatural ways.
The Zealots wanted to establish a messianic kingdom (theocracy on earth) by themself and rejected Roman rule.
The Essene movement was a mystical congregation. They lived in their own world. They believe in a spiritual reality, which they accepted by faith, like Abraham, even if the literal fulfilment was yet to come.
The Samaritans have a messianic hope in the coming prophet like Moses, promised in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. As the woman at the well says in John 4:25, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
But God does not fulfil our expectations, but His promises.