Daily Dose of the Word of God - Revelation 19: 11-16

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Transcript

Erin Pacheco  0:07  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. Today is Friday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day!) and Sunday is coming. I’m Erin Pacheco. This Sunday, we’re paying attention to how God speaks through John’s visions in the book of Revelation.  Here’s Revelation 19:11-16, near the end of the book. 

Erin Pacheco  0:30  

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.

Erin Pacheco  1:37  

I love this vision of Jesus. Elsewhere in the book of Revelation, Jesus appears as the Lamb who was slain – weak, wounded, and worthy of praise. But Revelation 19 reminds us that Jesus is also a warrior. A powerful ruler. A king on a white horse, riding victorious from battle. His eyes blaze like fire. His head is crowned with many crowns. His sword strikes down the nations, which he rules with unequivocal and unbeatable power. And his robe is dipped in blood. Not the blood of his enemies, but his own blood, shed on the cross —where every battle is won. And now he is risen and rules the world with truth and grace, and he alone holds the justice we all long for. This is the Jesus we worship. This is the true King of kings and Lord of lords. Which means we have a choice. When the politics of the day threaten to trap our gaze, let us join with John and turn our eyes upon Jesus. Any semblance of human power and authority doesn’t hold a candle to the Mighty One whose kingdom is coming and will never end. 

Erin Pacheco  3:10  

Let’s pray. Jesus, forgive us for our sometimes small view of who you are. You are more than our teacher, more even than our Savior. When we call you Lord, help us to mean it, for we belong to no other kingdom or empire but yours. May we pray for, and work for, your kingdom to come. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.