13 day plan

"Come and see what God has done…"

Day 11 of 13

NIV

Revelation 1:12-17

12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

Reflection:

The apostle John knew Jesus deeply and personally. He’d spent days in his company, following him around, listening to his teaching. He’d been there at his crucifixion; he’d met the resurrected Jesus and even touched him before he was taken up into heaven.

And now he was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. While there, he had a vision of the risen Lord Jesus. His response was to fall at his feet as though dead, overcome with awe and wonder.

John sees the King above all kings, the Ruler of the kings on earth. The Alpha and the Omega. The Almighty. What he sees is bedazzling and brilliant. This is a picture of Jesus sitting at God’s right hand, enthroned in a glory far beyond our comprehension, far beyond the capacity of words to capture this majesty, splendour, and brilliance.

The majestic king of the universe. The one who is so glorious, so ‘other’, so terrifying in his magnificence.

But what does this majestic figure do? With tenderness and love, he reaches down his right hand and touches John.

And what does he say? Words of comfort: I am with you. Fear not. You may be isolated and alone, but I am with you.

And Jesus reminds John of who is standing before him: I am. Yahweh.

I am the First and the Last.

I am the Living One.

I am alive for ever.

This Living Lord Jesus is holding John firm and fast.

And this living Lord Jesus is holding you firm and holding you fast.

Readers, turn your eyes to this vision of Jesus and soak up this picture. He is powerful and present. Look in his face. Feel his hand on you. He is with you.

Prayer:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

And yet, you are with me. Thank you that your eyes see me, your ears hear my voice. Thank you that no matter what happens around me, you will hold me firm and fast. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Song: He will hold me fast – Shane & Shane

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7pNxEb3ruTJqItiJKwKDlI?si=86d4a334dda94d84

YouTube: https://youtu.be/nkRiOMJNuTU

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Revelation 1:1-20

Prologue

1The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Greetings and Doxology

4John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

7“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”

and “every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him”;

and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”

So shall it be! Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John’s Vision of Christ

9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.