judgment and war

Good afternoon friends,
We know Jesus as the baby in a manger, as teacher, friend and even as sacrifice. In this passage we also see Jesus as he will be at the end: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will be the righteous judge of all of us. We also see that he is God's word (like in the beginning of John's Gospel). THe image of Jesus on a horse with a sword coming from his mouth is certainly strange, but God's word is often described as a sword because it judges and slices through all the lies we tell ourselves.

As we saw before, Jesus is stronger than all the powers of the earth. The kings and other powerful people might try to fight against Jesus, but they will never win. The good news is that even though Jesus judges, he judges like he lived: with righteousness and love.

God bless,
Sam

Revelation 19:11-21

¹¹Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. ¹²His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. ¹³He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

¹⁵From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” ¹⁷Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, ¹⁸to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.” 

¹⁹Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. ²¹And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

planting the word

Good morning friends,
Today's reading may take a couple times through to get it; don't feel bad about that, but do give it a second try. The idea is that we've been renewed and claimed by God's love in Christ. The seed of our new life is the word of God. That phrase, "word of God" can mean different things. For instance, John's Gospel tells us that Jesus is the Word who existed before the world began. Most often we think of the word of God as scripture, which is also true, because, through the Holy Spirit, God does speak to us in scripture.

In this reading Peter says God's word is the good news (that God loves and redeems us in Jesus Christ). That good news plants the seed of a new relationship with God and a new live of love and service. That seed is planted and watered with scripture and never dies.

God bless,
Sam

1 Peter 1:18-24

¹⁸You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. ²⁰He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. ²¹Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. ²²Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. ²³You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

²⁴For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, ²⁵but the word of the Lord endures forever.” That word is the good news that was announced to you.