Jesus Is Still Serving as Your Savior!

Last Sunday of End Time, Christ the King, 11/22/09
Revelation 1:4b-8


Jesus Is Still Serving as Your Savior!
I. He loves you.
II. He is coming back for you.
III. He rules for you.


There are many aspects of the way business is conducted in our world today that are not admirable. One of them is that you are only known for what you are doing today to help your business’ bottom line. It’s not about what you have done for the business in the past. It’s all about what you’re doing today. And if you’re not doing it, then you’re expendable.

As Christians we’d never be so crass as to take that approach when it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ. We’d never be so defiant as to shake our fist at heaven and shout, “What are you doing for me today, Jesus?” We recall every time we worship what Jesus has done for us in the past. We focus every sermon and Bible class on the truths that we deserve punishment for our sins but that Jesus took that punishment on himself. He did that when he died for us and every cross we see is a reminder of his death for us. Our eternal life is based on what Jesus did for us long ago.

But we still wonder what Jesus is doing for us today. Look at all the problems we face. We live in a world turned upside down. What God considers to be morally corrupt, our world advertises as good and desirable. What God forbids our world demands. Why do innocent people suffer and the guilty flourish? Why doesn’t God do something? What are you doing for me now, Jesus?

Jesus answers those troubling questions and deep concerns on this Sunday each year. It’s the last Sunday in the church year, the Last Sunday of End Times. It’s the Sunday in which we celebrate the truth that Jesus is our King. Not was. Is. He is still our King and therefore he is still serving you as your Savior.

For distraught hearts and minds reeling from the prevalence of evil in our world, here’s the truth that brings Christians eternal comfort. Jesus is still serving as your Savior. May God fill us with that comfort as he shares with us his word from the opening verses of St. John’s Revelation.

Part I.
Out of sight. Out of mind. That saying is not only true about the little projects that need to be done around our house, it’s also true to a degree about our relationships. I realize that you may deeply miss a loved one who is far away, but it’s also true that you hardly give a thought to someone who used to be a close friend but whom you haven’t seen in 10 years. You’ve moved on with your life and they have with theirs. Out of sight. Out of mind.

Could that possibly be the case with us for Jesus, who completed his work when he died on the cross and then ascended into heaven nearly 2,000 years ago?

Not a chance. John describes Jesus this way, “To him who loves us.” Five short words, but how important those words are! John doesn’t says, “Jesus loved us.” He says, “Jesus loves us.” We’re constantly on his mind. His greatest act of love for us was his death on the cross. John says the result of that death is that he freed us from our sins. Contrary to what too many people think, we can’t do anything to free ourselves from a single sin. But Jesus has freed us from all sin. He did that out of love for us.

And then he set us apart from our world. John says that Jesus “made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God.” When someone loves you so much that he died for you, doesn’t it compel you to show your love in return? Jesus gives us that opportunity every day. He has made us members of his holy kingdom and has made us priests in that kingdom to serve him out of love for him. That service includes anything you do during your day according to his word. Some people complain that they have no motivation to do much of anything. Jesus gives you the highest motivation for all that you do every day of your Christian life—love for him.
Jesus is still serving as your Savior. He loves you.

Have you ever had one of those relationships plagued by mixed messages? We’ve all been there before. You don’t really know where you stand with the other person. Just when you think you have their approval and appreciation, they say or do something that makes you wonder where you stand with them.

Sometimes we think we get the same mixed messages from our God. We hear from the Bible that God loves us. In fact, we know that God loves all people. But then we hit a period in our life when we skid through one misfortune after another and we start to wonder, “Where’s the love?” We want to tell God, “If this is the way you show that you love me, then please don’t love me anymore.” How quickly we forget the love of God! Look to the cross. There’s the love of God flowing from nail-pierced hands and feet. There’s the love of God—sacrificing his own Son instead of punishing us. And because of that love we are now free today from our sins and we are free to serve our God and others every day out of love for him. That’s what Jesus is still doing as your Savior. He loves you.

Part II.
I recently mentioned failing to get in touch with a friend for 10 years and being out of sight and out of mind. But what if a friend has kept in touch with you over that period of time? In fact, they have repeatedly told you that they are coming to visit you. But their plans never materialize. They tell you they will visit, but they never do. What messages do you get from such failed plans? They don’t care enough about you. They tell you one thing but do another. They can’t be counted on. None of those reactions are positive.

But that’s not the case with Jesus. While here on earth completing his work as the Savior, he repeatedly told his followers that he would ascend to heaven but he would return. He clearly promised to come back. The letters of Paul and Peter and John are filled with references to that promise. John refers to it here in our text, “Look, he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him.” The return of Jesus won’t happen in an obscure portion of the world and go unnoticed by the masses. Every eye will see him. That’s John’s reference to the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day. All will see him.

So, if he has repeatedly promised it, why hasn’t it occurred yet? Not because he doesn’t care. Not because he’s forgotten. But because he’s loving and gracious. He wants the good news of his forgiveness proclaimed to the ends of the earth. He wants all to come to faith and be saved. He doesn’t want to cut the time of his return short and so cut the time of grace he’s given to all. Jesus isn’t guilty of failing to carry out his plans. Just the opposite. He’s waiting until all his plans are fulfilled and then he will return, just as he promised.

Jesus is still serving as your Savior. He is coming back for you.

When a loved one who has promised to visit you finally arrives, there is much reason to rejoice. So, how do you feel about Jesus’ promise to return? We’ve got mixed feelings. There’s some fear mixed with our joy. That’s because we’re sinners and the thought of standing in the presence of the holy Jesus causes us at least a little fear. But we have nothing to fear. The Savior who is coming back for us is the same Savior who loved us so much he died for us. His return to this earth will mark the fulfillment of his final plans for us—to live with him in eternal bliss for our souls and our bodies. That’s his plan for you. Jesus is still serving as your Savior. He’s coming back for you.

Part III.
The landscape of world history is dotted with the reigns of great kings. Some were great conquerors; others were tremendous administrators. Almost to a man, they became drunk on their own power and glory. But every one of them, eventually, came face to face with their human limitations. There were real problems in their kingdoms which they couldn’t solve. They couldn’t trust their own family members. Some were dethroned. They all eventually died.

But Jesus the King is different. He has no limitations. He says about himself, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come.” Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last. Jesus uses these two letters to proclaim the truth that he is eternal. As such he is before all things and he is after all things. He’s the bookends on all of history. Nothing happens outside of him.

That description also impresses us with his steadfastness. He doesn’t change. He’s always been here and always will be here. He’s seen it all and yet his plans for us and our world remain the same. All of history is pointing to that day when he returns to this earth, raises us from the dead and takes us to be with him forever.
But how can we be sure he’ll be able to carry out those wonderful plans for us? Jesus reminds us, “I am…the Almighty.” How often we forget that our God can do all things! Therefore, what he says he will do is not merely a wish on his part; it’s his accomplished fact. Our Savior rules as King over all time and eternity with his almighty power. Nothing is out of his control. He is exercising that power on our behalf today and every day of our lives here. That’s what Jesus is doing for you now. He is still serving as your Savior as he rules for you.

There’s an old campfire song that says that Jesus “has the whole world in his hands.” And that’s true. But that also means that he has your entire life in his hands as well. In fact, all of history is in his almighty hands. By his perfect life and innocent death he has purchased you for eternity and he will carry out his plans for you not only eternally, but also daily. What comfort that gives us amidst the struggles and conflicts of life. Things aren’t out of control. Jesus is in control—of your life, of all things. That’s how Jesus is still serving as your Savior. May he daily convince you of his rule in your life. Amen.