April 2, 2016

Got Problems?

2nd Sunday of Easter, 4/3/16
Revelation 1:4-18


Got Problems?
I. Look to your risen Lord Jesus.
II. Listen to his all-powerful word.


Do you have an Eeyore in your life? Eeyore? You know. That fictional donkey in Winnie the Pooh. Eeyore never has a good day. He’s always dealing with a problem, or so it seems. Nothing is ever going right in his life. So, when Pooh asks Eeyore, “How’s it going?” you know what his reply will be. He’s going to list his problems, as if he’s the only one facing them.

So, do you have an Eeyore in your life, someone who is always sharing their problems with you? Most of us do and we try to avoid them. It’s not that we don’t care. It’s just that all they want to do is complain about things. It’s so negative. Meanwhile, we have problems of our own.

We have problems of our own. That’s an honest evaluation but it’s probably woefully understated. The truth is that our lives are full of problems and for far too many of them there are no solutions, or so it seems. After dealing with them for what seems like years, we’ve resigned ourselves to facing the fact that we’ll simply have to live with it, to bear it, to stagger through life with it.

So, when I ask, “Got problems?” I’m guessing you’re nodding your head and thinking to yourself, “Pastor, if you only knew all the problems I’m facing.” And you’re correct. I don’t know all of them. But your risen Savior Jesus does and today he helps you with them.

Last Sunday we worshipped with the joy of Easter in our hearts and in our voices. That joy is still there on this 2nd Sunday of Easter but today we take a more cerebral look at what the resurrection of Jesus means for us. St. John helps us do just that in these opening words of his Revelation. Let’s dig into them and see how Jesus uses them to help us with whatever problems we’re facing.

Part I.

Since we often use technology such as email, text messages, social media, Twitter, and Skype to communicate with people, when is the last time you actually sat down and composed a hand-written letter? I know it’s been a long time for me. If you attempted to write one, how would you begin that letter? You’d have a sentence or two of greeting, maybe ask a question or two regarding what’s going on in the life of the person to whom you’re writing, and then you’d launch into what’s happening in your life. Your letter may even include a very specific reason for why you’re writing it, such as you intend to come and visit that person soon.

The Apostle John wrote these words of his Revelation in the form of a letter. Did you catch who the recipients were? Seven churches in seven cities all in the western portion of what is modern Turkey. But John’s greeting in this letter is vastly different from what we’re accustomed to in the letters we write and receive. John’s focus is not on himself or on the recipients. His focus is on the risen Lord Jesus. And that’s so appropriate because of what was going in his life and in the lives of the people in these seven churches. John makes one, short reference to himself and them, but it helps us identify ourselves with them. He writes, “John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus.” Nearly 70 years had passed since Jesus died and rose and ascended into heaven, but not much had changed. John and these Christians were still suffering. They faced problems—some of them life and death problems—on a daily basis. So, what does John do to help them?

Well, he doesn’t sound like Eeyore. Instead, he’s filled with hope and joy as he points them to none other than their risen Lord and Savior. He lists one astounding truth after another. Let’s take a brief look at them.

In spite of the fact that these Christians’ lives were filled with trouble, John begins, “Grace and peace to you.” No matter what was going on in their lives, they had grace from God in the person and work of Jesus. They possessed eternal blessings such as forgiveness and heaven because of Jesus. Even though their troubles may have led them wrongly to conclude that something wasn’t right in their relationship with God, John reminds them they have peace with God. All is well because of Jesus.

Then John points their spiritual eyes right at Jesus. He calls him the faithful witness. Their world, just like ours, was full of false messages especially when it came to spiritual matters. How can anyone know what to believe? There’s only one person who always spoke the truth. There’s only one person who always spoke the word of God because he was and still is God. That’s your risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

John also reminds them that Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. That may be an odd characterization but it’s divinely accurate and brimming with truth. Our Easter celebration centers on the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. He makes it clear that, because he rose from the dead, we will also. That’s our victory over our great enemy, death!

And if Jesus has power over death, then no earthly power can stand in his way. John writes that Jesus is the “ruler of the kings of the earth.” World powers may rant and rave against Christ and his church, but ultimately Jesus controls even what they do and uses it to benefit his Church. Time and again in the Bible he shows us exactly how he accomplished it. He used the powerful Romans to cause the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and his death on Calvary. He’s still in control today.

He’ll continue doing that until he returns. John assures his readers, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.” What a glorious day that will be for all of those who trust in Jesus!

Finally, Jesus himself tells John’s readers, “I am the First and Last.” No problems they were facing could out-last Jesus. He was before all things and he will be the end of all things. Our problems are not outside the bounds of his knowledge or control. He has us with our problems in his almighty hands.

Got problems? Who doesn’t? Then look to your risen Lord Jesus.

Got problems? Look…right at your problem. That’s our normal reaction. We become so overwhelmed with what we’re facing, we can’t see or think about anyone or anything else. It’s as if we were wearing horse blinders to prevent us from seeing anything other than what’s right in front of us and, at the moment, that’s the crisis or the problem we’re facing. John knows what that’s like. He was exiled for preaching about Jesus. It would be easy for him to say to Jesus, “So, I faithfully proclaim your word and this is what you allow to happen to me?!” John’s readers were facing all sorts of troubles, many of them the direct result of their Christianity. They had problems because of their connection to Christ. So what does John do? He points them right to the risen Lord Jesus and tells them, “Look! Look at Christ!” He tells you and me to do the same. What problem is bigger than Jesus? What can separate you from his love? You have grace and peace with God. You have a Savior who is risen and rules, even over world powers. That same Savior will return and raise you from the dead. So remind me once again…what are your problems? Look to Christ.

Part II.

What things in our world do you regard as awesome symbols of power? For some it’s military marvels such as fighter jets, nuclear naval vessels, monstrous land machines such as tanks. For others it’s the power we see in nature, such as yesterday’s winds and storms.

But how about a golden lampstand? A man in a white robe with a golden sash? Seven stars?

Those are some of the items Jesus showed to John and he told John, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches.” How is what John saw the answer to the problems that the Christians in these seven churches were facing?

John saw seven golden lampstands. These lampstands represented the seven Christian churches. Why a lampstand? Lampstands obviously were used in ancient times to give light. Jesus is the Light of the world and his word lights our spiritual path. In a world of spiritual darkness Jesus wanted to use these seven churches to shed spiritual light.

And don’t miss who was standing right there. The One who looked light a son of man. That’s your risen Lord and Savior, Jesus! Just as he stood among these seven churches, so he stands among us. Jesus himself!

In his hand are seven stars. Later Jesus explains that these seven stars are his seven angels or messengers. In other words, these are the seven pastors in those congregations who share God’s word with the people of their congregations.

That word is represented as a double-edged sword. God’s word cuts both ways. God’s law in his word reveals our sins and the hell we deserve for them. We don’t measure up to God’s standard of holiness. But the gospel in God’s word shows us our Savior and reveals our forgiveness and God’s gift of eternal life.

Finally, Jesus encourages John and his readers with these words, “I hold the keys of death and Hades.” That’s our Lord’s way of reminding one and all that he is the one who unlocks the door to eternal life for us. This life, with all its problems, isn’t the one Jesus wants for us. He wants us to look forward to the life to come. It’s ours because Jesus earned it for us.

Got problems? Listen to the all-powerful word of your risen Lord Jesus.

Jesus once declared, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Just hours after Jesus spoke those words he went to Calvary’s cross to die so that you won’t face the punishment for your sins. Three days later he rose to assure you of heaven with him and your own glorious resurrection. That’s what his word proclaims. Got problems? Listen to the word of your loving Lord Jesus. Amen.