Revelation 1:1-6: a reflection

1This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, 2who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw. 3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is near. 4John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood— 6and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

As the book of Revelation opens, it breaks into praise of Jesus Christ for what he has done: he loves us, washed us from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom and priests to his God. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood, the doxology says, and made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be the glory and the dominion forever. In a burst of praise, three things are said of Christ and what he has done for his people: he loves us, present and continual; he washed us from our sins by his blood, at the cost of his own life; and he made us a kingdom and priests, giving us a new standing before God. And the fitting response is praise: to him be glory forever. This shows praise for Christ who loves us, washed us by his blood, and made us his kingdom and priests. Christ loves us, washed us from our sins, and made us his kingdom and priests. Respond to what Christ has done with praise and glory to him. Christ's love, his cleansing, and our new standing are cause for worship. Praise Christ for loving you, cleansing you, and making you his own.

Notice the three things said of Christ in this burst of praise. First, he loves us: not merely loved us once, but loves us, a present and continuing love. Second, he washed us from our sins by his blood: at the cost of his own life, he cleansed us from our sins, dealing with what separated us from God. Third, he made us a kingdom and priests to his God and Father: he gave us a new standing, bringing us near to God as his own, a kingdom and priests. And the response these truths draw out is praise: to him be the glory and the dominion forever. This is worth dwelling on and responding to. What Christ has done for us is cause for worship: he loves us continually; he washed us from our sins at the cost of his own blood; he made us his own, a kingdom and priests before God. These are not small things, to be received casually, but great things that call for praise. When we take in what Christ has done, that he loves us, cleansed us by his blood, and made us his own, the fitting response is not indifference but worship, glory and honor to him. We do well to respond to what Christ has done with praise, giving glory to him who loves us, washed us from our sins, and made us his kingdom and priests. Respond to what Christ has done with praise and glory to him. Christ loves you, washed you by his blood, and made you his own. What Christ has done is cause for worship, not casual reception. Give glory to Christ who loves you, cleansed you, and made you a kingdom and priest.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ loves us, washed us from our sins by his blood, and made us his kingdom and priests, and the fitting response is praise, as Revelation opens in a doxology to him. We can receive what Christ has done casually, without response; but Revelation breaks into praise of the one who loves us, washed us by his blood, and made us his own. Give him glory. Do not receive what Christ has done for you casually; respond with praise, giving glory to him who loves you, washed you from your sins, and made you his kingdom and priest. Respond with praise to Christ who loves us, washed us from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom and priests to his God, giving glory to him, as the book of Revelation opens by breaking into praise of Jesus Christ for what he has done, saying, to him who loves us and washed us from our sins by his blood and made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be the glory and dominion forever; for in a burst of praise three things are said of Christ and what he has done, that he loves us with a present and continual love, that he washed us from our sins by his blood at the cost of his own life, and that he made us a kingdom and priests, giving us a new standing before God, and the fitting response is praise, to him be glory forever, which is worth dwelling on and responding to, since what Christ has done for us is cause for worship, that he loves us continually, washed us from our sins at the cost of his own blood, and made us his own, a kingdom and priests before God, which are not small things to be received casually but great things that call for praise, so that when we take in what Christ has done the fitting response is not indifference but worship, glory and honor to him, and we do well to respond with praise, giving glory to him who loves us, washed us from our sins, and made us his kingdom and priests.

Lord Jesus, as the book of Revelation opens, it breaks into praise of you for what you have done: you love us, washed us from our sins by your blood, and made us a kingdom and priests to your God. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood, the doxology says, and made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be the glory and the dominion forever. In a burst of praise, three things are said of you and what you have done for your people: you love us, present and continual; you washed us from our sins by your blood, at the cost of your own life; and you made us a kingdom and priests, giving us a new standing before God. And the fitting response is praise: to you be glory forever. Show me the three things said of you in this burst of praise. First, you love us: not merely loved us once, but love us, a present and continuing love. Second, you washed us from our sins by your blood: at the cost of your own life, you cleansed us, dealing with what separated us from God. Third, you made us a kingdom and priests to your God and Father: you gave us a new standing, bringing us near to God as your own. And the response these truths draw out is praise: to you be the glory forever. This is worth dwelling on and responding to. What you have done for me is cause for worship: you love me continually; you washed me from my sins at the cost of your own blood; you made me your own. These are not small things, to be received casually, but great things that call for praise. When I take in what you have done, the fitting response is not indifference but worship. Take that to my heart. Keep me from receiving what you have done casually, without response; help me respond with praise, Lord, giving glory to you who love me, washed me from my sins by your blood, and made me your kingdom and priest, to whom be glory and dominion forever.