Thursday prior to Easter 2

 

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Revelation 1:4–18—St. John, the only one of the Twelve still alive at the time of his revelation, sees a glorious vision from the Lord Jesus. The revelation, recorded for our sake, gives great comfort to Christians of all times, whether they are living in a time of severe persecution or not. Jesus is the Victor! Just look at all this short section has to say about Jesus: He is the One who was and is and is to come, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the Ruler over all, the Alpha and Omega. Having conquered death, He holds the keys to Death and Hades; these can trouble us no longer, we who are in Christ. His called ministers exercise these keys to forgive our sins, as the Gospel shows.

John tells us in our second reading about his own claim to having a divine commission as a prophet and a seer. He says that he “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day,” indicating that he was in the presence of the LORD and it was the LORD who commissioned him to speak out, which he clearly states in the last verse of the reading. “Now writ what you see, what is, and what is to take place hereafter.”

Note Most people believe in God, or the existence of God, but what kind of God? God is known only through Jesus Christ. The Epistle presents the first in a series of visions of the LORD God in the person of Jesus Christ.  

V.13 makes clear that the eternal Son is in the midst of His Church when tribulation comes. Although He now wears a human form He is the glorified Messiah whose divine attributes are graphically described in Vv. 13-17.  

Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[2]-21 April, 2022

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[1]Image of Christ appearing to St. Thomas http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Caravaggio_incredulity.jpg

[2] Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis