Revealing the Majesty and Compassion of the Real Jesus
Devotional
Day 1: The Incomparable Glory of Jesus
The real Jesus, as revealed in Revelation, is far more glorious and majestic than we can imagine. This depiction of Jesus is not just a figure of history but a living, powerful presence that transcends our understanding. His eyes are like flames of fire, His voice like the sound of many waters, and His face shines like the sun in its strength. This vision reminds us that our words and descriptions will always fall short of His true nature, urging us to approach Him with awe and reverence. The revelation of Jesus' glory is a call to recognize His divine majesty and to worship Him with our whole hearts. [11:10]
Revelation 1:14-16 (ESV): "The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for Jesus in your daily life, acknowledging His majesty and glory in your thoughts and actions today?
Day 2: Compassionate Savior
Despite His overwhelming majesty, Jesus is the compassionate Savior who reaches out to touch and heal the broken and humble. His compassion is a defining characteristic of true Christianity, and it is available to all who humble themselves before Him. Pride, however, can be a barrier to experiencing His grace and mercy. Jesus' touch brings healing, restoration, and life, reminding us that true discipleship involves embracing His compassion and extending it to others. [17:26]
Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where pride is preventing you from experiencing Jesus' compassion? How can you humble yourself today to receive His healing touch?
Day 3: The Living Lord
Jesus, as the Living Lord, has conquered death and holds the keys to hell and death, signifying His ultimate authority. This authority extends to our lives, and He calls us to surrender fully to Him, acknowledging Him as both Savior and Lord. True discipleship involves giving Him the keys to every part of our lives, allowing Him to lead and guide us. This requires absolute surrender and trust in His goodness and faithfulness. [24:22]
Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV): "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: The Everlasting God
Jesus is the everlasting God, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is present in every moment of our lives, and we need not fear the future because He holds it in His hands. This assurance calls us to respond with worship, surrender, and a commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly. Recognizing Jesus as the everlasting God invites us to trust in His eternal presence and sovereignty over our lives. [32:22]
Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"
Reflection: How can you practice trusting Jesus with your future today, knowing that He is the everlasting God who holds all things in His hands?
Day 5: Surrendering to Jesus
True discipleship involves giving Jesus the keys to every part of our lives, allowing Him to lead and guide us. This requires absolute surrender and trust in His goodness and faithfulness. By surrendering to Jesus, we acknowledge His authority and invite Him to transform our lives according to His will. This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a daily commitment to follow Him and to seek His guidance in all things. [28:56]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to surrender more fully to Jesus, allowing Him to lead and guide you in every aspect of your life?
Sermon Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound revelation of the real Jesus as depicted in Revelation chapter 1. This exploration is crucial because, as Jesus warned, the last days will be marked by deception, with many false prophets and distorted images of Christ. The real Jesus, as revealed to the Apostle John, is far more glorious and majestic than we can imagine. This revelation is not just about end-time events but about unveiling the true nature and glory of Jesus Christ, who is risen, resurrected, and glorified.
John's vision on the Isle of Patmos presents Jesus in His full splendor, a sight so overwhelming that it caused John to fall at His feet as though dead. This Jesus is not the one who walked the earth in human form, whose glory was veiled by His humanity, but the risen Lord, full of power, authority, and majesty. His eyes are like flames of fire, His voice like the sound of many waters, and His face shines like the sun in its strength. This depiction reminds us that no matter how we try to describe or imagine Jesus, our words will always fall short of His true glory.
The real Jesus is also the compassionate Savior. Despite His overwhelming majesty, He reaches out to touch and comfort those who are humble and broken. His touch brings healing, restoration, and life. This compassion is a hallmark of true Christianity, and any message devoid of it is a false gospel. Jesus' touch is available to all who humble themselves before Him, but pride can be a barrier to experiencing His grace and mercy.
Furthermore, Jesus is the Living Lord, having conquered death and the grave. He holds the keys to hell and death, signifying His ultimate authority. This authority extends to our lives, and He calls us to surrender fully to Him, acknowledging Him as both Savior and Lord. True discipleship involves giving Him the keys to every part of our lives, allowing Him to lead and guide us.
Finally, Jesus is the everlasting God, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is present in every moment of our lives, and we need not fear the future because He holds it in His hands. Our response to this revelation should be one of worship, surrender, and a commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly.
Key Takeaways
1. The real Jesus is far more glorious and majestic than we can imagine. Our words and descriptions will always fall short of His true nature, reminding us of the awe and reverence we should have for Him. [11:10]
2. Jesus is the compassionate Savior who reaches out to touch and heal the broken and humble. His compassion is a defining characteristic of true Christianity, and pride can prevent us from experiencing His grace. [17:26]
3. As the Living Lord, Jesus has conquered death and holds the keys to hell and death. This signifies His ultimate authority, and He calls us to surrender fully to Him, acknowledging Him as both Savior and Lord. [24:22]
4. Jesus is the everlasting God, the Alpha and Omega, present in every moment of our lives. We need not fear the future because He holds it in His hands, and our response should be one of worship and surrender. [32:22]
5. True discipleship involves giving Jesus the keys to every part of our lives, allowing Him to lead and guide us. This requires absolute surrender and trust in His goodness and faithfulness. [28:56] ** [28:56]
In Revelation 1:9-18, how is Jesus described in John's vision, and what is John's reaction to seeing Him? [08:41]
According to Matthew 24:4-5, what warning does Jesus give about the last days, and how does this relate to the need for a revelation of the real Jesus? [02:12]
In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, what concern does Paul express about the believers, and how does this relate to the concept of "another Jesus"? [04:40]
How does the sermon describe the difference between the Jesus who walked the earth and the Jesus revealed in Revelation? [09:24]
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Interpretation Questions:
What does the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:9-18 reveal about His nature and authority, and how might this impact a believer's understanding of who Jesus is today? [09:04]
How does the warning in Matthew 24:4-5 about deception in the last days challenge believers to discern the true Jesus from false representations? [03:14]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that pride can be a barrier to experiencing Jesus' compassion and grace? [19:39]
How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus holding the "keys of hell and death," and what does this imply about His authority over life and death? [24:22]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:9-18. How does this vision of Jesus challenge or change your current understanding of Him? What steps can you take to deepen your reverence for His majesty? [09:24]
Considering the warning in Matthew 24:4-5, how can you guard yourself against deception and ensure that you are following the real Jesus? What practical steps can you take to become a "lover of truth"? [02:12]
The sermon highlights the compassionate nature of Jesus. Can you recall a time when you experienced His compassion in your life? How can you extend that same compassion to others around you? [17:26]
Pride is mentioned as a barrier to experiencing Jesus' grace. Is there an area in your life where pride might be hindering your relationship with Jesus? How can you practice humility to receive His touch? [19:39]
Jesus is described as the Living Lord who has conquered death. How does this truth affect your perspective on life and death? In what ways can you live more boldly for Him, knowing He holds the keys to your future? [24:22]
The sermon calls for absolute surrender to Jesus as both Savior and Lord. Are there areas in your life where you are still holding back from giving Him full control? What steps can you take to surrender those areas to Him? [28:56]
Reflect on the idea of Jesus as the Alpha and Omega, present in every moment of your life. How does this assurance influence your approach to the future, and how can you cultivate a lifestyle of worship and surrender? [32:22]
Sermon Clips
"Jesus Christ told us that in the last days there was going to be incredible deception. There will be many, many false prophets. And I want you to see before we get this revelation of the real Jesus, I want you to see the warnings in Scripture. In Matthew 24, if you turn there with me, Matthew 24, the Lord Jesus told us many things that would happen before he returned, before he comes back again." [00:01:38]
"Paul says as he's inspired by the spirit of God, but I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit which ye have not received, or another gospel which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him." [00:04:28]
"Revelation chapter 1, the beginning of the very first verse of chapter verse 1, he says the revelation of Jesus Christ. He tells us right up front what this entire book is about. The subject of the book of the Revelation, unlike so many things, so many think, well, I study the book of Revelation because I want to know about endtime events. There are endtime events in here. We are told many things that will happen, but that's not the primary subject of the book." [00:05:49]
"John sees him with the veil torn apart, and he sees him in all of his glory and all of his majesty and all of his beauty, all of his power, all of his authority, and John never saw anything like it. I want you to see that the real Jesus is far more glorious and beautiful and awesome and powerful than any of us can imagine him to be." [00:10:38]
"Jesus Christ is far more glorious, far more awesome, far more beautiful than we can imagine him to be. I love that song, you are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words, too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard. Who can grasp the depth of your wisdom? Who can fathom your infinite wisdom? Who can fathom the depth of your love?" [00:11:36]
"Jesus Christ the real Jesus is revealed here as compassionate Savior, the compassionate Savior. I want to say something to you. Anything that you see that it's so-called Christianity that is void of the compassion of Christ is a false message. Our God is a God of compassion, deep compassion." [00:17:15]
"Have you been touched by him? Has Jesus touched you in compassion? You know what he does? He heals the broken heart. He sets the captive free. One touch, look in the Gospels and see how many times the Lord Jesus touched those that he healed. He didn't have to. He doesn't even have to go under the roof of the one that's sick. He can just speak the word." [00:18:29]
"Jesus Christ is revealed as far more glorious than we can ever, ever imagine him to be. What do you suppose your response would be? Same as John. I fell on my face. I fell at his feet as dead. And that's where he would have stayed forever had the next thing not happened. Thanks be to God, he said he laid his right hand upon me." [00:16:36]
"Jesus Christ the real Jesus is both Savior and Lord, and you cannot separate it. He is Savior and Lord. He holds the keys. He is Lord of all. But the question this morning is, does he have the keys to your heart? Is he the Lord of your life, your whole life? Does he have the keys to every room in your heart?" [00:28:37]
"Absolute surrender. He is worthy of all, and you can trust him. The devil has painted an evil picture in many of our minds. If you surrender all, oh, look what would happen, as if he's an evil taskmaster. He is a good God. And I'm not saying he won't suffer because you will. I'm not saying you won't suffer persecution because you will." [00:31:57]
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead, and he laid his right hand upon me and said unto me, fear not, I am the first and the last. I see Jesus, the real Jesus here as the everlasting God. When he says I'm the first and the last, if he's the first, there's no one before him. If he's the last, there is no one after him." [00:32:05]
"He's the beginning and the end. He's Genesis to Revelation, and you can find him in every single book of this Bible from Genesis to Revelation. In Genesis, he's the seed of the woman. In Exodus, our Passover lamb. In Leviticus, he's there as our great High Priest. In Numbers, he's there as the in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night." [00:33:20]