Advent Devotion for December 11, 2019 from Apostles By-the-Sea - Episode 11

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

 

Revelation 1:17-2:7

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. ¹⁹ Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this. ²⁰ As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The Message to Ephesus

¹ “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

² “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. ³ I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. ⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. ⁵ Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. ⁶ Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷ Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.

 

Reflection:

Physical touch was integral to Jesus’ healing ministry and the New Testament gives several accounts of how Jesus healed people by touching them. When people with leprosy cried out to be healed, Jesus touched them. When the blind cried out to have their sight restored, he touched them. In today’s passage from Revelation we also see the healing touch of Jesus. Overwhelmed in the presence of Jesus, John falls at his feet as though he were dead. Jesus responds to John’s fear by reaching out, touching him, and saying, “Do not be afraid.” What a calming touch and words of assurance Jesus provided! This story does more than just provide a picture of what was revealed to John on the island of Patmos. This story assures us that when Jesus comes again in glory, any fear we might experience on that awesome day will be dispelled by the Lord of love and compassion, who will reach out to us, and speak those words of assurance: “Do not be afraid.”