The Early Church of Jesus

WHEN MY FAMILY AND I MOVED BACK TO PENNSYLVANIA several years ago, we had to find a new church. For about a year, we visited various congregations near our home. This allowed us to participate in various Christian traditions and worship styles. I was encouraged to discover many Christ-centered churches in our area.

But our search for a new church home also gave us a feel for the unique dynamics within each one. One church had a large endowment but a small congregation and no full-time pastor. Another church had a great preacher with many full services on Sunday and lots of programming throughout the week, but it was such a busy place that we found it hard to connect with anyone. Still, another church had a familiar liturgy, but the people seemed uninterested, as if they were just going through the motions.

Our next section covers the first three chapters in the book of Revelation, which is the record of the apostle John's vision nearly sixty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the vision, it's as if Jesus himself has been a newcomer in seven first-century churches, describing the unique dynamics within each. Imagine what Jesus would say if he visited your church next Sunday!

Of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, five fall into a "good news-bad news" category; Jesus commends them for some things but scolds them for others. Only two churches fall into an "all good" category; Jesus praises them despite facing severe struggles.

As you'll discover, some of the details in the book of Revelation are difficult to understand. That's because it's the record of a vision, and like a dream you have at night, it's the main point you ponder in the morning. And the main point of the next five readings is this: Jesus knows what's going on in the church and really cares about it. So let's get going and see if we can piece together what Jesus thinks about his church.

A Vision for the Emergent Church

PRAY: Heavenly Father, I ask that you would give me a clearer vision of your Son, Jesus Christ, as I read and pray today.

READ: Revelation 1:1-20

REFLECT: People sometimes refer to the last book of the Bible as "John's Revelation." But that's a little misleading because it is actually "the revelation of Jesus Christ" (v. 1), as the opening sentence clarifies. As we begin our exploration of this challenging book, we need to understand that although the apostle John recorded this incredible vision, the book of Revelation is all about Jesus.

And right away, we notice the consistency between John's perspective and the rest of the New Testament. Jesus is "the firstborn from the dead" (v. 5; Colossians 1:15, 18); he has freed us from sin "by his blood" (v. 5; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7); his followers are "a kingdom and priests" (v. 6;1 Peter 2:9); and someday Jesus will come again and "every eye will see him" (v. 7; Philippians 2:9-11).

But John also gives us plenty of new information about Jesus. We first notice his majestic appearance and powerful voice (vv. 12-15). When Jesus was on earth, John got as close to him as anyone. But in the vision of Revelation 1, John sees Jesus in all his heavenly glory. That contrast only highlights the miracle of the incarnation; in Jesus, the God of the universe became one of us. The second thing we notice is Jesus' description of himself: he is eternal, alive, and will decide who goes to heaven or hell (Revelation 1:17-18). That's why we must take our decision about him very seriously. It will have eternal consequences.

But the last thing that stands out in this passage is that Jesus has something to say about the emergent church of the first century (v. 11). It reminds us that he knows and cares about what goes on in our churches too, which is a sobering thought. But the church is not a building; it is a body. Jesus cares so passionately about the church because he is one with it (John 17:20-21).

APPLY: How do you view Jesus: as majestic and powerful or close and friendly? Why?

PRAY: Spend a few minutes thanking Jesus for what you learned about him in this passage.