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REVELATION. Part 5 in the Series entitled Three

02/20/11

Washed in the Blood

Would you please stand with me for the reading of Gods sacred Word? Revelation 1:1-8

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants thingswhich must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things thathe saw.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those thingswhich are written therein: for the time is at hand.

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him whichis, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the

prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his ownblood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory anddominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him:and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega,the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, theAlmighty.

What has Jesus done?

In answer to each of these questions, John gives three principle truths.

Consider the first question Who is Jesus?

This IS who Jesus is. He isnt simply an historical figure shrouded in mystery and controversy.Hes wasnt just some Galilean peasant wandering about in a dusty robe and sandals. Heswasnt just a good man or a great moral teacher or a fine example of a good person. Nor washe just a political rebel and a liability to the Jewish state.

Jesus Christ has been and ever will be the only begotten Son of the Living God the crucifiedSavior and Risen Lord, who is coming again in great power and glory as a conquering Warriorand King.

He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and one day every knee will bow and every tonguewill confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!

Lets praise Him for who He is!

And now, lets dig deeper into the second set of revelations about Jesus, answering the secondquestion What Has Jesus Done?

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Listen, whenever we wonder about someones greatness and their legacy and impact on historyand our lives, we always look at what they have done, because, as the old saying goes, Actionsspeak louder than words

So, the question of Christs identity and of His plan and purposes for this world are shown in thenext three revelations John gives in verses 5 & 6. So, lets read it again

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and theprince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his ownblood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory anddominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Did you catch it? The first of three things that Jesus Christ has done for us is that He has

LOVED US

Its an amazing thing, you know, this human craving for love. Every one of us has an innatedesire to be cared for, nurtured, and desired. It is human nature to love and be loved, and wedont have to look far for proof of that.

Just days ago you could walk into Walmart, Kroger, or any other retail outlet and you wouldhave been overwhelmed by the variety of products for sale that highlighted our obsession withlove.

From the most expensive display of roses to a small, heart-shaped piece of candy that says,Will you be my valentine?, the proof of our craving abounds! And thats a good and a normalthing. God has made us for love. It is an inseparable part of who we are and one of the thingsthat makes us truly human. Sadly, for many people, the quest for love leads them through sstring of failed relationships and broken hearts, and they never really find that true, pure, andlasting love their hearts really crave.

But what if it could be found? What if there was someone who loved us unreservedly,unconditionally, passionately, purely, and completely? Is it even possible?

Yes. It is. There is someone who loves us that way, and His name is Jesus. John writes thatJesus has Loved us.

But what does this really mean? How does Jesus love me? I mean, if Hes really God, and Hesperfect, and Hes way out there somewhere, how can He love me? Furthermore, if Hes reallyGod and pure and perfect and He hates sin, how can he even love me, since I am so imperfect?

Listen, I cant answer that question for you. I ask the same things myself, and I cant reallyunderstand if, humanly speaking, any better than you. But we CAN look to His love letter to us,this Book, and find the answers.

So, lets see if we can answer the question How has Jesus loved us?

There are just two things that I want to bring out of the Word to answer this question, and theyare the characterand the consequence of His love.

First, let us consider the.

CHARACTER OF HIS LOVEHow can we exhaust the treasures or mine the depths of Gods love? To do so would be likewrapping our arms around the universe! We could never discover all the qualities of His love.

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But we can learn enough about His love to put a song in our hearts and a skip in our steps.What a joy it is to discover His love. And today I want to show you five things about His love thatshould set your hearts on fire!

First of all, Christs love is

BINDING

In Romans 8:35, the Apostle Paul asks the question, Who shall separate us from the love ofGod? And then, he demonstrates the binding nature of this love by askingshall tribulation,or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Is there anything that can separate from Jesus love? No, Paul says. Nothing can do it. It is abinding love. When God sets about to love us, there is no one and no thing that can stand in Hisway. There is nothing that can separate us.

Paul answers his own rhetorical questions. He goes on in verses 36-39 As it is written, Forthy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in allthese things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, thatneither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things tocome, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the loveof God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Listen, I know we go through times in life when it feels like God doesnt love us. I know thatfeeling personally, but God assures us in His Word (and God is not a liar) that there is nocircumstance or problem or season in life that can interfere with His love. His love is binding.Jesus spoke of the binding nature of His love. He said in the Gospel of John, chapter 10:27-29, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto themeternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. MyFather, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of myFather's hand.

I am so glad to know that no one can separate me from my Saviors love. I am so glad that nofinancial trouble, sickness, adversity, persecution, or even my own failures can separate mefrom His love. His love is binding.

Furthermore, His love is also

SHELTERINGBack there in John, when Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about His love, he used the analogy ofa shepherd and his sheep. And he spoke of the sheltering nature of His love. Listen to how hesaid it.

John 10:1-5 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by thedoor is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: andhe calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his ownsheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a strangerwill they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Verses 10-11 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come thatthey might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: thegood shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

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Verses 14-15 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As theFather knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And finally, in verses 27-28, He said My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and theyfollow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any manpluck them out of my hand.

Can you see the sheltering nature of His love? He is the good shepherd, and He cares sodeeply for His sheep that He will guard them against predators and protect them from dangers.He will meet their needs, nurture, and care for them. And ultimately, He will give His very life toprotect and defend them.

His love is a sheltering love. He has promised to shelter us from the Enemy who wouldotherwise destroy us.

Were reminded of this in Lukes Gospel, chapter 22:31-32, when Jesus said to Simon Peter,Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But Ihave prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thybrethren.

Do not think for a moment that youre any different than Simon Peter. The same devil thatwanted to destroy him, also wants to destroy you. And the only reason He hasnt succeeded isbecause Jesus Christ shelters you in His love. His love is sheltering.

Now, this binding, sheltering, love is also

IMMEASURABLEThe Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:14-19, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he wouldgrant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the

inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded inlove, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, andheight; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled withall the fullness of God.

How can we ever understand the measure of Gods love. O, we see it, but do we understand it?How could God even consider sacrificing His own Son for the pitiful lives of people who rejectand deny Him anyway?

What kind of love is this? It is a love that is immeasurable, incalculable and unfathomable. It isbeyond our finite minds. I cant get my head around it. And frankly, neither can you.

How do you explain the love that caused Jesus to look down from his agony on the cross, uponthose who spit in His face and drove the death nails, and say, Father, forgive them, for theyknow not what they do.

His love was so awesome that it shocked and even disarmed his enemies so much so, thatthe centurion who oversaw his execution was convinced, saying, Truly this man was the Son ofGod. (Mark 15:39)

Only the love of God is big enough to do that! His love is immeasurable. Whats more, Hislove is

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COMMITTEDIn John 13:1-5, we read, Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hourwas come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own whichwere in the world, he loved them unto the end.

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simons son,to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was

come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and tooka towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash thedisciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Even though Jesus knew that in a matter of hours these men, to the very last one, wouldabandon Him in his hour of need, He still loved them. He loved them unto the end.

That is a committed love. Jesus was committed to those men, even if they werent committed toHim. And the same is true for us. There are times that our commitment wanes-times when wedont love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

But do you think His love waivers? No. Never. He is not shaken or moved by our weakness or

failures. And He has committed to loving us.So, even as He looked ahead to a cross and saw no one there to stand by Him, he kneeled andwashed the feet of those who would forsake Him and even the feet of the one who wouldbetray him. Nothing could break His commitment to love them. And friend, nothing will breakHis commitment to love you either. He loves you, even in spite of yourself, and He will not stoploving you.And you listen to me very carefullythis is also true of those who do not love Him in return. TheBible says in John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son;that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not hisSon into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

And yet, in spite of that love, we see just a few verses later, Jesus says, And this is thecondemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,because their deeds were evil.

What can we conclude? That men will climb over, around, and under Gods amazing love, justto live in darkness. They willingly forsake heaven for a place in hell just so they can hold fast totheir sin.

And yet, though millions march on to hell without Christ, they do so in spite of His love. Hehasnt loved them any less. He has always been committed to them as well as us. He died onthe cross for every man, woman, and child.

His is a committed love.

Finally, His love is

COMPELLINGIn 2Corinthians 5:14, we read, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should nothenceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

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What was Paul really saying? The word constraineth in this context means moves orcompels. Paul is saying that this magnificent love of Christ moves him and compels Him topreach the Gospel. He looks at the world around Him and sees dead men in need ofresurrection, and he knows that there is One Jesus who has what every man needs to findtrue life.

Paul knew what it was like to receive the unmerited love of Christ. And because he had

experienced it, he was responsible to share it. And he knew it. He said, I am compelled byChrists love to preach the One who died for all!

And brothers and sisters, so are we!

Listen to the words of the Apostle John in 1John 4:7-10, Beloved, let us love one another: forlove is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth notknoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, becausethat God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein islove, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for oursins.

Now, listen to what he says in verse 11 should be our response to such love Beloved, if Godso loved us, we ought also to love one another.

John is telling us the same thing Paul said, Christs love compels us.

Listen, if you have truly experienced Christs love, you must also be moved to love others. Youmust feel compelled to give them the same gift that youve been given! If you feel no desire inyour heart, no compassion, no compulsion to share the Gospel, there is something wrong withyour heart, because Christs love is a compelling love!

CONCLUSIONHow do we begin to describe the wonders of Jesus Christs love? All of our words fall short. It is

a love beyond our comprehension.

As the songwriter said,

The love of God is greater farThan tongue or pen can ever tell;It goes beyond the highest star,And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,God gave His Son to win;His erring child He reconciled,

And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!How measureless and strong!It shall forevermore endureThe saints and angels song.

When years of time shall pass away,And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,When men, who here refuse to pray,

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On rocks and hills and mountains call,

Gods love so sure, shall still endure,All measureless and strong;Redeeming grace to Adams raceThe saints and angels song.

O love of God, how rich and pure!How measureless and strong!It shall forevermore endureThe saints and angels song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the skies of parchment made,Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade,To write the love of God above,Would drain the ocean dry.Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

We cannot fathom Gods infinite love, yet, we can experience it for ourselves. God is not so faraway, nor is He so busy or unconcerned to shower His love on you. In fact, He already has.Jesus Christ died so your sins could be forgiven and you could have a relationship with God,your Creator, who also wants to be Your Father.

Now, those of you who are really sharp are thinking, But wait, he only told us of the Characterof His love, what about the consequence? Youre good! But youll have to come back tonightfor that!

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