Revelation 1:1-11
Revelation is a difficult book. Yet there are many reasons for reading it!1. It is the "revelation of Jesus Christ", our dear Saviour.2. This revelation was given by Him to His servants. The Apostle John, exiled on the island of Patmos, was happy to be one of them.3. It speaks to us not about an uncertain and distant future, but of things which must happen "soon".4. Finally, let us not forget that serious reading of a portion of Scripture brings a blessing to our souls (v. 3) because it is the Word of God. We are not asked to understand it entirely, but to obey it (Luke 11:28).
As soon as the glories of the Lord Jesus are mentioned there is an immediate burst of worship: "To him who loves us, and has washed us . . ." (v. 5 JND trans.). Notice the tense of the verbs: He loves us; His love is ever present and never changes. But He has washed us: this work is completely finished and perfect. Note also the sequence of these verbs: it is because He loves us that Christ has washed us from our sins. We had to have our sins washed away in order to be made even now "kings and priests unto God and his Father" (Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6). What He has made of us is far greater than what He has done for us.