Turning Points: “Seeing the Risen King”

 Turning Points

Introduction:

Good morning friends. Welcome again to Eastern Shore Baptist Church. What a joy it is to be here with you. Thank you brother Chris, thank you choir, thank you praise team, thank you band, you all did such a marvelous job in leading us in worship this morning. If you are visiting with us this morning, my name is Stuart Davidson and I am the pastor here at ESBC. You can call me Stuart. I’d love to meet you following the service this morning. If you are watching online, welcome. We are glad that you are tuned in this morning. 

Today, we are in the last week of a 13 week series entitled “Turning Points”. Over the last several weeks, we have examined the critical moments of both Old and New Testament characters at some of their most life defining, life altering moments. We were given a front row seat to their biggest choices. If Scripture were a movie, we were there watching their lives play out like a Hollywood epic. We saw the biggest “Turning Points” of their lives. Those moments when God showed up, where miracles happened, where people were saved, and where the trajectory of their lives changed forever. 

I do want to take just a second and let you know where we will be heading for the next 4 weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Starting next week we will start a new series entitled “Because He Lives”. 

"Because He Lives" explores the ramifications of Jesus' resurrection. What did His resurrection change? How were our lives altered? What hope does the resurrection offer to all who trust in Him? Knowing that the resurrection is real, what should we do with that information? Everything is different and the world will never be the same "Because He Lives". 

Today’s message is entitled “Seeing the Risen King”

Today’s Message:

“Seeing the Risen King”

This morning, we are going to be looking at an interesting passage of Scripture. Turn in your Bibles if you will to Revelation 1:9-20. When you arrive there, you are immediately introduced to the author of this book, that being John the Apostle. He is also known as the “beloved disciple”. One of the big three if you will: Peter, James and John. John was the only disciple who remained at the cross as Jesus died. It was John that Jesus entrusted the care of His mother Mary. 

History tells us that John was an early church leader. Everywhere he went he planted churches, spread the Gospel and performed miracles. John was also a rule breaker. When Rome demanded people to worship Caesar, John refused. This set Rome against John. Rather, this set John against Rome. We also know that John was the last of the Apostles left alive. All the other disciples had been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. John however found himself guilty of spreading the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection. His guilt led him to being exiled on the lonely island of Patmos. You can actually visit Patmos today. It lays 37 miles southwest of modern day Turkey. 

Life on Patmos was not picnic. It was a penal colony. A place where men and women were set to do hard manual labor. John was made to forced manual labor until the day he passed. He was isolated from his friends, his family, and other followers of Jesus Christ. One might say that this was the hardest, darkest time of John’s life. It was here that he received the worst treatment and the harshest persecution. No, John was not executed like his brothers, but there were times where he likely wished he could just go to heaven to be with his Lord. 

When you get to Revelation 1:9-20, you find John enjoying the cool night breeze. It was likely that John had spent a hard day working in the baking sun. Now, he was on the roof of the prison, worshipping, praying, and spending time with the Lord. We actually know that this was the Lord’s Day, a Sunday. While on the rooftop, John hears a loud voice, a voice like a trumpet. He turns and sees Jesus. Jesus speaks to John in the darkest moment of sorrow. “Fear not John, I am the First and the Last”. 

Friends, I don’t know where you are this morning. Maybe you are deeply unhappy. Perhaps you are enduring some trial, a crisis. Could it be that you are struggling with your health? Maybe you are unhappy with your career, your marriage is fractured, your children are prodigal. Maybe you are at a weak stage in your faith. I want to encourage you this morning. You are not the first nor will you be the last of men or women who go through hardship and difficulty. As bad as things may seem for you, you have not been snatched from your friends and family and exiled on an island roughly 40 miles southwest of the coast of Turkey. The good news, what we learn from this story, is that Jesus is there for us when our lives fall apart. He is there when we suffer. He comforts us. He has compassion for us. He cares. 

Do me a favor this morning. Fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. Are you suffering? Be like John. Stand firm. Jesus has spoken! Jesus spoke to John and He will speak to you as well. No, Jesus is not going to give you a fresh revelation as He did to John. Jesus is speaking through His Word, Holy Scripture. 

Im not sure if you have ever heard the Latin phrase “sola Scriptura”. It means “Scripture alone”. It means that the Bible, Holy Scripture is the final word and the ultimate authority in matters of faith. If you want to hear God’s voice, if you are looking for Christ, go to His Word and God will most certainly speak to you. 

Are you suffering. Stand firm. Jesus has spoken!

Today’s Thought:

Suffering? Stand Firm, Jesus Has Spoken!

Christ spoke to Paul in his darkest moment. He was there for him as he endured terrible persecution and pain. I am 46.5 years old. To some of you I am really old. To others, I am a mere child. I will tell you something that I have learned in my advanced years. I have learned that I can often hear God’s voice, I gain greater clarity from His Word, when I am enduring pain. I feel a closeness to Christ when I am suffering. I don’t know why it feels that way, but it is true. The one thing that I don’t want to do is suffer but suffering is the one thing that seems to amplify God’s truth so that I can hear it. 

Someone that knew a thing or two about hearing God speak was C.S. Lewis. He also knew a thing or two about suffering. Listen to what he said in his book “The Problem With Pain”.

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Today’s Quote:

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

C.S. Lewis’s book, “The Problem of Pain”

Since we already know the context of our passage this morning. Let’s jump right in. Open your Bibles to Revelation 1:9-20. I am reading this morning from the English Standard Version. Before we get there, I want to remind you that…

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible is inspired, infallible, and authoritative. It is vital for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. God’s Word brings life, peace, and protection, and it profoundly touches the human soul. As a unique and powerful book, let us stand in reverence and respect for it.

Today’s Scripture:

Revelation 1:9-20 ESV

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. [10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet [11] saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." [12] Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, [13] and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. [14] The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, [15] his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. [16] 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. [17] When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, [18] and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. [19] Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are 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.

Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Church: “Praise His name. Praise His Holy Name.”

Behold The Risen King!

So, let’s talk about what John is seeing this morning. John is an old man. He has seen a great many things in his life. You might say that he has been around the block. Theologians believe that John was probably in his 80’s to 90’s, which is incredible for the time period. John’s Revelation was written probably some 60-65 years after Jesus ascension into heaven. 

Think about this for a second. It has been potentially 70 years since John last saw the Lord. The last time He saw Jesus, Jesus was a man of flesh and blood. Common yet glorified. Recognizable but unfamiliar. Jesus was normal to the human eye but extraordinary. 70 years since John last saw the risen King of Kings. Suddenly, while on a roof in the midst of a horrible exile, Jesus reappears. John first hears His voice. We don’t know what Jesus sounded like when He walked the earth. We don’t know the tonality and pitch of His voice. John does however give us a description of the way Jesus sounds as He speaks to him after a near 70 year vocal absence. 

Revelation 1:10 ESV

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.

Jesus sounded like a trumpet! What does John mean when he says that Jesus’ voice sounds like a trumpet? 

Loud. 

Strong. 

Commanding. 

Authoritative. 

Controlled. 

John hears the familiar voice of Jesus but at the same time, Jesus’ voice is all together different. As John turns to see the one who has called his name. 

Behold…the majesty of Christ. 

Behold…The Majesty of Christ (vv. 9–13)

That is our first point this morning. John is given a front row seat to Jesus’ supreme majesty. 

I doubt many of you spend much time contemplating the majesty of Jesus Christ. 

Years ago I was on a mission trip to Drancy, France. Drancy is just a short train ride from the heart of Paris. I have had the opportunity to visit Paris twice. On both occasions, I was able to visit Notre Dame Cathedral. In fact, I was having lunch with Phillip and Joann Webb last Sunday. They are going to be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and they were talking about creating plans to celebrate. I recommended to them to visit Paris. I made that recommendation solely on the basis that the reconstruction of Notre Dame had been completed. 

On both trips to Paris, I visited the Cathedral. I bring it up because it was one of those memorable moments that someone retains forever. Construction on the Cathedral started in 1163 and concluded in 1345. That’s 182 years of continual construction. That’s roughly 7.3 generations of men and women who treated the construction of Notre Dame as their focal point of worship to God. Think about this, if you started on the build in 1163, your great-great-great-great-grandchildren would have completed the work. That means your descendants who completed the work would never have met you, and they may not have even known much about their ancestor who started it! Ask yourself, do you know your great great great great grandparent’s name? I don’t. 

I started to think about these things when I entered the Cathedral. Truly, there are simply no words for what I experienced when I walked in. I marveled at the sheer size and scope of the building. How in the world did peasants in the 11, 12, and 13 hundreds build something of this scale? The stain glassed windows. The statues. The flying buttresses. I mean, I could go on and on. I remember that I just sat down and marveled. I felt so honored to be there in that moment and I instantly knew that I would never forget that day. Breathing that air, I just felt so fortunate. 

Friends, the sheer magnitude and beauty of that building left me speechless. However, that is a small glimpse into the majesty of Christ. You see, Notre Dame was majesty that could be seen, the majesty of Jesus is experienced and worshipped. 

Psalm 8:1 ESV

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

The Apostle Paul did his God’s honest best to capture the majesty of Jesus in his letter to the Church of Colosse. Listen to what he says in Colossians 1:15-17

Colossians 1:15-17 GW

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Whether they are kings, lords, rulers, or powers—everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything and holds everything together.”

Consider the majesty of Jesus’ person. He is fully God and fully man. The image of the invisible God. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Consider the majesty of His power. Recall the miracles. The blind were given sight. The deaf were given sound. The paralyzed were healed. Jesus calmed storms, tossed out demons and even raised people from the dead. 

Consider the majesty of His love. Jesus was called a “friend of sinners”. He redeemed the adulterous woman. He ate with Zaccheaus. He spoke to the Samaritan woman. He healed the Roman centurion’s servant. He forgave Peter. The depth of Jesus’ love knows no end. 

Consider the majesty of Jesus’ humility. Despite His power, He invites us into relationship with Him, displaying majestic grace and mercy. 

We could talk on and on about the majesty of Jesus Christ. Sadly we have a time constraint. We could spend endless time talking about the majesty of Jesus. Why don’t we arrive at our second point. 

Behold…The Majesty of Christ. Next…Behold the Might of Christ. 

Behold…The Might of Christ (vv. 14–16)

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, [15] his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. [16] 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.

Last week we talked about Mary Magdalene’s confusion over seeing the resurrected Christ. Initially she thought He was the gardener. We also talked about Jesus’ disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. Jesus began to walk and talk with them. They were unaware of this stranger on the road with them being Jesus. Maybe His voice was different. Maybe Christ clouded their senses so that they could not perceive Him. Either way, Jesus was familiar but all together different. 

We have the same experience here in John’s Revelation. The Jesus that he once knew not only sounded different, Jesus also looked different.  Why? Why does Jesus appear so differently to Mary, to the disciples, to John? Why is His presentation, His voice, why are they so transformed from the person that they once knew?

I think that the answer is pretty simple. Jesus is displaying Himself in a glorified manner. John is seeing Jesus finally for who He really is, that being the Son of the Living God. He sees Him in all of His glory, in all of His majesty, and in all of His might. 

Jesus is giving John a visual and auditory que that everything is different. Everything is changed. Everything is new. What John long ago experienced with Jesus, all of the miracles, all of the teachings, it has all culminated in this moment and in this book. The world will never be the same.

You are probably wondering that the description that John gives of Jesus doesn’t match with the way that you often picture Jesus. It certainly doesn’t match the way that Jesus is portrayed in movies and television. Jesus is often seen as a hipster. He is soft spoken. Weak. White. Blue eyed. Always smiling. Never judgmental. All loving. All tolerant. 

I would say that is a sanitized version of Jesus. 

But what about John’s description? I will quickly explain. You see, John’s description of Jesus can be taken literally but it is also highly symbolic. Do I believe that this is literally what Jesus looked like? Yes! I do believe that Jesus will look very majestic but I also believe that John is being highly symbolic. 

“The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow”. White hair symbolizes wisdom, purity, and eternal nature.  This echoes Daniel 7:9, where God (the Ancient of Days) has white hair, signifying His eternal wisdom and holiness.

“His eyes were like a flame of fire”. Fire represents judgment, holiness, and penetrating insight. Hebrews 4:13 says, “No creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Jesus sees everything. His gaze pierces through lies, sin, and darkness. His judgment is righteous and pure.

“His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace”. Bronze, refined in fire, represents strength, stability, and judgment.  In the Old Testament, the bronze altar (Exodus 27:1-6) was used for sacrifices—symbolizing atonement and judgment.

“His voice was like the roar of many waters”. The power of rushing waters represents authority, majesty, and irresistible power.

“In his right hand he held seven stars”. The right hand is a place of power and control. The seven stars represent the seven churches 

“From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword”. A two-edged sword represents the power of His Word to judge, separate truth from lies, and bring salvation or destruction. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” Jesus’ words bring both life and judgment. His truth exposes sin, and His authority overcomes His enemies.

“His face was like the sun shining in full strength”. The sun’s brightness represents glory, divine radiance, and overwhelming power. Jesus is the source of divine light and truth. His glory is blinding, awe-inspiring, and overwhelming.

What we are seeing here is the sheer might of Jesus Christ. He is God. The God of gods. The Supreme One. The Alpha and the Omega. None are before Him and He is the One who holds all things together. I will come back to that in a moment. 

Behold the majesty of Christ. Behold the might of Christ. Lastly, behold the mission of Christ. We see this displayed in verses 17-20. 

Behold…The Mission of Christ (vv. 17–20)

Revelation 1:17-19 ESV

"Fear not, I am the first and the last, [18] and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. [19] Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

I absolutely love these verses. I love that Jesus tells John to “Fear not”! 

What are you afraid of this morning? What are we all afraid of? Be honest with yourself. If you are being honest, we would all say that we are afraid of dying.

Death is the big unknown. When we close our eyes, when we breath our last, none of us know exactly what will transpire or happen. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in heaven. I believe in an afterlife. I believe that in my bones. Still, I don’t understand the mechanics of it all. How it happens. The manner in which I am transported from this physical reality to a spiritual reality. 

Jesus says that we are to “fear not” and then He specifically tells us why. “I am the first and the last, [18] and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”. Did you catch that. 

“Don’t fear John. Listen man, Ive died. I didn’t have a near death experience. I didn’t see some big light. I didn’t hear some nebulous voice. I actually died. My heart stopped beating. I was dead for three days. John, remember all you relatives that have died? Remember them? How many of them came back from the dead? None! That’s right John. I died but I am alive. I am alive John! John, I want you to know this…Im not going to die again. Lazarus died twice. The Roman Centurion’s servant died twice. Not me! I am alive and I am eternal. You know the one thing that everyone is afraid of John? Death! I have beaten it. I have defeated it. I have conquered it! You have nothing to fear!”

That is the Stuart translation of Revelation 1:17-19. 

Jesus’ mission was to defeat death, shackle Satan, and bring salvation to all mankind. He was victorious. Our greatest fear has been thwarted. 

In doing so, Jesus gives us a mission. John was to record what Jesus said to Him and take that message to the churches. We won’t get lost in the later chapters of Revelation this morning. However, if John had a mission, a message to tell, then we do as well. We have a mission and a message. That being the message of the Gospel. 

John was taking this message to the churches, where will you take this message that God has given to you? Is there a co-worker that you know that needs Christ? A friend? A family member? 

John 11:25-26 NLT

“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?’”

Behold the majesty, the might and the mission of Christ. 

I want to close with this thought this morning. It is a short little illustration that speaks to the might of Christ. 

You know, I love how God has woven His fingerprints into creation in ways we don’t even realize. There’s this little protein in your body called laminin—and unless you’re a biology teacher, you probably don’t bring it up in casual conversation. But here’s what’s amazing: laminin is literally what holds your cells together. It’s like the rebar in concrete, the superglue of your body. Without it, your skin, your organs—everything—would just fall apart. And do you know what laminin looks like under a microscope? 

A cross. Think about that. The very thing holding your body together is in the shape of the cross of Christ. Science is just catching up to what the Bible has already said—Colossians 1:17 tells us, “In Him all things hold together.” Jesus isn’t just some distant King ruling from afar—He is the One holding your life, your struggles, your future, your very body together. And if He’s powerful enough to hold the universe in place, He’s powerful enough to hold you through whatever storm, whatever trial, whatever fear you’re facing. So as we walk out of here today, let’s remember—we are held together by the One whose eyes are like fire, whose voice is like rushing waters, and whose presence is like the blazing sun. He is Jesus, and He is holding you.

Let John’s Enlightenment Be Your Encouragement!

Closing Prayer:

Let’s pray.

Jesus, we stand in awe of You. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the One who was, who is, and who is to come. You are our King, our Savior, our Sustainer. Thank You that in Your power, You hold all things together—including us. In the moments when we feel weak, remind us that You are strong. When we feel like life is falling apart, remind us that You hold us in Your hands. When fear and uncertainty creep in, let us hear Your voice—like the roar of mighty waters—speaking peace over our hearts.

Lord, we don’t want to just hear about Your majesty today—we want to live in light of it. Help us to walk in confidence, knowing that the One who holds the stars in His hand also holds our future. Give us boldness to follow You, courage to trust You, and faith to worship You in every season.

And now, as we go from this place, may we leave with our eyes fixed on You—the King of glory, the Risen Christ, the One who reigns forever. We love You, Jesus, and we lift up Your name today and always. Amen.