A Jigsaw Puzzle Without Borders or a Box

Without the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle without borders or a box. The book of Revelation is like the picture on the box of a jigsaw puzzle. The revelation of Jesus Christ puts all the pieces of the Old Testament into a clear vision of the Father, of the sin of man, of the salvation of God in Christ, of Way of salvation, and of the hope of the resurrection from the dead. The first chapter of the book of Revelation is like the box of the jigsaw puzzle called the book of Revelation.

In the first chapter Jesus Christ is revealed and His work is described, “…and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5 – 6.

         Yesterday you memorized the three-fold revelation of Christ; the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. Today notice the description of His work; He loves, He has freed from sins, He has formed us into a kingdom of priests.

Jesus Christ loves you. The verb agapeo, is in the present active tense. God’s love (agapeo) is an active love. It is not passive. Jesus Christ loves you today, yesterday, and forever. He is actively working in your life today, based upon how He loved you yesterday, and moving you forward to how He will love you tomorrow. This is who He is and this is what He does. Jesus loves you. This revelation is definitive in understanding the book of Revelation and the Bible. Without it, you just have a bunch of puzzle pieces without any clear meaning.

         Jesus Christ has freed you from your sins. The verb translated “freed” is the Greek word luo, which means to liberate, to release from prison by an authority. This verb is in the past tense with the meaning of completed action. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He died your death, and you died with Him. The wages of sin is death. Jesus paid the penalty of all of your sins. His blood, His life poured out, paid in full the wages of your sins. In doing this work, once and for all, Jesus Christ released you from the outcome of a life of sin, set you free from the prison of sinning, and liberated you from the enslavement of condemnation and guilt. Hallelujah!!! By the authority of His sinless life, He has freed you from your sins. This is who He is and this is what He has done. The cross of Jesus Christ gives meaning to the book of Revelation. This puts all the pieces together.

         Jesus Christ has created a new humanity in Himself, a kingdom of priests for His God and Father. The word “made” is the Greek word poieo, which means to form, to make, to create. When God created Adam, He took dust and formed him after the likeness of Himself. When God created Eve, He took a bone from Adam, and formed her after the likeness of Himself. Jesus Christ has formed a kingdom of priests from those who have been born from above, from those who have been freed from their sins, from those who are loved by Him. He creates with the Spirit, with the Blood, and with the Father’s love. This is the new humanity in Christ. Priests worship. Priests teach. Priests serve. Priests represent others in the presence of God, and represent God in the presence of others. This is called interceding, and witnessing.

         Today, memorize the work of Christ, who loves us, has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us a kingdom of priests to His God and Father. Pray it back to the Lord as a hymn of thanksgiving and praise. To Him by glory now and forever!!!