John
draws our attention to a summary description that unites every true believer in
the Lord Jesus Christ. He says that everything we have to do with each other is
“in Jesus”. We are the body of Christ[2]. We are the bride of Christ[3]. We are the holy temple God lives in by his Spirit[4]. All these pictures call us again and again to see ourselves, and
everything to do with us and other believers, as “in” Jesus Christ our Lord[5].
John
gives us a triangle of things that describe the relationship of believers in
Christ. They are, “the tribulation and
the kingdom and the patient endurance”. If anyone is in Christ, these three
things will unite us. Always.
The Tribulation: Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me
you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I
have overcome the world.”[6] Jesus gave his disciples a view of peace that included tribulation. Our
peace with God would evoke the hatred of the world[7], but believers would unite in faith, hope and love[8] because Jesus has overcome the world. Our journey through Revelation
is making it very clear that Jesus has overcome the world already, and will
apply his victorious work to everything that happens throughout the remaining
time of history.
The Kingdom: The tribulation happens
to Jesus’ servants because we are in Jesus’ kingdom[9]. The apostle Paul wrote: “He has delivered us from the
domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we
have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”[10]Those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ have traded the domain
of darkness for the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. We share in “a kingdom that cannot be shaken”.[11] That is what Revelation shows clearly, that, even though there will
be a lot of shaking going on around us[12], the kingdom of Jesus Christ will not be shaken.
Patient Endurance: While all
believers share in a kingdom that stirs up much tribulation against us, we also
share a characteristic that is consistent of all believers from different ages
and places. It is the very nature of the chosen ones of God that they persevere
until the end.[13] Our conduct in the face of the world’s attacks follows the example
of our Master: “When he was reviled, he did
not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued
entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”[14] One reason Jesus’ servants patiently endure their hardships is
because we know that our Father “judges
justly”. He calls us to leave vengeance in his hands because he will repay.[15] We can endure all things in love[16] knowing that he will take care of everything.
There
is so much encouragement in considering how the triangle of the tribulation,
the kingdom and patient endurance are all ours because we are in Jesus. However,
John is seeking to present a more relational triangle between himself, Jesus,
and Jesus’ servants. He says that he is our “brother
and partner” in these three dimensions of life that are “in Jesus”.
Anyone
who has experienced family members rejecting them because of their faith in Jesus
Christ will realize what a delight it is to have people who actually want to be
known as our brothers in Christ, even in the tribulations that are shared by Jesus’
servants. John calls us to appreciate that the trials we go through because of
Christ are what Peter described as “…the same kinds of suffering
are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”[17] He is with the other believers in their suffering because he is
part of the brotherhood that is in Jesus.
John
does not consider it enough to declare himself as a brother to Jesus’ servants,
but adds that he is their “partner”. It
is one thing for someone to want to be family in the Lord Jesus, but something
extra when they want to be known as a partner with us in the realities that are
ours in Jesus. Paul expressed this well when he wrote the Philippians: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of
you, always
in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until
now.”[18] That is the way John wanted his readers to know that he was their
partner as well.
Whenever
we can share in fellowship where people want to be known as both our family and
our partners in tribulation, in the kingdom, and in the patient endurance that
are in Jesus, we have relationships for which to be truly thankful. I write
this in the hope that we can strengthen such relationships among ourselves, and
with all other true believers we meet along our way.
From
my heart,
Monte
[1]
Revelation 1:9
[2]
Romans 12:5
[3]
Revelation 19:7
[4]
Ephesians 2:19-22
[5]
Ephesians 1:3-10 makes this clear. “3 Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us IN CHRIST
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4
even as he chose us IN HIM before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus
Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to
the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us IN THE
BELOVED. 7 IN HIM we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to
the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished
upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making
known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth
IN CHRIST 10 as a plan for the
fullness of time, to unite all things IN HIM, things in heaven and
things on earth.”
[6]
John 16:33
[7]
John 15:18-25
[8]
I Corinthians 13:13
[9]
Matthew 5:1-12
[10]
Colossians 1:13
[11]
Hebrews 12:28
[12]
Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25-28
[13]
Matthew 24:10-13
[14]
I Peter 2:23
[15]
Romans 12:19
[16]
I Corinthians 13:7
[17]
I Peter 5:8-9
[18]
Philippians 1:3-5
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