Faithful Like Jesus
Revelation 1:4–8
Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. Revelation 1:5

The faithful witness. Jesus was a faithful witness to all God instructed him to teach. Before Pilate at the time of his trial, he told Pilate, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37). Paul refers to this testimony specifically in his charge to Timothy: “In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession” (1 Tim. 6:13).

When we remember that Revelation was written to Christians who might soon be facing persecution and even death for the sake of their testimony to Christ, we can understand how John’s description of Jesus would be a source of encouragement for them. Jesus bore a faithful witness before the rulers of this world and suffered for it. They should do the same, even though persecution or death might be the consequence.

The firstborn from the dead. The Christians would need to remember that although Jesus died once, he also triumphed over death by the resurrection. That is the reason for this important title. Jesus bore his witness and died for it, but he was also raised from the dead by the Father; and so would Christians be, if they also would remain faithful.

The ruler of the kings of the earth. In a context that reminds us of Jesus’s trial before Pilate and of his triumph through the resurrection, we cannot help but contrast what is ascribed to Jesus in this last phrase with the offer made to him by the devil at the time of his wilderness temptation. The devil offered him “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,” if only Jesus would bow down and worship Satan (Matt. 4:8–9; see Luke 4:6–7). Jesus was not uninterested in the kingdoms of this world. They are his, and he was promised a thorough and everlasting possession of them. But he would not take them on the devil’s terms. He would not rule with Satan. Jesus knew that the way to the kingdoms of this world was the cross, followed by the resurrection, and that only if he pursued that path would he reign with the blessing of the Father and with those given to him by the Father from before the creation of the earth.

This is also the path that is set before us. Many want the kingdoms of the world without suffering. They want it by the world’s own means, by political manipulation, and by compromise. It does not come that way. It comes by the faithful testimony and suffering of those who are the disciples of the Lamb.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.