David Pawson - The Uniqueness of Christ in an Age of Pluralism Part 1

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Thoughtful Thoughts 9.1.26 by John Dunning. 

JESUS’ NAMES & TITLES; PART 3

Prologue…

Jesus has so many names and titles, that a list of His names and titles needs us to do a series… In order to point out all the names or titles of Jesus in Revelation, we are plucking verses out of their full context, just to reference some of the many titles and names of Jesus.

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Day 1 of “Jesus’ names and titles, Part 3”. 9.1.26

Rev. 3:7 “The Holy and True One.”

“I am the one who is holy and true, and I have the keys that belonged to David. When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it. Listen to what I say.”

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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

While on earth, Jesus said only God is good. Here we have Jesus saying “I am the one who is holy and true…” 

I have heard other religions and cults say that Jesus never claimed to be God but that is not true. Firstly, Jesus worked on earth in a way to let people come to realise who He was, freely, and always accepted others stating He was God, (like Peter and Thomas), after they realised it, (even though He had tried to keep it quiet at first). 

Secondly, He accepted the title when He was asked directly, (ie before the Jewish council). 

Thirdly as the ascended Lord, Jesus uses His full title as God’s Son, when He says 

“I am the one who is holy and true…”, which was a statement of fact.

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When a blind gold medal winner was congratulated by Prince William, the blind winner

asked, “Who are you?” William suddenly realised that as he couldn’t see, he had to 

be told everything. Normally, William wouldn’t have needed to say anything, but in this case  William had to introduce himself. “I am Prince William” he said, matter of factly. It was just a statement of fact. Then the face of the gold medalist suddenly lit up. 

Here with Jesus as the ascended Lord, He uses His title that is relevant to the message He is giving John to take to a church. This title is just a statement of fact. 

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When we realise who Jesus is, what is our reaction?  

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Day 2 of “Jesus’ names and titles, Part 3”. 10.1.26

Rev. 3:7 “He who has the key of David”. (NIV)

“I am the one who is holy and true, and I have the keys that belonged to David”. (CEV)

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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

Having the keys stands for having authority over a household. “He who has the key of David”,  means that Jesus has authority over the entire inheritance of King David. 

One of the names of Jesus is “Son of David” and I was asked “Why?” in an adult Sunday school class. Jews would know the answer and many Christians, but the question came from an international student who was unfamiliar with the Bible. 

The answer is because the family line of Jesus went back to King David… 

i).  Mary’s blood-line went back to David…

ii). And as Joseph’s family tree also went back to David, and he was the appointed stepfather, that meant that Jesus became the legal heir to the throne too, so twice over Jesus’ was the rightful, LEGAL-heir to the throne of David.  That heritage made Jesus the rightful heir to the throne of the King of Israel! 

As the legal inheritor of the throne of David, Jesus was the rightful King of Israel, and that was why King Herod tried so hard to murder Him by killing all the infants in Bethlehem, to try to secure the throne which he had only obtained by bribing the occupying Romans.

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The proof of all that is in the genealogies provided in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. One record covers the family line of Mary and the other covers the family line of Joseph. That is our proof.

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So here we see that Jesus holds the key of David… 

Just because Jesus came the first time incognito as a carpenter, doesn’t change the fact of WHO Jesus is. Next time He comes, the enemies of Jesus will run and hide (Revelation 6:16-17.) In the same way that King David had authority over the people of God, so Jesus has all authority over all that is God’s. We need to see Jesus for who He really is… St. John fell flat on his face when he saw Jesus as He really is, in his vision…

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Day 3 of “Jesus’ names and titles, Part 3”. 11.1.26

Rev. 3:7 “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

Rev. 3:7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

The best meditation on the meaning of those words follows on in v. 8 with these words 

from a modern translation…

Rev.3:8-9; “I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door no one can close. You were not very strong, but you obeyed my message and did not deny you are my followers. (9).  Now you will see what I will do with those people who belong to Satan’s group. They claim to be God’s people, but they are liars. I will make them come and kneel down at your feet. Then they will know that I love you.”

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That means that “Opportunity Knocks” for this church at Philadelphia. They will succeed and Satan will not be able to stop them. God is with them. In their weakness, 

God will make them strong. 

There is an added bonus… A modern translation puts it like this:-

v.10). “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” 

Jesus rewarded their faithfulness.

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Day 4 of “Jesus’ names and titles, Part 3”. 12.1.26

Rev. 3:14 “The Amen”.

Rev. 3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 

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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

The names fit the occasion. 

The word “Amen” means something like, “So be it”, or “ I agree”, or even “Yes”. We have made it meaningless as we use it so casually in our  prayers. 

Here, Jesus uses it as one of His names. There is something that is “Final” about it. If Jesus says something, it happens. Look up how many times the word “Amen” exists in the Bible and you will see that whenever it is used, something happens. 

When Jesus uses “Amen” here in this context… this is what happens… 

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Revelation 3:15 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

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This is a warning Jesus is giving, so meditate on this warning…

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Day 5 of “Jesus’ names and titles, Part 3”. 13.1.26

Rev. 5:5 “Lion of the tribe of Judah.”

Rev. 5:5 “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

In the children’s book, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” authored by C.S. Lewis, a creature said to one of the children;

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“Aslan is a lion – THE Lion, the GREAT Lion.” 

“Ooh” said Susan. “I had thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…

“Safe?” said Mr Beaver…

“Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn’t safe. 

But He IS good. He’s the King I tell you.”  (ends).

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C.S. Lewis showed with this picture that he understood the imagery God used in order to teach a truth about Himself, and C.S. Lewis used that imagery to write stories to teach children…

The point of saying all this is that we need to re-evaluate our idea of Jesus… 

Just as we speak about a lion being the king of the jungle, CS Lewis draws attention to the imagery of Jesus being like a lion that John speaks of in Revelation, and Amos prophesied of; (see below). 

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a). Gen. 49:9-10. As soon as sin came into the world, God had the answer.

b). Hosea 5:14… “For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.”

c). Hosea 13:7–9. God says, “I will be like a lion to them. . . . like a lion I will devour them. . . . You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.

It is better to experience the help and protection of the Lion than to deny His kingship and face His fierceness.”

Hosea prophesied how angry God was with Israel because they had become so proud that they forgot God who had done everything for them. 

Matthew wants us to know the extent of Jesus’ power, which even controls the wind and waves; (Matthew 8:27). 

Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah in Revelation because;-

1). He is THE King with absolute authority and power over all creation. 

2). This great King chose to come to earth through the ancestry of Judah, to become the sacrifice which would pay for our sins. 

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“This is our God, The Servant King, He calls us now to follow Him; To bring our lives as a daily offering, of worship to The Servant King…” (Graham Kendrick.) 

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Day 6 of “Jesus’ names and titles, Part 3”. 14.1.26

Rev. 3:14 … “The Ruler of God’s creation”. (NIV)

Rev. 3:14 “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.”

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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

Remember when we looked at Rev. 3:7 “He who has the key of David”, we noted that 

just as King David had authority (the key) over the people of God, so Jesus has all authority over all that is God’s. 

We need to see Jesus for who He really is. John 1:3 tells us that the whole of creation was made through Jesus. When John saw Jesus as He really is, in heaven, he simply collapsed, and lay flat on his face. The Creator who flung stars into space, allowed His creation to nail His hands and feet to a cross. Mankind who had lost the paradise he had been given, due to sin, provided a way for their sin to be paid for with His own life. That enabled them to have the opportunity to return to their creator, and one day regain the paradise they had lost. This is our maker, redeemer and King. This Ruler of God’s creation bought back the creation He had made with His life.

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Day 7 of “Jesus’ names and titles, Part 3”. 15.1.26

Rev. 4:11 “Lord”.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

When we see the word “Lord” in full context like this, it shows a fuller meaning. It can also be translated as “Master”. The word “Lord” is not like the Christmas carol, “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed…  The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head…” which teaches a soft and cuddly Jesus. Remember the opposite is true, that John collapsed when he saw Jesus in heaven. 

We see more of this truth next time…

Meantime, meditate on John’s reaction when he saw Jesus in heaven, by collapsing… That is the real Jesus. 

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If you would like to know how to find peace with God, listen to the podcasts at this link…

https://www.inspirational.org.nz/pages/johns-devotionals-podcast

This is John Dunning signing off from “Thoughtful Thoughts” for another week.

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