 Nags Head Beach Sunrise with Revelation 1:8 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8) "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.' " (Revelation 1:17-18) "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 22:12-13) This lesson is the seventh and final in the series on the "I AM" statements of Christ. Today's lesson discusses Jesus' statements, "I am the Alpha and the Omega" and "I am the first and the last." Consider. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last, and the living One" (Revelation 1:17-18). Consider these comforting words. Revelation defined. The writer begins, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John ..." (Revelation 1:1). The Greek word for revelation is apokalupsis. Apokalupsis means uncovering or unveiling of truth and divine things previously unknown (Ref. 1). The One who is providing the revelation of things to come is Jesus Christ. The Apostle John is the writer, Jesus Christ the author, of the book (Ref. 2). "I am the Alpha and the Omega." Revelation 1:8 begins with the words, "I am." The words "I am" refer to the name of God. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses asked God his name. God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:13-14). Then God said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Exodus 3:14). Jesus used the same language in John 8:58, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Jesus, the speaker of "I am the Alpha and the Omega" in Revelation 1:8, is the same God who appeared visibly to Moses in the burning bush and said "I AM WHO I AM." Jesus used the same "I am" language when he spoke "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12) and his other "I AM" statements we have studied in this series. For more information about who Jesus is, click on "Who is Jesus?" - Ref. 3. To see a list of the "I AM" statements of Christ, click on Ref. 4. Alpha (Α) is the first letter, and Omega (Ω) is the last letter in the Greek alphabet. The use of these letters signifies that Christ is the first and last (Ref. 5). In Revelation 22:13, Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." The language in these verses denotes eternity in the being to whom it is applied (Ref. 6). That language can be used only in reference to the true God. "It means that he is the beginning and the end of all things; that he was at the commencement, and he will be at the close" (Ref. 6). "Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last." Jesus appeared to John in a vision when John was on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9-16). John describes the being that he sees as one "like a son of man" (Revelation 1:13). "His face was like the sun shining in its strength" (Revelation 1:16). In the vision, Jesus said to John, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades" (Revelation 1:17-18). Jesus' statement in Revelation 1:17 makes the divine claim, "I am the first and the last." Think about who Jesus is stating he is when he says "I am the first and the last." Read these divine claims in Isaiah:
When Jesus spoke to John in Revelation 1:17, he placed his right hand on John and comforted John with the words, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last." The words, "Do not be afraid," are translated as "Fear not" in the King James Version (Revelation 1:17 KJV). "Fear not" is Jesus' comforting message to us. We are to fear not, that is, not be afraid, because for those who believe in Jesus, there is life beyond the grave. Jesus said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18 KJV). Apply. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last, and the living One" (Revelation 1:17-18). Believe that Jesus is who he says he is. Put your faith and trust in him. Receive the comfort and assurance that only Jesus provides. References
1. https://biblehub.com/greek/602.htm 2. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/revelation/1.htm 3. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/who-is-jesus 4. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/bible-verses-i-ams-of-christ 5. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/revelation/1.htm 6. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/revelation/1.htm
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Photo source: FreeBibleImages.org  Jesus told Martha, ‘Your brother will come back to life again. I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?’ ‘Yes, Master,’ Martha replied. ‘I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ "If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes." (Job 14:14) "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' " (John 11:25-26) This is the fifth lesson in this series in 2019 on the "I AM" statements of Christ. Recent lessons include: "Jesus is The Light of the World" (Ref. 1), "Jesus is The Bread of Life" (Ref. 2), "Jesus is the Door" (Ref. 3), and "Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Ref. 4). In 2018, this ScriptureWay.com site published two related lessons based on John 14:6, "Jesus is the Way to Heaven" (Ref. 5) and "Jesus is the Truth" (Ref. 6). Today's lesson discusses Jesus' statement to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Consider Job's question. "If a man dies, will he live again?" (Job 14:14). Do you, like Job, hope to live after death? Do you, like Martha, believe in a resurrection? Are you seeking assurance and calmness about life after death? Resurrection - Old Testament Perspective. Jesus' Jewish listeners likely knew the concept of a resurrection after death. In the Old Testament scriptures, Job said that he hoped for physical resurrection (being made alive again) after his death. "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:25-26). David likewise hoped that God would redeem him from the grave (Psalm 49:15). Daniel expressed hope in life after death, "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). "I am the resurrection and the life." Martha's beloved brother, Lazarus, had died (John 11:1-15). When Jesus comes to Bethany and meets Martha, Martha says, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21). Jesus assures her, "Your brother will rise again" (John 11:23). Martha replies to Jesus, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day" (John 11:24). Martha believed in a resurrection - as a future event. Jesus then turns Martha's thoughts to himself and to the present. Jesus tells Martha these words of calm assurance, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25-26, Ref. 7). The key to understanding the resurrection is to understand who Jesus is (Ref. 8). Jesus is the same God who appeared to Moses and said, "I AM WHO I AM" (John 8:58, Exodus 3:14). Jesus himself also is the fulfillment of mankind's hope for life beyond death. The key to having life eternal is to know him, trust him, and to believe in him (John 3:16, Ref. 7). Jesus asks Martha, "Do you believe this?" (John 11:26) Martha replies to Jesus, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world" (John 11:27). Jesus then provides evidence that he is who he says he is when he raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44). As the result, many of the Jews who were eyewitnesses to what Jesus had done believed in (put their faith and trust in) him (John 11:45). To see more scriptures about God's promise of eternal life, refer to Bible Verses about Eternal Life - Ref. 9. Apply. Do you believe that Jesus is who he said he is? Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? (John 11:25) Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, and you will have eternal life (John 3:16). In Jesus you will find assurance and calmness about life after death. References
1. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-light-of-the world 2. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-bread-of-life 3. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-door 4. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-good-shepherd 5. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-way-to-heaven 6. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-truth 7. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/maclaren/john/11.htm 8. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/who-is-jesus 9. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/bible-verses-about-eternal-life
 Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse (Manteo, NC USA) - John 8:12 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.' " (John 8:12) "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." (John 12:46) "Christ is the Light of the world. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Christ, and there needs no more." -- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) (Ref. 1, Ref. 2) This lesson is the first in a series on the "I AM" statements of Christ. This lesson discusses Jesus' statement, "I am the Light of the world" (John 8:12). Consider. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Light of the world? Do you have the Light of life? God is Light. The teaching that God is Light begins in the Old Testament and continues through the New Testament. David wrote, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?" (Psalm 27:1). The prophet Micah said, "Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me" (Micah 7:8). The disciple John, wrote, "God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). God's Light purposely illumines mankind. Jesus' Jewish listeners would recall Exodus 13:21 - "The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night." The psalmist wrote, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). The author of 2 Samuel 22:29 tells us "For You are my lamp, O Lord; And the Lord illumines my darkness." "I am the Light of the world." Jesus, the Eternal One, is the Light of the world because:
"He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness." Let's discuss this phrase in three parts: a) "He who follows Me" - The Greek word for follow is akoloutheó, which means to join as a disciple (Ref. 5). In John 8:12, Jesus "likens himself to a torch which the disciple follows" (Ref. 5). Jesus frequently spoke about what it means to follow him as a disciple (for example, Luke 14:27). b) "Will not walk" - The Greek word for walk is peripateó. Peripateó means (in the ethical sense) how I conduct my life (Ref. 6). c) "In the darkness" - The Greek word for darkness is scotia (Ref. 7). Scotia has a dual meaning. In the literal sense, scotia (darkness) is the absence of daylight (John 6:17). In the figurative sense, scotia (darkness) is the state we are in before we believe in Christ, that is, a state of ignorance, guilt, and sin (Ref. 8). Putting these three parts together - "He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness" means He who follows Me [Jesus] as a disciple will no longer conduct his life in a state of ignorance, guilt, and sin. Note that Jesus also said, "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (John 12:46, italics added). Being in darkness is our (mankind's) default condition. Jesus has come so that when we believe in him, God the Father transfers us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of the Son of God (Colossians 1:13). "But will have the Light of life." Just as sight is a function of physical life, Christ is the Light for our spiritual life. John says, referring to Christ, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men" (John 1:4). When we believe in Jesus Christ, the divine light of Christ continually shines in us, guiding us to life everlasting (Ref. 9). Apply. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world? If not, then pray and put your trust in him today. Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you following him? Do you have the Light of life? References
1. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/john/8.htm 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Henry 3. http//www.ScriptureWay.com/home/who-is-jesus 4. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/bible-verses-about-eternal-life 5. https://biblehub.com/greek/190.htm 6. https://biblehub.com/greek/4043.htm 7. https://biblehub.com/greek/4653.htm 8. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/john/12.htm (Matthew Poole's Commentary on John 12:46) 9. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/john/8.htm
Mount Sinai in Early Morning - Photo 123RF - With John 8:58
Copyright: georgemuresan / 123RF Stock Photo
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15). "Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).
Consider. On the evening before his death, Jesus spoke with his disciples. Jesus told his disciples that he was about to leave them (John 13:33).
Who was this Jesus that was speaking to his disciples? Was he just a great teacher or a prophet? Or, was he God as he claimed?
Let's explore several scriptures that tell us who Jesus is.
Jesus is the begotten and only Son of God. When the time came for the second person of the Trinity (Ref. 1) to become flesh, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin named Mary (Luke 1:26-27). Gabriel informed Mary, "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).
Mary replied, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Literally, Mary asked Gabriel, "How can this be since I do not know (sexual intimacy) a man?" (Ref. 2) Gabriel answered Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). John describes Jesus as the only begotten Son of God in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." The Greek word for "only begotten" is monogenés, which means "one (monos) of a class, genos (the only of its kind)." Therefore, Jesus is unique (Ref. 3). The above scriptures establish Jesus' title as the begotten, unique, and only Son of God.
Jesus is fully God and fully human. John begins his gospel by describing the Deity of Jesus Christ. "In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself" (John 1:1).
John also describes the Word made flesh. "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The Apostle Paul states, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). These scriptures tell us that Jesus is fully God and fully human.
Jesus is the visible image of God. Throughout Scripture, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is the visible image and visible expression of God. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15). Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
The New Living Translation of Hebrews 1:3 explains that Jesus expresses the character of God. "The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God." The Greek word is "charaktér," which means an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character. The Preincarnate Son of God was "exceedingly active in the Old Testament" (Ref. 4). Consider these examples where Christ appeared in visible form:
In Exodus 3:13, Moses asked God to tell him God's name. God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Exodus 3:14). Jesus confirmed that he is the same God who appeared to Moses and said, "I AM WHO IAM." "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am' " (John 8:58). We began this post with a question. Who was this Jesus that was speaking to his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion? (John 13:33) The Jesus who said to his disciples, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6) is the same God who appeared to Moses and said, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Apply. If someone asked you to explain who Jesus is, how would you answer?
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Mr. Whitney V. Myers. Christian. For more information, please visit the Author Page. Posting ScheduleI plan to provide postings every two weeks on Sunday evenings at 9 pm eastern U.S. time. Planned TopicsJune 2, 9pm - "God's Love for the World" (1 John 4:9-10, Romans 5:8) Recent Posts(most recent three months) Popular Posts1July18 - "There is a Balm in Gilead" Categories
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