Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Rev 1:5-8

Revelation 1:5 and Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins with his blood,

Jesus Christ is presented with three titles that highlight his saving role: the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. These three titles attributed to him take into account the main moments of his life: the passion (the faithful witness); the resurrection (the firstborn of the dead); the glorification (prince of the kings of the earth).

Jesus Christ is first and foremost 'the faithful witness' because he fulfilled the mission entrusted to him in human history by sharing the human condition. He is the faithful witness because he bore his testimony even unto death. He is the faithful witness to the will of the Father. He is the faithful witness because he fulfilled fully, in all things, always, the words and works of the Father. He is so faithful to the Father that it is the Father Himself who works and speaks through Him.

He speaks and it is as if the Father were speaking. He works and it is as if the Father worked. Whoever wants to truly know the Father can only do so through Jesus Christ. No other man in the world can claim to be a true witness to God. The supreme testimony to the Father, Jesus bore before Pontius Pilate: official, formal testimony, in a court of law, during an interrogation, at the price of his own life. From the end of the first century, the Christian who allows himself to be killed in order not to betray his faith in Jesus will be called a 'martyr' [in Greek 'witness' is 'màrtys'].

"The first-born of the dead". Jesus Christ is the first-born of the dead in that he shared the mortal lot of men and gave rise to the new generation of the living, for he triumphed over death and rose to eternal life with a transfigured body. He is also the firstborn of the dead, for we shall all rise again in Him and for Him. He is the firstborn of the dead because it is He who will call us from the tomb and clothe us with His resurrection. He is firstborn of the dead because He has preceded us into the glory of the Father and is waiting for us because where He is we are also.

"And the prince of the kings of the earth", that is, sovereign ruler over all the powers that continue to operate in the world and in history. With these words the universal kingship of Jesus Christ is proclaimed. He is not king and prince insofar as God. Insofar as God is Creator and Lord of every man, everything was made through Him, everything is His. Jesus is the Prince of the kings of the earth, because in His humanity He was constituted judge of the living and the dead.

Since He is the Sovereign of sovereigns and the King of all kings, every ruler will one day have to stand before Him to give an account of how he has administered justice. But even today, in the time of history, he watches carefully. Ways and forms of this vigilance of Jesus Christ are shrouded in mystery. Only when the veils of history have passed and the curtain of eternity opens, will we see every action of God and Christ on behalf of our salvation and the redemption of humanity. But now is the time of faith and we must believe that Jesus is the Prince of the kings of the earth, he is the Lord of every other lord, he is the Ruler of every other ruler.

Revelation speaks of the majesty of the glorified Jesus and His universal power not only to express a reality of faith, but also to convey to the persecuted church that Christ is the King of all the kings of the earth: that is why the church must remain confident during persecution and perseverant in praise. To Him we must always turn that He may bring the consolation of His love and grace against all tyranny and abuse of power that do so much harm to men.

Who is Jesus again? He is "He who loves us and has freed us from our sins with his blood". This is a doxology [from the Greek doxology = glory, exaltation; it is a liturgical formula to glorify God, or Christ, or the Holy Trinity]. With these words, the whole mystery of Christ's love for man is announced. Jesus is called "He who loves us": in Greek "tō agapōnti hēmas". The verb "agapaō" means "to cherish" someone; hence the word "charity" (agàpē). Jesus' love for man is at the price of his blood. His love for us is deliverance from our sins on the cross, at the price of an atrocious death.

His blood is the price of the remission of our sins. The image recalls the lamb whose blood laid on the doorposts saved the Jews. God saves his church today as he had saved the Jews from slavery: with the blood of the lamb. Jesus is thus brought back by Revelation to the Sinai Covenant, to the first act of salvation wrought by God (the deliverance from the slavery of Egypt), but today he delivers from the slavery of sin. The expression "He who loves us" is in the present tense. The present tense indicates that Christ's love is perpetual; it is a continuous current of great love between him and us. Revelation is also the book that teaches Jesus' disciples this love.

Argentino Quintavalle, author of the books

- Revelation - exegetical commentary

- The Apostle Paul and the Judaizers - Law or Gospel?

Jesus Christ true God and true Man in the Trinitarian mystery

The prophetic discourse of Jesus (Matthew 24-25)

All generations will call me blessed

Catholics and Protestants compared - In defence of the faith

(Buyable on Amazon)

111 Last modified on Monday, 18 November 2024 20:52

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Argentino Quintavalle

Argentino Quintavalle è studioso biblico ed esperto in Protestantesimo e Giudaismo. Autore del libro “Apocalisse - commento esegetico” (disponibile su Amazon) e specializzato in catechesi per protestanti che desiderano tornare nella Chiesa Cattolica.

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Justification incorporates us into the long history of salvation that demonstrates God’s justice: faced with our continual falls and inadequacies, he did not give up, but wanted to make us righteous (Pope Francis)

La giustificazione ci inserisce nella lunga storia della salvezza, che mostra la giustizia di Dio: di fronte alle nostre continue cadute e alle nostre insufficienze, Egli non si è rassegnato, ma ha voluto renderci giusti (Papa Francesco)

Against this cultural pressure, which not only threatened the Israelite identity but also the faith in the one God and in his promises, it was necessary to create a wall of distinction, a shield of defence to protect the precious heritage of the faith; this wall consisted precisely in the Judaic observances and prescriptions (Pope Benedict)

Contro questa pressione culturale, che minacciava non solo l’identità israelitica, ma anche la fede nell’unico Dio e nelle sue promesse, era necessario creare un muro di distinzione, uno scudo di difesa a protezione della preziosa eredità della fede; tale muro consisteva proprio nelle osservanze e prescrizioni giudaiche (Papa Benedetto)

Christ reveals his identity of Messiah, Israel's bridegroom, who came for the betrothal with his people. Those who recognize and welcome him are celebrating. However, he will have to be rejected and killed precisely by his own; at that moment, during his Passion and death, the hour of mourning and fasting will come (Pope Benedict)

Cristo rivela la sua identità di Messia, Sposo d'Israele, venuto per le nozze con il suo popolo. Quelli che lo riconoscono e lo accolgono con fede sono in festa. Egli però dovrà essere rifiutato e ucciso proprio dai suoi: in quel momento, durante la sua passione e la sua morte, verrà l'ora del lutto e del digiuno (Papa Benedetto)

Water is necessary to live but wine expresses the abundance of the banquet and the joy of the celebration. A feast without wine? I don’t know.... By transforming into wine the water from the stone jars used “for the Jewish rites of purification” (v. 6) — it was customary: to purify oneself before entering a home — Jesus effects an eloquent sign. He transforms the Law of Moses into Gospel, bearer of joy (Pope Francis).

L’acqua è necessaria per vivere, ma il vino esprime l’abbondanza del banchetto e la gioia della festa. Una festa senza vino? Non so… Trasformando in vino l’acqua delle anfore utilizzate «per la purificazione rituale dei Giudei» (v. 6) – era l’abitudine: prima di entrare in casa, purificarsi –, Gesù compie un segno eloquente: trasforma la Legge di Mosè in Vangelo, portatore di gioia (Papa Francesco)

Being considered strong, capable of commanding, excellent, pristine, magnificent, performing, extraordinary, glorious… harms people. It puts a mask on us, makes us one-sided; takes away understanding. It floats the character we are sitting in, above reality

Essere considerati forti, capaci di comandare, eccellenti, incontaminati, magnifici, performanti, straordinari, gloriosi… danneggia le persone. Ci mette una maschera, rende unilaterali; toglie la comprensione. Fa galleggiare il personaggio in cui siamo seduti, al di sopra della realtà

The paralytic is not a paralytic

Il paralitico non è un paralitico

«The Lord gave me, friar Francis, to begin to do penance like this: when I was in sins, it seemed too bitter to see lepers; and the Lord Himself brought me among them and I showed mercy with them. And moving away from them, what seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of soul and body. And then, I stayed a while and left the world» (FS 110)

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