What Jesus Does

What Jesus Does

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 1:5b-6

Early in the first chapter of Revelation, John dedicates the writing of the book to its central character and focus, Jesus Christ, and in so doing makes three declarations about what Jesus does for us.

First, declares John, Jesus “loves us.” This describes his permanent and constant attitude toward us. He chooses to love us, not because we are loveable, but because that is his disposition and his choice. And that is a wonderful thing for us.  The Bible reverberates with the refrain that “his love endures forever.” It is Christ’s love for us that motivates his redemptive work on our behalf.

And that leads us to John’s second declaration about Jesus, that he “has freed us from our sins by his blood.” Without the sacrifice of Jesus, we are each hopelessly enslaved to sin. That’s what the Bible says and it’s what our lives demonstrate. We owed the debt, but thanks be to God, Jesus paid the price, redeeming us by the shedding of his own blood. This cleansing and freeing of the believer is the primary work of redemption and those who have been redeemed can eagerly look forward with hope to Christ coming again, with no fear of judgment.

In fact, our future is to rule with Christ in his coming kingdom, which is included in John’s third declaration that Jesus “has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.” That is our position now and it is our destiny in the fulfillment of redemption.

What amazing things Jesus has done for us. “To him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Have you stopped to consider what great things Jesus has done for you?