“From Him, To Him” (Ready to Worship S13E2)

This season on Ready to Worship, we are studying what John saw and said about worship in the book of Revelation. In this particular study, we will focus on WHO we worship and WHY. In the opening verses of the letter, we read, “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:4-6). Please note the “from Him” (1:4) and “to Him” (1:6) construction. The “from Him” construction deals with WHO we worship and the “to Him “ construction deals with WHY we give glory and praise to Him.

 

 

In identifying the source of the revelation and the object of our worship, John gives two sets of three. First, John spoke of Jesus as one of the Godhead three. The One who is and who was and who is to come in this passage is the Father (Rev. 1:4). Later, it will refer to the Son (1:8). The seven Spirits refers to the Holy Spirit and His work. Since there is just one Spirit (Eph. 4:4), the number seven must be interpreted figuratively to picture perfection or completion. Finally, there is Jesus Christ. He is one of the Godhead three. He is also eternal and perfect (Isa. 9:6-7: Mic. 5:2). Second, after describing Jesus as one of the Godhead three, John spoke of Jesus as the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. These three descriptions show Jesus as prophet (John 8:13-18), priest (Heb. 2:14-18), and King (John 18:37; 1 Tim. 6:15). Clearly, John has established WHO we worship- the Almighty God.

 

 

Having established WHO we worship by examining the “from Him” construction, let’s now notice WHY we give Him praise and glory by examining the “to Him” construction. This time John gives us one grouping of three. He described Jesus as the One who loved us, washed us in His own blood, and made us kings and priests. Did you see the three verbs or action words (loved, washed, and made)? We love and worship God not only for who He is, but for what He has done. Consider what John wrote in the book of First John: “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We reciprocate His love. His love came first. Notice what John said earlier in this same context: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We love and worship Him because He loved us, washed us, and made us kings and priests. Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pet. 2:9-10).

 

As we get ready to worship this week, let’s remember WHO we worship and WHY. We worship the Almighty God because he loved us, washed us in His blood, and made us kings and priests.