Why Israel?

Willem Glashouwer Tuesday 7 July 2009

(This article is one of a series of short reflections by Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer on the Book of Revelation. These reflections can be used as dialy devotionals.) Revelation 1:1B ‘… which God gave Him …’

God gives. It comes forth from Him. He gives His Son to mankind. From the very beginning of the Bible He made that promise, Genesis 3:15. The seed of the woman shall crush the head of the serpent, the devil. The serpent shall strike (literally: snap at) the heel of the Child, who will also die, but in and through that strike, by His death the devil will be dethroned. In this way He shall free mankind from the fear of death, Hebrews 2:14-15.

He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father!, Philippians 2:8-11. After the incredible suffering comes the tremendous glorification. Hannah sings about it prophetically in her song of praise, 1 Samuel 2:10b, and Mary continues the jubilation in her beautiful ‘Magnificat’, Luke 1:46-55. David sees His kingdom from afar, Psalm 2:7-9, and the prophets of the Old Testament look for it with great longing. Even Christ Himself already knows during His humiliation that it will be through suffering that the victory will be gained. He could endure the cross and despise its shame because He knew what joy awaited Him, Hebrews 12:2.
The Father gives everything into the hands of the Son. John bears witness to this again and again when he writes his gospel. He remembers the words of Jesus. Words such as: The Father loves the Son and has placed everything into His hands, John 3:35. Everything! Judgment and the raising of the dead, John 5:19-30, the teachings that He proclaims, John 7:16 and 8:28, and even now: all authority, all power has been given to Him in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18. Soon will follow the public revealing of His glory.
It is almost inconceivable, almost unimaginable and beyond belief, but Jesus longs for us to share in all of that. He really would like us to be where He is. And reign with Him and share in His glory, John 17:22 and 24.
But that will mean in our lives today too that we also will go through the depths, just like He did. Through suffering to glory, Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 1:5-7; Hebrews 2:10-11 and 5:8; 1 Peter 2:20-21, 4:1 and 5:1. But in all of that suffering we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Hebrews 12:2!
God gives. And in Him it is immovable and unshakeable. The love that proceeds from the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our eternal salvation.

Observation:
– The meaning of this verse can also be grammatically understood: The revelation of the mysteries in regard to the future and the coming glorification of Jesus, which God has made known to Him. That is how some modern translations translates this verse. But I do not agree with them. There are things that only the Father knows and gives, compare with Mark 13:32. But the decisive and highest things that the Father gives to the Son and not just ‘makes known’ (because that is the meaning of the Greek verb that is used, not just: to announce, to make known, but to gives) is the revelation, the unveiling of His glory as reward for His humiliation. -Because God gives Jesus, we may and are allowed to accept and receive Him.

Tags: Rev. Glashouwer, revelation