John begins with wonder: the Father has loved us so greatly that we are called His children — and that is truly what we are (1 John 3:1). The world does not understand believers because it did not know Jesus either (1 John 3:1). But our identity is not just future; it is present. We are God’s children now, even though the fullness of what we will become has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:2). One day, when Christ appears, believers will be like Him in glory, purity, and freedom from sin, because we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2; cf. Phil. 3:20–21). This hope is not meant to make us passive. It moves us to pursue holiness now. Those who truly hope in Christ seek to be pure because He is pure (1 John 3:3).
John then draws a sharp contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil. Sin is not small or harmless; it is lawlessness, rebellion against God (1 John 3:4). Jesus appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin at all (1 John 3:5). Therefore, no one who truly abides in Christ can make a settled pattern of sinning (1 John 3:6, 9). John is not saying Christians never sin (cf. 1 John 1:8–2:1), but that a life marked by ongoing, unrepentant sin shows a person does not truly know Christ. By contrast, those born of God practice righteousness because God’s seed abides in them (1 John 3:7–10). Jesus came not only to forgive sin but to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). That means belonging to Christ changes how a person lives.
John then returns to one of his major themes: love for fellow believers. This is not a new idea but the message Christians have heard from the beginning — that we should love one another (1 John 3:11). Cain becomes the warning example. He hated his brother Abel because Abel’s deeds were righteous and his own were evil (1 John 3:12). In the same way, the world still hates those who belong to God (1 John 3:13). But believers know they have passed from death to life because they love the brothers (1 John 3:14). Hatred is not a minor issue; John says it is the heart of murder (1 John 3:15; cf. Matt. 5:21–22). Real love is seen most clearly in Jesus, who laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16). So Christian love must move beyond words into action. If someone sees a brother in need and refuses to help, John asks how God’s love can truly abide in that person (1 John 3:17–18).
John closes the chapter by showing that loving obedience brings assurance. When believers love in deed and truth, they can know they belong to the truth and can quiet their hearts before God (1 John 3:18–19). Even when our hearts trouble us, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything fully (1 John 3:20). As believers walk in obedient faith, they gain confidence before God in prayer (1 John 3:21–22). John summarizes God’s command simply and clearly: believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another (1 John 3:23). Faith in Christ and love for His people belong together. Those who keep His commandments abide in Him, and His abiding presence is confirmed by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us (1 John 3:24).
🌀 Reflection: Is your hope in Christ’s return making you more like Jesus now? John shows that real assurance is not found in empty claims but in a life shaped by righteousness, repentance, and practical love for others.
💬 Mission Challenge: Look for one tangible way to love a brother or sister in Christ today — meet a need, give encouragement, or make a sacrifice that reflects the self-giving love of Jesus.
John begins this chapter by reminding believers both of God’s call to holiness and of the grace provided when we fail. He writes so that believers may not sin, yet he also acknowledges that sin still occurs. When it does, Christians are not left without hope: “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Jesus speaks on behalf of His people before the Father, and His work on the cross is the basis of that defense. John says that Christ is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2) — the sacrifice that satisfied God’s righteous judgment and turned His wrath into favor. This sacrifice is sufficient for the whole world, offered to people everywhere, though it is received only through faith in Christ (cf. John 3:16, 18). Because of Jesus’ work, believers can face their sin honestly while resting in the mercy of God.
John then explains that genuine knowledge of God produces a transformed life. Those who claim to know God but refuse to keep His commands are deceiving themselves (1 John 2:3–4). Obedience does not earn salvation, but it does reveal that someone truly belongs to Christ. Those who abide in Him will seek to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:5–6). Central to that obedience is the command to love one another. John calls it both an old commandment — rooted in the message believers heard from the beginning — and a new commandment — made fresh through the life and love of Jesus Himself (1 John 2:7–8; cf. John 13:34). Anyone who claims to live in the light while hating a brother or sister is still in darkness, but those who love their fellow believers walk in the light and avoid stumbling (1 John 2:9–11).
John pauses to encourage his readers by reminding them who they are in Christ: their sins are forgiven, they know the Father, and they have overcome the evil one through the word of God (1 John 2:12–14). Because of this identity, they must guard their hearts from loving the world. John is not speaking of the created world or the people in it, but the sinful system that opposes God. The desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life all pull people away from the Father (1 John 2:15–16). Yet this world is temporary and passing away, while those who do the will of God will abide forever (1 John 2:17).
Finally, John warns his readers about false teachers, whom he calls “antichrists.” These individuals had left the church and denied that Jesus is the Christ, revealing that they were never truly part of God’s people (1 John 2:18–19, 22). In contrast, believers have been anointed by the Holy Spirit, who helps them recognize the truth and resist deception (1 John 2:20–21, 27). John urges them to hold fast to the message they heard from the beginning and to abide in Christ so that they may stand confidently when He appears (1 John 2:24–28). Those who truly know the righteous Christ will show it by practicing righteousness, because they have been born of Him (1 John 2:29).
🌀 Reflection: When you think about your relationship with God, do you lean more toward ignoring sin or toward despair because of it? John calls believers to neither extreme. We are called to pursue holiness, yet when we fail, we look to our Advocate — Jesus Christ the righteous.
💬 Mission Challenge: Encourage another believer today by reminding them that Jesus not only died for their sins but now speaks for them before the Father as their Advocate.
John begins this letter by grounding everything in the real, historical Jesus Christ. He is not passing along rumors, theories, or private spiritual ideas. He says they heard Him, saw Him, looked upon Him, and even touched Him with their hands (1 John 1:1). The One he proclaims is “the word of life,” the eternal Son who was with the Father and was made manifest to us (1 John 1:1–2; cf. John 1:1, 14). This matters because our faith is built on the true Christ who really came in the flesh, really lived among His people, and really made the Father known. John writes so that his readers may share in fellowship with the apostles — and even more, fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). Christianity is not merely knowing facts about Jesus. It is being brought into real communion with God through the Son, and that fellowship leads to full joy (1 John 1:4; cf. John 15:11).
John then gives the message that shapes the rest of the letter: “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). God is perfectly holy, perfectly true, and perfectly pure. That means no one can honestly claim to know Him while continuing to walk in darkness (1 John 1:6). A life marked by hidden sin, falsehood, and rebellion contradicts a profession of fellowship with God. But John does not call believers to pretend sin is absent. Instead, he says that those who walk in the light have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses them from all sin (1 John 1:7). Walking in the light does not mean sinless perfection. It means living openly before God, agreeing with His truth, and resting in the cleansing that comes only through Jesus’ atoning blood.
That is why John strongly warns against denying sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar (1 John 1:8, 10; cf. Rom. 3:23). The mark of genuine faith is not claiming to be beyond sin, but confessing sin honestly before God. And here is the sweet hope of the gospel: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God does not forgive because sin is small, but because Jesus is sufficient. He is faithful to His promises and just because Christ has paid for sin. So 1 John 1 calls us to live in the open — honest about our sin, confident in Christ, and joyful in fellowship with God.
🌀 Reflection: Are you more tempted to hide your sin, minimize it, or excuse it? Walking in the light means bringing your sin honestly before God and trusting that the blood of Jesus is enough to cleanse you completely.
💬 Mission Challenge: Be honest with God today about a specific sin you have been tempted to hide, and then encourage another believer with the hope that in Christ there is real forgiveness and cleansing.
We’re back in our study of Revelation called The KING is Coming, where we’re taking a verse-by-verse approach to see what the book truly reveals—Jesus Christ Himself. As always, I’m joined by Jamie Harrison, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to walk through this study together. Today, we’ll be looking at the last of Jesus’s letters to the churches, this time turning to the church in Laodicea. This week’s passage is Revelation 3:14-22:
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”[1]
Keith Harris: Welcome to this week’s Refresh & Restore Bible study. We are in our The King Is Coming study of the book of Revelation, and today we’re closing out the section on Jesus’s letters to the churches with what’s probably the best known of those — Jesus’s letter to the church in Laodicea.
Today, just as we have been recently, we are here with Jamie Harrison. Hey, Jamie.
Jamie Harrison: Hey Keith. Good to be here with you today doing this Bible study. I feel as though we’ve never left.
Keith: Well, sometimes it can just feel like we’ve recorded two or three of these right in a row.
Jamie: Again, it can feel just like that.
Keith: Sometimes it is that. Before we get into too much banter, let’s dive into the letter to Laodicea. What have you got for us today?
Jamie: Hopefully the Bible has stuff for us and not me.
Keith: Amen. Amen.
Jamie: So the letter to Laodicea — Laodicea, Laodicea — yes, yes — is the toughest letter of all the seven letters to the churches. With Sardis, which was a tough letter — you have Him saying, you know, Jesus says that you’re dead, right? You’re living on a reputation, but you’re dead. But He even gives them a little bit of praise where He says, “Hey, you’ve got some who are still keeping My word.” But with this letter to Laodicea, there is none of that right there. There is no praise at all.
Keith: There’s opportunity, that’s right — but no praise. And for context — we talked about this a little while ago — for context, the church in Laodicea and the church of the Colossians, thirty years prior to this, twenty years prior to this, Paul talked about them in unison. That, you know, you read this person’s letter, y’all read this one. He talked about them well. But here we are a generation or so later, and Jesus says a lot of tough stuff to them.
Jamie: And so, of course, the letter starts off just as the other ones have — with that salutation of “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea,” which again, the angel — the pastor. And then He gives attributes of Himself. “Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation.” So you get the idea here. The Amen is certainty. Veracity. Christ has the final word, so to speak. The faithful and true witness — He is completely trustworthy. He’s a perfectly accurate witness to the truth of God, so to speak. And the originator of God’s creation — so there’s this heresy that was going on in Laodicea and Colossae that Christ was a created being. And you can look back at Colossians 1:15–19 for that.
Keith: And heresy — that’s a word that means it has been clearly established and understood to be not biblical. And it’s really and truthfully meant to be not biblical — to throw people off, right? And so I just wanted to clarify that. It’s not a word we hear often, because we live in a very permissive society where some people — even pastors — will have sort of a laissez-faire, hands-off, anything-goes attitude. Jesus especially didn’t when He came to the church at Colossae, because He corrected that, like Jamie’s about to do here.
Jamie: And so the originator of God’s creation is — I’ve been here since the beginning. I’m not a created being. I was here at the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And even back in Genesis — it’s “Let us make man.” It’s plural. We were here from the beginning. We created the heavens and the earth. We did those things. And so Jesus corrects this: I’ve been here from the beginning, and what I’m about to say is truth — and has always been — and it is the final word. So He jumps right into it and He says: “I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot.” So in all these letters, you’ll notice that Jesus is personal with these churches. He points out different things that would have been personal to them. Last week we talked about the church in Philadelphia and the earthquakes they had — and being called pillars, something that would not fall apart when the earthquake hits. So it’s very personal to them. And here He gets personal right off the bat. He says, “I know that you’re neither cold nor hot.” What you need to know about Laodicea is that they didn’t have a water source there. They had all of their water piped in through underground aqueducts. And as you can imagine, by the time the water got to them, it was very lukewarm. It wasn’t cold, it wasn’t hot — but in fact, it was dirty and lukewarm.
Keith: In lots of places at the time — if you think about it in the context of the era in which this was written, where this church existed — if they had hot springs, they were renowned for that. People would come to those hot springs. If they had cool, clear water, people would come from miles around to get some of this cool, clear water. But by the time it got to them, it wasn’t either of the valuable water sources, right?
Jamie: Meaning it wasn’t useful, right? And so, of course, the people that live there — you know, you get used to it after a while. I guess your stomach builds up a tolerance to it, whatever the case may be. I don’t know how that works. I’m not a doctor or scientist by any stretch of the imagination or anything like that. But what we do know is that especially with visitors — when they would come to the city — if they would take a drink of the water, they would immediately puke it out. Because of the lukewarmness, because of the dirt and stuff that was in it, it would cause an immediate reaction from the body to puke. Or throw up. Or spit out. Whatever you want to say. And so don’t get lost in the fact that Jesus is being very personal with this church. “Hey, you guys are like this water. You’re not useful.” And because you’re not useful, He goes on in verse 16: “Because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you — or spit you — or puke you — whatever you want to call it — out of My mouth.” So again — very, very personal. You guys are not useful to Me. You are something that needs to be thrown up and gotten rid of.
Keith: And the tense of that word in Greek is almost like a snapshot — like a Polaroid. He’s wanting them to get this picture, get this image, and realize — you know, sometimes when we see a spit take or something like that, we might find it humorous in today’s time. But if you’re the one who’s taking something into your mouth that is not what you wanted, not what you were going for — it’s not a pleasant experience. You want to expel it. You don’t want to deal with it. It’s an instantaneous reaction. And Jesus is saying, the way y’all are right now — this is what it will be if it continues. That’s a big deal.
Jamie: And again, He identified Himself as the originator of God’s creation. So this is the Creator of the world saying to you —
Keith: “You’re useless.”
Jamie: Right. And so as we move forward here — a couple more things about Laodicea that will help us put this in context and make sense. They were a very, very wealthy city. They trusted in themselves a lot because of this wealth — as oftentimes happens. And they had three main industries. One of those industries was banking. One of those industries was wool. And one of those industries was medicine. Specifically salve for eyes. Very specifically, they had created this tablet and they would crush it up and put it on the eyes and supposedly it would help you with stuff. And I’m sure it did. I don’t know. I didn’t live back then. But I’m sure it worked to some extent.
Keith: I mean, if you’re famous for something — it’s not like they could go to a market and buy it back then. If people are coming to buy it —
Jamie: Must have worked, right? And so with the wool — obviously you think garments. Banking — you think money. And so again, Jesus being very, very personal with this church, as He goes forward He says in verse 17: “For you say, ‘I am rich. I have become wealthy and need nothing.’” So He gives one side of the coin. You’re rich. I need nothing. I’ve got everything I need. here’s your banking industry. And then He turns around and gives the spiritual counterpart to that. He says, “But you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” So He’s going to hit every single industry on this one. You’re poor. You’re blind. And you’re naked.
Keith: And rather than being respected, people are going to pity you. And you just can’t see it.
Jamie: That’s right. And so He goes forward to say: “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich.” And I think back to 1 Peter 1:5–7 there, that tells us that fire proves the purity of gold. We know that. But what Peter tells us there in chapter 1 is that it proves the character of our faith. So what is Jesus saying here? “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich.” In other words — you live for Me. You have a relationship with Me. You do the things that I’ve called you to do and asked you to do. And when you’re put through the fire of testing, through the fire of trials, through the fire of persecution — you’ll come out on the other side and be with Me for eternity.
Keith: Versus thinking you’re fine by yourself.
Jamie: That’s right.
Keith: And I mean, that’s the case. You think about it — pure gold. He’s giving something of higher value. If you’re in a banking industry, that’s something you’re going to understand. Hey, you’ve got gold — sure. But this is pure, refined gold. This is a higher carat weight, so to speak. So He’s basically saying, “You think you’ve got all this — but I’ve got the real thing.”
Jamie: And think about right now — the time that we live in. January of 2025. Think about the inflation that’s been going on the last few years and how much everything costs. You know how much it’s worth, right? So I think of — just say me personally — financially, every month my wife and I get a check from the school where we work. We know how much we’re going to get paid. We have a budget. We pay the bills. We have X amount for food and things like that. When this inflation hit — it wasn’t the case anymore. All of a sudden, I talked to a lot of people during these last couple of years who have been like, “Man, with the interest rates going up, with the food prices going up, the gas prices going up — I just don’t know what to do. I can’t afford to live anymore. What am I supposed to do?” And it reminds me of this letter. You get to the point where you’re comfortable and you depend on yourself to pay the bills, to get the food that you need — instead of, even when times are good, knowing where it comes from.
Keith: “I am rich. I have prospered. I need nothing.” You get a shift in verb tenses there. “I am currently rich because I have prospered in the past.” And essentially when we get to that point — and it’s much more difficult to seek Christ when things are going well, because you forget how needy you are. And they did.
Jamie: And I think back to — you know — whoever the richest person in the world is right now. I don’t know who it is today. It seems to change from day to day.
Keith: Not us.
Jamie: Definitely not us. But the fact is — according to the Word — you can be the richest man in the world and have nothing if you don’t have Jesus. I think of that song: “I’d rather have Jesus than anything.” You know, “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold.” That’s it. And so that’s the idea that Jesus is getting at here. And so He goes on to say, “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed.” Now He’s hitting that second industry — that wool industry. Those garments. They had very nice clothes. Because of the wool they produced, the dark wool, the dyed garments. So they thought, “Look at how clothed I am. Look at how nice I look. Look at me. Look at me.” You watch some of those award shows — I don’t think anybody watches anymore — and they come in with their dresses and suits. “Who are you wearing?”
Keith: Walmart.
Jamie: That’s right. Walmart. Whichever one’s on sale. Amazon. China. We don’t care. Just something cheap. But their idea was: “Look at me.” And Jesus says, “But you need to ask Me for white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed.” In other words — you don’t even realize you’re naked. I think back to Adam and Eve in Genesis. They didn’t realize they were naked. They were clothed with God’s righteousness in the beginning. They were pure. Without sin. That’s that idea of white. Then in Genesis 3 they sin, and the shame forces them to go get itchy, scratchy leaves and put them on to cover themselves up because their nakedness has been exposed. It’s the exact same idea. Isaiah 20:1–4 gives that same idea of shame for nakedness. Ezekiel 23:29 — two immoral sisters. Revelation 16:15 — another example you can look at.
Keith: There’s something John and I were talking about a couple of weeks ago. It kind of reminds me of Hebrews 4:12–13. You know, a lot of times we talk about the Word of God being living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing even soul and spirit, joints and marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. A lot of times we talk about that as being the written Word of God. But we were looking at it the other day — in the direct context of Hebrews 4, it’s not talking about the written word. It’s talking about Jesus — the Word. And so He’s already told them in this letter — and again, I never put it together like this — He is the beginning of God’s creation, the originator of it. He’s the Word that was spoken in which everything is made. Everything is held together by the word of His power. And now the church at Laodicea is laid before Him — their sin being naked and exposed, like Hebrews 4:13. He knows the thoughts and intentions of their heart. They need to listen to Him. Because they’re in danger.
Jamie: Yeah. That’s right. And so He tells them — you need these white clothes that come from Me. In Revelation 19:8 it says — this is talking about the church, the bride of Christ: “She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure, for the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.” These believers — the church — the bride of Christ — will be dressed with God’s grace, with God’s righteousness when we get to heaven and spend eternity with Him. So what do they need? They need His grace. And what do we need now? His grace. And so He goes from there and He’s going to hit that third industry. He says not only do you need white garments, but you need ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. So He’s hitting this church hard. You guys sell all this stuff. You think it’s awesome because it fixes your eyes and you’re not blind anymore and you can see better. But no — you’re blind. Even with yourself. You’re blind. He says you need ointment that can only come from Me. In 2 Peter 1:5–9 it says: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and short-sighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.” So you talk about a direct correlation here. The Word literally says that if you don’t have these things, you’re blind and short-sighted and you’ve forgotten that you’ve been cleansed from your sins.
Keith: Twenty, thirty years ago everything was fine. But now things were fine for so long they forgot. They needed the Lord.
Jamie: And so then He doubles down here — I don’t know if “doubles down” is the right word — but in verse 19 He says: “As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline.” Okay, so in other words — look guys, I know I’m coming down hard on you. I’m speaking the truth to you. But it’s because I love you. It’s because I love you. Now hear that. Because some people will listen to this and say, “Look, there’s God. He’s such a dictator. All He does is bash people.” And I’ve told on this podcast before — my vision of God when I was growing up was a dude sitting on a throne with a pitchfork waiting to throw me into hell the first time I messed up. And then if I got saved and messed up, I had to get saved again and again and again and again and again and again and again — because He was going to throw me into hell every time that I sinned. And He was waiting for it. Like He was literally sitting — you know how you picture a guy crouched down in a video game and he’s waiting on you to come around the corner and then he pounces on you? That’s how I pictured God.
Keith: Like He’s trying to keep you from some fulfillment you were going to get.
Jamie: That’s right. And instead it says: Look — as bad as you guys are — I want to puke you out of My mouth. But in verse 19: “As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline.” So He doubles down on the rebuke. He doubles down on the discipline. But He explains why. It’s because I love you. It’s because I care about you. It’s because I want you to spend eternity with Me. And then He tells them what to do: “So be zealous and repent.” So if you notice, that repent word keeps coming up over and over and over and over in this study.
Keith: The whole Bible, really.
Jamie: And so I think before we move on, it’s imperative to say here — Look guys. And I heard a guy say this one time and it freaked me out when he said it, but now I understand it. He said, “It doesn’t matter what you do. God loves you.” And I was like, whoa. Hold on just a minute. That’s not true. But here’s what he meant. No matter what we’ve done — if we repent, confess Jesus as Lord, believe in our heart beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was raised from the dead — then we’ll be saved. No matter what we’ve done. No matter how bad it is. There’s not much that shocks me anymore being a middle school principal. I hear lots and lots of stories and things that have happened to kids — and things that just make you stare at the wall at night. Keep you up. But all of that stuff I’ve heard that’s been done — if those people ask for forgiveness, Jesus will forgive them.
Keith: And just as it was with the church at Laodicea — He knows the heart. It’s more than words. It’s more than religion. This is genuinely looking at the love God has. And even when it seems like He’s excitable here in His wrath and judgment — He wants to puke them from His mouth — He’s tempered by His love. And they need to get excitable. They need to warm up. They need to be heated — heated to repentance. He’s not saying this trying to scare people into some words. He’s not trying to get an emotional response. He’s trying to remind people that the God who loves them has made a way for them in Jesus. And that if they don’t respond in faith, they’re going to get what He’s promised. It’s not a threat. It’s a reality. He is the way.
Jamie: And that brings the question up that a lot of people ask: “If God is so loving, then why do people go to hell?” If God is so loving — all these things. Here’s the fact: If God didn’t love us, He would not be as patient as He is with us. Everything we’re about to read for the rest of this book of Revelation could happen real quick and in a hurry. Why hasn’t it happened yet? Because He’s still giving us a chance to repent. Right? And so to go along with verse 19 there — “be zealous and repent” — Hebrews 12:5–6 says: “My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by Him, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.” In other words, the Lord is going to discipline us to get us where we need to be. Sometimes we will go through times of trial. We will go through things in our lives where you go, “Lord, where are You in all this?” But we’re going to grow through it if we remain faithful to Him. We’re going to draw closer to Him through it if we remain faithful. And so the idea there is — repent.
Keith: Sounds kind of silly in the context, but I watched a clip yesterday from an old video where Mr. Rogers — sweater, cardigan, PBS Mr. Rogers — was sitting and listening and talking to a group of parents way back when. Had to be at least the ’80s. As they’re sitting there talking, he’s asking these parents, you know, “Are there some times when you’re raising your kids that you disciplined in a way that you wish you hadn’t?” And these parents are sharing with Mr. Rogers. And you’re expecting him — because he’s always this chill, calm, caring presence — I mean, he epitomizes care in my mind. But he described a time when his boys were young — one who was very boisterous — and there’d be times when he would be so angry at the kid because of something he had done or was doing. But rather than responding in kind in his discipline, he just wrapped his arms around the kid and hugged him up. And I remember sitting there thinking — first off, I can’t imagine Mr. Rogers getting angry in the first place. He literally said he was furious. So I’m like, wow. That’s kind of scary. I think I would be frightened by angry Mr. Rogers. But what he said — just as Jamie was talking about the love and the discipline that comes with the love of God — he said he wrapped his arms around his son because his son’s arms weren’t enough. And so we can’t course-correct on our own. We’re not going to repent if left to our own devices. Left to our own — period. God wraps us up in His love. And sometimes that love He wraps us up in is discipline. But it’s because our arms aren’t enough. His are. And so when you look at this — again, like Jamie said — we get the image of God as this dictator who’s trying to keep us from the fun we want to have or the life we think would be fulfilling. He didn’t have to tell them they were lukewarm. He didn’t have to tell them He wanted to puke them from His mouth. He didn’t have to make Adam and Eve better clothing to cover their shame. He didn’t have to expel them from the garden and let them live. But in love — He did. It’s so important to see there that yes, He’s telling you to repent. Yes, that means you’ve done wrong. He’s telling you out of a heart of love. Because He knows what works best. And He’s trying to keep you from hurting yourself — and others.
Jamie: So the end of this letter here — verse 20 — says: “See, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” And I don’t think there’s much more intimate of a setting than to eat with somebody. It’s a pretty cool thought. You think of the marriage supper of the Lamb and that we’ll all be sitting with Jesus eating that meal together. So that’s the idea. He is standing at the door of this church — which is us believers. He’s knocking. He’s not banging. He’s not forcing the door open. He’s just knocking. And if we’ll open that door, then He’ll come in and we can have a relationship with Him. And guys — that’s powerful. It’s very, very powerful. And again He goes to: “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne.” In other words — we’ll spend eternity with Him if we conquer. 1 John 5:4–5 — we keep going back to that — who is the one who conquers? It’s the one who is saved. The one who has a relationship with Him. And of course the letter ends the same way the rest have: “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” And I think what the Spirit seems to be saying to the churches is: One — if you don’t know Me, it’s time. Two — if you do know Me but you’ve become spiritually lukewarm, spiritually cold, spiritually distant — then it’s time to get right. It’s time to respond. Big John preached again last Sunday — January 5, 2025 — if you want to go back and look at that. His point was every member of the body has a function. Even the appendix has a function — because if it bursts, the whole body goes away. So whether you think you’re the appendix or the kidney — we all have to be doing our job as Christ has called us to do. The idea I get through these seven letters is this: What I think being a Christian is, and what Jesus says being a Christian is, might be two different things. So I need to step back and reflect. What has Jesus called me to do? What am I missing because I’m not listening? And again — if I don’t know Jesus — that’s where we have to start.
Keith: Yeah. And the idea here — and we’re not trying to be cheesy.
Jamie: I’m not a big cheese guy anyway.
Keith: Not trying to do some invitation where music’s playing softly and somebody’s saying—
Jamie: “I surrender all…”
Keith: Definitely not that. But here’s the deal. We’ve got to be clear on the invitation. And I think, you know, out of all the letters to the churches, the church at Ephesus was meant to be written first. The church at Laodicea was meant to be written last. The idea is — He has offered this invitation. He wants to eat with you. He wants to dwell with you. He wants you to confess Him as Lord. It is His desire that all people be saved — but not at the expense of His holiness. He says it’s His desire that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. He is the faithful and true witness. He is God. And as He offers this — He’s knocking. Not forcing Himself upon you. As one of my FCA kiddos said a while back — “Jesus is a gentleman.” He’s not forcing Himself on anybody. As He stands there at the door and knocks and you hear His voice — understand this: Nothing Jamie and I say in teaching has any lasting power. It’s the Bible that we point you to. If you’ve heard the Bible read here today — If you read it written — You’ve heard His voice. Are you going to open to Him?
And ultimately, as we go through the rest of this book, you can get caught up in end-times stuff. You can seek to have your questions answered. Know who the 144,000 are. When the millennium is. When this is. When that is. But ultimately — if you look for the Revelation and you miss Jesus — Then you had an ear. You had the opportunity to hear. And you left the door closed.
Sojourner — it’s up to you. Jesus is knocking. Are you going to open?
John 21 shows that the risen Jesus is still present with His disciples, still providing for them, and still calling them to follow Him. Back in Galilee, several disciples go fishing, but after a whole night of work they catch nothing (John 21:1–3). At daybreak Jesus stands on the shore, though they do not recognize Him at first, and tells them where to cast the net (John 21:4–6). The result is a huge catch of fish, and John realizes, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7). This scene reminds us that apart from Jesus they can do nothing (cf. John 15:5). The risen Christ is not absent from their ordinary lives. He still rules over their work, their needs, and their mission. On the shore He has already prepared a charcoal fire, fish, and bread for them (John 21:9, 12–13). The Lord who died and rose again is still the One who graciously serves His people.
The heart of the chapter is Jesus’ restoration of Peter. Around another charcoal fire — the kind that must have reminded Peter of the place where he denied Jesus three times (John 18:18, 25–27) — Jesus now asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15–17). Peter had failed badly, but Jesus does not discard him. He restores him and recommissions him: “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–17). Love for Jesus must lead to faithful care for Jesus’ people. Peter’s calling would not be easy, because Jesus also tells him that one day he will glorify God in death (John 21:18–19). Still, the command is simple and clear: “Follow me” (John 21:19). The Christian life is not built on pretending we have never failed. It is built on the grace of the risen Christ, who forgives, restores, and calls us forward in obedience.
The chapter closes by reminding Peter not to compare his calling with John’s (John 21:20–23). Peter wants to know what will happen to the other disciple, but Jesus turns the focus back where it belongs: “What is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22). That is a needed word for all of us. We often want to measure our lives against someone else’s path, gifts, or future, but Jesus calls each disciple to personal faithfulness. John then confirms that this Gospel is true testimony from an eyewitness (John 21:24), and he ends by saying that Jesus did many other things that could never all be written down (John 21:25). In other words, this Gospel ends with wonder. We have been given enough to truly know Jesus, but we will never reach the end of His greatness.
🌀 Reflection: It is easy to get distracted by your failures behind you or by other people beside you. But Jesus meets His people with grace and calls them to faithful obedience right where they are. Are you spending more time comparing your path to someone else’s than simply following Jesus yourself?
💬 Mission Challenge: Encourage another believer today who feels disqualified by failure, and remind them that the risen Jesus restores His people and still says, “Follow me.”
John 20 opens with sorrow and confusion, but it quickly turns into joy and faith. Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb and finds the stone taken away (John 20:1). She assumes someone has moved Jesus’ body, not that He has risen (John 20:2). Peter and the beloved disciple run to the tomb and find the linen cloths lying there, with the face cloth folded separately (John 20:3–8). These details matter. This was not grave robbery or hurried removal. The empty tomb and the grave clothes quietly testify that Jesus truly rose from the dead (John 20:6–8). John says the disciples still did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise (John 20:9), which reminds us that the resurrection was not something they expected and invented. It was something God did that they had to come to understand.
Then Jesus reveals Himself personally. Mary stays near the tomb weeping until the risen Jesus speaks her name, and everything changes (John 20:11–16). The Shepherd’s sheep know His voice (cf. John 10:3–4), and Mary moves from grief to joyful witness: “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18). That same day Jesus appears to the disciples behind locked doors and greets them with peace (John 20:19). He shows them His hands and His side, proving that the crucified One is now alive (John 20:20). Then He commissions them: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). The risen Christ does not only comfort His people; He sends them out with His message of forgiveness in His name (John 20:21–23). Resurrection peace becomes resurrection mission.
The chapter then narrows in on Thomas, who refuses to believe unless he sees and touches for himself (John 20:24–25). When Jesus appears again, He meets Thomas in mercy, not scorn, and calls him to believe (John 20:26–27). Thomas answers with one of the clearest confessions in all Scripture: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). John ends by telling us why he wrote this Gospel: so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name (John 20:30–31). John 20 is not just about an empty tomb in the past. It is about the living Christ who still calls people from unbelief to faith, from fear to peace, and from death to life.
🌀 Reflection: The resurrection of Jesus is not an added detail to the gospel; it is the proof that Jesus is who He said He is and that His saving work is complete. Where are you tempted to live like hope is gone, like Mary at the tomb or Thomas in his doubt? Let John 20 call you again to believe that Jesus is alive and that life is found in Him alone.
💬 Mission Challenge: Tell someone today why the resurrection of Jesus matters, and use John 20:31 to explain that eternal life is found by believing in His name.
John 19 brings us to the cross and shows both the guilt of man and the glory of Jesus. Pilate knows Jesus is innocent and says again that he finds no guilt in Him, yet he still gives Him over to be crucified under pressure from the crowd and the chief priests (John 19:4, 6, 12, 16). The soldiers mock Jesus with a crown of thorns and a purple robe, but in John’s deep irony they are mocking the very King He truly is (John 19:2–3, 14–15, 19). The Jewish leaders reject their own Messiah so completely that they say, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). In this chapter, everyone seems to think they are judging Jesus, yet the One standing before them is the true King and Judge. Even in suffering, Jesus is not helpless. Pilate’s authority is only “given… from above,” and Jesus goes to the cross in obedience to the Father’s will (John 19:11; cf. John 10:17–18).
At Golgotha, Jesus is crucified between two others, bearing shame, pain, and the curse that sinners deserve (John 19:17–18; cf. Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13). John keeps showing that this is not a tragic accident but the fulfillment of Scripture and the plan of God (John 19:24, 28, 36–37). The soldiers divide His garments (John 19:23–24; Ps. 22:18), He is given sour wine in His thirst (John 19:28–29; Ps. 69:21), none of His bones are broken like the Passover lamb (John 19:33, 36; Ex. 12:46), and His pierced body fulfills the word of Zechariah (John 19:34, 37; Zech. 12:10). John wants us to see that Jesus is the true Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; cf. 1 Cor. 5:7). When Jesus cries, “It is finished,” He is not speaking in defeat but in victory (John 19:30). The work the Father gave Him to do has been completed. The debt of sin has been paid in full.
Even in His final moments, Jesus continues to love and care for others. He entrusts His mother to the beloved disciple (John 19:26–27), and after His death, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus step forward to honor Him openly in burial (John 19:38–42). The One the world rejected is the One heaven delights in. The chapter closes not with Jesus abandoned to shame, but laid carefully in a new tomb, with the quiet sense that God’s story is not over. John 19 is heavy with sorrow, but it is also full of hope, because the crucified Christ has finished the work of redemption.
🌀 Reflection: Jesus did not merely suffer as an example of love; He suffered to accomplish salvation. John 19 calls us to look at the cross and see both the ugliness of our sin and the greatness of Christ’s mercy. Do you live as though His work is unfinished, trying to earn what Jesus has already accomplished? Rest today in the finished work of your crucified King.
💬 Mission Challenge: Share with someone today what Jesus meant when He said, “It is finished,” and point them to the hope that forgiveness and peace with God are found only through His completed work on the cross.
John 18 shows Jesus moving steadily toward the cross, but not as a helpless victim. He goes with His disciples into the garden, fully knowing what is about to happen (John 18:1–4). When the soldiers and officers come looking for Him, Jesus steps forward and identifies Himself, and they fall backward to the ground at His word (John 18:5–6). Even in His arrest, Jesus is in control. He protects His disciples, fulfilling His promise that He would lose none the Father had given Him (John 18:8–9; cf. John 6:39; 17:12). When Peter tries to defend Jesus with a sword, Jesus stops him and speaks of drinking the cup the Father has given Him (John 18:10–11). Jesus will not avoid the suffering appointed for Him. He will willingly bear the cup of God’s wrath so His people can be saved.
The chapter then contrasts Jesus’ faithfulness with Peter’s weakness. Jesus is questioned before Annas and remains calm, truthful, and righteous under unjust treatment (John 18:19–23). Peter, however, denies three times that he knows Jesus, and the rooster crows just as Jesus had said (John 18:17, 25–27; cf. John 13:38). John places these scenes side by side so we can feel the difference: Jesus stands firm while Peter falls apart. Yet even here, Peter’s failure is not the end of his story. John wants us to see that our hope does not rest in our courage but in Christ’s obedience. Where we fail, Jesus stands. Where we deny, Jesus remains true.
The final part of the chapter centers on Jesus before Pilate. The Jewish leaders want Him executed, but Pilate repeatedly finds no guilt in Him (John 18:28–29, 38). Jesus makes clear that He is indeed a King, but His kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36). He did not come to build an earthly political movement by force, but to bear witness to the truth and lay down His life (John 18:36–37). In bitter irony, the crowd rejects the innocent Son of the Father and asks for Barabbas, a robber and insurrectionist, to be released instead (John 18:39–40). The sinless King is condemned while the guilty man goes free. That exchange points us to the heart of the gospel: Jesus takes the place of sinners so that the guilty may be released.
🌀 Reflection: John 18 reminds us that Jesus was never trapped by events. He chose the path of obedience all the way to the cross. At the same time, Peter’s denials remind us how weak we really are apart from grace. Are you trusting more in your own strength, loyalty, or resolve than in the faithfulness of Christ? Let this chapter humble you, but also comfort you: your salvation rests in the obedient King who stood firm when everyone else failed.
💬 Mission Challenge: Encourage someone today who feels ashamed of failure by pointing them to Jesus in John 18 — especially the One who stood firm for weak disciples and went to the cross for guilty people.
John 17 records Jesus’ great prayer to the Father just before the cross. He first prays for Himself, asking the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father (John 17:1–5). In John’s Gospel, that glory is tied especially to the cross, resurrection, and return to the Father (John 12:23; 13:31–32). Jesus speaks as the eternal Son who shared glory with the Father before the world existed (John 17:5). He also defines eternal life in deeply personal terms: not merely endless existence, but knowing “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Jesus has finished the work the Father gave Him to do in revealing the Father’s name and preparing to lay down His life for His people (John 17:4, 6; cf. John 1:18).
Then Jesus prays for His disciples, those whom the Father had given Him out of the world (John 17:6–19). He says they have received His words and believed that He came from the Father (John 17:8). Because Jesus is about to leave them in the world, He asks the Father to keep them, guard them, fill them with His joy, and protect them from the evil one (John 17:11–15). He does not pray that they would be taken out of the world, but that they would be preserved in the midst of it (John 17:15). They are not of the world, just as Jesus is not of the world (John 17:14, 16). So He asks the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s word sets His people apart, shapes them in holiness, and sends them on mission. Just as the Father sent the Son, the Son now sends His people into the world (John 17:18).
Finally, Jesus prays not only for the eleven, but for all who will believe through their word — including us (John 17:20). He prays for the unity of His church, not a shallow unity built on ignoring truth, but a deep, living unity grounded in the Father and the Son (John 17:21–23). This kind of unity becomes a witness to the world that Jesus truly was sent by the Father (John 17:21, 23). Jesus also prays that His people will one day be with Him and see His glory (John 17:24). The prayer ends with love: Jesus has made the Father known and will continue to do so, “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). This chapter reminds us that our salvation, security, sanctification, unity, mission, and future glory are all held in the loving prayer of Jesus.
🌀 Reflection: It is a comfort beyond words to realize that before going to the cross, Jesus prayed for His people — and not only for the disciples in that room, but for all who would later believe through their witness. Do you think of eternal life mainly as something future, or as a present relationship of knowing God through Jesus Christ? Let this chapter remind you that to belong to Jesus is to be deeply loved, carefully kept, and purposefully sent.
💬 Mission Challenge: Pray John 17:17–21 for your church, your family, or a few fellow believers by name, asking God to grow you all in truth, holiness, and Christ-centered unity so the world may better see Jesus.
Jesus tells His disciples these things so they will not fall away when persecution comes (John 16:1–4). They will be hated, put out of the synagogues, and even attacked by people who think they are serving God (John 16:2). That warning is painful, but it is also merciful. Jesus wants His followers to know beforehand that opposition does not mean He has failed or abandoned them. Their sorrow is real because He is going away, yet His departure is actually for their good, because the coming of the Helper depends on it (John 16:5–7). The Holy Spirit will continue Jesus’ ministry by convicting the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8–11). He will expose the true guilt of unbelief in Christ, the emptiness of false righteousness, and the defeat of Satan, the ruler of this world (John 16:9–11; cf. John 12:31).
Jesus also promises that the Spirit of truth will guide His followers into all the truth (John 16:12–15). The disciples are not ready in that moment to bear everything Jesus has yet to reveal, but the Spirit will teach them, remind them, and make known what belongs to Christ (John 16:12–15; cf. John 14:26). The Spirit’s work is not to draw attention to Himself but to glorify Jesus by taking what is His and declaring it to His people (John 16:14). This means believers are not left alone to guess their way through the Christian life. The risen Christ continues to shepherd His church by His Spirit through His word. The same disciples who are confused and sorrowful here will later understand more clearly because the Spirit will open their eyes to the meaning of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation.
Then Jesus speaks of a “little while” when the disciples will not see Him, and then a little while later when they will see Him again (John 16:16–19). His death will bring weeping and lament for them while the world rejoices, but that sorrow will not last. It will turn to joy, like the anguish of childbirth giving way to joy when the child is born (John 16:20–22). Jesus’ resurrection will bring a joy that no one can take away (John 16:22). From there He points them toward prayer, assuring them that the Father Himself loves them and that they may ask in Jesus’ name (John 16:23–27). Though they will soon scatter and leave Him alone, Jesus is not alone, because the Father is with Him (John 16:32). The chapter ends with one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus does not promise an easy path, but He does promise peace in Him and victory through Him.
🌀 Reflection: Jesus never hides the reality that His followers will face sorrow, pressure, and tribulation in this world. But He also never leaves us with fear as the final word. Are you looking for peace in changed circumstances, or in Christ Himself? His victory does not erase hardship right away, but it does mean hardship never gets the last word.
💬 Mission Challenge: Encourage someone who is hurting, discouraged, or under pressure today by reminding them of John 16:33 and pointing them to the peace and courage that are found in Jesus alone.
Just Keith Harris 