Good News Revealed

Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:1–8

The Unveiling of God’s Faithfulness

Grace and peace to you from Him 

who is, and who was, and who is to come.

Revelation 1:4

Revelation is often approached with fear or confusion, but it begins with a blessing. The word itself—apokalypsis—does not mean a "hiding," but an unveiling. It is not a cryptic puzzle for a select few; it is a clear disclosure of who God is. As Eugene Peterson noted, “Revelation is not a puzzle to be solved; it is a truth to be lived.” In this Advent season, we see Revelation as the grand finale to the mystery of the Incarnation. The Word who arrived quietly in a manger is now revealed in His cosmic fullness, proving that God’s faithfulness is visible even in our present struggle.

John greets us in the name of the God who “is, and was, and is to come.” This is a steady anchor for our "runaway minds" and anxious hearts:

• The One Who Was: He is the eternal Logos who tabernacled among us (John 1).
• The One Who Is: He is currently present, walking among the "lampstands" of our lives when we feel overwhelmed.
• The One Who Is to Come: He is the Alpha and the Omega, the certain hope toward which we lift our heads.

Advent reminds us that God's faithfulness isn't a memory or a wish; it surrounds us on every side. As Walter Brueggemann says, “Hope is not optimism; it is the decision to live trusting that God is faithful even when the evidence is thin.”

At the heart of this unveiling is the pierced Christ. This is a radical definition of glory—the glory of the slain Lamb whose wounds remain visible. God’s faithfulness is not proven by a display of distant power, but by His scars. Because He was "led to forget Himself in our needs" (Warfield), He now makes us a “kingdom and priests.” To live this good news is to abandon our "traditional privileges" (Camus) and carry His light into the darkness of others. Advent faith does not retreat from the world; it enters the "midst of men," trusting that the God of all time is already at work.

Prayer 

Lord, we thank You that as the Alpha and the Omega, You hold our past, present, and future securely in Your faithful hands. We praise You for revealing Your glory through the scars of a Savior who refused to stay distant from our pain. Grant us the courage to stand tall this Advent and carry Your light into the world as Your servants. Amen.