Bible Passage: Revelation 19:11-16
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: May 29, 2025

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Bulletin May 29, 2025 (Ascension)

A couple of weeks ago we had a pastors’ circuit meeting.  I was up to lead the brothers in what is called a “text study.”  That is a study of one of the upcoming texts for worship.  I had chosen this text.  As I began my presentation, one of the brothers remarked that this is the text where we see “scary Jesus.”  He wasn’t trying to be disrespectful.  But he was commenting on the appearance of Jesus in this text.  Did you listen carefully to the description of your Savior?  He is described as having eyes like blazing flames.  His robe is bloody.  He has a huge, double-edged sword coming out of his mouth.  Seems kind of scary!

But TO WHOM is this scary?  It seems to me this is only scary if you set yourself against Jesus.  If you are his enemy, this Jesus is scary!  But we are not his enemies!  We are his friends!  His beloved!  His redeemed!  His disciples!  We have come tonight, not to war-plan against this Jesus, but to worship him!  To celebrate his ascension into heaven.  And tonight we will not be frightened by the Jesus we see in this text.  But we will rejoice and be comforted that The Ascended Jesus Rides and Reigns!

The book of Revelation is written for the “post-ascension/pre-return” of Jesus Church.  What I mean by this is this:  Jesus told his followers that between his returning to the Father in heaven and his return to earth to judge the living and the dead, we can expect our faith to come under attack.  In the book of Revelation, our three greatest enemies are pictured in very vivid – we might even say, scary – terms.  Of course, public enemy number one is Satan himself.  Satan is pictured in Revelation as a horrible red dragon.  In this world, Satan will have two strong allies in his war against the Church.  One of these enemies will be anti-Christian government.  That is, government powers that persecute Christianity.  In Revelation, this is portrayed as a beast that came up out of the sea.  The first readers of the book of Revelation were experiencing that very thing.  The Roman government was persecuting, even killing Christians.  The other ally of Satan in Revelation attacking the Church is more insidious.  It is a beast that is described as looking like a lamb, but speaking like a dragon.  This is the church that has fallen away from Christ.  It looks like “church”, it’s got all the outward adornments that make it look like “church,” but it lies and deceives.  It is, in the end, doing Satan’s work, not Christ’s.  This Beast is also called “the False Prophet.”

Now that seems scary!  How are we going to contend with enemies like that?  With what strength and arms shall we do battle?  We are sheep and lambs!  What match are we for the Dragon and the Two Beasts?  It feels a little bit at times like the old saying about two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner.  Indeed, Paul captures the pressure we lambs feel for Jesus’ sake.  For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. (Romans 8:36)

That is why Revelation 19:11-16 was written!  So we can look up!  So we can see what is really happening!  The ascended Jesus rides and reigns!  And just look at him!  John sees him atop a white horse.  He is a warrior.  The white symbolizes purity and holiness.  He is the ultimate “good guy” and “hero” in the metanarrative of the universe.  He is called “Faithful” and “True.”  He is trustworthy and made of truth!  He is heaven’s counterweight to the lying “beast”, the “False Prophet”, who deceives the nations.  With justice he judges and makes war. (v. 11)  The history of this world is the story of unjust war after unjust war.  The One who rides and reigns makes holy war.  His eyes are like blazing fire. (v. 12)  If the suffering Church on earth wonders if her Lord knows what is happening to it, the fiery eyes of the Rider affirm, “He sees everything!”

On his head are many crowns. (v. 12)  The best I have ever heard of is a “triple-crown winner.”  And that’s a horse!  Jesus has many crowns.  He is king to the Nth degree.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself…his name is the Word of God (v. 12, 13)  Who can fully understand the person of the God/Man, Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh?  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. (v. 13)  Here we might think this is the blood he shed on Calvary.  But John’s words harken back to the prophet Isaiah (63:2-3), Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?  (Jesus’ answer:) I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me.  I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.  The blood on his robe is the blood of the enemies he defeated on Good Friday and Easter morning.  The divisions of the holy angel-army fall in behind, their robes and horses dazzling white.

His weapon is in his mouth!  Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. (v. 15)  His word will finally cut all enemies down to size.  He will speak the final, dreadful “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire!”  He will “trample out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.”  And John notices, there on the robe of the Rider, about thigh-high, some words:  King of kings and Lord of lords. (v. 16)

That is what we need to see as well!  The risen, victorious, ascended Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.  The ascended Lord Jesus rides and reigns.  We live in world of kings and queens and presidents, and prime ministers and crown princes, and representatives and senators, and emperors and emirs and caliphs and tin-horn dictators.  And some can be kind of scary sometimes.  But there is one who is King of all the kings and Lord of all the lords:  Jesus Christ.  Crucified. Risen. Sitting at God’s right hand.  Coming again to judge.  The Undefeated!  The undefeatable!  So don’t be afraid!  The ascended Jesus – YOUR Jesus – rides and reigns!

Amen.