( Revelation 3:7-13 ) - [ Deutsch ] - [ Akündigungen963.48 KB ]
Dear congregation,
I would like to invite you to be witnesses with me.
Witnesses at a church council meeting of the newly elected church council that might have taken place like this, about the year 90 AD in a city called Philadelphia somewhere in Asia Minor.
The chairman opens the meeting:
"Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today I want to talk to you about a problem that is weighing heavily on our congregation. A problem that has already moved many church members to leave and will probably continue to do so. I am talking about the temple in Pergamum.
The temple that the Romans built to worship the divine Augustus and the goddess Roma. This temple is where the Roman rulers are supposed to be worshipped as gods. In the meantime, temples like this have been built in numerous cities in Asia Minor. But so far, we have been lucky.
By special decree from Rome, we have not had to take part in this ritual of sacrifice until now. Because to the Romans we were Jews. That' s how it was until now. But now a new situation has arisen.
As I am sure you all know, at the Synod of Jamnia the Jews clearly separated themselves from us Christians. And now Rome no longer wants to free us from the emperor's cult. We are officially no longer considered Jews, even if we were once Jews. This means that anyone who now refuses to worship the emperor in one of the surrounding temples and to offer him sacrifices is liable to prosecution.
The worst consequence can be the death penalty.
Dear brothers and sisters, we must deliberate today on what to say to the congregation. How should people behave? They will ask us for advice!"
So, they deliberate back and forth. However, they do not reach a definite conclusion.
There is a knock. It is the messenger. He has hidden a small scroll under his robe. "Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ. I have brought you a letter.”
A letter from John, the seer, the former church leader.
Listen to what he writes to you in the 3rd chapter, verses 7 to 13:
Revelation 3:7-13
7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He has the key that belonged to David, and when he opens a door, no one can close it, and when he closes it, no one can open it.
8 I know what you do; I know that you have a little power; you have followed my teaching and have been faithful to me. I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close.
9 Listen! As for that group that belongs to Satan, those liars who claim that they are Jews but are not, I will make them come and bow down at your feet. They will all know that I love you.
10 Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you safe from the time of trouble which is coming upon the world to test all the people on earth.
11 I am coming soon. Keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize.
12 I will make those who are victorious pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which will come down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my new name.
13 "If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!
Quietly they listened.
This letter is really addressed to them.
John has written everything down in a rather coded way, in case the letter falls into the wrong hands.
Now they read through it again and understand every word. The one who is speaking to them is none other than Christ himself. No one else can claim to have the keys of David. This is Christ who is speaking to them. And he knows them, and he has seen everything that they do.
He heard how they clung to his name, despite the many disadvantages they had to put up with.
And the 'group that belongs to Satan' can only mean the temple in Pergamum, the temple of the Romans who oppress them.
And the false Jews are the Roman occupiers who do not believe in God, but only in their own power and cruel games.
Yes, that is a possibility.
It is as if Christ had listened to their meeting and their despair that he urges them: Hold fast to what you have, lest anyone take away your crown of victory.
12 I will make those who are victorious pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never leave it.
This letter is like a soothing balm. Balm for their insecure souls. They no longer have to make a difficult decision. Another has made it for them. Christ, who conquered death, is on their side. From His new kingdom they will now carry out their tasks. No longer out of fear of what lies ahead. But in the joy that the temple of God is already under construction.
Their decision has been made. Now there is only one more thing to do. They will read this letter in the service. Let everyone hear it and decide for themselves....
Dear congregation,
This concludes our glimpse into the Philadelphia church council meeting in 90 AD.
Of course, this scene is fictional.
What is not invented, however, is the fact that we read this letter in our worship service just as we did then. "And to the angel of the NELCSA write..."
There would certainly be much to praise, but also to criticise. - Depending on where and how one looks.
Or better:
"To the angel of Johannesgemeinde write..." What would be in this letter directly from above, directly to us?
Are we beacons of light or rather a small light? Or does it look quite dark?
What characterises our community? What are our strengths and weaknesses?
What are the goals for the next year and for the years to come?
Whoever has an ear for this should listen carefully to what the Spirit of God is saying to the congregations! This is incredibly important: regarding all planning and activities.
Count on God's Spirit. Let him have his say. Give him space and let him work. Trust him to do something. In His Spirit, God is in our midst.
Our God - and this is how he showed himself in Jesus Christ - is the one who stands up for peace and justice at the side of the weak.
The vision is linked to him that one day the weapons will be silent. That there will be a time when all people have enough to eat and that all striving for domination over others will come to an end.
Even if these are almost unattainable goals, it is a longing that remains. Always a little stronger during Advent. And this longing confronts us with the ever-present task of reflecting on what we are actually doing as individuals and as a congregation. Advent is a time for reflection. In all the hustle and bustle that needs to be done before the holidays. To think about what God wants from me and how things are going in my life.
And maybe there will be time to ask where in our neighbourhood, in our community and in our society the Saviour is needed. Where are we still far from the vision of the Christ, the Prince of Peace, and where do we sense that he is coming.
This reflection is not intended to make us feel small and guilty, for this is precisely what our sermon text is pointing to.
On the contrary. Let us look at our everyday life in the light of the coming Christ, the Saviour. Then we begin to look at life with different eyes.
We ask: Where has the kingdom of God already begun? Where can we already see rays of the light of the Saviour among us?
Where is His name and His word already becoming a reality among us today?
Against this background it is easier to plan and decide. We are building the temple of God, isn't that wonderful? Together we are building his kingdom.
With our own limited power, we contribute to making the vision of divine peace on earth a reality, that the Saviour is near. 11 I am coming soon. Keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize.
Christ encourages us to believe in our own limited power. For He needs this for his divine Kingdom.
For he says: I am coming soon. - Amen.