Christ Knocking at the Door
Dr. J. Gerald Harris
Revelation 3:14-22
There is a famous painting by Warner Sallman. It is a picture of a cottage, run down and neglected. Thistles have grown up around the door and grass has grown in the pathway. The trailing years of vines and weeds are everywhere. The hinges are rusted. Yet, in the midst of that dishevelment and neglect there stands the kingliest form that mind could imagine -- the Lord Jesus Christ.
There Jesus stands knocking at the door, and the glory of His light falls upon the neglected cottage.
One of the most familiar stories I have read is of a discerning man who looked at the picture, went to see Mr. Sallman, the artist, and said, "You have made a mistake. You did not put any handle on the door. It is just a plain door."
The artist replied, "No, not a mistake. You misunderstand. The handle is on the inside. We must open the door. When we do, the glory of that light falls upon the soul, and what a difference!" The Lord says, "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
Now, with that picture in mind I want us to look at our text. The first thing that we shall consider is
I. THE AUTHORITATIVE CHRIST
Verse 14 establishes the fact that Jesus is the authoritative Christ. Notice how it describes Him. "These things sayest the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God."
First of all, we see that it is Christ alone who authoritatively represents finality. He is "the Amen." He only among men is the affirmation and the confirmation of the mind of God. Because He is God's last word, there is no improving upon Him. "Amen" is stamped upon the very image of Christ. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
His ministry fulfills every promise of God: "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen" (II Corinthians 1:20). Nothing can be added to or subtracted from any utterance that He makes.
In thinking on ...
Dr. J. Gerald Harris
Revelation 3:14-22
There is a famous painting by Warner Sallman. It is a picture of a cottage, run down and neglected. Thistles have grown up around the door and grass has grown in the pathway. The trailing years of vines and weeds are everywhere. The hinges are rusted. Yet, in the midst of that dishevelment and neglect there stands the kingliest form that mind could imagine -- the Lord Jesus Christ.
There Jesus stands knocking at the door, and the glory of His light falls upon the neglected cottage.
One of the most familiar stories I have read is of a discerning man who looked at the picture, went to see Mr. Sallman, the artist, and said, "You have made a mistake. You did not put any handle on the door. It is just a plain door."
The artist replied, "No, not a mistake. You misunderstand. The handle is on the inside. We must open the door. When we do, the glory of that light falls upon the soul, and what a difference!" The Lord says, "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
Now, with that picture in mind I want us to look at our text. The first thing that we shall consider is
I. THE AUTHORITATIVE CHRIST
Verse 14 establishes the fact that Jesus is the authoritative Christ. Notice how it describes Him. "These things sayest the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God."
First of all, we see that it is Christ alone who authoritatively represents finality. He is "the Amen." He only among men is the affirmation and the confirmation of the mind of God. Because He is God's last word, there is no improving upon Him. "Amen" is stamped upon the very image of Christ. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
His ministry fulfills every promise of God: "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen" (II Corinthians 1:20). Nothing can be added to or subtracted from any utterance that He makes.
In thinking on ...
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