John on Patmos

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever!” — Revelation 1:17–18

Many years went by. Paul had finished his race. Peter too. Most of the first followers of Jesus had gone to be with Him.

But one of them was still alive, now a very old man. It was John, the fisherman, one of Jesus’ closest friends, the one who had stood by the cross.

John had been sent away to a lonely, rocky island called Patmos, because he kept telling people about Jesus. He was a prisoner there, far from his friends.

One Sunday, the Lord’s Day, John was worshipping God. And suddenly he heard a loud voice behind him, like a trumpet!

John turned around to see who was speaking. And he saw seven golden lampstands. And standing among them was someone like the Son of Man.

It was Jesus! But not the way John had seen Him on the hills of Galilee, or walking by the lake. Jesus was dressed in a long robe with a golden sash around His chest. His hair was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like blazing fire. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars. And His face was shining like the sun at its brightest.

When John saw Him, he fell down at His feet, as if he were dead.

But Jesus put His right hand on John, and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead, and look, now I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death.”

It was the same gentle touch John had known when he was a young man. The same “Do not be afraid.” This was the same Jesus, the friend John had walked with. But now John was seeing Him in all His glory as King of everything.

“Write down what you see,” Jesus told him.

So John wrote it all down. He wrote letters from Jesus to seven churches, encouraging them and warning them. And then Jesus showed John amazing visions of heaven, and of what will happen at the end of the world. John wrote them down in a book. It’s the very last book of the Bible, called Revelation, which means “uncovering” or “showing”.

Some parts of Revelation are mysterious and hard to understand, even for grown-ups. They are full of pictures and symbols. But the main message is clear: Jesus is King. He has won. Evil will not win in the end. And one day, Jesus is coming back.

John was old, and alone, and a prisoner on a lonely island. But he wasn’t really alone. Jesus came to him there. And Jesus showed him how the whole story will end.

Read it in your Bible: Revelation 1:9–19

Dear Jesus, thank you that you are alive for ever and ever, and that you are King of everything. When I am afraid, help me to hear you say, “Do not be afraid.” Amen.