Patmos, Greece

I have the keys of Hades and of Death!

Jesus Christ

Four weeks ago, I spent several days cruising the islands of Greece and exploring the main island of Athens. When the opportunity came to go to Greece, my main attraction was the Island of Patmos; why? It is where the disciple whom Jesus loved received the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Photography is forbidden. The tour guide gave a surface illustration that lacked enthusiasm about the cave and how John heard from God on the Lord’s Day, Revelation 1:10. You can’t tell a story of this magnitude about the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ without knowing Him. Why? Because without passion, you can’t see the works of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

Passion Defined

The sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and His death.

~First part of definition Merriam-Webster~

The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved!

The tour guide recited information as if he read it from a booklet, but as he spoke, God’s discernment led me to how John described himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. John knew Jesus loved him, and it was that consciousness I found myself meditating: if John didn’t have that awareness, would he have been able to perceive Jesus at His appearance in the cave at Patmos? 

John Knew Jesus Loved Him!

Remember, it was John that Jesus revealed who would betray Him at the Last Supper. John’s awareness of Jesus’ love for him gave him an intimacy with the Lord that none of the other disciples had; yes, I realize this may seem a little redundant to the previous paragraph, but John is an example of how we should endeavor to experience the closeness of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Others saw the Closeness of John to Jesus!

Simon Peter motioned to John to ask Jesus who would betray Him. John, leaning on His breast, asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give of bread when I have dipped it” (John 13: 21-26). I have read these scripture verses several times and wondered why Simon Peter didn’t ask Jesus himself. 

Let’s Lean on Jesus!

It was about relationships. Although they were both equal disciples, their relationships with Him were at different levels. John described himself as the disciple Jesus loved and would lean on Jesus’ bosom in front of others. John’s leaning on Jesus brought me to a question: do I care what others think about my walk with Jesus Christ? I say no, but am I leaning on Him as John was?  

Beloved,

Let’s lean on Jesus Christ!

Remind yourself that Jesus loves you and died for you!

He is our beginning and end.

Nothing in this world can fill our hearts as He can!