Letters to My Congregation
Was Jesus Doing the Knocking?
Each week (usually Tuesday afternoon), I send out a letter to the congregation at ClearView Baptist Church. It’s a tiny way I hope to shepherd them during the week. Perhaps it might encourage, help, or challenge you as well.
ClearView Family,
I may be off here, but it’s something that has intrigued me. I’ve been wrong before, and I will be wrong again. My thoughts and interpretations of the Scriptures are fallible and susceptible to my flawed humanity.
However. . .
Since my time in the study last week, I have been curious about Revelation 3:20. It’s what Jesus said to the church in Laodicea: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” As a lifelong Southern Baptist, I have heard more than my share of sermons on this text. It is a verse that I love and am incredibly grateful for. I believe Jesus desires rich intimacy with all people, particularly His church. And I believe that He, and only He, is the Hope for wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked souls such as we (3:17).
However. . .
I wonder if there is something more than merely meets the eye with Jesus’s words about standing at the door of the church knocking? I mean, we all know He doesn’t need a key fob (grin) to be present with people - anywhere, anytime. At the risk of stating the obvious, recall the churches in Asia Minor were house churches.The metaphors are pointing to spiritual realities.
If you recall, the sin of the church of Laodicea was their self-sufficiency. They were wealthy and had, in their minds, zero needs (3:17). Jesus called them to earnestly repent (3:19). In other words, to recall their own spiritual bankruptcy. Jesus called them to reengage with (remember) their true and dire situation. Their physical resources had blinded them to their spiritual reality. This makes me wonder. I wonder if the “knocking” He was referring to was from the “least of these” in Laodicea? I wonder if the “needless” Laodiceans arrived at their condition due to ignoring the needy in their midst? Could it be. . . is it possible. . . that Jesus was knocking - knocking through the helpless that existed throughout the flourishing city of Laodicea? Hang with me. . .
Was it not Jesus Himself who said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40)? In other words, didn’t Jesus identify Himself as actually being the hungry, the thirsty, and stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner (see Matthew 25:34-36)? Those ministering to them didn’t realize it at the time. But Jesus said they were actually ministering to Him! Similarly, wasn’t it Jesus Himself who said that whoever welcomes a child in His name actually welcomes Him (see Mark 9:37)? Could it be that Jesus, who desired a vibrant relationship with the Laodiceans, was calling them to be with Him through the needy? Could this be a key way we meet and interact and experience God Himself? By welcoming and serving and giving ourselves to the desperate in our midst?
Consider how Paul counseled Timothy to pastor the wealthy at the church in Ephesus: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18). Paul’s way for the rich to put their hope in God was to be generous and willing to share. Who are those who need generosity and our excess? The least of these! And what do the wealthy get as a result? God!
Could it be that our ministering to those in need isn’t just for those in need? Is it possible that it’s precisely the ministry we need in order to welcome God in our midst?
I don’t know. Like I said, I may be off here. I’ve been wrong before, and I will be wrong again. But this is something I am processing and considering as we allow the Spirit to form us and direct us into the future. At the very least, I know we all desire the rich, loving, glorious, and authentic presence of Jesus in our midst. And we know, at the very least, that a way this happens is by welcoming and ministering to the needy among us.
Father, may our spirits hear from Your Spirit as you lead and form our congregation.
I’ll see you tomorrow night (First Wednesday) in the chapel for a rich and intimate hour of prayer.
Desiring More of Jesus,
Pastor Matt