Open Door - by Rev.Fr.Zerah Paul, Gurukul

Text: Rev. 3: 7-13

The Author of the book introduces himself in the opening sentence of the book as “God’s servant John”. He frequently refers to himself in the work most commonly as a prophet, but never as an apostle. In this respect he differs markedly from Paul.

In the book of Revelation written by John, the second and third chapters deal with the letter to seven churches. The portion assigned for today’s meditation is Ch: 3.7-13. This text deals with the letter to the church at Philadelphia. Philadelphia was located 28 miles southeast of Sardis. Both Sardis and Philadelphia suffered extensive damage in a great earthquake in AD 17. The message to the church at Philadelphia is most probably an assurance of the entrance into a new age. Philadelphia gained a position of certain commercial importance in the politico-economic context of the Roman Empire. Yet it had many contradictions as some of the typical Greco-Roman cities. The actual town had few inhabitants but the majority lived as farmers in the countryside. Because of the rich volcanic soil available, the farmers of the place heavily depended on viticulture. Their lives were in fact a life of great endurance, for which they are highly commented in the letter. The whole letter is dominated by the sure and certain prospect of life in the Kingdom of God.

In this passage I focus only on one verse i.e. verse 8 “I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut”. This statement which describes how the exalted Christ has used his power of opening and shutting on behalf of the Philadelphian community may be an allusion to the introduction to the oracle about Cyrus in Isa: 45.1, signifying God’s ultimate dominance over the course of history in creating hopes for the broken and repressed people. This reflection is going to be focused on the question of the meaning of this “open door” metaphor?

 There are essentially 2 possible meanings.

1. Opportunities for effective evangelization, especially the conversion of Jews
2. Guaranteed access to eschatological salvation i.e. entrance into the messianic kingdom.

The metaphor of the open door is found twice in the undisputed letters of Paul (1 cor. 16:9, 2 cor.2:12) and also occurs in col.4:3 and Acts.14:27.In all these contexts it means that opportunities to proclaim the gospel have been made possible. It is therefore probable that the metaphor has a fixed meaning among the Christians and refers to opportunities for evangelization. However, the fact that missionary activity is never mentioned elsewhere in revelation and hence such an emphasis does not allow us to take this meaning as granted.

It is an open door that will introduce a new dimension of John’s vision. That privilege afforded John to enter, to see, and to enjoy the glory of God is now accorded to the least promising of the churches. It is a promise from Christ to a church which is weak. Christ is an open door to all people mainly for the weak, oppressed and marginalized. As disciples of Jesus we should imitate him in being an open door to help people have entry into God’s glory. When we examine the history of our communities we can see several men and women of God who have acted as open doors inviting people to come and share in the glory of God. Francis Assisi, Ambedkar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mother Teresa etc...Etc…They helped the poor people by uplifting them from the marginal existence to a life with restored human dignity. Because of their willingness to offer themselves as a medium, revealing God’s will through their lives the poor could break all sorts of bondages. They in turn became open doors for others to reveal messianic kingdom experiences in our world today.

Let me conclude with an incident that happened in the life of the renowned saint by name Francis Assisi. One day he went to visit some leprosy patients. There he could see people who could not sleep, walk or even eat because of the severity of their diseases and rotting ulcers on their body. So he started going there every day and helped these patients by giving them food and cleansing their wounds. After some days of his visit many of the patients were getting cured. One cured person came to him and asked “Are you really the risen Christ”? Because he felt God’s healing and comforting presence in St.Francis Assissi. Do anyone, ever ask us a similar question? If the answer is no, why is it so?

So this passage challenges us to become open doors to other people who are weak oppressed and marginalised. We had such a person in our midst, who lived out his life as an open door showing people way to God’s liberating glory. It was none other than our former Director emeritus Dr. K. Rajaratnam, who as we all know was a champion of Dalit liberation. Let us all decide to follow Jesus as being open doors to guide people to realization of God’s kingdom in our midst.

 [Rev.Fr. Zerah Paul, the leader of this meditation, is a third year BD student in Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, India.]

Church at Smyrna: Heroic Endurance of outward persecution- by Jaya Jesudas Pudi

Text: Rev: 2 8-11
In 155 A.D, the Bishop of the church of Smyrna, Polycarp, was 86 at that time, was given the opportunity to renounce Jesus. The magistrate who did not want to see the old man die, said “What harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar?” But Polycarp refused. When they entered the stadium, where the executing took place, there tried again saying “Swear by the fortune of Caesar, repent and say, ‘Away with the atheists”.
The old man cried, “Eighty and six years have I served Christ, and he never did me any injury, how then can I blaspheme my king and my savior?” He was punished burnt alive.
What did I tell you this story? Polycarp shows us, it was exceptionally difficult to live as a Christian in ‘Smyrna’.
A Short Glance at Smyrna: Smyrna was a city of wealth and culture. She was built in a place of beauty. Smyrna fore saw the rising power of Rome and built a temple to Emperor Tiberius. Smyrna was a center for emperor worship. It means Christian confession that “Jesus is the lord” was in direct conflict with the Roman confession that “Caesar is the lord”.
Assertion that all is endured: Christ said “I am the first and the last” (v 8). To Christians in Smyrna and among the world experiencing persecution and martyrdom this title of Christ is very comforting. This title is a reminder that life and death are in Christ’s hands. The lord used 2 words to describe the fierceness of their persecution.
Living Christ spoke of their ‘tribulation’: The word suggests that they were undergoing fierce persecution. Their property was confiscated, their citizenship revoked and many were thrown in the prison. But that was nothing compared to the tortures of many experiences.
Living Christ spoke of their ‘poverty’: The word speaks of abject poverty, possessing absolutely nothing. They lived in destitution. Their poverty was due to their faith, because they were Christians that had lost everything. They had lost their business, houses lands and all earthly possessions.
Temporary duration of the affliction: In spite of their poverty Jesus said “Be though art rich” (v 9). If they didn’t have anything how could they be rich? These believers lived by Paul’s admonition. ‘If ye be raised with Christ, Seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of god. Set your affections on things above, not on the things in the earth” (Col 3: 1-2).
They were materially poor but were spiritually rich. When the world looks at the church at Smyrna all that it sees is a lack of worldly goods and desperate human poverty. But when the Lord Jesus looks at the church of Smyrna he sees in another dimension- the spiritual.
Today the church is feeling proud of this earthly wealth, property whatever it has. Does it have heavenly wealth, how is their spirituality. But friends remember the day may come when this world will take us and our property. The day may come when they threaten us with death. The day may come when our testimony becomes a death sentence in this world. If that day ever comes, take comfort that all of you are giving up is what you would have lost at some point or anyway. Even if everything you have is taken away, including your life, the treasures you have laid up in heaven are safe.

Promise of the final reward of Eternal life: Therefore do as Jesus said in “Be thou faithful unto death”, he promises them “Crown of life”. The Christians of Smyrna are urged to be faithful. What encouragement it must have meant to them? When lord told them He knew what they going through as a church. He told them not to fear things they were going through or would go through in future. Jesus promised them” I will give them a crown o life” Their faithfulness had not gone unnoticed and neither would it go unrewarded. The crown Jesus spoke of was the “stephanos” or the ‘victus crown’.

Smyrna was famous for its athletic games. A crown was trophy for the champion. If we have been faithful, we will receive the prize of victory- eternal life (James 1: 2). The message to the Smyrna church is to remain faithful during suffering, because god is in control and his promises are reliable. How are we today? How is our church today? It does not matter hope few or how simple you make the great primary truths and principles of Christianity to be, which have been brought to light and set forth in the world of human thought by Jesus Christ as the essential principle of Christian system, or church.
 For a church has no right to exist until and unless it is an active or working church. A Christian has no right to his/her Christian comforting and hopes until and unless he/she is an active working Christian. There are spheres for every one of us. We must find for ourselves what ours is. Nobody will tell us. Having found our spheres, the text has its message for us “Be though faithful”.
Our work may be witness, prayer, influence, giving, teaching, writing, ministry, or any other forms of social services. : be though faithful” no man ever sees the nobility of human life until and unless he/she learns to put success second and faithfulness first. Let us not feel proud of this earthly riches and wealth but let us feel proud of having heavenly victory and gift of eternal life.
[Jaya Jesudas Pudi, the leader of this meditation, is a final year BD student of Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute]