Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the witness, the faithful one, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kingdoms of the earth.
καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ μάρτυς, ὁ πιστός, ὁ πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς.
The grace and peace of verse 4 also come from Jesus Christ. It is through him that God brings about his purposes for creation. Both grace and peace are experienced most fully when we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus is described in four ways, each with much significance to it.
He is the witness who gave his life as a testimony of God’s redeeming love. His birth, life, death, and resurrection revealed God’s grace that brings peace to the world. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus remains the witness through whom God brings about the closer of the age. Jesus is the faithful one. He did not give in to temptation but remained pure and holy (Hebrews 4:15). He depended totally upon the Father. He sets the pattern and goal for how we should live as well. Because he has gone through our struggles, he can intercede and help us. Jesus is also the first born from the dead, meaning the first to be raised from the dead. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” His resurrection insures that we too will someday find victory over death. Finally, Jesus is the king. He rules supreme. The devil thinks he is the king of this world, but his reign is partial and temporary. The devil is the king only over those who reject Jesus and the light. The devil has no control over those who walk in the light of Christ.
The opening of this letter is short but gives us tremendous hope for our daily lives. When we align our lives with Jesus, we will find grace, peace, hope, and assurance.
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