"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'The words of the Son of God who has eyes like flames of fire and feet like burnished bronze. I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel... But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come." (portions of Revelation 2:18-25)Thyatira was a blue-collar city made up of a number of different local workers unions. This dynamic created job security for many within the town- chief among them being a thriving metal and fabric dying trade guilds. Obviously, there were a number of advantages that came with this kind of structure, and most people viewed membership in the union as essential for their well-being in the city. The one downside for Christians in Thyatira is that joining up with a local union meant that you needed to participate in the religious feasts for each local "union idol"... meals which often wandered down the path of sexual immorality.
So what was a Christian to do? How could you remain a part of Thyatira's community (and job market) while remaining true to your identity in Christ? Enter "Jezebel" a woman in the church whose status as a prophetess gave her the respect to voice her opinion. She seemed to have advocated a view that salvation was more concerned with the spiritual than with the body- enabling a believer to act however he wanted at these feasts. It was a popular and convenient teaching... likely connected to what what Jesus had associated with the Nicolaitans and Balaam in other towns. Regardless, Jesus opposes her, her followers, and her teaching... instead wanting the church to remember that the church will shine like Christ when it defends what Christ values. In order to shine, we have to remember the gaze of Christ on His church in three ways:
1. The Son of God searches His people: Jesus is described in chapter 1 as having eyes like flames of fire. The "eyes of the Lord" is the phrase from the Old Testament that most accurately portrays the measuring stick by which a person's righteous living was evaluated. David, Noah, and various kings found favor or did right in "the eyes of the Lord." Many kings did not do what was right by this standard. Peter in particular would have seen these eyes after denying Jesus three times; Luke describes it this way: "While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And Jesus turned and looked at Peter." (22:60-61) The gaze of Christ can be troubling, but it can also be reassuring... as we see in Matthew 6 where Jesus reminds us that God "sees in secret" and will reward our acts of giving, devotion, and self-denial when they're unnoticed. How does the fact that Christ searches our church encourage you? Are there some who have forgotten that Christ sees your small acts of service that you feel others don't notice? Are there some who have forgotten that Christ is aware of our acts of rebellion, even when we don't think that others notice what we've said or seen or done?
2. The Son of God sees the failings of the church. Jesus has little regard for "Jezebel" or her followers (her "children") or for the fact that the church in Thyatira has allowed her sin and influence to continue unchecked within the church. He critiques them for tolerating her effects on the believers who are listening to her, and He warns them that her punishment is coming. Notice three aspects of Jesus' rebuke:
- Jesus' concern is first Godward... He critiques her for her rejection of God, and her embrace of a satanic mentality within the church.
- Jesus' concern is for the effects on the church... He warns her that her doctrine is spreading: she is teaching and seducing others in the church towards idolatry and immorality.
- Jesus' concern is targeted towards repentance... Despite her awful treatment of grace and the effects of her lies about what God values, He waited in executing judgment and He offered to withhold judgment if they would repent.
3. The Son of God sees the presence of His grace. For a church so tolerant of sin, Thyatira is not without their strengths... and Jesus is not so concerned with sin that He is blind to their godliness. This is a church whose real care for God and others, whose confidence in God's promises, whose desire to meet others' needs, whose endurance to stand with Christ no matter what are all stronger now than they were early in the church. What a great statement to make! It's easy to be a flash in the pan, but the fruit in this church was maturing. Jesus even makes a strong distinction within the church over those who were resisting Jezebel's influence. How encouraging this is for us who can be so aware of our weaknesses, sins, failings, and feeble faith. We can too easily dismiss others when they say, "I see how God is at work in your life." Be encouraged that Jesus doesn't look at our sins to the negation of our strengths. Take some time before you close to remind each other of the ways you've seen Christ at work in each other. If you're having trouble knowing what to look for, start with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5) and the gifts of the Spirit (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4). You'll find how encouraging it is for all of us to remember that Christ sees and commends the gifts and strengths He has worked into His people.
Have a great week!
