Revelation 22:1-6 - Peace LIke a River
John’s vision of the heavenly city of Jerusalem, which began in the last chapter, continues now as he travels into the city and arrives at its very heart. There should be no surprise for us to discover what’s at the center of heaven: the throne of God. After all, ever since Chapter 4 we have seen visions of heaven with the throne as the focal point, surrounded by the living creatures, 24 elders, and so on. Until now, the throne was sorting floating out there by itself. I have to admit that in my mind’s eye the throne of God was this location that was surrounded by some gray, dark, neutral space all around its immediate vicinity. Now we find out that the throne is in the middle of a city! Was the city always there, but just wasn’t revealed to John for him to describe for us? Or is this something new, now that God has made his dwelling with men (21:3). I’d like to think that it’s a combination of the two. Yes, we are certainly looking for that time when we are directly in the presence of God. And we know that the heavenly city, where we will live, will at some point in the future make its appearance (21:10). But ever since the Lord became Emmanuel, we know that God is with us. He has already made his dwelling with us.
Sometimes we’re like John: we aren’t able to see God’s presence in the heart of our experiences. Or if we do, we don’t realize what it’s really all about. Far too many people worry about how God’s direct involvement in their lives would lead to condemnation or rejection. I suppose it’s natural and expected. When we have a healthy sense of our sinful condition, we know that we don’t deserve to be there. (An unhealthy attitude is one that makes us think that we can never be with God.) And with all the rather frightening descriptions of God’s wrath and discipline that we’ve encountered in Revelation, who could blame us for cowering in fear at the thought? This is one of our great challenges, and great opportunities. First, to see beyond the gray fog of our lives and realize that God is with us in all his glory. Not at the periphery, but at the very center of the “city” of our lives. Second, to know that it is a presence that brings blessing, healing, and peace. As John 3:17 (the verse right after the really famous one) puts it, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Sure: we’ll experience challenges, struggles, and even difficult discipline. But the presence of God in our lives, as we are reconciled with Him through Christ’s saving work, is peace, healing, and joy.
John’s description of how God’s presence in the city blesses its people evokes images of the Garden of Eden, where God walked and interacted with Adam and Eve naturally and comfortably. First, of course, is the river of life that springs from the throne and runs down the main thoroughfare of New Jerusalem. Four rivers flowed from the center of Eden: rivers that were major waterways in the ancient Near East. The image that comes to my mind here is of Dutch towns with canals in the middle of the street. Jesus described himself as the one who supplies living water, water of life (John 4:13-14, 7:37-38). And water is a common image of life-giving in the Old Testament. It’s only natural, of course. In an arid place like the Holy Land, water is a source of life. The river from the throne symbolizes our need for God’s life-giving presence in our lives in order for us to live, to thrive, to be what God wants for us.
We also hear about the tree of life. This was one of the two trees that was in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It was the source through which God’s life-giving presence made Eden the paradise that it was. (I can’t help but to think of the movie “Avatar,” and the way that the Tree of Souls united all of the life on Pandora. The tree of life isn’t quite like that, but if you’ve seen the movie you might have an idea about what it’s like.) The other tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and it was the one that Adam and Eve weren’t supposed to eat from. Because they did, they got kicked out of Eden, which meant that they lost their connection with the Tree of Life. Now that Adam and Eve’s sin, which had been passed down to all of us their children, has been removed, we’re able to gather around the Tree of Life once more. It’s a tree that’s always in season. Have you ever tried to get watermelon in May, or corn on the cob in March? If you can find it, it’s probably so overly-preserved or frozen that it tastes like cardboard. But what about a tree that provides a different nourishing crop every month of the year? That sounds like something we could all enjoy. It’s a reminder also of our constant need for God’s grace to allow us to live and grown.
As the TV sales pitches go, Wait! There’s more! Not only does the Tree of Life provide year-round food, but even its leaves are valuable. The leaves are leaves of healing. Thing perhaps of teas or poultices that can be made from the leaves of certain shrubs or trees. This tree can heal us. The healing we’re talking about isn’t (or isn’t only) about physical ailments from cancer to the common cold. It heals our spirits. Far too many of us are far too wounded psychically from what we’ve experienced in this broken world of ours. Once we’re in the glorious presence of God, not only are we rescued from the things that damage us, but we find healing for our souls. There truly is a balm in Gilead. But as any good TV sales pitch would say, Don’t Stop There! You’ll get something even better! The leaves aren’t just for the healing of God’s people. They are for the healing of the nations. We cause so much damage by our divisions, and nations are the prime example. What “nations” are you part of, which define themselves by what they do, who they are, or what they value? Every time you’re part of a “nation,” you’re excluding those who aren’t part of it. And frequently opposing nations develop which compete and contend against each other. The tree of life heals us of all the damage and pain that our nations cause upon each other. Remember that the true Tree of Life is the cross of Calvary, upon which Jesus went to provide life for us all. And as Ephesians 2:11-18 explains, his work on the tree has removed all the barriers between the nations so that we can be united as we serve and celebrate in God’s presence.
Further, we hear that there is no need for any other light in the city, because God himself illuminates the town. Remember Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” We count on God now to light up the paths that we should take. But at times that illumination seems pretty dim, and we lose our way. Physical light is good; we need it to see and to get around. But the light that God supplies is also light for our souls: to illuminate the dark corners where we’re afraid that monsters lurk. To allow us to bask like sun worshipers with no fear of skin cancer. To see fully all that’s going on inside of us and around us.
We get to see God face to face. In the Old Testament we know that no one can see God and live. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul predicts the time when we will see—and be seen—face to face. We will finally be able to understand the fullness of God. And when God looks directly upon use, we’ll be able to know ourselves as well.
Sometimes we’re like John: we aren’t able to see God’s presence in the heart of our experiences. Or if we do, we don’t realize what it’s really all about. Far too many people worry about how God’s direct involvement in their lives would lead to condemnation or rejection. I suppose it’s natural and expected. When we have a healthy sense of our sinful condition, we know that we don’t deserve to be there. (An unhealthy attitude is one that makes us think that we can never be with God.) And with all the rather frightening descriptions of God’s wrath and discipline that we’ve encountered in Revelation, who could blame us for cowering in fear at the thought? This is one of our great challenges, and great opportunities. First, to see beyond the gray fog of our lives and realize that God is with us in all his glory. Not at the periphery, but at the very center of the “city” of our lives. Second, to know that it is a presence that brings blessing, healing, and peace. As John 3:17 (the verse right after the really famous one) puts it, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Sure: we’ll experience challenges, struggles, and even difficult discipline. But the presence of God in our lives, as we are reconciled with Him through Christ’s saving work, is peace, healing, and joy.
John’s description of how God’s presence in the city blesses its people evokes images of the Garden of Eden, where God walked and interacted with Adam and Eve naturally and comfortably. First, of course, is the river of life that springs from the throne and runs down the main thoroughfare of New Jerusalem. Four rivers flowed from the center of Eden: rivers that were major waterways in the ancient Near East. The image that comes to my mind here is of Dutch towns with canals in the middle of the street. Jesus described himself as the one who supplies living water, water of life (John 4:13-14, 7:37-38). And water is a common image of life-giving in the Old Testament. It’s only natural, of course. In an arid place like the Holy Land, water is a source of life. The river from the throne symbolizes our need for God’s life-giving presence in our lives in order for us to live, to thrive, to be what God wants for us.
We also hear about the tree of life. This was one of the two trees that was in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It was the source through which God’s life-giving presence made Eden the paradise that it was. (I can’t help but to think of the movie “Avatar,” and the way that the Tree of Souls united all of the life on Pandora. The tree of life isn’t quite like that, but if you’ve seen the movie you might have an idea about what it’s like.) The other tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and it was the one that Adam and Eve weren’t supposed to eat from. Because they did, they got kicked out of Eden, which meant that they lost their connection with the Tree of Life. Now that Adam and Eve’s sin, which had been passed down to all of us their children, has been removed, we’re able to gather around the Tree of Life once more. It’s a tree that’s always in season. Have you ever tried to get watermelon in May, or corn on the cob in March? If you can find it, it’s probably so overly-preserved or frozen that it tastes like cardboard. But what about a tree that provides a different nourishing crop every month of the year? That sounds like something we could all enjoy. It’s a reminder also of our constant need for God’s grace to allow us to live and grown.
As the TV sales pitches go, Wait! There’s more! Not only does the Tree of Life provide year-round food, but even its leaves are valuable. The leaves are leaves of healing. Thing perhaps of teas or poultices that can be made from the leaves of certain shrubs or trees. This tree can heal us. The healing we’re talking about isn’t (or isn’t only) about physical ailments from cancer to the common cold. It heals our spirits. Far too many of us are far too wounded psychically from what we’ve experienced in this broken world of ours. Once we’re in the glorious presence of God, not only are we rescued from the things that damage us, but we find healing for our souls. There truly is a balm in Gilead. But as any good TV sales pitch would say, Don’t Stop There! You’ll get something even better! The leaves aren’t just for the healing of God’s people. They are for the healing of the nations. We cause so much damage by our divisions, and nations are the prime example. What “nations” are you part of, which define themselves by what they do, who they are, or what they value? Every time you’re part of a “nation,” you’re excluding those who aren’t part of it. And frequently opposing nations develop which compete and contend against each other. The tree of life heals us of all the damage and pain that our nations cause upon each other. Remember that the true Tree of Life is the cross of Calvary, upon which Jesus went to provide life for us all. And as Ephesians 2:11-18 explains, his work on the tree has removed all the barriers between the nations so that we can be united as we serve and celebrate in God’s presence.
Further, we hear that there is no need for any other light in the city, because God himself illuminates the town. Remember Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” We count on God now to light up the paths that we should take. But at times that illumination seems pretty dim, and we lose our way. Physical light is good; we need it to see and to get around. But the light that God supplies is also light for our souls: to illuminate the dark corners where we’re afraid that monsters lurk. To allow us to bask like sun worshipers with no fear of skin cancer. To see fully all that’s going on inside of us and around us.
We get to see God face to face. In the Old Testament we know that no one can see God and live. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul predicts the time when we will see—and be seen—face to face. We will finally be able to understand the fullness of God. And when God looks directly upon use, we’ll be able to know ourselves as well.
posted by Rev. Peter de Vries, Old Union Presbyterian Church @ 2:11 PM
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