EXILE

And other places God shows up. [A meditation on Revelation 1]

the island

there’s an old man on an island
and he’s alone
really alone
the kind of alone that makes you wonder if anyone remembers your name

patmos.
rocky.
isolated.
the roman empire’s way of saying
we don’t want to hear from you anymore

but here’s the thing about exile…
sometimes it’s exactly where heaven
decides
to show up.

sunday morning

john tells us
“I was in the spirit on the lord’s day“

pause there.
breathe that.

in the spirit.
on an island prison.
separated from everyone he loved.
and still…
in the spirit.

what if being in the spirit
isn’t about location
or circumstances
or having it all together?

what if it’s about
staying open
even when everything feels
closed?

the voice

then…
a voice like a trumpet
behind him.

not in front where he’s looking
not where he expects
behind him

God has this way
of coming from directions
we’re not watching
speaking into spaces
we forgot to guard

the voice says
“write“

because some revelations
are too important
for memory alone

the turning

john turns
and sees
seven golden lampstands
and someone
walking
among them

not above them
not distant from them
among them

this is the risen Jesus
but not the jesus of sunday school flannel graphs
this is jesus
unleashed
uncontainable
undeniable

hair white as snow
eyes like blazing fire
voice like rushing waters
feet like bronze in a furnace

this is what resurrection looks like
when all the limits
are
off

the lampstands

seven churches
seven communities
seven places where people
gather
and struggle
and hope
and sometimes barely hang on

your kitchen table…lampstand
your workplace…lampstand
your heart at 3am…lampstand
your doubt-filled prayers…lampstand

and jesus
walks
among
them
all

not inspecting
not judging from a distance
walking among

presence
not performance
proximity
not perfection

the fear

john falls down
as though dead

because sometimes
when you really see
who jesus is
something in you
has to die

your small story
your manageable god
your controlled narrative
your fear-based assumptions

as though dead

the touch

but then
Jesus places his right hand
on john

the same hand that holds
the keys of death and hades
touches
a frightened old man
on a lonely island

do not be afraid

four words that change
everything

because the one who conquered death
is touching
you

the keys

i hold the keys
jesus says
of death and hades

every door you think is locked forever
every ending you think is final
every grave…literal or metaphorical
that seems to have
the last word

he holds
the keys

which means
nothing
nothing
is over
until he says
it’s over

the walking

so here’s what i want you to know
as you leave this place
as you return to your lampstands

jesus is walking
among them

in your monday morning anxiety…he’s walking
in your marriage struggles…he’s walking
in your work stress…he’s walking
in your parenting fears…he’s walking
in your health concerns…he’s walking
in your financial worries…he’s walking

not as judge…
but as presence
not as critic…
but as companion

the invitation

be in the spirit
on your lord’s day
and every day

turn when you hear the voice
even if it comes from
behind you
from directions
you weren’t watching

let something die
when you see
who jesus really is

feel his hand
touch your fear
and hear him say
do not be afraid

remember
he holds all the keys

to all the doors
to all the endings
that aren’t really
endings

the light

you are a lampstand
burning bright
with the light of the one
who walks among you

and nothing…
not exile
not fear
not even death…
can put
that light
out

so breathe…
open your eyes…
the one who was dead,
is alive
and walking
among us

right
now