Is Jesus Better Than Life?

If you were to look at a modern-day map of Turkey and find her western-most largest city of more than 200,000 people, you would find the seaport city of Izmir on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.  However, 2,000 years ago, that city was called Smyrna, and just as the Lord Jesus had a message for the Ephesian Church last Sunday, today, He has a message for the Smyrna Church and the Emory Church.

 

This morning, we are continuing in our verse-by-verse study of John’s Revelation.  Last week, we began looking at Jesus’ messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor that were named specifically in Revelation 1:11.  The first was the Church at Ephesus.  The second is the Church at Smyrna. 

 

Smyrna means myrrh, which was an ordinary perfume.  The Smyrna Church was known for its suffering.  Perhaps, in that suffering, she was a fragrant aroma to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

My sermon is entitled, “Is Jesus Better Than Life?”  Think about that question.  Is He?  Psalm 63:3 uses some similar language.

 

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

 

We’ll come back to the question in just a moment, but keep thinking, “Is Jesus better than life?”

 

In verse 8, we again see that the message was originally given to the angel or messenger or pastor of this church to be read to the entire congregation.  Some commentators have identified Polycarp as the pastor of the Smyrna Church at this time.  Again, we’ll hear more about him later.

 

The message is from Jesus Christ, and He describes Himself in a way that was revealed to John back in chapter one verses 17-18.  He is the first and the last.  He was dead, and has come to life. 

 

To describe yourself as first and last is to clarify your eternality.  Jesus always has been and always will be.  He was before all things and in the end, He will be after all things.

 

However, that should spark a question in your mind.  If Jesus is eternal, how did He die?  See 1 Peter 3:18. 

 

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

 

The fact that He was dead and has come back to life is very significant for the Smyrna Church because some of these first-century Christians will be persecuted to the point of death.    

 

 

9. Jesus Saw the Suffering of the Smyrna Church or complimented them, Revelation 2:9.

9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

 

In verse 9, Jesus said He saw or knew their suffering or tribulation or persecution. This was intense tribulation that meant physical harm along with loss of friends and family.

 

However, their suffering not only included physical persecution, but it also included financial poverty.  Verse 9 says that Jesus knew their persecution and their poverty.

 

First century Christians were most definitely in the lowest socio-economic class of their culture.  However, spiritually, they were rich.  See 2 Corinthians 6:10 and James 2:5.

 

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

 

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

 

The next part of the verse says that Jesus knew of the blasphemy or slander against the Smyrna Church.  Undoubtedly, it was spoken by Unbelieving Gentiles as well as Pagan Jews. 

 

What were they saying?  First century Believers were accused of cannibalism because they talked of eating the body of Christ and drinking His blood.  They were accused of sexual immorality because they held love feasts or fellowship meals in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper. They were accused of incest because they talked about giving a holy kiss to their brothers and sisters.  They were called atheists because they didn’t accept the Greek gods.  They were accused of arson because they spoke of the fire of the Spirit and the fires of divine judgment.  Finally, they accused of being polytheists because they believed in the Trinity. 

 

Again, this slander was spoken by those who said they were Jews but were not.  What was Jesus saying? 

 

Perhaps we can understand this better by looking to Paul in his letter to the Roman Church.  See Romans 2:28-29.

 

28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

 

These were ethnic Jews who were blaspheming these Smyrna Christians because in fact they were pagan Jews. 

 

In other words, your actions speak louder than your words.  You can say you are follower of Christ, but what does your life look like?  You can say you’re a Christian but when your FB is littered with profanity and racism, are you?  You can say you’re a part of the Body of Christ, but if you never gather with the Body of Christ, are you?  You can say you believe the Bible, but when you constantly make choices in opposition to it, do you?

 

The last part of verse 9 is the most astonishing to me.  Jesus called their meeting place the synagogue of Satan. 

 

For two thousand years, pagan Jews have been persecuting Christians.  It is still true today, and even though, generally speaking, I want to support the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people and because the Bible tells me to do so, as a Believer, I have a greater obligation to support a Palestinian Christian in most endeavors rather than a pagan Jew.

 

I don’t think we have any church members this morning that are suffering like the Smyrna Church, but I know that some of you are in a bad situation that is not of your own doing.  I want you to know that Jesus sees your suffering.  He feels your pain.  You are not alone.

 

 

10. Jesus Encouraged the Endurance of the Smyrna Church or instructed them, Revelation 2:10.

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

 

Unfortunately, Jesus knew their tribulation and intense suffering was not over.  However, He encouraged them to endure because it wouldn’t last long.

 

In verse 10, Jesus told them to be fearless.  Again, He was speaking about suffering to come.  Specifically, the devil was about to put them in jail. 

 

However, why would Lord allow Christians to suffer?  First, notice that this suffering is for our testing.  I hate that, and I know that you do too, but in the providence of God, He allows the devil to test us to make us more like Jesus.  He did it with Job. He did it with Peter, and He is doing it again her in the Smyrna Church.

 

Second, we might experience suffering as punishment.  1 Corinthians 11:30-32.

 

30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

 

Third, we might experience suffering to teach us.  See 2 Corinthians 12:7.

 

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

 

Finally, we might experience suffering to further our witness for Christ.  See Acts 9:16.

 

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

 

Regardless, this suffering would not last long.  It won’t be years or months or even weeks.  It will be ten days. 

 

Is there something more here?  It is possible, but I don’t have any reason to believe ten days means anything other than ten days.  Jesus knew the exact time, and that their suffering would be limited, and He told their pastor to encourage them. 

 

Not only did Jesus encourage their endurance by telling them to fearless, He also exhorted them to be faithful until death.  Endure through the end.  It is significant to note that Jesus didn’t promise their earthly deliverance but their spiritual deliverance. 

 

Jesus encouraged their endurance. 

 

 

• Jesus Promised the Payment to the Smyrna Church or reminded them, Revelation 2:10c-11.

and I will give you the crown of life.  11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

 

When I say payment, maybe a better word is reward.  Jesus reminded them of two promised rewards: the crown of life and eternal life. 

As they walk into eternity and heaven, they will receive the victor’s crown.  This is the crown for winning.  James also spoke of it in James 1:12. 

 

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

 

The end of this message is similar to that for the Ephesian Church.  Jesus promised that those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death. 

 

As for the second death, every human has been born once and will die at least once.  Unfortunately, most will be born once and die twice.  The first death is physical.  The second death is spiritual.

 

Jesus promised the payment for the Smyrna Church and reminded them of it.

 

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, first, some will be born twice, but only die once.  That is the individual who puts his or her faith in Christ as Lord and Savior.  See John 11:25-26.

 

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

 

Second, notice that there was no rebuke in this letter.  Could that be because the persecuted church is an obedient church?  The persecuted church has often been purged of all the hypocrites.

 

My last thought is back to where we began this morning, and it is for the Christians in the room.  Is Jesus better than life?  Polycarp said yes.

 

“Polycarp, who was a student of the Apostle John and the overseer of the church in Smyrna, heard that soldiers were looking for him and tried to escape but was discovered by a child.

 

After feeding the guards who captured him, he asked for an hour in prayer, which they gave him.  He prayed with such fervency that his guards said they were sorry that they were the ones who captured him.

 

Nevertheless, he was taken before the governor and condemned to be burned in the market place.  After his sentence was given, the governor said to him, ‘Reproach Christ, and I will release you.’

 

Polycarp answered, ‘Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never once wronged me. How then shall I blaspheme my King who has saved me?’

 

In the market place, he was tied to the stake rather than nailed, as was the usual custom, because he assured them he would stand immovable in the flames and not fight them.  As the dry sticks placed around him were lit, the flames rose up and circled his body without touching him. 

 

The executioner was then ordered to pierce him with a sword.  When he did, a great quantity of blood gushed out and put out the fire.  Although his Christian friends asked to be given his body as it was so they could bury him, the enemies of the Gospel, especially Jews, insisted that it be burned in the fire, which was done.”

 

Is Jesus better than life?  Polycarp said yes.  What about you?