Have you ever seen something so revolting, that the sight of it makes you sick to your stomach?
The first few years of us having kids – I’m getting better – but for the first few years, Amy was out of necessity the designated vomit cleaner-upper – sorry to be gross – but I simply could not handle it without needing to run to the bathroom myself because the sight and smell of it made me want to vomit.
I’m getting better – a few weeks back we had the stomach bug go through our house and Amy was at work one night when one of the kids got sick and it got on me – my clothes and skin; but I fought it; took a deep breath; actually cleaned it up vomit successfully.
But something has to be pretty repulsive and revolting to cause that kind of reaction.
And last week, we saw Jesus come with high praise – no harshness at all – to the church at Philadelphia; and how great would it feel if Jesus came to our church and saw our character and our hearts and our deeds and only had praise to give?
But how would it feel, if Jesus came to our church and saw our character and our heart and our deeds, and instead of his hands being raised to applause, instead of that he raises his hand to cover his mouth as he runs to the bathroom or to wherever my son pushed the blue trash can on wheels?
This week, we see Jesus come to the church at Laodicea, and the very sight of it makes him sick.
Here in the letter to the church at Laodicea we find one of the harshest letters of the 7 – but at the same in the midst of that harshness we see one of the most gracious invitations of Jesus that we’ve seen so far.
- Jesus’ revulsion at the church of Laodicea
- Jesus’ grace for the revolting
There is no praise of either the actions or character of the church; there is no encouragement or acknowledgement of any good thing at all found there; there is only scathing, harsh rebuke: Jesus experiences revulsion at the sight of them.
v16 – He says he is about to spit them out of his mouth – in fact the language is stronger than that – he wants to vomit them up.
the greek word there is where we get our english word “emetic” from – emetic is a medical term for something that induces vomiting.
“The problem is not only that they are tasteless to Jesus; but that they are positively distasteful to him – they nauseate him.”
It would be bad enough if they were tasteless to him – if Jesus described them as cauliflower or celery or something; but it’s even worse than that – they’re not just tasteless, they are distasteful.
If you came to the “men-cook” fellowship meal – I didn’t see anyone take a bite of anything and spit it right back out of their mouth – even if you didn’t love it, even if it wasn’t as good and flavorful as the usual spread of food – it was edible – but this church is not even edible – or to stick with he analogy – drinkable – to Jesus.
He tells them that they are neither hot or cold – that he wishes they were either hot or cold, but because they are neither but instead “lukewarm” he is about to spit them out of his mouth.
And this is often understood in terms of the contemporary idea of lukewarm spirituality – and certainly lukewarm spirituality isn’t good; certainly there’s too much lukewarmness, too much casualness about Jesus, too much indifference about Jesus among those who claim Jesus – too much “nominalism” – and while that may be part of this church’s problem, I don’t actually think that’s what Jesus is saying here.
If he’s talking about lukewarm spirituality – it creates a bit of a problem in that Jesus says he that they are neither cold nor hot, and “I wish you were either one or the other!”
And it creates a bit of a problem in that Jesus says that he would prefer “cold” spirituality equally to “hot” spirituality; and it hot spirituality would mean being on fire for Jesus; cold spirituality would mean being totally turned off to or against Jesus – and maybe we could see how Jesus might prefer people being cold to him over against being indifferent him, but it’s hard to see why Jesus would prefer that equally to having “hot” spirituality.
And so Jesus isn’t characterizing them as indifferent or lukewarm with this image over and against the ideal extreme of hot and the negative extreme of cold.
Rather, Jesus is characterizing them as having a useless and worthless spirituality over and against two images of healthy spirituality.
Laodicea was a wealthy – one of the wealthiest – of the region; and it was established where it was because of the road system – but what it gained in commerce and trade it lacked in natural resources – like water.
Hieropolis – a city to the north, had hot water springs, and hot water was used for medicinal purposes and thought to have healing properties;
Colossae – a city to the south, had cold water which was good for drinking – it was cool and refreshing and appealing and satisfying to the taste of the one who is thirsty. It’s life-giving and life-restoring.
But Laodicea had no water supply of it’s own – it had to pipe in water from 6 miles away and by the time it reached Laodicea it was lukewarm – tepid, unclean, undrinkable – useless – worthless – tasted so bad that the taste of it made you want to spit it out onto the ground.
It was known for being nausea-provoking; “sludgy with white mud, nauseous & undrinkable”
If they had hot spirituality – their faith would be beneficial and healing to those around them; if they had cold spirituality – their faith would be life-giving and refreshing to those around them.
But they have lukewarm spirituality – faith that doesn’t serve any useful purpose; faith that the taste of it makes you want to spit it out onto the ground.
provided “neither refreshment for the spiritually weary, nor healing for the spiritually sick.”
They have useless, worthless, good-for-nothing spirituality – because Jesus isn’t a part of it.
Let’s jump ahead – at the end of the letter, Jesus is knocking on the door, inviting those inside to open the door so that he can come in –
What’s wrong with that picture?
Here at Laodicea, Jesus is standing on the outside of the church – His Church; knocking so that he can be let in – TO HIS CHURCH!!! –
They are inside but Jesus isn’t with them! Jesus is on the outside of their church; Jesus is on the outside of their lives; separated by a closed door!
Jesus isn’t a part of their spirituality – and so it’s worthless. It can’t bring them or anyone else who comes into contact with them any benefit at all;
Christ-less Christianity is repulsive to Jesus – because if anything should be at the center of faith it’s Jesus – and if he isn’t at the center of it – that means something else is – something else that is utterly unworthy to be at the center of it.
What creates Christ-less Christianity?
What we see as the reason for Jesus’ revulsion of the church is that he is revolted at their spiritual pride.
Because proud, self-reliant, need-less people; people who believe they have their act together and are able to meet their own needs; people who believe they are spiritually wealthy and rich in & of themselves; people who are self-righteous and self-sufficient; their faith will be a counterfeit faith because they will have a Christ-less Christianity.
Laodicea was wealthy – agriculture; commerce; medical school.
Laodicea was self-sufficient – earthquake, rebuilt city w/o financial aid from Rome – “Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, & with no help from us.”
and as was Laodicea, so was the Laodicean church.
v17 – rich; wealthy; do not need a thing.
reflected the cultures values;
probably compromised with the sinful world (economic loss at other churches);
their wealth brought about an increased temptation to spiritual pride
wealth in itself not bad; just as poverty in itself not good. Both occasion unique spiritual dangers and temptations…
And pride can manifest itself and be a temptation in someone whether your rich or poor;
but here in this church, their wealth blinded them to their true spiritual condition and need;
But in scripture, those who are rich are repeatedly warned of the danger that economic riches can blind you to your true spiritual condition – they can make you believe that you are spiritually rich; need nothing; self-sufficient; it can lead to self-righteousness because we can believe that our wealth is a sign of God’s special favor on us when it may or may not be; it can lead to a life that insists on earning & deserving God’s blessing rather than needing to look to God to receive as a gift his mercy and compassion and grace;
And if you’re poor – don’t believe that the economic reality of your life defines you before God;
but if you’re rich – don’t believe that economic reality of your life defines you before God
Don’t let your richness in the things of this life cause to think you are rich in spirit – and not desperately needy before God without whom you have and can do nothing!
v17-18 a contrast between what they believe about themselves, and what Jesus tells them they truly are but don’t realize – wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, naked.
proud people hate grace – whether they give lip service to it, they hate it because the reception of grace is recognition of need.
First beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
And what he’s saying – 2 things:
1) the ticket of entrance; the 1 and only prerequisite to entering into and possessing the kingdom of heaven; is to realize that you enter and possess it only by grace.
Because when you come to it to enter or possess it; you have nothing to buy it with because you are poor in spirit.
And so it can’t be earned, bought, deserved; but only received freely, undeservedly;
EX: college pre-requisites. certain GPA; certain courses; certain extracurricular activites; all these things to prove that you deserve to get in.
Imagine there was a college, where the only pre-requisite, was for the prospective student to recognize prove that they were unqualified to go there; that they didn’t deserve to get it –
Well that would be great! For everyone except the proud, who couldn’t admit those things!
2) the constant realization – not just at the point of entrance, but throughout all of life, is that we are undeserving; and that any riches we have; any redeemable thing in us; isn’t from us or by us; but it’s only in Jesus and through Jesus.
Christians are Children of God; redeemed; new creations; righteous before God and rich in Jesus;
we have an exalted identity; but we also have a lowly identity because we are still sinners; and apart from Jesus and without Jesus we are still wretches; poor; pitiable; naked; blind;
I believe the focus and emphasis on the NT is on the redeemed aspect of the identity of believers; but we never forget who we are in and of ourselves; what we bring to the table; and so we never have occasion or reason or basis for pride, because we know that all we bring to the table is the sin that makes our salvation necessary.
And, the recognition of our condition of spiritual poverty enables us to receive all the riches that matter.
And at Smyrna we saw poor Christians – but they were rich poor people – though they were physically poor, they were spiritually rich, because they had Jesus
but at Laodicea we see rich poor people – though they are physically rich, but they are spiritually poor because they don’t have Jesus
And the three things which they would pride themselves on – v18 – riches; clothing; sight – 3 specific thing that at Laodicea they thought they had in abundance and were very proud of – He tells them that they don’t have them at all! They need to get those things from him.
At Laodicea, They prided themselves on their wealth riches, but in reality they are poor and need to come to Jesus to get true riches – “gold refined in the fire – pure with no impurities mixed in – so that they can become rich”
At Laodicea they were successful producers of fancy black wool – and so they would be well-dressed – but in reality they are naked – nakedness was a sign of humiliation – like having a beautiful lush beard and it suddenly being shaved off and you feel exposed and ashamed;
And so they are self-righteous and proud but Jesus tells them they are naked – with their sin and shame and humiliation exposed – and they need to come to Jesus for true righteousness – to be clothed in white – his righteousness, cleansed from sin and shame and guilt.
At Laodicea they were famous for the eye-salve produced in their region which helped people’s vision, and so they would pride themselves on their sight and ability to heal sight, but they are told they are blind – spiritually blind – blind to what’s true about Jesus, blind about their true spiritual condition –
If you don’t think you are sinful; if don’t realize you are needy; if you don’t admit your spiritual poverty – then Jesus will be on the outside of your life; you will be lukewarm – useless, worthless to him – because he will be useless and worthless to you!
But the more you realize your sin; the more you experience your neediness; your emptiness your weakness; your poverty; the more you will treasure Jesus; and the more you will be useful to him and be a source of healing and refreshment to others, who need to drink from the water of life.
That’s why we often have confession of sin as part of our worship; because confession of sin creates hunger for Jesus because the one who hates and confesses sin will hunger and cherish the forgiver of sins and the granter of of righteousness;
but if you want to live in apathy towards the real Jesus; if you want to have no love for him; if you want to have no desire for him; if you want to have no fellowship with him; they simply go on believing that you need no forgiveness; that you have your act together; that you can provide what you need for yourself – that you bring quite a lot of impressive things to the table of salvation – and Jesus will be on the outside, separated by a closed door.
And Jesus gives them some advice (v18 – “I counsel you”) – and I don’t know if he’s being ironic, or very gracious, in coming to this church and offering advice to them but the general rule of thumb is that if Jesus offers you some advice it’s not really mere advice.
And his advice is to buy from him – and it might seem odd that Jesus now advises them to buy something from him if he’s at the same time just told them that they are poor;
but this is a reference to Isaiah 55 – where God gives the invitation to everyone who thirsts, to come to the waters, even those who have no money, come, buy and eat – come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
And then it asks – “why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy.”
Because with the gospel you can only either get real spiritual food for free; or pay and work for fake food that doesn’t last and doesn’t satisfy and doesn’t benefit you anything.
And that invitation from the OT book of Isaiah is an invitation to come to Jesus.
But it’s only for the humble; and it’s only for the thirsty.
And the differentiating factor about which your life will be about, is humility – if you’re humble to receive the gift that can’t be bought – because its too valuable, and because your too poor.
If you are self-satisfied; if you are satisfied by the things of the world – you won’t have a thirst for Jesus and those things will leave you dissatisfied because Jesus is the bread of life and the living water and the only thing that can fill the longings of the human heart and soul.
Can you hear the invitation of Jesus? Can you hear his knocking in your life?
Because your life, is his.
This isn’t an evangelistic image of Jesus knocking in the heart of the unbeliever outside the church – but to those in his church who have put him on the outside, and here:
He is coming to his house; he is the master of his banquet; he is the lord of his Church. Your life is his.
And he is coming in judgment of those inside who have put him on the outside.
And the call is to “anyone” – v20 “if anyone hears my voice” – there is a personal call, and a personal responsibility to respond.
You can’t just blend into the crowd; you can’t belong to Jesus by association; you need to hear; you need to respond; you need to open.
Because he will come in – the only question is if he will come in to share his blessings with you and invite you into the enjoyment of fellowship with him (that’s what the image of eating with him means); or if he will come in judgment of those who ignore the knock because they don’t care that he is on the outside or have welcome and embraced a false Jesus inside instead of the real Jesus.
Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t hear Jesus knocking in my life.”
RIGHT NOW HE IS KNOCKING! LISTEN!
the eternal Son of God is knocking; DON’T IGNORE HIM.
Have you ever knocked or rang a bell and been pretty sure someone is inside but pretty sure they just don’t want to answer?
Or called and gotten sent right to voicemail? or texted and texted and texted with no response – and if we might feel slighted or offended by that; how much more the eternal Son of God who gave his life for you!
The only one whom ignoring brings eternal consequence. (If you ignore me when I call, that’s a big deal but there aren’t eternal consequences).
Those who repulse him, he still holds out grace to them. And his knocking is him taking the initiative – because he isn’t standing on the outside quietly waiting for those who are blind to notice they’ve put him out – no he’s taking the initiative, getting their attention, being loud!
(initiative); and it’s him exercising abundant patience – because he isn’t just barging down the door and smiting. Yet.
He hasn’t spit them out of his mouth yet; v16 he says he is about to (v16) – but in his patience and grace he is stomaching that which is repulsive to him in the hopes that repentance will turn them from distaste into delight.
he calls them to repent – but he’s patient; he’s waiting; he’s knocking; he’s giving time and opportunity and pleading with them to do so.
And, v19 he disciplines and rebukes those he loves in order to bring what they need into his life. He loves pitiable wretches, and wants to come in and eat with them. And so he disciplines and rebukes.
A Jesus who doesn’t discipline sinners and rebuke sin is a false Jesus.
Because Jesus’ love is real love that would prefer to bring small and short term unpleasantness in order to avoid avoid real and long-term danger; or to deprive of small and short-term happiness in order to bring about real and long-term joy and fullness.
The discipline of a loving God and all-wise heavenly Father is a demonstration of his love and of his treating you as his child; so don’t resent it; don’t resist it; don’t waste it; but receive it and respond to it with a soft teachable heart that trusts God’s hand through the process even when the process may not seem to make sense to you.
God’s discipline can be confusing; it can feel like darkness or abandonment or forsakenness; it is painful and difficult; and often in the middle of it we don’t see the purpose of it.
But you will; one day whether in this life or the next; and until then:
“When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust God’s heart.”