Weekly Sermonette

1946

A meditation for today prepared by a Bradford minister under the auspices of the Bradford Ministerial association

April 6, 1946

By REV. A. SEON HENRI, D. D. Minister of the Copeland AME Church, Bradford

THEME — "CHRIST in the MIDST of HIS CHURCH."

THE TEXT: And I turned to see the voice that spake to me, And being turned, I saw seven candlesticks; one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. — Book of Revelation 1:12, 13.

John, our brother, and companion in tribulation, was on the Isle of Patmos, because of his stand for Christianity. While in a state of ecstasy, he saw the victorious, triumphant Christ, the hair of whose head was like wool, and as white as snow. His eyes were as a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished brass, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. He held in His right hand the seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. When John saw Him, he fell at His feet as dead, but the glorious figure said to him, as He laid his right hand upon him, Fear not; I am the First and the Last; I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I Am alive forever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Visions are usually associated with lofty altitudes and wide perspectives; but this particular vision came out of strain and stress. The church was being sorely persecuted by the Roman Emperor, Domitian. Many sealed their faith with their life blood. John himself, the author of our text, was placed upon the lonely island of Patmos because he bore witness that Jesus is God's SON. The vision reassured John, as he stood face to face with torture and persecution, that the Jesus whom he worshipped was not dead and helpless, but alive and all powerful forever more. This was the consciousness of the early church; this was the secret of the early Christian fathers. The Son of Man walked among the seven golden candlesticks as the church spread beyond the limits of Palestine into the Mediterranean world, thence throughout the Roman Empire. The church suffered under Nero, Caligula, Aurelius, Diocletian and many others, but Jesus was in the midst of her. He continued to walk until one day at the Milvian Bridge, the cross conquered. Finally, the last Pagan order of Rome said when he came to the end of the trail: "Alas, O Galilean, Thou hast conquered!"

Through the long night of the so-called Dark Ages, Jesus was in the midst of His church. He was the friend of John Huss of Bohemia. When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the Wittenberg church door, Jesus stood by his side. He went with him into the Wartburg, and down to Worms. To Luther, he was a "mighty fortress." Jesus is in the church today; that is the Christian faith, and the secret of his dynamics. As the church inveighs against economic imperialism, exploitation of minority groups, peonage, and wage slavery, Jesus takes the lead. When the church generates wholesome moral influences, which cause municipalities to cast aside officials who league with vice, crime and racketeers, and disregard for law, Jesus feels that He did not die in vain. But it pains His soul when His church pussyfoots and sidesteps social questions and race issues. Jesus is just as much and just as truly in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks today, as when John saw him nearly two thousand years ago. He is just the same today. In the midst of the years, Jesus retains his magnetic power. He is yet the Savior of the race of men. He is the panacea for the ills of society, all social maladjustments. The church is powerful, glorious. Men need a helper, a redeemer, a savior, GOD. So long as there are disappointments, disillusionments, broken hopes, false friends, unrealized ideals, sin, sorrow and death in the world, there will be a place for the Seamless Robed One who walks among the seven golden candlesticks.

"Ride on Jesus;
Ride on conquering King —
Jesus Christ, the first and the last
No man works like Him!"

—The Bradford Era, Bradford, PA, April 6, 1946, p. 4.