Jesus, the Alpha and Omega Revelation 22

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Seeing Christmas Through a Bigger Lens

Merry Christmas to everyone. I’m glad you’re here at Life Church to celebrate Christmas this Sunday. It truly is a joyful season, full of traditions, gatherings, and moments that we look forward to all year long.

That baby born 2000 years ago was named Jesus, and He is the reason for the season. Today, we’re going to take a look at Jesus, perhaps in a way that you’ve never looked at Him before, because Jesus is so much more than simply that baby in the manger.

Today, my message is entitled “Jesus, the Alpha and Omega.” In our title slide, you can see two non-English letters, alpha and omega, which are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Greek is the language that the original documents of the New Testament were written in, and it was the universal language of the time into which Jesus was born, much like English is today.

Revelation 22:13 (NIV) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

What is Jesus saying about Himself? He is saying that He is the beginning and the end of human history, and that He is ruler of everything. Today, God wants to expand your thinking about the significance of Jesus this Christmas season.

Jesus was born in a manger 2000 years ago, yet He is Lord of all, Lord of the entire universe. As such, we don’t worship Him as a baby in a manger; we worship Him as the King of Kings, who is alive and reigning over the universe today. So let’s look a little more closely at Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega.

Jesus Was in the Beginning

You and I have our beginning when we are conceived and then born into this world. Contrary to what many believe, Jesus’ life did not begin when He was born to Mary. Jesus existed long before that, and in fact, Jesus was present at the very beginning of the history of the universe.

Not only was Jesus present at the beginning of the universe, the Bible teaches us that Jesus is eternally God. John makes this clear as he opens his Gospel and tells us who Jesus truly is.

John 1:1–2 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

In this passage, Jesus is referred to as the Word. John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tells us that Jesus existed in the beginning with God, and that Jesus was not just with God, but that He was God.

Jesus is one of the three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As such, Jesus has always existed, and there never was a time when Jesus did not exist. As God, Jesus exists outside of time and is eternally God.

The Bible also teaches us that Jesus created the universe. Creation itself points us back to the eternal power and authority of Christ.

John 1:3 (NIV) Through him [Jesus] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Jesus made the entire universe, consisting of trillions of galaxies, stars, planets, black holes, quasars, and countless things we haven’t even discovered yet. In the vastness of the universe, Jesus chose to create a planet called Earth, perfectly suited for sustaining plant, animal, and human life.

Jesus made humans in the image of God, created to have a relationship with Him. Human beings were created to love Him, to be loved by Him in return, and to find fulfillment in serving and worshipping Jesus. Jesus created us to live with Him forever, and that was His plan from the beginning.

Bowing Before Our Creator King

So when you see a nativity scene this Christmas with Jesus lying in the manger, think about who Jesus really was. That baby Jesus had always existed as the eternal God, and that baby Jesus was the one who spun the galaxies into motion and created the earth on which we live.

He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Just as the three wise men came to lay their crowns before Him, so we too should bow before this Jesus in worship.

This Christmas, let’s worship Jesus as both our God and our Creator. He is the one who made us in His own image, to love Him and enjoy friendship with Him forever.

Jesus Entered Human History

Although Jesus is eternal God and Creator of the universe, there came a moment in history when He chose to step into His own creation. This was a decision rooted in love and carried out with incredible humility.

Philippians 2:6–7 (NIV) Who [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness.

So 2000 years ago, Jesus was in heaven, surrounded by myriads of angels, in untold glory, ruling the universe. He was thinking about a small planet circling a G2V type yellow dwarf star located on the Orion arm of the Milky Way galaxy.

He was watching the planet we call Earth, because it was time for Him to enter human history and alter history forever. He laid down His power, His glory, and His majesty as Jesus was born as a baby.

John 1:14 (NIV) The Word [Jesus] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus, the eternal God, took on human flesh. He became fully human while remaining fully divine, choosing to live among us as one of us.

Jesus came to show us the truth about where we came from and where God desires for us to go. He came as a baby to reveal what God is like, to teach us God’s truth, and to demonstrate God’s grace.

Jesus Died to Save Us

Why did Jesus enter human history, and why did the eternal God take on human flesh? Jesus entered into human history because something had gone terribly wrong with creation.

Revelation 1:5 (NIV) Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

The human beings created in the image of God had rebelled against God, and this rebellion is what the Bible calls sin. Because of sin, humanity’s relationship with God was broken, and people were devoted to idols, violence, and afflicted with demonic spirits.

Man’s destiny apart from God was eternal death, and something had to be done. Because of His great love for people, Jesus came into this world and ultimately died on the cross so that we might be freed from our sins.

Jesus came so that those who believe in Him might be saved and have eternal life, the life that God originally created people to experience. Although Jesus died on the cross, He did not stay dead.

Jesus Was Raised as Lord of All

Philippians 2:9 (NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, and Jesus ascended back into heaven. In heaven, Jesus was given the name that is above every name and the position of ultimate authority.

Jesus is Lord of all, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. No power can stand against Him, and He conquered every evil force on the cross.

Jesus reigns until all evil is removed from His creation. He rules now, and He will rule forever.

Worshiping Jesus as Our Savior and King

So this Christmas, we worship Jesus, who humbled Himself to enter human history and die for us so that we might be saved. Christmas is truly mind-boggling when we consider that the God who created the universe came to this tiny, dusty planet.

He was born in a manger because He loved us, and not only was He born, but He also died a cruel death on the cross. He did this so that broken relationships between God and people could be restored.

Let’s worship Jesus this Christmas as our Savior. This Jesus, who is the Alpha and the beginning, is also the Omega, the end and the last.

Jesus Will Bring the End

Revelation 1:17 (NIV) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last."

Not only did Jesus create the earth and begin history, but He will also bring history as we know it to an end. On that first Christmas, 2000 years ago, Jesus came to this planet for the first time as a baby.

Following His death and resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven, where He waits until the proper time. At the appointed moment, Jesus will return to earth.

Revelation 22:12 (NIV) "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."

At the end of time, Jesus will return to the earth that He created, and this will be His second coming. The first coming was as a baby on that first Christmas, but the second coming will be as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He will come as Judge of the earth to give everyone what is due them. When Jesus returns, He will wrap up human history as we know it and usher in the events leading to eternity and the new heavens and earth.

Jesus Will Give Believers Eternal Life

Revelation 22:14 (NIV) "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."

Those who wash their robes are believers whose sins have been forgiven. Believers will be given the right to eat from the tree of life, the tree of eternal life, and live forever with Jesus.

Believers will be allowed to enter the holy city from heaven that comes down to earth. Those who are not believers will be cast into outer darkness, a place of eternal torment called hell.

At the end, all sin, evil, and unbelief will be purged from God’s creation of the new heavens and earth. Jesus will have His heart’s desire of spending eternity with the people He created in His image.

Philippians 2:10–11 (NIV) at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Only those who have bowed the knee and made Jesus Lord in this life will spend eternity with Him.

Conclusion: The Most Important Question

On this last Sunday morning before Christmas 2014, there is one question that matters more than any other. It is the most important question in the world.

Have you bowed your knee and confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord? None of us know how long our lives will last, and when life is over, our opportunity to acknowledge Jesus as Lord is gone.

None of us knows when Jesus will return, and He is coming soon, perhaps even today. That baby born in a manger 2000 years ago, the Jesus who created the universe, is coming again as King of Kings.

📘 Continue the Journey

Reflect deeper and apply this week’s message with the Message Study Guide — perfect for personal devotions, family discussion, or your Life Group.

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