Revelation and tiredness

Ryan Ross

In Revelation, John writes about “seven stars” in Jesus’s right hand (Rev. 1:16). These, he explains, “are the angels of the seven churches” (v. 20). The churches themselves are described as “seven lampstands” (vv. 12, 20).

But who are the “angels of the seven churches?” At first blush, it may seem that “angels” are supernatural guardian angels in this context. Writebol, following Peter Leithart and a long history in Reformed teaching, argues that John isn’t talking about a church’s specially assigned angel but rather a messenger of the church: a pastor. This means “the letters are personal addresses from Jesus to these pastors about who he is and who they are” (6).

This interpretative approach acts like a lens correcting astigmatism. It snaps pastoral implications into focus, like putting on brand-new glasses. It showed me things about myself and my ministry that were distorted before.

These are letters from Jesus to pastors. This directness adds to their weight as they point to where repentance may be needed, encourage working in the ministry with strength supplied by Christ, and remind pastors that only Jesus is enough.

Exhortation and Encouragement

Having made his case that pastors are the target of the first three chapters of Revelation, Writebol walks through each of the seven letters. He draws out what Jesus has to say about himself and about pastors.

Writebol doesn’t make excuses for pastors. He understands that pastoral ministry is a high calling and doesn’t seek to lower the bar. When Jesus has a rebuke, Writebol doesn’t shy away from highlighting it. Pastors must recognize they aren’t sufficient before they can understand only Jesus is enough.

Pastors must recognize they aren’t sufficient before they can understand only Jesus is enough.

He reminds readers that being faithful in pastoral ministry doesn’t prevent suffering. As a pastor, it’s tempting to believe that if I can preach, teach, pray, counsel, lead, and care well enough, people will like me and will never leave the church. Writebol argues that “suffering for the pastor is a normative reality of ministry” (35). This is a convicting reminder to church leaders that they can’t do everything in their strength.

Pastor, Jesus Is Enough helps pastors see how subtly the point of ministry can become a quest for self-justification. Even the spiritualized language of “I just want to be faithful” can cloak the sinful desire to leave a personal legacy. We’re often content for Jesus to get the glory from our ministry––as long as we get some.

This may sound more like a trip to the woodshed than an encouragement. However, like Jesus's letters to the churches, Writebol doesn’t leave readers with the accusations.

Gospel Relief

Relief comes, as we should expect, through the gospel. Over and over again, Writebol brings pastors back to the hope that comes only through Jesus’s atonement. He reorients pastors to the reality that they serve as those already beloved by God the Father and that Jesus is enough for us.

He reorients pastors to the reality that they serve as those already beloved by God the Father.

God gives pastors an identity in the gospel that frees them to repent and return to Jesus. Because of Christ’s work on the cross, pastors can own up to their failures without minimizing or dismissing them. As Writebol points out in the letter to the church at Laodicea, “What makes it safe for the pastor to repent is that the one bearing witness against him is also applying the remedy to him” (127). When pastors run to Jesus for grace, they’ll find it, because Jesus holds them in his hands.