January 11 - Revelation. Sardis (pt. 1)

January 11 – Revelation. Sardis. (pt. 1)
Revelation 3:1-6

Sardis was once the most powerful city in the Lydian realm. But, that was long before the birth of Jesus. It was built on a large hill, the walls rose 1500 feet above the lower valley. It was an amazing natural fortress. No one could approach the city unless they came through a narrow passage. They couldn’t be surprised by invaders.

But, the hill was made of a very coarse rock and the atmosphere wore it away. Today, there is little left of the hill and nothing but ruins left of the city.

Sardis began in 1200 bc with the beginnings of the Lydian kingdom and became the military center for the kingdom. It was wealthy – gold and silver coins were first struck here.

In the 6th century bc, when Croesus was king – Cyrus of Persia decided to take the city. The Lydian army had grown lazy and only watched the entrance. Nobody could possibly climb that perpendicular wall. But, the enemy found cracks and weaknesses, crawled up the wall and one night, while Croesus slept, Cyrus and his army took the city.

Three hundred years later, it happened again to the city. Antiochus and Achaeus were fighting for the command of the entire Lydian and Seleucid Empire. The city was besieged and finally one night, a mercenary led the way up the hill and conquered the city.

The city sank into obscurity. In 17 AD, a massive earthquake destroyed much of the area. The Roman government sent money and abated taxes for five years to allow them to rebuild. In 26AD, as Tiberius looked for a home for the imperial cult, Sardis thought her past glories should give her the right to that title. We know that Smyrna won that right. Historical glory didn’t bring present relevance.

Jesus came to this church as the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars to remind the small remnant of Christians here that He is the center of the churches and is in control of them.

The seven-fold spirit of God signifies the completeness of His spirit – not that He actually has seven spirits.

The commendation that Jesus gives to the church in Sardis isn’t much. “I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

Just like the hope the city had of gaining the imperial cult for their community based on their past achievement, this church based their existence on their reputation, not their reality. They had nothing left and their future didn’t hold much promise.

Jesus’ rebuke to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28 comes to mind. “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beauitful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

They were dead on the inside. Perhaps this remnant was exhausted from trying so hard in an area that didn’t receive them. Everything has been battering at them, arguments, frustrations, failures. It was all they could do to keep up the pretense of Christianity. Tomorrow, we’ll see that Jesus calls them to wake up!