Rev 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me". So often you hear it said, "Well God is in control". Let me say He is in Control but as that relates to our life and this verse, He is in control of what He is allowed to be in control of:" if any man hear my voice, and open the door".
Here is an expression that allows us to feel His love and grace and His desire for closeness. It is like the Bridegroom who knocks at the door of the bride and seeks admittance, Song of Son 5:2 "I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night". Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride
Much debate about what the door represents. I am going to look at it in six ways.
1 ) Jesus is at the door and He is knocking. It is He the Son of God/The Son of Man. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock". Translation: That is not just any door but the door of your mind, and the heart of your soul.
2 ) He is there for any person regardless of their spiritual condition. One day He stood amid the Pharisees and defended the woman who they said committed adultery, "…..Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Many years ago, I preached a sermon, "Five Words that got her in, Neither do I condemn thee" He was not sent to condemn but to save, John 3:17-18;
3 } To the unsaved He wants you to know He is your Saviour, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. He took away your sin. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. "
4 ] To the saved He is offering you the opportunity to return to fellowship with Him. And His promise is of acceptance, "if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. " He is saying, "I will enter in and eat supper with you"
5 ) And He is saying regardless of the need I AM at the door for you. That is a very powerful statement! Maybe you have had an abortion, committed adultery, or something for which you feel a great sense of shame. Did He not say, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Did He not leave the ninety and nine and find the one that wanders away, "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
6 ) It speaks of the Church locking Him out and He is at the door seeking entrance. In their self-sufficiency, the church in Laodicea had locked Christ out. And Jesus said to the Church at Smyrna, “I know your poverty” and then he added[ but thou art rich]. It is amazing He said to the Church in 3:17-18 [Laodicea] who SAID they were rich: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: They said they were rich but He said they were poor. In Smyrna, they said nothing and He said they were rich. Jesus said to both churches: I know. From outward appearance, Laodicea would have been the Church to be commended by Christ. But remember Christ can see your faith! He knows your attitude toward Him. To Mary He said, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.” This was an act of love for His death on the cross and His burial that was to come. About the Widow and her giving, He said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
He sees our faith and He knows our attitude toward Him.
Where did Jesus take the disciples? To sinners, to people, they despised, to the Samaritans John 4:9ff. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance.
<