It Starts Small

He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.

Revelation 1:16

John described Jesus, in the first chapter of Revelation as having a sharp double-edge sword that came from His mouth. In His letter to Pergamum, Jesus says to the church, I am the one who has a sharp, double-edged sword.

What is the sword?

It is the Word of God.

¹² For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

Hebrews 4:12-13

The Word of God is both a weapon of offensive but also a defense. In the hand of God it is able to slay both sin and sinners. It is a sharp sword and there is no heart so hard it can not cut. It can divide between the soul and the spirit. It can surgically remove our sinful habits that have come accustom through our soul.

This sword is double edged. No matter which direction it goes, it cuts. It has the edge of law against the transgressor of that dispensation and the edge of the gospel against the despisers. There is an edge to make a wound and an edge to open a festered wound for healing. There is no escaping the edge of this sword. If you turn to the right is has an edge on the right. If you turn to the left, it has an edge on the left.

What does this tell us about Jesus?

This description was to remind the church that Jesus has more power and authority than any government official who wields the sword of justice in Asia on behalf of Rome. IN our scripture there is an interesting word used: rhomphaian, typically implying the large, broad swords used by Roman soldiers. This is a weapon of offense, meant to separate and slash.

Jesus’ words are able to pierce paganism and destroy the works of Satan. This echoes Hebrews 4:12: is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

Jesus said:

¹⁷ For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light.

Luke 8:17

We can be thankful in our Worship that the Word of God gets into our hearts and starts separating the things in our hearts that are not meant to be there. It is like a skilled surgeon that can carefully cut away the cancer of the world without harming the good thing of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God can open up our festering deep wounds and allow those wounds to healed.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1