Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
To bear record and to give testimony are almost alike in the sense of our interpretation of what is being said. To bear record or to give testimony are legal terms as if one was in a courtroom setting about to give testimony under oath. John is testifying of what he saw with his own eyes concerning the word of God and the life of Jesus the anointed Messiah. John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Just as giving testimony and to bare record are akin, so to the word of God and Jesus Christ are akin. 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. The practical truth I want to come away with from this verse is the connection between Christ and the Word. One cannot have a relationship with Jesus Christ without having a relationship with his word. This connection is what is missing in most people’s lives. The lack of knowledge concerning the word of God shows a lack of real relationship with Jesus Christ. The word of God is much more than words on a page to be read or studied. If we approach the word of God in that fashion, we will come away with only a shallow understanding of what the Word says at best. We need to have a real relationship with Jesus before there can be an understanding of the Word of God. This truth explains why even the most intelligent people cannot understand the writings of God by just simply reading the book. Beware of those who can quote the scriptures but know not God.
John saw and was able to bare record that Jesus was the Son of God as was mentioned in John 1:34, and by this relationship with Christ John was able to see what could not be seen by any other. The deep things of God can be opened to us if we will only pursue a real relationship with Christ as we open the Word. These two things must work simultaneously. One is dependent upon the other. Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach. The work of the twelve was preceded by them being with Jesus first. Many are trying to do the work without first being with Him. One of the descriptions of the Word of God is that it is alive. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Therefore, how we relate to the Word of God will be dependent on how much time we spend in the Word. Most look at the Word as the written record of the life of Jesus only. While it is true that the Word gives information about the life of Jesus, this book is as alive as Jesus is. We must approach it in that way or we will never come to a full understanding of it.
A relationship with the Word of God will clarify how we see. The writer says we are to bare record of the Word of God, and the testimony of Jesus, and the things we see. The order is important. The Word of God will teach us the testimony of Jesus and will bring us to a clearer vision. 1Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For our eyes to truly be opened by the power of the Holy Spirit there must be a relationship with the Word of God and the Christ of the Word.
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