To say that Jesus is, was and is to come is to place our changing lives within a bigger story. Christian faith does not treat Him simply as a figure from the past. We look to the living Christ, whose presence is not limited to one chapter of history, and learn to trust Him in the present.
That is the opening invitation in Johan den Hartogh’s 40 dagen met Jezus: take one revealed characteristic, slow down and let it shape how you turn towards Jesus. We begin with His enduring presence. This is a reflection on the first day of that book, not a prediction about what will happen tomorrow.
Start with the setting in Revelation
Read Revelation 1:1–8 before isolating a phrase. The opening identifies a revelation of Jesus Christ and addresses seven churches. Its greeting brings grace and peace into their circumstances. The language of the One who is, was and is to come points to God’s eternal identity; the same opening also names Jesus Christ. Keeping those details together prevents a devotional phrase from becoming detached from its biblical setting.
The book uses this opening as an invitation to know Jesus more deeply. Hebrews 13:8 explicitly speaks of Jesus Christ’s constancy across yesterday, today and forever. Read both passages carefully. Their purpose is not to make every day look the same, but to direct our attention towards the One on whom faith rests.
More than a memory of the past
It is possible to speak warmly about Jesus while keeping Him at a comfortable distance. We remember familiar stories, admire His teaching and then carry the present day alone. The first reflection challenges that distance. Jesus belongs neither to a closed chapter of history nor merely to a hoped-for future.
Looking back can become an act of gratitude rather than an attempt to recreate yesterday. You do not have to invent a dramatic testimony. Begin with what the biblical story reveals about His character. What do His actions show? What does His faithfulness invite you to notice now?
Presence is not a promise of an easy day
Trusting the living Christ does not mean that every question receives an immediate answer. Difficult decisions, grief and uncertainty remain real. This reflection offers no guarantee of a particular outcome. It invites a different starting point: you can bring the day before Jesus without pretending you already understand it.
There is a difference between trying to control what comes next and being attentive in the moment you have. One asks for certainty before taking a step. The other makes room to listen, act responsibly and remain open to God. That is a modest practice, and a useful one.
A small beginning for today
Set aside five quiet minutes. Read Revelation 1:1–8 slowly, then Hebrews 13:8. Write down one observation about the passage before writing what you feel. Next, name one responsibility that is genuinely yours today. What might it mean to approach that responsibility with attention to Jesus rather than rushing through it on your own?
You do not need to settle the whole of your past or future in those five minutes. Keep the question small. Let the observation you made accompany one conversation, one decision or one ordinary task. The aim is a growing relationship, not a perfect spiritual performance.
For more background on the wider reading journey, explore The Magnificent Jesus books. You can return to the Blog and Journal overview for further reflections.
