Thursday 4 September 2025
"Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you." (v. 3)
Background
Sardis was a powerful, lively city with a rich history. It is now a World Heritage site, located near the Turkish town of Sart. It was once the fortified capital of the Lydian Empire, built on a high and rocky acropolis. It survived for many centuries and was thought unassailable, until it was taken by surprise, held under siege and destroyed by Cyrus the Great, the famous king of Persia, in 547 BC. It was later rebuilt and continued to be an important city, but that shocking event lived long in the collective memory.
In the letter to Sardis, Jesus evokes memories of their history, as he warns them not to be caught by surprise again. This is a message consistent with Jesus’ teachings in the gospels – to stay awake, to not let events catch them unawares (Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13:32-37). He warns that some of them may look alive but are in fact spiritually dead. Others may follow, if they are not careful. The withering plants need watering before they are lost altogether. There is a call, once again, to remember the original message of the gospel and to turn back (repent) to a way of obedience to God.
As with the parable of the bridegroom, Jesus warns that he will come ‘like a thief in the night’, unexpectedly, without warning. So the message is not to sleep on the faith, and to know he is watching.
There were some in the church in Sardis who had not drifted away from their faith, however. Some had stayed alive to Christ and had metaphorically kept their clothes clean. These are considered ‘worthy’ and are promised a future place of honour, walking with Jesus in white robes like him. However, there is still hope for the others – if they too ‘conquer’ (meaning to persevere in the way of Christ despite distractions), then they will continue to have their names written in the Book of Life – their place in God's Kingdom alongside Jesus will be secured. They may have fallen off the narrow path, but there is still a chance to find it again.
The final verse (v. 6) is a characteristic ‘sign off’, which Jesus used at the end of several of his teachings in the gospels (eg Matthew 11:15, Mark 4:9 and 4:23, Luke 8:8 and 14:35) as well as in all of these short letters. It reminds us that the same Lord (and same Spirit) who gives words of comfort to the poor and excluded also gives strict warning to the Church he loves.
To Ponder:
- What are we waiting for? Do we imagine that Church and society will just continue as they ‘always have’, or are we aware of more cataclysmic changes in the fabric of history? Jesus’ words about his return have always been a challenge to his Church not to get complacent. How does this affect us today?
- Do you ever feel like one who is just clinging on or like a withering plant in need of water? How can we ‘wake up’ before faith drifts away altogether? How can we encourage one another to keep going?
Bible notes author: The Revd Andrew Murphy
Andrew is a Methodist presbyter in the East Mercia Circuit, and currently the minister of the churches of Market Harborough, Kibworth and Rothwell, and part of the ministry team at St Giles, Desborough. He is married to Emily, with two children, aged nine and eleven. He has been in the ministry for 17 years, previously serving in the Hinckley Circuit. He trained at the Wesley Study Centre in Durham, is a published hymn writer, supports Newcastle United FC, and is proud of his roots in Consett, County Durham.