Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the One who lives. I became dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Rev. 1:18.
Scholars have noticed a surprising thing in this text. We find similarities between the description of Jesus here and the greatest, most popular goddess of Asia Minor, Hekate. Hekate was renowned as the one who possessed the keys to Hades, the mythological realm of the dead. The ancients called her trimorphos, that is, having three different forms or shapes related to the three great parts of the universe: heaven, earth, and the underworld (Hades). In her heavenly form she went by the name Selene or Luna (the moon). On earth she was called Artemis or Diana (see Acts 19). And in the underworld the Greeks referred to her as Persephone. She was also known as "the beginning and the end" (Rev. 22:13)."
As the one who freely moves between heaven, earth, and the underworld, Hekate would be the goddess of revelation. She would be able to reveal on earth the things that went on in heaven and in Hades. As the holder of the keys to Hades she would also be the one who could provide salvation.
Why would Jesus refer to Himself in ways that so strikingly resemble a pagan goddess? Because God always meets people where they are (see ! Cor. 9:19-23). Do you remember the day you met Jesus? Do you remember the words or actions on his part that reached your heart? Each conversion story is unique, because God is creative in His approach.
A young man in Arizona was searching for Jesus, though he didn't really know it at the time. He lay on his couch one day, high on drugs, listening to the Rolling Stones rock music group (in his words, he was "stoned on the Stones"). As he stared up at the ceiling in his altered state of mind, not particularly looking for God, he suddenly saw a face that he recognized as that of Jesus. Jesus said to him, "When this song is over, you need to get your life in order and follow Me!" The music died and, stunned, the young man raised himself to a sitting position. He looked around and saw no one.
Responding to God's call he quit the drugs and the wild life and went back to school. A few years later he finished seminary and entered the ministry! It's an incredible testimony to Jesus' ability to reach anyone, even in a drug--and rock music-infested room. I am in no way suggesting that drugs and the Rolling Stones are a useful path to faith--I simply want to underline the infinite grace of Jesus Christ, who pulls branches out of the fire and puts them to good use! That means there's hope for you and me, too.
Lord, thank You for doing whatever it took to draw me into a relationship with You.
Scholars have noticed a surprising thing in this text. We find similarities between the description of Jesus here and the greatest, most popular goddess of Asia Minor, Hekate. Hekate was renowned as the one who possessed the keys to Hades, the mythological realm of the dead. The ancients called her trimorphos, that is, having three different forms or shapes related to the three great parts of the universe: heaven, earth, and the underworld (Hades). In her heavenly form she went by the name Selene or Luna (the moon). On earth she was called Artemis or Diana (see Acts 19). And in the underworld the Greeks referred to her as Persephone. She was also known as "the beginning and the end" (Rev. 22:13)."
As the one who freely moves between heaven, earth, and the underworld, Hekate would be the goddess of revelation. She would be able to reveal on earth the things that went on in heaven and in Hades. As the holder of the keys to Hades she would also be the one who could provide salvation.
Why would Jesus refer to Himself in ways that so strikingly resemble a pagan goddess? Because God always meets people where they are (see ! Cor. 9:19-23). Do you remember the day you met Jesus? Do you remember the words or actions on his part that reached your heart? Each conversion story is unique, because God is creative in His approach.
A young man in Arizona was searching for Jesus, though he didn't really know it at the time. He lay on his couch one day, high on drugs, listening to the Rolling Stones rock music group (in his words, he was "stoned on the Stones"). As he stared up at the ceiling in his altered state of mind, not particularly looking for God, he suddenly saw a face that he recognized as that of Jesus. Jesus said to him, "When this song is over, you need to get your life in order and follow Me!" The music died and, stunned, the young man raised himself to a sitting position. He looked around and saw no one.
Responding to God's call he quit the drugs and the wild life and went back to school. A few years later he finished seminary and entered the ministry! It's an incredible testimony to Jesus' ability to reach anyone, even in a drug--and rock music-infested room. I am in no way suggesting that drugs and the Rolling Stones are a useful path to faith--I simply want to underline the infinite grace of Jesus Christ, who pulls branches out of the fire and puts them to good use! That means there's hope for you and me, too.
Lord, thank You for doing whatever it took to draw me into a relationship with You.
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