In verses 4 and 5 the Lord Jesus is seen as the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Meditating on these things causes John to open up with a doxology of praise. This burst of praise seems to be directed to the Lord Jesus and to the Father. As John lifts his voice in praise to the Lord Jesus, he mentions specific areas of praise.

First, “to Him who loved us”—“who loves us” (jnd). Not only did He love us in the past, but this love continues on! It is a changeless love and a never-ending love! It is the very character of One who never changes (Mal. 3:6). We can say with Paul, “the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). This amazing love is the basis for what comes next.

The second part of John’s doxology is the consideration that the Lord Jesus, having loved us, “washed us from our sins in His own blood.” We understand that God has always demanded blood to atone for sin. We look upon the Passover Lamb, and we hear Him say, “When I see the blood I will pass over you” (Ex. 12:13). In Revelation 5:6–10, we see the Lord Jesus as that Lamb freshly slain, and the twenty-four elders falling down and worshiping the Lamb, singing a new song, the song of the redeemed.

This leads us to the third part of this doxology, the reality that He has freed us and made us kings and priests to His God and Father. Now as those who have been made fit to be in His presence, we can offer up the sacrifice of praise from our lips to our God and Father for His beloved Son (1 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 13:15). May we exclaim with John, “to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!”