“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.’”  -Revelation 3:20

For many years, I read this as a “salvation” verse.  Jesus is knocking on the door of the hearts of the unsaved, asking to come in.  To me, it represented individual free will regarding the choice each must make as to whether or not to answer Jesus’ knock which was accompanied by his promise of what he will do for the one who does choose to open the door.  It was a picture of Jesus respectfully waiting for an invitation to save us.  Then, I read the context.

This verse comes at the end of Jesus’ personal messages to seven specific churches, as conveyed to and related by the Apostle John.  In Revelation 1:13, John sees Jesus “in the midst” of these churches.  These words, “in the midst”, are the same words used in Matthew 18:20 where Jesus promised that, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  These messages were given by Jesus to different groups of those who were gathered in his name. 

The church in Laodicea is the last church of the seven to whom Jesus spoke.  He begins by identifying himself to them as the Amen and the faithful and true witness, emphasizing that what he was about to say regarding them was trustworthy, and intimating that they would likely disagree.  Then, in verse 15, he launches into what could be called a diagnosis:

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.’”

This church, gathered in Jesus’ name, held one picture of who they were while Jesus himself held quite another.  They were supremely satisfied with themselves. They were fat and happy with what they thought they had achieved.  Jesus quotes them as saying, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.”  Take note of all of those I’s!  Their focus was on their own accomplishments and they were completely unaware of anything they lacked.  The Laodicean Church was neither coldly against Christ nor were they burning with passion for him.  They simply felt no need of him at all, and because of that he warns them that he will spit them out of his mouth.