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Thoughts from the Corner Box
Knock, Knock
My Sunday School class is studying the book of Revelation. We are now taking turns being the teacher, and I’ll admit, I was afraid to participate in this new procedure. I was leery to try my hand at teaching First, Second, or Third John or the book of Jude, but Revelation! Boy, howdy, I did not want to tackle that. However, my turn rolled around, and like most things I tackle, I took the challenge and followed two or three rabbits down their rabbit holes.
Keep in mind that we are only through the first four chapters, but for the first time ever, I am understanding the book of Revelation. Many books, pamphlets, and articles have been written about Revelation. Some of these articles agree on things, and some don’t. Others made me think that either they weren’t reading Revelation or I wasn’t. Worse than trying to understand John’s writings was trying to figure out what some of these interpretations meant and how in the world they got that out of this.
While chasing rabbits, one thing stood out to me, and I’m still processing it or trying to In Revelation, Jesus stands outside the door of the church of Laodicea. He tells them they’re too complacent, wishy-washy, and need to make a few changes, and the biggest change is this: they need to open the door and let Him in. It’s the picture we often see. The one where Jesus is standing by a door He can’t open. In this story, Jesus stands outside the door and tells the church in Laodicea to open the door and let Him in. It’s His church, and He has to ask them to come inside. Think about that for a minute.
Picture Jesus standing outside the door. We see no doorknob or handle. We have to open the door so Jesus can come inside. He can’t open the door; we have to want Him to come inside. Opening the door is our job. Jesus is treating us like He did the church in Laodicea. Open the door and let me in. But wait.
Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Knock, and the door will be opened. Jesus stands outside the door, and if we knock, He will answer. Isn’t that what this scripture says? He doesn’t say I can’t open the door; you have to do that.
This probably goes against everything I should believe, but I’m inclined to think that, if I knock, Jesus will answer. He wants me to knock. He said, if you knock, I will open the door and let you in, but to the church He said, you have to open the door to let me in. To add to the confusion, remember we are the church.
I am confused and conflicted about the door with no knobs or handles. As United Methodists, we believe that God seeks us. John Wesley called it Prevenient Grace. So I wonder if the door might be bi-directional. Whether Jesus opens it or we do, the important thing is that the door gets opened.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with
all your heart.”Jeremiah 29:13
Sandra Mayhugh, November 2026
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