The earthquake, estimated between 6.5 and 7.1 magnitude, destroyed the city. Soon agencies equivalent to FEMA, Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and World Relief (i.e. Roman government) appeared offering help. The response was unlike any they had ever received. “We don’t need your aid. We will rebuild from our own wealth and resources.” And that they did. The year was 61 A.D. and the city was Laodicea. Because of its strategic location astride two major trade routes, it became one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world as a center of banking and finances. Three cities, Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae formed a triangle known as the “tri-city” area. Although Paul didn’t personally plant the church, his disciple Epaphras did. Probably just prior to the earthquake Paul refers to the church five times in his letter to the Colossian Church which he instructed them to read in the Church of Laodicea.
By 96 A.D. when John recorded his vision in the Book of Revelation, Jesus rebuked them as a church with nothing for which He could praise them. He had only condemnation. To accurately interpret Jesus’ message to the church of Laodicea it is foundational to understand the importance of the region’s landscape. Jesus is comparing the conditions created by the typography to the spiritual condition of the church. Six miles north of Laodicea was Hierapolis famous for its hot springs thought to have healing properties where people from many regions came to soak their ailing bodies. Eleven miles east of Laodicea was Colossae that was noted for its cold springs of refreshing water that bubbled out of the ground. Both cities were sources of useful waters.
Laodicea had no natural source of water. Because no water springs were located near Laodicea, this forced the city to bring in water from Hierapolis by means of an aqueduct. But by the time it flowed down from the hot springs, the 95° water was lukewarm, tepid, warm and gritty from the aqueduct leaving a smelly poor-quality water. Unlike the hot waters useful for therapy and hot baths or the cold waters useful for a refreshing drink, people considered the lukewarm water useless. Laodicea’s water was neither therapeutic nor refreshing. If an unknowing person traveling by took a drink, they would immediately spew it out. This is the imagery behind Jesus’ reprimand.
Jesus says, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot (Rev 3:15). He did not mean if we aren’t a spiritually hot believer that He would rather we be spiritually cold or not even a believer. This is a misinterpretation based on modern culture. The words for ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ don’t refer to the spiritual temperature. He is saying, “I wish you were either useful like the hot therapeutic waters of Hierapolis or useful like the cold refreshing water of Colossae. Instead, you are useless like the water of your city that makes Me puke.” He tells them why: Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (3:17).
They believed their material wealth was evidence of divine favor leading them to an attitude of self-sufficient. After the earthquake the city refused help from the Roman government. Jesus brings a reality check to the hubris church admonishing them for assuming they were also spiritually self-sufficient. His message, you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Material wealth never indicates divine favor. Sufficiency comes only through Christ whether you are wealthy or poor. Believers never reach a point they don’t need Him.
Note Jesus hadn’t abandoned or given up on them. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see (3:18). They could again be useful Christians. Neither was Jesus far away. Behold, I stand at the door and knock (v20). Are you still a useful believer? Or have you fallen into an attitude neutral or indifferent in matters of faith and become useless? Anyone who feels it’s not an important matter, just imagine Jesus leaning over vomiting.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Do you hear Him knocking and calling? Open the door, let Him come in and share a meal. Ask Him to make you useful again.