A Revelation Invitation

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.(Revelation 1:12-16 ESV)

If asked, how would you describe Jesus? The New Testament shows him in many varied settings, interacting with all kinds of people, expressing a whole spectrum of emotions, provoking all manner of reactions. Which characteristics of his life would you highlight? Which moments would you focus on? When heaven opened, John wrote down what he saw. And what a portrait of Jesus it is. Is this whom you picture as you walk through life with the man from Galilee? Is this your image of the Jesus with whom you have a personal relationship?

He was “dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest,” the garments of a king or priest so glorious that I want to hide in embarrassment as if I showed up for his coronation in jeans and a t-shirt.

“The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow,” a heart, soul and mind so pure that I can’t help but question my own thoughts, and doubt my own motives.

“His eyes were like blazing fire,” so piercing and illuminating that I fear what he sees right through me because there is no hiding from those eyes, not even my inmost thoughts.

“His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,” feet that trample in hot pursuit, unstoppable feet swift to judgment.

“His voice was like the sound of rushing waters,” a voice that shakes the earth like the mightiest of water falls or crashing waves, a voice whose words I ignore at my own peril.

“Coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword,” with which he comes after my heart—cutting it, piercing it, cleansing it.

“His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance,” blinding me as if I’m staring directly into the sun. He is one who has come from the presence of the holy God. And I can’t look!

What a portrait of one like a son of man, of Jesus. This is the same man we read about in the gospels. And we will find these same characteristics throughout the gospels. We do well to take it all in. What should we make of this picture? Is Jesus comforting? Yes! Is he comfortable? No! Is he intimate? Yes! Is he soft? No! Is he safe? Yes! Is he formidable? Also, yes! Is he tender? He can be. Is he commanding? When he needs to be. Is he welcoming? At times. Is he unapproachable? He may also appear that way. Is he fearsome? Clearly. How about calming? Yes, that too. Do you want a personal relationship with the Jesus that John saw that day? If you know Jesus, you know that a relationship with him is be both wonderful and demanding. There is a depth and complexity to him that only a lifetime of devotion and study will begin to uncover. Regardless of how much or how little we grasp of him, he shows up. He is there when we need him through all our difficulties. I think that is what John saw in Jesus that day.