A Picture of Jesus
GIST: Coming face to face with Jesus should shake us to the core, but His comfort should raise us up and blow us away.
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 1:12-20
Today we're going to be looking at the first of the more "complicated" portions of Revelation, but don't be afraid, or overwhelmed by the imagery here--it's awesome! Like last week, we'll take one image at a time and draw some applications as we go.
The Vision of Christ
One of the most helpful interpretive "hints" I have stumbled across for understanding the visions in Revelation is that so many of the visions use Old Testament imagery to explain what is being seen. This is really important to remember. John's original audience would have been familiar with these images. Though they might not come as readily to us (our minds are full of other images and notions), looking back at these sources really will help us to understand what is being said.
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,...20 As for the mystery of ... the seven golden lampstands, ... [they] are the seven churches.
Let's start by talking about these lampstands. There are a few points to note here.
- Who are the Lampstands?
I love it when Revelation interprets itself! There is absolutely no mystery here. Verse 20 says directly: they are the seven churches, which we know from our earlier study means they represent the church as a whole (all Christians).
- Implications?
- Golden- Gold is precious and refineable. The church is precious to Christ, and He refines us--purifies.
- Lampstands- Oh, there is so much here! We are God's lampstands! John Gill, an old commentator, pointed out that lampstands were designed to display light, but they cannot produce it. Light has to be put into them for them to accomplish their designed purpose. See the parallel here? We are designed to shine God's light!
- Matthew 5:14-16, "14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (See also: Philippians 2:15 and John 8:12)
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,
Again, we have a few points to be made here.
- What does it mean "like a son of man?"
One of the major Old Testament sources cited in Revelation is Daniel, and it is from this book that we get this image of one "like the son of man": "and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man," Daniel 7:13a. In the context, this is part of a "messianic prophecy" (a prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus). Interestingly, this was also Jesus' preferred self-designation. In fact, I did a Bible Search on my el-computero, and in the New Testament, this term is used 86 times. Only 4 of those were not by Jesus Himself. Therefore, we can be very certain who this one like a son of man is--this is Jesus.
- Where is He?
I won't spend too much time here, but don't miss this. Jesus is in the midst of the lampstands. He is with, in the middle of, His Church! Everything we are about to be shown about Him is not what He looks like, but what He is like, and particularly what He is like for us--His people--with whom He dwells!
13b clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
This clothing has been compared to the garb worn by both a king and a high priest. Neither is off base because Jesus is both. And while High Priest might be more in view here, we see Jesus functioning in both roles in this image.
Is there an Old Testament reference here? Yep: "5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist." Daniel 10:5 (Check out Isaiah 6:1, as well.)
Given that He is portrayed in the High Priestly form and in the midst of His people, it's also important to remember what kind of High Priest He is: Hebrews 7:26-28, "26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever."
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.
Now I know this seems odd. Why is Jesus portray with white hair? Is Jesus aging? Nope. Let's look at a few passages real quick:
Daniel 7:9a 9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool..."Isaiah 1:18 "18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Matthew 17:2 "2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light."
This is an allusion to Jesus as the Ancient of Days, God. So it does represent His eternity. However, I think most in view here is His purity (Remember He is the Lamb of God!). It is what He is and what He makes us.
14b His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Daniel 10:6a "6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches..." There are many associations made with fire. He is searching, penetrating, light providing, purifying, and judging (final judgment).
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace,
There are several references in mind here. Look again at Daniel 10:6b "6... his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze...", but also consider Ezekiel 1:7, 1:25-28, 40:3. )
The picture here is twofold. He is pure (refined in the furnace) and purifier/judge. John MacArthur pointed out that in the temple, bronze or brass was always associated with sin. Therefore, the picture here is of the pure judge, judging the sinful.
15b and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
Powerful. Loud. You cannot sound Him out or ignore His voice. (Daniel 10:6 and Ezekiel 43:2)
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand,... the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches...
There has been some speculation here about who these angels are, but the most straight forward interpretation is that these are actual angels who are connected to, or attendants of, or messengers to these churches, and therefore, the Church. And, He holds them. They are not acting alone, but are under His specific control and guidance.
15c from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword,
This refers to the power of His words--piercing hearts with the Truth. Hebrews 4:12 "12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (See also Ephesians 6:17 and Revelation 2:16)
15d and his face was like the sun shining in full strength....
Bright and glorious, the source of all light, warm and life providing, brighter than the seven stars in His hand. Our eyes should not be able to look on Him and live. (Keep this in mind when you see John's immediate reaction).
The Response (Both from John and Jesus)
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
1. Coming face to face with Jesus should shake us to the core.
John's immediate reaction after seeing this incredible vision of Jesus was to fall at His feet like a dead man. He's not alone in this reaction. We see it throughout the Bible, and we should see it in our lives. If we really grasp who Jesus is, we should fall on our knees in reverence and a profound realization of our weakness.
2. But His comfort should raise us up and blow us away.
Jesus puts His right hand on John to comfort him. I think there is significance here. The right hand typically symbolizes power and strength, and it is exactly that which Jesus uses to comfort John, and us. He says, "fear not", something John has heard Him say many times before, and then He tells him why.
1. He is eternal- He created this world and controls every aspect of its existence.
2. He defeated sin for us- He died for us, and provided our means of salvation--freedom from the bondage of sin.
3. He controls death- He controls both Death and Hades. I know it could be so easy to go crazy with the mythological reference here, but that would miss the point. Hades was commonly used to refer to the afterlife, or more specifically Hell. Death means...dying. Jesus is in charge of both physical and spiritual death. It reminds me of Matthew 10:24-30
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25...If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ... 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." [Emphasis Added]
So, what is being said here? Nothing in the world could be more terrifying than God, and He's the one who died to save us!
And it is precisely because of who Jesus is that John is told to write this book down with events that are and are to come. Again, this is what Revelation is all about--seeing Jesus, and this passage gives us an awesome image of who He is. It should shake us. The fact that this same Jesus loves us and died for us, that should change everything. Monday morning shouldn't look so dreary when you're being comforted by the King.
-Amen.
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