The Revelation Of Jesus Christ (part 3)

by Jim Reynolds⁽¹⁵⁾

Being alone has a way of distorting the normal. When your home is full of busyness and sound, its familiar creaks and groans go unnoticed. If even heard, they become a part of the background because you know they are simply the house settling or the air conditioner about to kick on. If you are alone in the house, though, you begin to wonder if those familiar sounds might be something else.

This “distortion” is never more true than when facing crises and pain. Heartache not only has a way of isolating us, but of stigmatizing us, at least in our own minds. For months after our infant daughter died, I was convinced that strangers in the grocery store somehow knew. I felt like they were watching me, clucking their tongues, and thinking, “There goes that guy whose baby died.” I realize this was irrational, but feeling alone tends to create a certain number of paranoid thoughts.

As I write this, I am going to pull back on that word irrational. To some degree, each one of us is absolutely alone in our pain. Even other parents who lost children did not lose our child. The circumstances might have even been similar, but the details – the colors and smells, the nuances of the loss – were unique to us. Likewise, no matter how common divorce, illness, and sinful behavior is, each instance leaves a slightly different taste in our mouths. The details of our experience not only uniquely shape us, they set us apart, therefore making us feel alone.

John was alone on the island of Patmos when Jesus began revealing to him the secrets of the coming age and the presence of the One presiding over the end. His description to this point has been based on a voice speaking to him. In John 1:12, he “turned to see the voice.” One like the son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to His feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash, was in the middle of the lampstands ( John 1:12-13.)

We learn later, in John 1:20, that the lampstands represent the 7 churches. The implication is clear; Jesus is standing among the churches. We later learn these churches are facing severe problems: heresies, conflict, persecution, evil conspiracies, and immorality. Yet Jesus walks among the churches as our Shepherd and Friend.

He is the “son of man,” a reference to Dan. 7:13. That One from Daniel was also “given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” Deliverance from Babylonian captivity served to foreshadow the deliverance from sin Jesus accomplished. He walks among the lampstands, dispensing grace, forgiveness, and restoration.

The Greek words make it clear the robe and sash are priestly garments. As our perfect High Priest, Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice. Now, He sits at the right hand of Father God and intercedes for us. The Greek also has elements of royalty and respect.

Pressing together the images of Priest, King, and Shepherd serves as a reminder. In a power only possible because He is God, He is everywhere. He is with you and beside you, His arm wrapped around your shoulder as you cry. He is seated beside the Father, praying perfectly for you and reflecting our pain to God in the most direct way possible. He is also seated on the throne, presiding over every tribulation we face.

God could have sent His message to John any way He chose. John could have received the “word of the Lord,” as he did when writing his Gospel. A hand could have dropped from the sky and etched this letter onto the side of a mountain, so there could be no evading its source. A talking animal could have sidled up next to John and said, “Have I got a story for you!” Instead, God sent John’s friend, Jesus, but Jesus was sent in a form that ministered to John’s greatest need.

Rom. 8:32 and followingputs it this way: He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along WITH Him, graciously give us all things? Who shall separate us form the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus is standing with you, moving through your life and your mess, beside you. He is also with you, on your side. This exalted One, among the lampstands, is Immanuel and we will never be, never can be, alone.

Walk WITH Jesus,

Jim

Article submitted Friday, May 13, 2011 & read 179 times.

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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁸⁰⁾ (364 days 16 hours ago.)

Beauty out of ashes. I am so sorry about your baby. I am glad you can reach out and teach others - thank you for sharing in this piece.

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