Day 4
Scripture
focus: Then I turned to see the voice that was
speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst
of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a
golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white
wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like
burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many
waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp
two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Revelation
1:12-16
This
is one of the most fascinating descriptions of Jesus given in scripture. We
generally think of Him looking as a young man, flawless, strong, and with
loving eyes, as we’ve seen in pictorial representations. I think there’s a good
reason we don’t know exactly what Jesus looked like when He walked this earth
and wore human skin for just over three decades. His human face did not define
Him. I often wonder, because of prophetic descriptions of the Christ, if He
wasn’t the complete opposite of what we might call handsome. I imagine He was
unassuming, someone who’d be overlooked without the miracles and great wisdom that
attracted people to Him. What that looked like in details though, we’ll never
know.
Then
we get this amazing, awe-inspiring description of the resurrected, powerful,
holy Christ. Much of the description seems symbolic, and it all fits in various
messages Jesus sends to the churches, but I think the physical descriptions
were actual. I try to picture it in my head, and fall short. I looked up
artists’ renditions of their translating these elements, and they all too fell
short. Because we cannot imagine Jesus in all His glory and power and dominion.
It is too much for us.
Yet,
He gives John this glimpse to pass on to us. A glimpse that is hard for us to
imagine, but yet gives great insight to the victorious Jesus who is coming to
judge. I think of His white hair. In our culture age is not revered and
correlated with wisdom, but I imagine Jesus’ white hair represents his wisdom.
And His holiness. White is often used in scripture to talk about how His
sacrificial death washes us white as snow – just like His hair is described
here. I consider His voice like the roar of many waters. A sound that
reverberates and supersedes anything else. It filled the whole space and washed
away any other sound, yet John was able to understand Jesus’ words clearly.
There
is so much in this short section of verses! I hope you take time this week to
meditate on this image Jesus presents of Himself and God blesses you with a
greater understanding of Him.
Prayer:
Holy, Almighty Lord, when You speak, let me turn toward Your voice to get a
clearer picture of You. Help me to remember You have all wisdom and offer to give
me wisdom for my life freely if I ask. Give me wisdom, Lord, for the big and
small choices I face! You alone can hold all the stars, all people, all
planets, and the very breath in my lungs. The sun You created is too much for
me to look at, yet Your brilliance and light far out pass the sun I can see. Thank
You for Your Word, grace, mercy, perfect love, and redemption of my life. Thank
You for being the light to show me the next step, then the next, and the next.
Amen.
Reflection questions/prayer prompts:
Do I see Jesus as He presents Himself in all of
scripture, or do I see Him as He’s been presented by others’ or my own ideas?
Do I seek wisdom from other people or experts
first, rather than from God first and foremost?
God, help me to remember You are passionate for
me and You desire that my desires be for You and Your Kingdom.
Do I see Jesus as the light that directs my
steps in this life and the light that
is the Way to eternal life?
Jesus, speak to me with a roar that will drown
out all the distractions, deceptions, and discouragements I face in this life.
How can I open my heart and mind to God for Him
to divide the marrow and bone of who I am with His Word?
God, You are all-powerful. Help me to not just
give mental assent to this truth about You, but live according to this truth.
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