In the last blog (Part 1) we talked about how we view Jesus. It’s possible that most people have a perspective of Jesus as a baby in a manger or a suffering savior on a cross.
I believe that in order to understand who we are, we’ve got to understand who Jesus is. I’m convinced that the goal of our enemy is to keep our image of Christ as who He was for a couple of days in his life (a baby in a manger, or suffering savior on a cross).
I believe that’s one of the reasons why Jesus appears to John in all of His glory. John records his encounter of Jesus in Revelation 1:
…His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:12-18 (NLT)
I believe Jesus wanted to REVEAL who He now was to John in order to offer a new perspective of His identity. Notice that Jesus said “I died, but look…”. As if to say “John you need to see me the way I am –truly divine and all-powerful.”
Later on in the book of Revelation something incredible happens: John is privileged to see Jesus for who He will be in the future when He returns:
Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Revelation 19:11-16 (NLT)
I know there is a lot of symbolism in this passage (it all has meaning but I don’t have time to explain) but I just want you to get the main point: Jesus returns as a conquering king to put down His enemies and to rule this world. For example, in the previous verses, it states that Jesus is wearing “many crowns” and there is blood dripping from His robe. Those crowns are kings He has killed. The blood on his robe is not his; it is the blood of the kings that his has killed to rule this earth.
This image of Jesus is a far cry from the baby in a manger, or the dying savior on a cross that is so many times depicted in our minds throughout our lives. However, this is now Jesus. Our Lord. Our Savior. Our King.
I want to challenge you to view Jesus, not how he once was, but who he is and who he will soon be. When you pray and visualize him, imagine and all-powerful, divine Lord how can do anything….and who loves you enough to die for you. That’s who Jesus really is.
In the last blog (part 1) we talked about how we view Jesus. It’s possible that most people have a perspective of Jesus as a baby in a manger or a suffering savior on a cross.
I believe that in order to understand who we are, we’ve got to understand who Jesus is. I’m convinced that the goal of our enemy is to keep our image of Christ as who he was for a couple of days in his life (a baby in a manger, or suffering savior on a cross).
I believe that’s one of the reasons why Jesus appears to John in all of His glory. John records his encounter with of Jesus in Revelation 1:
…His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:12-18 (NLT)
I believe Jesus wanted to REVEAL who he now was to John in order to offer a new perspective of his identity. Notice that Jesus said “I died, but look…”. As to say “John you need to see me the way I am –truly divine and all powerful.”
Later on in the book of Revelation something incredible happens: John is privileged to see Jesus for who he will be in the future when he returns:
Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Revelation 19:11-16 (NLT)
I know there is a lot of symbolism in this passage (it all has meaning but I don’t have time to explain) but I just want you to get the main point: Jesus returns as a conquering king to put down His enemies and to rule this world. For example, in the previous verses, it states that Jesus is wearing “many crowns” and there is blood dripping from His robe. Those crowns are from kings He has killed. The blood on His robe is not his; it is the blood of the kings that He has killed to rule this earth.
This image of Jesus is a far cry from the baby in a manger, or the dying savior on a cross. It seems so different than what we’ve been influenced to depict in our minds by well-meaning people throughout our lives. However, this is Jesus now. Our Lord. Our Savior. Our King.
I want to challenge you to view Jesus not how he once was, but who He is and who He will soon be. When you pray and visualize Him, imagine an all-powerful, divine Lord who can do anything….and who loves you enough to die for you. That’s who Jesus really is.