The Image of Christ

     As we are stretching our minds to incorporate the human image of Christ with His deity, I had to read John’s description of Him in the book of Revelation. John is the sole surviving disciple. Almost every other one of them has been martyred because of their unwillingness to deny Jesus.

     John is in his nineties, banished to the island of Patmos, (because of Jesus) and Jesus reveals to Him what is past, what is present and what is to come at the end of the age. John is told to write down what he sees. Ready to picture the Christ John is allowed to witness in his vision of heaven?

…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 1:13-16

     There will be no night in heaven and Jesus will be the light. (See Revelation 22) It is no wonder John sees Him as if the sun was shining. What will we do when we see Him? Here is John’s response.

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the living One. I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.  Revelation 1:17-18

     I imagine John trying to capture in words what He sees. I imagine there are no words. This description is the best he can do with his earthly words. And Jesus responds to John with familiar words, “Do not be afraid.”

     He and John walked, talked, dined and ministered together. John was taught by Him. He loved Him, But seeing the One he knew so well in all of His glory is too much. It is the One, the First and the Last, the One John is willing to die for, the One his friends did die for, His Lord. Yes, it is Jesus in glory.

     One day every person past and present will stand before Him. One day every knee will bow.

It is written, “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me, every tongue will acknowledge God.”  Romans 14:11

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.  Philippians 2:9-10

     One day every knee will bow before Him. Why not now? What will we do? One day, as believers, we will see Him as He is. And as the song says, “I Can Only Imagine.”

Dear Jesus,

You are beyond description, beyond our earthly minds to imagine and our earthly eyes to see. Let our spirits join with Yours now until one day soon, we will be with You forever. You are the First and the Last. You are alive!

Amen