Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1) reveals that Jesus is holy (3:7). The detailed description of the Savior in Revelation 1:12-18 includes specific references to His holiness. The response of the Apostle John in verse 17a is thus instructive: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” Remember, John was called the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). He was probably Jesus’ cousin (technically, half-cousin – Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25 – “His mother’s sister”) and was an early follower of Jesus (John 1:37). John was as close as anyone could be to Jesus, but when he saw Jesus in His glory, he was overwhelmed. “I turned” (verse 12); “I saw” (verse 17); “I fell” (verse 17) – the sequence is compelling. This awesome revelation could not be met with a casual glance or a comfortable nod. John’s appropriate reaction prompts a gentle touch and edifying words from Jesus: “He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not’” (verse 17). The “right hand” is a symbol of power; Jesus uses His might to reassure us! We should be in awe of Him, but we do not have to be afraid. The touch of “the Almighty” (1:8) restores His people.