December 11, 2011 Majestic, Wonderful

Majestic, Wonderful
Read Revelation 1

Rev 1:14-15 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

YOU’RE probably saying, “Oh, no. Revelation! Forget it. I’ll never understand it.” I believe that’s a typical response to this majestic book of God’s glory and triumph. The account of the end of time is too grand to hold onto and more than our imagination can grasp. God’s final victory is wider, deeper and higher than any concepts our experience has taught us. This vision given to the Apostle John is a peek at who God is beyond his earthly manifestations.
Revelation is a book that shows the depth, too, of evil and its pervasive influence over the world. It is a book of battle, of worship, of glory, of victory. C’mon, let’s spend 3 weeks in “this vision” to see what we will learn.
To begin, when Jesus comes to John, he is clothed in his glory. This tells us why everyone in the Bible who saw a visitor from God was afraid. Jesus’ appearance sounds scary, brilliant, wonderful and glorious. He radiated with all the brilliant light of God’s glory.
John fell down in fear. But Jesus called him up, and gave him a task. When we meet the Living Lord in prayer or in worship, we, too, are often afraid as we wonder: “What will he have me do?”
John knew to obey. When Jesus told John to write, that’s exactly what John did. And here we are today, reading what he wrote and wondering, “What, Jesus, are you saying to me, to the world?”
Let’s see if we answer that question—even just a little bit. In 3 weeks, we’ll know more than we do now. You who have an ear, listen to Jesus in his majesty and truth.


Pause and Consider: how the majestic Jesus has come to you.