S) "13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."
Revelation 1:13-16 (NASB)
O) What astounding glory this is! Even with the descriptors that John gives, it is still very difficult for me to visualize how Jesus looked in His appearing. There is some hope to recapture the image in everything up until the very last verse, though. For example, I can imagine a man with white hair, and a golden sash, etc. I can even, with some effort, imagine how His face must've shone. After all, I know the brightness of the sun, and so I can imagine the brightness of the Son. But, the description of the stars in His hand, and the sword in His mouth, while obviously symbolic, would still have been amazing to see directly. As much as I may want to try and imagine a reproduction of this scene, though, I think to some degree it should be left a mystery. That is, the less detail I know, the more I must simply submit to the fact that the glory of Jesus is actually beyond comprehension, and I must simply look forward to the day when I see Him as He is.
A) I never knew the image of Jesus at all, obviously. As He actually described, I am one who believed without having seen Him (John 20:29), so when I finally see Jesus in His glory, it will be the only time I have ever seen Him. There is a sense in which I am actually very thankful for that. John knew the image of Jesus, having spent more than three years with Him. When He saw Jesus in this revelation, it might actually have been difficult for him to reconcile the two images. For me, though, I am able to come to His glory, never having known the veiled image of God as He was on earth. I will only experience His full, unfiltered glory. There will be no adjustment needed, I will simply be able to behold my Savior, the one whom I have sought all the rest of my days, to finally see the mystery of His image as it is plainly.
P) Father, this mystery is too wonderful for me to comprehend. My imagination fails me, when I try to visualize all of John's descriptions at once, so I give up. Instead, I simply and thankfully look forward to the day, that I am able to behold the glory of Jesus as He is. Thank You for this promise, Lord God. Thank You for giving me eternal life, that I will be able to spend eternity in the presence of my Savior, to know Him fully, with the mystery being solved for all time. Let me ever look forward to that glorious day. Let me seek You continually, daily, to know You more and more here on earth, until I know You in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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