A Different Angle (A)

Undercover Boss

CEO of a company goes “undercover” as an entry-level employee

Often unable to do the work

Helpful for CEO to discover the intricacies of the work involved

Employees would be surprised to learn CEO was “that employee”

John had known that Jesus was Lord

That He was God the Son

Resurrected Christ

Worshiped Him as such

But his point of reference to Jesus was what he had witnessed and experienced while Jesus was on earth

Last sighting

Ascension

What John knew barely scratched the surface as to who Jesus is

Which puts into better perspective our understanding of who Jesus is

John was banished on a remote island

Still sought the Lord

Still worshiped Him

In a moment, he experienced the presence of the Lord Jesus in a way he had never before experienced

Result:

Deeper understanding of Jesus

He knew Jesus

A powerful assignment from the Lord

That would be used to make Jesus known

Moreover, John was given a new job:

Write This Down

Don’t lose sight that in the midst of all of this, John saw the Lord from:

A Different Angle

Revelation 1:12-20

Revelation 1:12–20 NKJV

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

Every Christ follower can more fully know Jesus and become more passionate to make Jesus known by noticing the following things about Jesus in this passage:

1. What He’s Wearing

Clothed with a garment down to the feet

V.13

Long robe down to the feet

Fitting for a priest

Fitting for a judge

Jesus is both

Golden band girded around His chest

V.13

Typical of the high priest

Jesus, the Son of God

The Judge

Of His own

2 Co 5:10

Of the unbelieving

Re 20:11-15

The High Priest

He 4:14-15

2. What He Looks Like

White head, white hair

V.14

Corresponds to the Father, the Ancient of Days

Speaks to His eternal nature

Da 7:9

Daniel 7:9 NKJV

9 “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;

Eyes like a flame of fire

V.14

Also as the Ancient of Days

Da 10:6

Used to describe His judgment upon the eternally saved and eternally condemned

Points to the degree of wrath that will be unleashed upon sin and its destructive nature

Feet like fine brass/bronze

Refined in a furnace

V.15

Hardness of the metal similar to the hardness of the judgment of God

Voice as sound of many waters

V.15

Emphasizing the power and the majesty of the Judge’s decrees

Eze 43:2

Ps 29

Countenance of His face was shining as the sun at full strength

V.16

Similar to John’s first experience seeing the Lord this radiant

Transfiguration

Now What?

John would be sending letters to seven churches from this One appearing to him

Churches in a variety of conditions

Enduring harsh persecution

Aware of how little strength they had

Polluted with bad doctrine

Polluted with immorality

Living in the past

Enamored with their own programs and processes

Self-sufficient, complacent

What if those churches got a glimpse of the Lord Jesus as John is seeing Him here?

John is going to write a book the contents of which will be terrifying to many readers

He needed to see the One who was rejected by those who would have to suffer through those judgments

What about you?

Do you crave a deeper knowledge of Jesus?

Or are you “good?”

Look at

What He’s Wearing

He is your High Priest

He is your Judge

What He Looks Like

The eternal Ancient of Days

Does that change your worship?

Know Jesus

Does that change how you serve Him?

Make Jesus Known