The Vision of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
This morning, as I was preaching, I began thinking about the Judge who sat on the throne…A picture of Jesus, what He looked like; I mentioned it a little, but I went home today and looked here at John’s vision in Revelation 1...
Let’s note the following picture of Jesus:
I. His Head and Hair
I. His Head and Hair
Verse 14—“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow”.
This speaks of His purity and of His antiquity.
We are reminded that He is sinless...
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
We are also reminded that He is ageless! This vision of Jesus identifies Him with “The Ancient of Days” in:
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
He is the One Who has always existed! The baby Jesus Who was place in that manger in Bethlehem is the same One Who stood on nothing and created everything in the beginning! He is timeless and eternal!
John talks about his head. That head was laid on Mary’s breast for comfort as a child. That head had no place to rest itself as an adult. That head was crowned with thorns and His Own blood mixed with the spittle of His enemies. That head was laid in a cold, dark tomb and covered with a napkin. One day, one glorious day, that head will be adorned with many crowns!
II. His Eyes
II. His Eyes
Verse 14—“His eyes were as a flame of fire”.
His eyes speak of His omniscience; intelligence and perception...
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.
Nothing is hidden from His gaze! Not a Zaccheaus in a tree, not a Peter by a fire, not the heart of a critical Pharisees! No, He sees every motive, sin and secret in our hearts and in our lives. Those eyes were damp with tears for Lazarus, for Jerusalem and for us. Those eyes still see everything in our lives today!
III. His Feet
III. His Feet
Verse 15—“His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace”.
Brass, or bronze, in the Bible speaks of judgment.
The “brazen serpent”, Num. 21, was a symbol of the sin of the people being judged by the chastisement of God.
Jesus appears here in the midst of His churches as One having the authority to judge. He sees all and when He sees that which displeases Him, He exercise His authority as King and Lord and He moves in judgment to set things right.
Those precious feet of the Lord Jesus touched this earth for the first time when He was but a baby. They carried Him along the dusty pathways of Israel as He ministered and preached to the people. They carried Him to the top of Calvary where those feet felt the searing pain of the nails driven through them. Those feet were last seen as He ascended back to His father’s throne.
Soon, those feet will ride the clouds back to this world when Jesus calls His bride to Himself.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
One day, those feet will again touch this world. He will come in power to judge sin, Satan and sinful man as He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. He comes as a Judge!
IV. His Voice
IV. His Voice
Verse 15—“His voice as the sound of many waters”
When John first hears the Lord, His voice is described as sounding like a trumpet, v. 10.
His voice came demanding John’s attention.
Now, John describes the voice of the Lord as “the sound of many waters”. I have never been to Niagara Falls, but those who have tell me the sound of those waters drowns out all other noise.
Thus it is with the voice of Jesus. Today, men turn a deaf ear to His voice; but there is coming a day when He will speak and His voice will be one that will and cannot be ignored.
One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as Lord at the sound of that voice.
This is the same voice that spoke this world into existence.
This is the same voice that declared redemption’s work complete when He said, It is finished...
This is the same voice that will call the Bride up to glory...
This voice will be most cruel to ever fall upon the ears of a lost man when He says depart from me, ye that work iniquity, but, it will be the most precious voice ever heard by those who have been saved by grace...
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
I am glad that I heard that voice call me to come to Him one day. I am glad that I hear that voice day by day as I travel toward glory. I am grateful that I will hear that voice at the end of the way as He says, “Welcome home!”
V. His Hand
V. His Hand
Verse 16—“He had in His right hand seven stars”.
In His right hand, Jesus holds the seven stars.
These stars are identified in verse 20. They are the “angels of the seven churches”.
Who are the angels of the seven churches? That’s a really good question, most of the commentators that I read after say that it’s the Pastors of these seven churches.
Jesus is pictured as holding His servants in His hand, protecting them by His power.
The people John was writing to were undergoing severe persecution. They needed this reassurance as they struggled. But, so do you and I! It comforts my heart to know that I am safe in His hand!
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Those hands that formed man from the dust of the earth; touched the lepers; opened the blinded eyes; fed the multitudes and were eventually nailed to the cross are the same hands that hold you and me today!
When you and I are in His hand, we are in a place of absolute safety and protection!
VI. His Mouth
VI. His Mouth
Verse 16—“Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword”.
This shows the power of His word.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
This reminds us that He is coming not with words of peace and blessing; but with words of righteousness and judgment.
When Jesus came the first time, He came with a message of peace and salvation.
The next time He comes, He will judge the world with a word from His mouth.
Like the thrust of a sharp sword that can slice to the bone and bring instant death; one day Jesus will speak and His enemies will be utterly destroyed...
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Just as He said, “Let there be light” and light appeared; He will speak and it will be done!
The Word of God, reviled by the atheist, the agnostic, the infidel, and the liberal will one day be the standard by which all men are judged!
I preached that this morning concerning the Great White Throne Judgment...
The Word of God will judge man some day...
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
VII. His Countenance
VII. His Countenance
Verse 16—“His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength”.
John says that the face of The Lord of Glory was like looking into the full force of the sun.
John had seen this face before. When Jesus was transfigured in Matt. 17, John was there.
When Jesus came to this earth and was been in Bethlehem, He concealed His glory beneath a robe of human flesh.
When He came the first time, He was approachable. Anyone who wished could enter His presence then, and many did. Little children, rich ruler, religious leaders, poor people, sick people, even social outcasts like lepers, could approach Jesus whenever they desired. But, when He comes again, sinful men will not even be able to look upon Him, much less approach Him.
When Jesus came the first time, His face was that of a common man, Isa. 53:2.
His enemies plucked the beard from His face and they spit upon that face, Isa. 50:6.
His face was beaten and streaked with His Own blood. But, it was that face that caused Isaiah to cry out and say, “Woe is me!”, Isa. 6:5. It was that face that caused Job to say, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes,” Job 42:5–6.
One day wicked men will cry for the mountains to fall on them and hide them from His face...
One day we will see that face! When we do, there will be no bruises, no spittle, and no blood. When we see that face, we will see Him in His glory and we will be able to behold His glory, because we will be like Him in that day...
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What John is trying to do here at the very start of the book of Revelation is trying to get us to see Jesus as He really is!
He is not the humble man of Galilee any longer. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lord and He deserves to be worshiped, served and glorified. When He is in the right place, the whole world will be all right. Until then, the world will be out of balance and will continue to wobble under the affects of sin and rebellion, until Jesus comes and sets it right.
Is Jesus in the right place in your heart and life?
You and I have the opportunity to come before Him today to praise Him for Who He is.