Sunday, July 16, 2023

THE PICTURE OF JESUS CHRIST

Just like Apostle Paul, the passionate and sincere desire of every Born-Again Believer should be to know Christ (Phil. 3:10). Today, we are going to attempt to paint the picture of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:9-13). Look at the picture of Jesus as described by John:

1. He is like a man. “…one like unto the Son of man….” (Gen. 1:26-27; Rev. 1:13).

2. He is clothed with a garment down to His feet. “…clothed with a garment down to the foot…” (Rev. 1:13).

What is the colour of His garment? “…and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow…” (Dan. 7:9).

Why did Jesus appear wearing such a garment? This is because He is the High Priest for all who believe in Him (Heb. 4:14-15; Heb. 8:1). The high priest of Israel prayed to God to forgive the sins of the people, and to pour out His blessings on them.

Jesus, our High Priest, not only prayed for us (Jn. 17), but also now offers continuous prayers to God the Father that we may be forgiven of all our sins, and receive God’s blessings. But to those who do not believe in Christ, this same garment becomes a special robe of a judge.

 “…and girt about the paps (chest) with a golden girdle” (Rev. 1:13).

3. Jesus is girded about the chest with a golden band. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across His chest” (Rev. 1:13, NLT).

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him” (Dan. 7:13).

The golden girdle around His chest symbolizes His position as the “King of kings.”

4. His head and hairs are white as wool, as white as snow. “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow…” (Rev. 1:14).

The hair of His head is like pure wool. “…and the Ancient of days did sit, …the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire” (Dan. 7:9).

What does the white hair signify? White hair signifies that one has reached the highest level of wisdom after the ups and downs of life. “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness” (Prov. 16:31).

It is a symbol of wisdom – Jesus is our wisdom! “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).

5. His eyes flash like a flame of fire. “…and His eyes were as a flame of fire” (Rev. 1:14). His eyes were like blazing fire. His discerning eyes know and judge all living things.

6. His feet are like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace. “And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace…” (Rev. 1:15). His feet were like bronze glowing in a bronze furnace. Brass is made of copper and it signifies judgment.

7. His voice is like the sound of many waters. “…and His voice as the sound of many waters” (Rev. 1:15). The sound of His Words is like the voice of a multitude.

8. He had in His right hand seven stars. “And He had in His right hand seven stars…” (Rev. 1:16). The seven stars signify the pastors of the seven chosen churches in Asia Minor.

9. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. “…and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword…” (Rev. 1:16).

The Words that proceed out of the mouth of Jesus is a sword. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

The Word of God never returns void when it is sent on an assignment (Isa. 55:11).

The Word of God is like a surgical knife that God uses to save our lives (Rom. 1:16-17).

When we hear and receive the Word of God, wonderful things happen to us (Jn. 1:12).

10. His face is like the sun shining at its full strength at midday. “…and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Rev. 1:16).

Whoever comes to Jesus will receive this shining light that radiates from His face and will be filled with the joy of the Lord to the full. For instance, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' he did not know that the skin of his face shone…” (Ex. 34:29). Moses’ face shinned when he came down from the mountain because he has been with Jesus.

11. The air that comes out from His nostrils is fire – it kindles coals. “…The glory of His nostrils is terrible” (Job 39:20b).

12. Have you ever considered the size of Jesus Christ?

a) His throne is in Heaven but His footstool is on the earth. God said, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool…” (Isa. 66:1).

b) The entire universe came out from Him. Jesus is infinitely bigger than the entire universe.

c)  He stretches the heavens like a curtain. “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain(Ps. 104:2).

d) He lays the beams of His chambers in the waters. “Who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters…?” (Ps. 104:3a).

e) He makes the clouds His chariots. “…who maketh the clouds His chariot…?” (Ps. 104:3b).

f) He walks upon the wings of the wind. “…who walketh upon the wings of the wind” (Ps. 104:3c).

g) He walks on the Sea. “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea(Matt. 14:25-26).

h) He raises the dead to life. He raised Lazarus from the dead to life (Jn. 11).

i) He turns raging fiery furnace into an air-conditioned room (Dan. 3).

k) He shuts the mouth of hungry lions (Dan. 6). 

l) The earth trembles at His presence. “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob” (Ps. 114:7).

No wonder when the Red Sea and River Jordan saw Him they fled. “What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? Thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?” (Ps. 114:5).

No wonder when the mountains saw Him they skipped like rams. “The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs” (Ps. 114:4).

Conclusion! Beloved, I have just tried to paint a picture of Jesus Christ in your mind. Can you now close your physical eyes and see Him with your eye of faith? Then begin to appreciate Him for who He is.

Watchout for the next edition of the GOODNEWS from the pulpit.

  • Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG).

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