DAY 5

Jesus AMONG THE CHURCHES

‘Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.’ Revelation 1:12-13 (ESV)

Reflection

John found this vision so overwhelming that he fell prostrate before Jesus, who was standing among seven golden lampstands, the symbols of the churches (see Revelation 1:20).

On the one hand, it is deeply comforting to know that Jesus is not watching from a distance but is walking in the midst of His people. He knows our joys, our struggles and our tears. He is ‘one like a son of man’, a title that connects Him to the prophecy in Daniel 7 and which blends Jesus’ humanity and divinity.

Here in Revelation, He is deliberately pictured clothed in the long robe and golden sash of the High Priest. The book of Hebrews reminds us of His priestly calling, ‘but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.’ Hebrews 7:24-25 (NIVUK)

Jesus is our High Priest, who identifies with our weaknesses in the midst of the battle and ever-lives to make intercession for us, and to give us strength.

However, this image in Revelation is also very challenging. Jesus walks among His churches to purify, correct, and encourage, as we shall see in Revelation chapters 2-3. He sees every act of faithfulness and every hidden sin. He loves us too much to leave us unchanged. The lampstands remind us that the church’s job is to shine the light of Christ in the world, ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.’ Matthew 5:14-15 (NIVUK)

Overall, these verses in Revelation 1:12-13 portray a powerful and authoritative Jesus who is present with and actively involved in the lives of His church, even in the midst of challenge, suffering and persecution.

Devotional

by Galia Ben-Israel

 

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