Our Commander
Our reading today gives us the full and glorious picture of the Commander of the Lord's Armies. In the Revelation John sees a bigger and clearer picture than Joshua did.Jesus' appearance to Joshua is understated. The glory is muted. Joshua has the room to ask "Are you for us or our enemies?" The vision John has is of Christ who has overcome sin, death and Satan and who is leading heaven's army in final victory.
Joshua's battles are still ahead of him - he still has to face Jericho and subdue their enemies in the promised land. In Revelation, the greatest battles have been fought and it is only the final judgement that awaits.
We find ourselves somewhere between Joshua and John's Revelation. Joshua still has to fully understand and discover God's saving power. He still has to experience Jericho. We've seen Jericho and we've seen the Cross and we've seen the Empty Tomb. BUT there are still days that we are like the two on the road to Emmaus and like Joshua staring at Jericho - Jesus is with us, but we don't recognise Him.
This is where John's picture is so helpful - He takes the scales from our eyes and opens our hearts. He depicts Christ as glorious and victorious. His name is Faithful and True. He is just and majestic and has a name that no-one else knows (to name something is to have power over it...). He leads Heaven's armies and judges this broken world with authority and finality.
He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and He is the One we worship!
| I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation19:11-16) |
(EmmDevs will take a break for the school hols...)
