What child is this…?

The little boy stopped at a brushed metal nativity decoration and ran his fingers over it. My sister asked him if he knew what it was. He said that he didn’t, so she explained that it depicted a child that was born and that we celebrate His birth at Christmas. Then she asked him if he knew who that child was. The boy, about six years old, said, “Santa Claus?” My sister was startled. She told the child was Jesus and that he could read about Him in the Bible.
 

We are praying for that family and that boy, even with tears that our so-called Christian country has children like this one, and likely many more who know nothing about Jesus, or think that His name is just a swear word.

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered”…. and I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…. (Revelation 5:5–6)

This verse from today’s devotional reading offers some comfort. This “unknown” Jesus will become known as the conqueror. He will reign and everyone will know who He is. For now, Christians like me are responsible to tell others about Him and make Him known.

The image of a Lion and a Lamb can be understood by a child, but even the wisest of adults struggle with who Jesus is, and with the incredible truths about His attributes. He is opposites in many ways, but not “on and off” like my opposites. Instead He is all of who He is at the same time. That is, all of His attributes are equal . His almighty power gives Him the ability to be incredibly humble, without any inner compulsion to prove anything. His humility is not weakness, but amazing strength fully controlled.

He is Lord of all as fully God and fully man and as Mediator between God and man. His dominion is a natural dominion, delegated yet in place because of who He is. In that might Person is also found the greatest obedience, a total submission to the commands of God.

I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. (John 14:31)

No one has ever been asked to do what the triune God determined for God the Son, yet Jesus was willing to do it. “He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). No other being, human or angel was or ever will be asked this, yet the One who did it was at the same time the supreme Lord of both angels and humans, willing to die for our sin.

This absolute sovereignty and perfect submission means that this Jesus works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, yet it was His will to obey even when it meant terrible suffering. As He faced it, His soul was sorrowful and His sweat dropped blood. Still He said,

My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will… if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. (Matthew 26:39–42)

This one born a babe in Bethlehem totally obeyed His Father in heaven and purchased for us total redemption and forgiveness so we might live together with Him forever. How utterly sad that there are people everywhere, including children, who have never even heard of Him.

His ways are higher . . .

How can a person be both humble and proud? Christians flip flop all the time between walking in Christ and living according to that old sinful nature. I can be kind and gentle or mean and harsh, but not at the same time.
 

This week, I’ve been studying the attributes of God and how God is all that He is all the time. That is, when He is judging sin, He has not ceased to love sinners. When He is blessing His people with mercy and kindness, He has not stopped being just and holy, hating sin. Obviously we are not like God.

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain… (Revelation 5:5–6)

In Jesus Christ there are diverse qualities normally incompatible in the same person. He is both infinite majesty and transcendent meekness. While some might ascribe the meekness to His humanity and the majesty to His deity, Christ is not split up like that.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily… (Colossians 2:9)

Christ’s infinite majesty is described in many places, as is His humble spirit. His “kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and [His] dominion endures through all generations” (Psalm 145:13), yet He is the “king (who) comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey” (Matthew 21:5). This lion of the tribe of Judah “when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats” (1 Peter 2:23). He had a wonderful spirit of forgiveness, was ready to forgive his worst enemies and [even] prayed for them. He was silent and “led like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7).

While I can be meek, and maybe at my best moments have something grand about me, none of us can match the combination that is in Jesus Christ who is both a lion in and a lamb.

Meekness and Majesty

A modern hymn with great depth begins with these words: “Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity, in perfect harmony, the man who is God. Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity, kneels in humility, and washes our feet.” © 1986 Thankyou Music
 

Today’s devotional reading begins with these words from a great preacher, Jonathan Edwards: “There meet in Jesus Christ infinite highness and infinite condescension.”

As I read and study the Word of God, the more astonished I am at the incarnation of Jesus Christ. This is God who became man, even a man who submitted Himself to incredible disgrace in order to save me from my sin.

… Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5–8)

Those who know these verses also know that it goes on to say that God exalts His Son to the highest place and that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father. This will happen at the end of history when Jesus wins.

Christ is the Creator. He possesses heaven and earth, rules the universe and does whatever He pleases. His riches are immense and inexhaustible. His majesty is infinitely awesome. His knowledge, wisdom and power are perfect and none can resist Him. Yet this One became sin for us. He humbly takes note of sinners, even the lowest of the low, and to us who deserve wrath, He offers eternal life. Incredible!

In the end, when God wraps up the world and brings history to a close, Jesus wins. I cannot imagine the scene, yet it is described in the final pages of His Word…

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…  (Revelation 5:5–6)

This coming together of infinite highness and low condescension fills my heart with awe and gratitude. The Christ, who is Lord of all, stoops to wash my feet. Meekness and majesty – indeed.

The Four-fold Majesty of Jesus Christ

Our city has a budget for art and used a large portion of it for a sculpture that sits beside the approach to a recently renovated bridge. So far, I’ve heard no compliments on this sculpture. Many people think it was a waste of tax-payers money, and a dismal choice of subject matter that makes no sense. Those making the most complaints seem to be looking for a more literal depiction they can recognize rather than art that represents abstract concepts or values.
 

Many who read the Bible have the same struggle. This Book from God is filled with a great deal of literal narration, yet some of it is obviously symbolic. As difficult as this is for some, both forms of literature need to be considered when interpreting God’s Word. For instance, consider this vision seen by John and recorded in the last book of the Bible.

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)

Today’s devotional reading focused on the “no rest” and never-ending praise that will be part of our experience in eternity with Jesus Christ. For me, I wondered about the four living creatures. This is not the first mention of odd living things full of eyes. Elsewhere, they are said to be like a lion, or an ox, or a man, or an eagle. I can understand the idea of never-ending praise, but what do these creatures represent? 

Apparently, the church Fathers identified them with the four Gospels and how their authors used symbols to express an aspect of Christ in relation to the world. Even the number four is significant as the four quarters of the world, so these four writings present yet another symbol. 

In them, Matthew gives prominence to Jesus as royalty, the Lion of Judah. Mark focus on the laborious endurance of the Savior like the ox. Luke points to Jesus as the man, filled with brotherly sympathy to humanity. John depicts Jesus in soaring majesty, the eagle and the divine Word, God in human flesh. 

As for this passage in Revelation, these four living creatures seem to represent the body of Christ, the redeemed church, who are involved in ceaseless praise. As His people, we are ministering as kings and priests to God, and ministers to bless a redeemed earth. As His people, we will stand at the head of all, human in ourselves yet filled with the divine Holy Spirit. One commentator says we are the lion who is the head of wild beasts, the ox who leads of tame beasts, and the eagle who is over all birds. 

In another view, that of Jewish tradition, there were “four standards” under which Israel camped in the wilderness: Judah to the east, Dan to the north, Ephraim to the west, and Reuben to the south. Respectively, these were a lion, an eagle, an ox, and a man. The tabernacle stood In the midst of their camp, a symbol of God’s presence with them. This pictures “that blessed period when—the earth having been fitted for being the kingdom of the Father—the court of heaven will be transferred to earth, and the ‘tabernacle of God shall be with men’ (Revelation 21:3), and the whole world will be subject to a never-ending theocracy.” 

As is the way of God’s Word, the point of union between the Old and New Testament views is Christ, the perfect realization of Old Testament ideals. He is presented in a fourfold aspect in the four Gospels respectively. Then at the end of time and throughout eternity, the redeemed Church will realize those ideals because of Him. 

We will, as His Body, combine human perfections because we will be fully like Him. This includes: (1) kingly righteousness that hates evil; (2) laborious diligence in every duty; (3) human sympathy; and (4) the contemplation of eternal truth. As the high-soaring intelligence of the eagle forms a contrasted complement to practical labor with the ox bound to the soil; so God’s holy and judicial vengeance against evil is a contrasted complement to human sympathy. 

Earlier, the creatures are each said to have “six wings.” Two covered each face in reverence, as not presuming to lift up their faces to God. Two wings covered the feet of each in humility, not worthy to stand in God’s holy presence. The other two wings gave each creature flight in obedient readiness, instantly doing God’s commands.

This is a picture of what Jesus Christ is like, and what I ought to be like as one small member of His body. In eternity, this will happen day and night. Right now, after reading these things, it should be happening more often.

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Lord, sometimes I focus on my personal relationship with You to the point that I forget the bigger and even grander scheme of things. A song says, “Christ is exalted above all else.” That is what You want from me, to exalt the One who is described in the actions of a God-man who came to earth, but also depicted with symbols as the King over all, Servant to You and to all who call out to You, Friend and caregiver to the masses, and Divine Almighty God who is worthy to receive glory, honor and power. I am not worthy of such a role yet gladly do whatever I can to lift up Your Name.