When We See Jesus
Submitted by Ted Mock
January 22, 2025
Re 1:12-17 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
In the first chapter of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, John gives a vivid description of the resurrected Lord. I find it interesting that John’s reaction was that he fell at his feet as dead. This is the same John who was always close to the Master. He was the one who leaned on Jesus breast at the Last Supper. He was part of the inner circle of Peter, James, and John. He saw the Lord transfigured, and Jesus entrusted His mother to his care when He hung on the cross. He ran with Peter to the tomb and was the first to recognize Jesus when He appeared to them by the sea in John 21.
John was the closest of all the disciples to the Lord, and his whole identity was wrapped up in Christ. He never refers to himself by name in the gospel of John, but as that other disciple, or as the disciple that Jesus loved.
Now, exiled on the isle of Patmos, he meets the Lord again. And the one who was closest to Him—falls at His feet as dead. John saw the Lord as He is, the Prince of Glory, our High Priest, not as the Word who was made flesh.
It makes you wonder. Others today say the Lord appeared to them, and yet they never say they fell at His feet. It is sad to say that we have come to the last days that John tells of, and we have such a low view of Christ.
Consider – We are never so much alive as when we are dead at his feet.
