v.1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John"
If this is the revelation of Jesus by Jesus and about Jesus, why is it also something God gave Jesus? I've always thought of Revelation as something that Jesus showed John about himself... and I think it is, right?... so why the phrase "God gave Him [Jesus]"? My study Bible doesn't offer any helpful insight on the matter... can anyone help clear that up?
v.13-18 As John encounters Jesus, why doesn't he recognize Him as such? It's been driving me crazy all week and I even read further into Discipleship (D on the E, if you will) than I was planning to today because I'm tired of always walking away like, "What the heck, Jesus. You don't have to be so sneaky! Just tell your friend John that it's You!"
First of all, there is no capitalization on "son of man" like there is all throughout my version of the gospels. I cross-referenced Daniel 7 and even in that context it is capitalized. In fact, because of the lack of capitalization, I spent the first day of the reading thinking maybe I'd always misunderstood the passage and that this isn't Jesus at all, but just another angel. (That thinking quickly proved wrong when all the pronouns in v.14-18 are capitalized and when the red letters appear in v. 17-18). My next thought was that perhaps John didn't recognize Jesus in all of his glory. But this, too, seems strange. I thought that was part of the unity of Jesus' complete divinity and complete humanity, that he retained his recognizable human form even after his resurrection and ascension? Even in describing his hands and feet, there is no reference to those familiar scars that he is quick to show Thomas (Jn. 20:27)
Darrell offers cool insight into the significance of John's description in v.13-18, but doesn't really address my question either. He refers to John recognizing Jesus, but I don't know, that recognition doesn't seem to be something I'm okay with just "assuming" took place. And Jesus' name is still never mentioned. There is no statement by John about how "It really freaks ya out the first time... but then I realized it was Jesus" or even a re-write to v. 17 "When I saw Him, I fell at [Jesus'] feet like a dead man." The name "Jesus" doesn't appear at all in Rev. 1 except in those first couple verses. I understand that all the OT symbolism, the references to Daniel 7, his robe, the sash, etc. would point the Jewish eye/mind back to the Messiah whom John knew to be Jesus... but it just seems like there should be some more intimate familiarity between Jesus and the disciple whom he loved after "doing life together" for a solid three years, y'know?
Yes? No? Clarification? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Why is it also something God gave Jesus? I think Roman's 11:36 sheds light on this very cool question: "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." The Revelation is from him, through him, and for him as is all reality. I'm being a little circuitous here but its from him and about him because its from him and about him. Your question kicks up a few stones on how we perceive the trinity. I have more comments but I need to go to a meeting. Revelation 1 reminds me of the maternity ward. My wife, a nurse practitioner and I, knew what to expect; however, during the throes of labor what she felt, saw, and heard absolutely consumed her. The details were ambushed by her experience. I think John's encounter with the truth that he personally and all creation is pregnant with the rich meaning of Christ is akin to attaining specific play by play in the delivery room. I think the bible actually categorizes time this way -- "Kairos Time" - Pregnant, labor time. "Chronos Time" - Tick tock sequential time. Pregnant time includes and omits different details from tick tock time. I love your questions and they will lead you to great discoveries. My pursuits of these questions usually drive me to a broader horizon rather than a mastery of detail. The broader horizon always includes - beauty, truth, light, reason, love, and life. By the way - each of these broad abstracts have no identifiable purpose or value. They only have value when attached to an identity. Apart from a person, they are nonsense. Thus they cannot be understood or comprehended through knowledge of detail. They can only be discovered through . . . .Revelation. Most excellently, Jesus is the life. Jesus is love. Jesus is light. Jesus is beauty (glory.) Jesus is truth. Jesus is reason. He is the Revelation. One other quick blurb - Mother Teresa publicly refused to pray for people's clarity. She would go on record and say, "no, I will not pray for you for clarity. I'll pray for trust." If I had to summarize in one word the entire plot/stage/meaning of life in one word it would be TRUST. Thanks for sharing "Q." I loved your post. Note - if there are any typos I apologize. I got to get to a meeting and didn't proof what I wrote and I don't think you can re-edit comments after your post them.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for this post and Steve's comment. Thanks guys!
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