Devotion on Revelation 1:17: "The Lion and the Lamb—Embracing the Fullness of Christ"
Scripture Reading:
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right
hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.’” —
Revelation 1:17 (NIV)
Introduction: The Paradox of
Christ
We often cling to a sanitized version of Jesus—gentle shepherd, compassionate
friend, tender healer—and forget that He is also the Lion of Judah (Revelation
5:5), the Judge of all creation (John 5:22), and the One whose glory struck
John speechless. Revelation 1:17 confronts us with this paradox: the same Jesus
who wept with Mary (John 11:35) now stands in blazing holiness, commanding the
church to “repent” (Revelation 2-3). To know Him fully, we must hold both
truths in tension: His mercy and His majesty, His
nearness and His transcendence.
The Comfort of His Love vs. The
Crisis of His Glory
John’s reaction—falling “as though dead”—exposes our human tendency to
domesticate Jesus. We prefer the Savior who holds children on His lap (Mark
10:16) to the Lord whose voice shakes the heavens (Hebrews 12:26). Yet
Revelation strips away our illusions. Here, Jesus’ eyes pierce like fire, His
voice roars like waterfalls, and His face shines like the sun (Revelation
1:14-16). This is no tame Messiah but the God who told Moses, “No one
may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20).
Oswald Chambers’ “Delight of
Despair”
Chambers writes, “God can’t reveal himself in any way other than in his
majesty” when our familiarity breeds complacency. Like John, we may
think we know Jesus—until He disrupts our assumptions. The “delight of despair”
comes when His holiness shatters our self-sufficiency, forcing us to
admit, “If I am ever going to be raised up, it must be by the hand of
God.” This is the crisis that precedes true worship: we cannot cherish
His grace until we tremble at His glory.
The Balance of Biblical Worship
Jesus’ response to John’s terror is key: He doesn’t diminish His glory but
pairs it with grace. “He placed his right hand on me”—the hand that
shaped galaxies now steadies a trembling saint. This is the heart of the
gospel: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we
have seen his glory” (John 1:14). His might does not negate His mercy;
it amplifies it. The Lion who judges sin is the Lamb who took its penalty
(Revelation 5:5-6).
Application: Holding the
Tension
- Worship in Awe: Reflect on His
holiness. Read Isaiah 6 or Revelation 1 and let His majesty recalibrate
your view of Jesus. Sing not just of His love but of His power (Psalm
29:2).
- Lean into His Nearness: When life
overwhelms you, remember His hand is on you. The same God who reigns over
nations invites you to call Him “Abba” (Romans 8:15).
- Repent of Smallness: Ask God to reveal
areas where you’ve reduced Him to a comfort-bearer. Embrace the “delight
of despair”—the joy of needing Him wholly.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me for shrinking You to fit my fears and desires. You
are both Lamb and Lion, Friend and Judge, Savior and Sovereign. When I cling
only to Your gentleness, shake me with a vision of Your glory. When I tremble
at Your holiness, remind me of Your nail-scarred hand. Teach me to worship You
as You are—majestic in power, boundless in love. Amen.
Reflection:
- Where have I made Jesus “safe” instead of
surrendering to His fullness?
- How does His Majesty deepen my gratitude for His
mercy?
- Like John, will I let His touch lift me from fear
into faith?
Closing Thought:
The Jesus who said “Let the little children come to me” (Mark
10:14) is the same One who declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation
22:13). To know Him is to adore Him both for His
nearness and His might—for only then does the cross shine in
its full brilliance: love so fierce it conquered death, glory so vast it fills
eternity.
This version emphasizes the danger
of an imbalanced view of Christ while grounding the tension in Scripture and
Chambers’ insights. It calls believers to worship Jesus in His full
identity—both intimate and invincible.
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