And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance. - Revelation 1:16
John had a case of déjà vu. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, John, the apostle, had never seen his master with pure white hair, holding seven stars in his hand, or with a gold sash round his chest, but there is something about his Lord’s glorified face that reminded him of a mountaintop experience in his past.
Jesus had asked John, his brother James, and Simon Peter to go with him up a high mountain (Matthew 17:1). They had been wondering what Jesus wanted to say to them when suddenly an amazing thing happened. Jesus was transfigured before them. “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became dazzling white” (Matthew 17:2). As John “turned to see who was speaking” on Patmos, he remembered the face of Jesus of Nazareth on that mountaintop (Revelation 1:12). This was the same Jesus, now glorified forever! The blinding light of God, shining through Christ’s earthly body, had caused Peter and James and John to fall on their faces, and they were terrified (Matthew 17:6).
Now, years later, John again fell at his feet as dead (Revelation 1:17). John would look into the dark faces of cruel men before his suffering was over, remember his mountaintop experiences, shut his eyes, and see the face of God shining like the sun in its strength. He would find the courage to bear the unbearable, do the impossible, and reflect the light of Jesus Christ. What are you facing? Face it with Jesus’ face in mind!
For Further Study: Revelation 1:12-20
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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