Seeing the Real Jesus
When the Lord asked His disciples this memorable question, He was counting on the Father to provide revelation to bring forth the answer. Peter's reply assured Jesus that at least one of the disciples was operating in the Spirit. It seems to me that most Christians have an obscure perception of Who Jesus Christ is. The reason for the uncertainty of many Christians' understanding of the true nature of Jesus Christ is because very few of His followers actually walk or live in the Spirit. There is no shame in this, but simply a call for all Christians to climb higher in the things of God.
When you hear the name of Jesus what is the first vision that comes into your mind? For most of us, it's a vision of a bloody Caucasian man with a beard hanging on a cross. Am I correct? Most Christians identify Jesus with His suffering on the cross because His suffering is what directly affects our lives--in that through the cross and subsequent resurrection, we have obtained redemption and a new relationship with God. Notwithstanding the image of Jesus on the cross and its wonderful benefits, this is not Who the real Jesus is.
The account of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 provides us with an interesting attempt of a man who desired to see Who Jesus was. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little in stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him. For he was to pass that way. [Luke 19:3-4] Just because the tax collector was short in stature didn't mean he was short on brains--or perhaps Zacchaeus had received revelation from God. His desire to see Jesus caused him to seek a higher place in order that he might see Jesus [for] who he was. His reward? Jesus said, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down. For today I must abide at your house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. (vs. 5-6) I don't think a contestant on The Price is Right could have made it down from that tree faster. Not only did Jesus come to Zacchaeus' physical house, but the Lord came into his spiritual house.
Who did Zacchaeus see from that tree? Certainly he didn't see the image of Jesus on the cross. But what would cause a greedy tax collector to give half of his wealth to the poor, and to reimburse people he'd cheated four times what he'd taken? He had an encounter with the living God and saw Him as He really was.
On the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-10), apostles Peter, John, and James were afforded the opportunity to see Jesus as Who He really was, is, and is to come. They bore witness to His glory. How did they accomplish this? They followed Jesus to a high mountain. It takes following the Lord to higher places to see His glory.
Not only did John the apostle see a preview of the Lord in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, but he was privileged to receive the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and was commissioned to document what he saw and heard. For all John had endured in his life--through being the lone apostle who stood by Jesus at the cross, persecution, and even being delivered from the boiling oil, he still had an unclear perception of Who Jesus was. He'd walked with Jesus in the flesh, and unfortunately, John still viewed the Lord in the same light. This is not an indictment on the apostle, but his experience offers us a lesson in whether we are truly walking in the Spirit or not. In Revelation 5, John was beholding the actual throne of God with the elders round about and the four beasts in the midst of the throne. He was in Heaven and witnessing what was to be hereafter (Rev. 4:1).
In Revelation 5:2, the strong angel had proclaimed, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. [Here's the important part] And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.
You see... the elder perceived Jesus as the Lion, the apostle John saw Jesus as the Lamb as it had been slain. While John saw our Savior on the cross, the elder saw Jesus as King of kings, and Lord of lords. This is Who Jesus really was, is, and is to come. He is King. It's interesting that John himself described the Lord in Revelation 1:13-16, but wrote he was like unto the Son of man. John had not fully recognized the Lord--even in His glory. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars. And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. And his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength. [Revelation 1:14-16]
With respect to our walk in Christ, seeing Jesus as He is will produce a greater manifestation of the life of Jesus in our lives as it is written, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [1 John 3:2]
Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to save us from eternal separation from You. Lord, I know Jesus is my Savior, but I want to view Him as the King He truly is. Lord, from this moment on, I will only see you as the King that was victorious over sin and death. I see you sitting on the right hand of the Father with a crown on Your head. Please remind me that You are not only the Jesus of the gospels, but also the Jesus in Revelation. In Jesus' name. Amen.
