The Tame Jesus

“In the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.” – Revelation 1:13-15

“‘Do you think I keep him in my wallet, fools?’ said Tirian. ‘Who am I that I could make Aslan appear at my bidding? He's not a tame lion.’” – The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis

One of the things I love about the book of Revelation are its depictions of Jesus. We see God the Father come in thunder and smoke, the Holy Spirit in wind and fire, but Jesus we tend to see in his humanity. And rightly so: but Revelation reminds us that he is as much God as Man. 

The vision John has of Jesus here is fearsome enough to rival Mt. Sinai and Pentecost. Have you ever heard the roar of many waters? We once visited a huge waterfall: the sound was deafening, thrilling and fearful not only because of its volume, but because it was a testament to the sheer force and power of the falling water. When was the last time you looked into a flame of fire? In a dark room, even one lit candle is piercing, riveting, hard to look away from.

This is no tame Jesus. The long robe and golden sash are symbolic of the elevated position of royalty or a high priest. The snow-white hair indicates holiness or long age. The eyes of flame are ones that pierce through all impurity and deception. Bronze, the metal of weapons, symbolize feet of judgment. This is a fearsome Jesus, a God far beyond our ability to control. John writes, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead” (1:17).

And yet, this same Jesus lays his hand on us, as he does on John. He speaks words of comfort as he does to John; he reminds us that he died for us (1:17-18). The God of all power laid that power down for us. Yet he is God. He is not one to be pushed, reduced, or ignored. May we not forget to tremble.