Revelation 1:17-18 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. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Talk about a scary vision! Of all the apostles, John perhaps knew Jesus best, having laid back against Him at the Last Supper. (John 13:23) Even so, John was scared to the point of passing out. Jesus can currently appear to us however He chooses, but He let John see Him in His full glory. We think of resurrection just in terms of coming back to life, but Jesus’ resurrection was a matter of total victory over death, just as He says here. In the many reports of what are called “near-death experiences,” where people are briefly physically dead but are revived, quite a few people have seen Jesus, but I haven’t seen any reports of Him looking like He is described here. I don’t think He wants to scare such people away! We have no words, no concepts, for what Jesus is like right now, as the total Victor over death and hell. Quantum Mechanics perhaps gives us a little hint as to how it is possible, but in the final analysis we currently just can’t grasp it. That’s one of the many ways faith comes in. Any time someone or something seems scary, we need to remember what John saw here, and know that whatever we are seeing, it isn’t nearly as scary as Jesus in all His glory – and He’s on our side! That should give us total peace and assurance, because our Lord is more powerful than anything that could possibly come against us. We just need to choose to submit to Him and follow Him in loving obedience.

There’s not much I’m scared of at this point, though as I age I am increasingly afraid of heights. However, the time will come when I will be able to float at will, as my wife experienced when she visited heaven. However, I must never lose the fear of the Lord! That isn’t a terror, but rather a level of respect and honor, blending into love. As John said in his first letter, perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18) Once John got over the initial shock, I don’t think he was afraid at all, and I doubt anything ever scared him again! I’ve never had such a vision of Jesus, and frankly, I’m willing to wait until I see Him in heaven, but I still need to remember that is how He currently is, so I can have total assurance as I walk in obedience to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me communicate effectively the truth that You speak to me, so that others too may rest in the full assurance of Your power and love, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!