Who is Jesus #107 (From the Apocalypse)

"His voice was like the sound of rushing waters" (Revelation 1:15b)

It rained here in Clovis yesterday. It rained pretty hard for Eastern New Mexico. Between the rain and driving through puddles of water on the road, I couldn't hear anything. I couldn't even hear my radio. All of that water making all of that noise made all of the other sounds indiscernible.

I remember taking a group of kids on a float trip down a river in Oklahoma several years ago. There was no way we could yell to each other from one canoe to the other when we were in the rapids. Most communication had to be done on the bank before we started. The sound of the rushing water was just too loud. Nothing else could be heard except the water.

There is so much competing for our attention today. There is a lot of noise out there. However, nothing can drown out the voice of the Savior. His message does not get through only when we do not listen.

Whatever Jesus has to do to communicate with me, I pray that it works.

Blessings,

L.T.

Who is Jesus #106 (From the Apocalypse)

"His voice was like the sound of rushing waters" (Revelation 1:15b)

It seems like John changed metaphors here. In verse 10 he says the voice "like a trumpet." Now it is like the sound of powerful rushing water.

It was the trumpet voice that got Johns attention. It was the powerful rushing water voice that spoke with power and authority.

Sometimes before we can "hear" what Jesus has to say, He has to get our attention. He doesn't want us to miss what He has to say.

I wonder how many times and in how many ways has Jesus tried to get my attention in this life before He tried to communicate to me? I wonder how many times I still have not paid attention?

Out brothers and sisters in the first century were about to receive a Life and death message from Jesus. They needed to sit up and pay attention.

The words of Jesus are powerful. They only way that power is limited is if we are not listening. Of course, someone somewhere will listen. They have learned to stay focused on Jesus and let the power of His voice change their lives.

I pray that I am one of them.

Blessings,

L.T.

Who is Jesus #105 (from the Apocalypse)

"His voice was like the sound of rushing waters" (Revelation 1: 15b).

When ?? talks, people listen. I remember that old E.F. Hutton commercial. In this case, it is Jesus who is talking and you/we had better pay attention.

Three boys were bragging to one another about their fathers. One of them said, “My father is a professor. When he is talking about nuclear physics, there are only fifty other people in the world who can understand him.

”The second boy said, “My father is a world class brain surgeon. When he is talking about his surgery there are only 20 other people in the whole world who can understand him.”The third boy said,

“That’s nothing. My dad is a preacher. When he is preaching, nobody seems to understand him.”

Well it is one thing to not listen to a mere man. It is quite something else to not listen to the Son of God.

Imagine trying to make yourself heard above the thundering sound of Niagara Falls. When Jesus has something to say, He will be heard!

The question is not, "Is He talking?" The question is, "Am I listening?"

"Speak, Lord, your servant is listening"

Blessings,

L.T.

Who is Jesus #104 (from the Apocalypse)

"both feet furnace-fired bronze" (The Message, Revelation 1:15)

My thoughts turn to the words of the patriotic song "Battle Hymn of the Republic" where it says, "He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored." I am not even sure what all of that means, but the idea of trampling is pretty clear.
In scripture we are told of God stomping through a lot of places/cities because of their sin. Sodom came down. The nation of Egypt finally had to succumb. The Assyrians, Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks and Romans couldn't stand before Him.
I guess my question is, "Why are we putting Him to the test now?" Are we daring Him to come marching through our land?
One old-time preacher once said, "If God doesn't do something soon, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."
Truth does march on. Truth will ultimately win the day. God will kick over and out anything and anyone that forsakes Him, His word, and His people.
Maybe we are preparing the pathway for His trampling and aren't even aware of it.

Blessings,

L.T.

Who is Jesus #103 (from the Apocalypse)

"His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace" (Revelation 1:15).

There is no doubt what these strong looking feet were for. These were to carry out judgment.
In Micah 4:13 we find a similar symbol where God's people are told they will have "hoofs of bronze" and that by these they will be able to "break to piece many nations." These were the same nations that were gloating over Israel's disappearance from the scene into Babylonian captivity. But God will and does bring them back to carry out His vindication on those who would have scoffed at His apparent lack of power.
Most of the time we do not like to think of God as bringing judgment. However, if we do not attribute this characteristic to Him, then we have an unbalanced and incomplete picture of Him. He is a God who brings His judgment on those who do not acknowledge Him.
In Revelation it is the one attribute that completes the picture of Jesus.
Are those feet coming in my direction?

Blessings,


Larry

Who is Jesus #102 (from the Apocalypse)

"Eyes like blazing fire."

John saw these eyes again in Revelation 19:12. They were the eyes of the rider on the white horse whose name is Faithful and True.

Daniel, in a similar vision in chapter 7 of his prophecy, saw eyes that were like flaming torches and it sapped all the strength from his body. Then, and only then, was he able to be touched and strengthened in order to receive the message from God and fulfill the mission God was placing in front of him.

Those eyes are horrible and terrifying, but they are also purifying. Sometimes we need to let Jesus stake a huge penetrating look at us - even a judgemental look - in order to be brought to our knees so that our Lord is able to touch us with His blessings and will.

Don't forget Peter who met Jesus eye-to-eye (Luke 22:61) and was moved to the point of weeping once who he was and what he had done was brought to the surface. After tht cleansing he was able to be used by Jesus to become a pillar in the church (Galatians 2:9).

O Lord. take a good long look at me and penetrate my soul that I might become what you want me to be.

Amen.

Blessings,

L.T.

Who is Jesus #101 (from the Apocalypse)

"His eyes were like blazing fire." (Revelation 1:14).

Do you know what it feels like to be talking to someone who can see right through you? It sure makes you feel vulnerable. All of a sudden all of your defenses that you have built up come tumbling down. You are seen for who you truly are.

These penetrating eyes of Jesus are that way. They see right through us. He sees us for who we truly are. There are no masks that I can wear, no barriers I can erect, no place I can hide that will keep Jesus from looking deeply into my heart and seeing me the way I am.

That shouldn't frighten me. Because I know that Jesus sees the things in me that I need to change in order to grow closer to Him every day.

There were certainly those in Jesus day who had to come to grips with how they truly were. Some decided to change and some didn't.

I am reminded about Jesus interaction with Nathaniel in John 1:43-50. Not only did Jesus see Nathaniel concerning where he was physically (standing under the fig tree back home) but he also saw where he was morally (a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false). Once confronted with the fact that Jesus vision was 100% perfect, Nathaniel couldn't help but confess that Jesus was the Son of God.

If we are not afraid to let Jesus have a deep look into our inner self, then we will confess with our entire being HE IS THE SON OF GOD!

Blessings,

L.T.

Who is Jesus #100 (from the Apocalypse)

The time has come to get back to this blogging thing. The passage we are exploring (Revelation 1:12-17) is perhaps the most comprehensive description of Jesus there is in the N.T. Everything Jesus was/is is pretty much found in this section of Revelation.
When I stopped blogging over a year ago we had barely made it halfway through this marvelous description of the Savior.
Let's remind ourselves that our first century brothers and sisters were needing to get a complete look at Jesus. Their situation was critical and was going to get worse before it got better. There could be a temptation to ask where is this Jesus anyway and just who does He think He is letting us suffer all sorts of persecution? Is He really even there?
YES! He is there! He hasn't left His faithful ones to their own resources.
And so, they get another - more comprehensive - look at Jesus; and what a look at is.
O.K. 21st century Christian. When life tumbles in, where is Jesus? Has He changed? has He left?
NO! He is there! Just take the time to look around and see Him for who He is and what He is doing.
The journey continues.

Blessings,

L.T.

Best Laid Plans

Was going to get my blogging engine up and running again, but something prohibitied me. I think you can see the picture. His name is Ty Austin Trcka and he is our second grandchild.

He was born on Thursday at 3:20 A.M. CDT. He weighed in at 7'11'' and was 18" long.

I think he is a real cutie and I know he is a keepr.

His mother and our daughter, Melissa, is doing fine as well as daddy Dee.

We are so blessed.

Blessings,

Larry

Return to Blogging

It has been over a year since I added anything to this page. There are a couple of reasons for that and several excuses. Much has happened in our lives over the past year. I started taking graduate courses. Three of our children have bought new homes and Aleta and I have moved into a new ministry in Clovis, NM.
We are now in the preaching ministry serving the 21st Street Church of Christ in Clovis. As of this writing we have been here a month. It has been a real blessing for us and we pray one for the church here as well.
It has been a move that has gone well and we believe we are where God wants us doing what He wants us to do.
It is my intention to get back on the subject of "Who is Jesus?" in the coming days and continue to explore the magnificent Son of God.
This coming Sunday is Easter Sunday and most churches will probably have a few extra people in attendance. I pray these irregular attenders will be moved by the Resurrected Christ to give it all up for and to Him.

Blessings,

Larry

Who is Jesus? #99 (From the Apocalypse)

White or whiteness tends to set things off - it distinguishes - especially from dark. I've been painting the exterior of my house lately and buying the paint all along as I need it rather than getting it all at the same time.
As you might imagine, one batch I bought didn't quite match what I had been using. I didn't notice it, wouldn't you know it, until I started painting with it. It was much whiter than what I had been using. It was obvious. I couldn't let it go. There was no way I could continue using that paint. The whiteness of it contrasted too much with the other paint I had been using. There would be no hiding it. Everyone would notice. It was a stark difference - the difference between light and dark - between white and black.
John saw, in his vision of the Christ, a stark and differentiating white. It was vivid. It was bright. It contrasted sharply with everything around it.
That's the way Jesus is. He shines brightly - especially into the darkness.
John said in his gospel - "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it, (John 1:5). It is too different, too distinct. He so set apart from everything else.
"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow...," (Revelation 1:14).

Lord, let your light shine and may I understand!

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #98 (From the Apocalypse)

Life is full of changes. Started taking some graduate courses on-line a few weeks ago and had to let my "blogging" slide. Hopefully, I can be a little more regular.
Still from the book of Revelation and the image of Jesus in Chapter one where he is pictured as one who head and hair were as white as wool -- as white as snow.
I picture in my own feeble mind, John seeing this image and shading his eyes from the brightness that he is beholding. I think that would be my reaction.
How could/can I even begin to behold the countenance of the Son of God? After all, He said, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." Then we learn that no one can see God and live.
The light of purity and holiness is too far beyond us. There is nothing sinister or evil about Jesus. We can't begin to approach God much less gaze upon Him because we are blinded by his stark holiness contrasted with our sinful darkness.
But, somehow we can come to Him. John sees Him. It is by this very one who illuminates everything, that we can come to the Father. He paved the way. The light is not there to blind us, but to show us the way!

Show me the way!

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #97 (From the Apocalypse)

"His Head and Hair were white like wool, as white as snow"
"Let there be light!" - the first words spoken by God as reported in the Bible. Maybe more correctly, "Let light be!" We understand/believe that Jesus was there with God at the creation of all things. He is part of the "let us..." (Genesis 1:26). John 1:1 says the Word (Jesus) was there in the beginning.
I find it interesting that the first thing associated with Jesus in the Bible (In Genesis) is light and one of the last things associated with Jesus (In Revelation) is light.
Could it be that the first thing that God wanted to show in his spiritual creation was light and the first thing he wanted to show in his spiritual creation was also light?

Then, as dark was the world was, Jesus came as light into it. Light that shines in stark contrast to the ways of the world.

Sometimes, my world is dark. Sometimes because I make it that way - maybe more often than I like to think. Sometimes, others make my world dark - especially that one who loves the darkness.

Regardless, the one with the head and hair as while as wool is there. The light still shines. The brilliance of His image and glory is real and in sight.

Show me the way to you, dear Jesus.

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #96 (From the Apocalypse)

"His Head and Hair were white like wool, as white as snow"
"There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light,"(Matthew 17:2-3). When thinking about Jesus and "brightness" I can't help but move to the transfiguration account. I am not sure what all that means "to be transfigured" but I would like to have been there, I think. It appears that Peter, James, and John were definitely moved. If His baptism was the beginning of His earthly ministry and His ascension, the end, then the transfiguration must have been the certification of His ministry by His Father.
Just as with John's vision of Jesus in Revelation 1, brightness, whiteness and dazzling light are brought into the picture. This happens in the presence of God. A brightness that cannot be reproduced by man but only by God Almighty.
It must signify for us that Jesus is not only in the presence of God but is God himself. It is such a pure hue of white that we cannot achieve it on our own, but must be made dazzling clean by the blood of Jesus.
I can't imagine the white purity and holiness of God coming to earth to live among people like me. Sometimes I can only see my stain against His perfect purity.
"create in me a clean heart, O God!"

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #95 (From the Apocalypse)

"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow..."(Rev. 1: 14). I have to consider the appearance of Moses after he has been in the presence of God. His face "was radiant"(Exodus 34:29). The people were afraid when they saw Moses' face aglow after having been in the presence of God Almighty.
This text from Exodus goes on to say that he kept his face uncovered while he delivered the law of God to "all Israel." Then he would cover his face until he could once again ascend the mountain and be in the presence of God.
I know that I used to believe that Moses hid his face because of the fear of the people when they looked at him. But II Corinthians 3:12ff tells a different story. Now, I believe that he covered his face so that the people would remember how he looked after coming from the presence of God. After a while, the radiance would begin to dim and he did not want the people to see that. When God called him, he would go back to the mountain and the radiance would return and he would let the people see him, as a reminder that he was in the presence of God, and then cover his face once again.
The fundamental point here for the Moses illustration is that when he spoke the law of God he was speaking from and for God because he had been in the presence of God. The brilliant radiance on his face was testimony to that fact.
What doea all of this have to do with what John saw and what does it have to do with us?
I will have to ramble on those questions tomorrow.

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #94 (From the Apocalypse)

The next aspect of this description of Jesus that John sees is, "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow..."(1:14).
White has many conotations, I think, in scripture. Purity comes to mind. Being made pure by the blood of Jesus - but what else?
Daniel saw a similar vision and told us about it in Daniel 7:9. "As I looked, thrones were set in place and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was as white as snow: the hair of his head was white like wool."
This "white as wool" seems to indicate the authorty of God. For John it reminded him and his readers that Jesus was God and was/is in the presence of God.
If a priest (last several blogs) was one who went to God in behalf of the people and Jesus is God, then....???
Too much to think about right now, but no wonder Thomas said, after he was convicted, "My Lord and my God.

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #93 (From the Apocalypse)

Actually, I've rambled pretty far afield from the book of Revelation. This all started with the image of Jesus that John saw in Revelation 1. The "floor-length robe" part of the image is a reminder of His priesthood - His High Priesthood, at that.
So my thoughts have been many and varied on the subject of priests.
There had not been a priest in Israel in a very long time (II Chronicles 15:3). Actually there had been many priests because Jeroboam let just about anyone be a priest (I Kings 13:33). Beyond that, he would make anyone a priest who would do and say what he wanted. "He appointed priests from all sorts of people," (I Kings 12:28). His intent according to the immediate context was to make sure his people were not lured back to the southern kingdom, Judah, where Jerusalem, the temple and the priests were. He needed to have his own high places and his own priests that would serve his people, and that is exactly what he put together.
The Bible says in I Kings 13:34, "This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth."
If you have the wrong priests, serving in the wrong place offering the wrong sacrifices for a rebellious people, NOTHING RIGHT will come of it. The northern kingdom, Israel, was obliterated because of it.
Our need for a priest has not gone away. We just need the right one. We need the right priest in the right place at the right time offering the right sacrifices for a still sometimes rebellious people. God saw to this real need through His son, Jesus; our High Priest. He is right one. He is in the right place and he offered the right sacrifice. It is up to us if things are to come out right.
I need Jesus to continually goes to the Father in my behalf.

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

P.S. Be it known that my granddaughter took her first steps on Sunday, January 8, 2005.

Who is Jesus? #92 (From the Apocalypse)

With all of this discussion about Jesus and His High Priesthood, I began to wonder if I even knew what the responsibilities of a priest were/are; at least what is recorded for us in scripture. II Chronicles 15:3 says that Israel had been "without a priest" for "a long time."
Introduction of the characters: Asa was king of the southern kingdom of Judah. Azariah was the son of the prophet, Obed, and brought the word of God to Asa. The priest? There was no priest in Israel. Israel was the northern kingdom, who under the reign of Jeroboam, separated itself from Judah under the reign of Rehoboam (both sons of King Solomon). Among the things that Azariah brought to Asa's attention was that Israel, the nothern kingdom, had no priest. Now what I find puzzling in this statement that there was no priest in Israel, is what we are told in I Kings 13:33,"...anyone who wanted to became a priest he (Jeroboam) consecrated for the high places." It looked like Jeroboam would let anyone become a priest. So how could the Bible say there was not a priest in Israel?
It appears obvious to me that what is meant is that there was not a God-appointed priest in Israel and hadn't been since the great division of the kingdom. So what happens when there is not a priest ordained by God among the people. In the case of the northern kingdom, the people started worshipping false god, building pagan temples, living in rebellion to God, etc.
So, somehow, the responsibilities of the priest are supposed to counteract all of this. Just because there is a priest, is there going to be complete obedience and faithfulness to God? No! But the High Priest must be present and fulfilling His responsibilities from God - and it will make a difference.
I have gone long enough today - more tomorrow.
Thank you Father, that you have not left us priestless.

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #91 (From the Apocalypse)

I guess at some point, I have got to move on - but the idea of the High Priesthood of Jesus is just too powerful to leave behind. I know I haven't said enough or thought enough about this ministry of Jesus. If I am attempting to answer the question "Who is Jesus?" then this is certainly a big part of the answer - an essential part.
I was reading in Matthew about Caiaphas, the High Priest, "investigating" Jesus and the charges against Him prior to His crucifixion(Matt 26:3ff). I know Caiaphas had no idea that he was standing before the real and ultimate High priest - or at least the one who would shortly be a High Priest as well as sacrifice.
I know he didn't think about how diminished his priesthood would become when the High Priesthood of Jesus kicked in.
I know he was unaware of how ineffective and unnecessary his priesthood would shortly become when the High Priesthood of Jesus became active.
I know he was not cognizant of the fact that he was participating in the death, necessary death, of the new High Priest and His new preisthood. I am confident that the High Priest ,Caiaphas, would not have been willing to die for the people he presided over and for. Of course, His death would have accomplished nothing concerning the salvation of mankind and mankind's relationship with God.
So, here is the scene. One High Priest interrogating another - One High Priest pretty much not repsonding to the questions of the other. One High Priest about to the effect the entire world - One High Priest responsible for putting heavy burdens on people - even things he, himself, was not willing to do. One High Priest looking to heaven where His strength came from - One High priest looking inside himself. One High Priest upholding his religious traditions - One High Priest standing on the word and will of the Father.
Whose High Priesthood do I want/need?
Give me Jesus! (sounds like another song coming on)

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #90 (From the Apocalypse)

I have always been intrigued by the "cities of refuge." There were six of them: three on either side of the Jordan River. According to Joshua 20:3 they were built, "so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood." That in itself is also intriguing.
A person guilty of manslaughter could run to one of these cities and if he got there before this "avenger" got to him, he would be protected. The only catch was that he had to stay there until the death of the High Priest.
What does this have to do with Jesus? Everything! Not only is He our High Priest, but he is also our city of refuge to save us from the bloodiest of avengers - Satan.
I need to understand that Satan has been after me from the beginning and he has not let up. He wants my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength. The vengeance he seeks will destroy me totally.
Somewhere along the way, I saw my city of refuge. When I gave my life to Him, I received relief from this terrible adversary.
Oh no, he has not given up, but I have a High Priest/city of refuge that I can take comfort in forever.
He is my refuge!

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.