The Humanity of the Person Before Him
The Preeminence
of This Person is Marked by His Location
"In the midst."
This is the central place and position. All the lampstands are gathered about him. They can all concentrate their attention upon him. No other church stands in the way of him. He has direct access to each. The light from each church comes from him (John 8:12). In this way believers become the light for the world (Matt. 5:15). When there is shadow, it is because a church has turned its back (Jas. 1:17).
12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
15 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
The Presence in the Midst Symbolizes Eternal Presence in the Church
"In the midst" - cf. Mart. 18:20; 28:20. He is
continuously walking in the midst (Rev. 2:1). This indicates alertness as Lord
and High Priest, ever performing these tasks. Relentless
20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
1 "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks."
The Resemblance is Like a Son of Man
Not "the" but "a," perhaps better---"son of man."
He does not
appear here as a specific man or exactly like man. But he is perfectly human,
sin apart. Dan. 7:13 cf. John 5:27. Not a line has been written to describe the
Lord in his life on earth. The greatest man that ever lived, and yet his
biography does not describe him. The gospel presents his moral glory, but never
his physical. Artists express the longing of mankind for a physical likeness of
this one. But there is always something lacking. Of course, none of the
pictures are genuine or successful. The reason must be that God intends that we
should always think of Christ as he is pictured here in Revelation. This
descriptive phrase of his humanity is a blessed reminder before we are called
upon to face his deity.
13 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."27 "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."
"Son of
man" was the phrase most often used by our Lord to refer to himself. This
is because he always kept before the minds and hearts of men that he was
related to them, knew their trials and testings, could to the fullest extent
suffer with them, and was because of his full-identification with them shortly
to suffer for them.
By virtue of
his incarnation his entire ministry was therefore in their behalf (John 3:13; 1
John 4:2-3).13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
2 "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:"
3 "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
As Son of man he came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
As Son of man he was to die for them (John 3:14). "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:"
As Son of man he arose from the grave (Matt. 17:9). "And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."
As Son of man he ascended back to heaven (John 6:62). "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?"
As Son of man he comes again (Luke 21:27). "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."
As Son of man he shall reign (Matt. 19:28; John 1:51). "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." "And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
As Son of man he shall judge all men (John 5:22, 27). "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."
In this place
in Revelation he is pictured as the one who is the Melchizadekian Priest, both
man and God, for saints (Heb. 5:1 also chapter 7).
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins."7:1 "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;"2 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;"
3 "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually."4 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils."
5 "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:"6 "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises."
7 "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."8 "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."9 "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham."
10 "For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him."11 "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"
12 "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
13 "For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar."14 "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."
15 "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,"16 "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."17 "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
18 "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."20 "And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:"21 "For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)"22 "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."
23 "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:"24 "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."
25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
26 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;"27 "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."28 "For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."
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