What Does Christ Look Like?

Revelation 5:1-6 NLT - And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and unroll it?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals." I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that are sent out into every part of the earth.

John in the Bible had received a “revelation” of what the last days will hold. In this chapter (a continued flow of thought about the throne room from chapter 4) John sees a scroll with seven seals on it. A search was made as to who could open it and not one in heaven or earth was able to open the scroll and read it and John starts weeping. One of the 24 elders proclaims that Jesus – the lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne has won the battle and would be opening the scroll and breaking the seals. It says that John “looked and saw” a lamb that had been killed. I've been thinking about this and I think that like John when we first see Christ – it will be different then we might first think it will be. People have an idea of Him sitting on a throne decked with robes and looking very kingly. I think the picture that John sees is the picture that we will see – a king who has the marks of crucifixion on His body. It will be of a king who has won but obviously shows the mark of battle on His body. When you think about what Jesus endured for us – it is overwhelming. They whipped His body 39 times. They put a crown (probably poisonous) on His head. He was forced to carry His own cross through the streets and was eventually nailed to it. As they lifted the cross up and dropped it into the ground the jolt must have been an overwhelming pain. Then... to hang mercilessly on the cross for hours must would have been a very painful process. So, like John – when we see Jesus (or even as we view Him now in our own prayers and devotions) – remember what He did for us and the battle He fought and won just because of His great love for us.