Jesus is closer than you think

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Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands, and amid the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and a golden sash around his chest. (Rev. 1:12–13) 

John saw Jesus “amid the lampstands.” Much of the imagery in Revelation is challenging to understand, but we don’t have to wonder what these lampstands represent. Later in this first chapter, we are told that the lampstands represent the churches (1:20). When John turned to see the voice speaking to him, the first thing that caught his attention was Jesus standing among his people.

Were these early Christians wondering if the church would be snuffed out as persecution increased? When they gathered to hear this letter read to them, it must have provided deep encouragement to see that Jesus was not standing off at a distance while his followers suffered for him. He was right there with them, walking in the midst of them, keeping their fire for the gospel burning, correcting, watching, and strengthening them.



Some people in this world today are so suspicious of the church. They’ve seen too much of what they’ve labelled as hypocrisy, and even though they might be interested in Jesus, the last place they want to be found is in the church. But Jesus is not ashamed to be found amid his imperfect church. It is his preferred place to be. He chooses to be in and among his imperfect people who follow and serve him in imperfect ways. What a relief.

As Jesus is standing amid his suffering church, he is wearing “a long robe,” which describes the high priest of the Old Testament. If you’ve studied Hebrews, then you’ll remember that it emphasizes that Jesus is the perfect, ultimate high priest and that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). So standing amid his suffering church is our high priest—our mediator—representing us before the Father, interceding for us, protecting us from any accusation that might damn us through the once-and-for-all sacrifice of himself.

John writes that Jesus had “a golden sash around his chest,” which is the description of a high priest and a king. The people of John’s day needed to see the authority of Jesus as king. They were suffering under a government that criminalized their faith in Jesus. This vision of Jesus as a king must have filled them with confidence to know that he—not the Roman government or any other power—is in charge of what is happening in this world.

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