Welcome back! So far we have just gotten our feet wet. But today its time to take the plunge into the vast ocean of God's beauty and wonder as we study the first description of our Beloved Lord Jesus.
My Beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand.
Pure white signifies perfect holiness. It causes the extinction of darkness, for it reflects light to all that surround it. Light was the first among all God’s creation as we see in Genesis 1 “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’” This is the first depiction given by the Shulamite of the Beloved, and thus sets the precedence for Christ’s perfection, preeminence, and purity. He was there before the foundations of earth and heaven were laid. He spoke and light entered into existence because He Himself is light. “This is the message we heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 Jn 1:5)
The gospel of John chapter one tells us that, “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.” And again in verse nine, “That (or He) was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
Jesus was the light in the very beginning and He will be the light in the very end. The Book of Revelation says that in the last day, when there is a new heaven and a new earth that there will be no need for light or the sun, for He Himself will be our light. “The city had no need of sun or of moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” (Rev 21:23) Imagine that! No more darkness, within or without. All the evil deeds which are done under the cover of night and darkness will be no more, and Christ’s light will completely illuminate our hearts and our world.
White also refers to the absence of spot, blemish, or moral impurity. This is a perfectly fitting description, for Jesus was the spotless lamb slain for the sins of the world. “He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21) In order for the sacrifice of Jesus’ life to be sufficient to purchase our redemption, it needed to be sinless. God says in Isaiah that though our sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. The only way that we, in our scarlet sin, are made white is by the pure sacrifice of Christ.
White is also defined radiant. What a sight it must have been for John, James and Peter upon that mount when their Friend and Lord was transformed before their eyes into an image of brightest white. Matthew’s gospel accounts that His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light. How great was the brightness He shed to descend to the earth, to dwell among man, so that we would be able to approach Him!
This transfiguration glimpse was merely a preview of the glorified Christ enthroned today in heaven. For through His act of pure love, when He gave His life for all mankind, all glory and honor for all time where purchased back for Him. Now we see the glorified Christ is described in the Book of Revelation in all His splendor. The apostle John saw this awe-inspiring sight in a vision while in exile on the island of Patmos. This is His account of our radiant, risen, reigning Lord: “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the lamp stands One like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest. The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full strength.” (Rev1:12-16)
White is also a mark of uprightness, fairness, and harmlessness. Remember how the people marveled at Christ’s gracious words. Recall how gently He dealt with the broken, accused woman caught in adultery with fairness and mercy, justice and grace. Return your minds to when you read His own words saying, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” And, “These words I speak to you are truth.” And consider with me the precious tone He uses with us in the still, perhaps tearful moments of communion with Him. I have never heard the tone of condemnation, criticism, resentment, or despair from my Savior. Nor have I ever read it towards me upon the pages of His Word. To those who love Him, it will never be found. For though He is the God of truth, justice and righteousness, He reigns among His followers, His friends, with grace and tender mercies. He knows that we are but dust. He does not excuse our sin, but paid for it in full in our place. He does not withhold discipline, but administers it as a loving Father, tenderly guiding and correcting His precious children.
“God is light. Where there is light, there can be no darkness.” (1 Jn 1:5) Every human soul has felt the dread of the darkest night at one time or another. There is no hope where there is no light; no direction, no comfort, no perspective. Hopeless and helpless we blindly grope along the walls of life trying to find the switch that will illuminate our world. We look in vain in so many ways for true beauty, for something holy and good, for light for our path. Everything in this world disappoints. Everything proves ugly and powerless at some point. But there are those blessed seekers who, tired of stumbling in the darkness, surrender in the limits of their search, and with unexpected joy find themselves embraced by light. “Those who walk in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is 9:2) That light is seen not by striving, but by surrender; not by force, but by faith. Jesus is the light of all men!
Lord, open our eyes that we might see you, that the light of your radiance would shine upon our hearts and dispel our darkness, as we wait for that blessed day when, “The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. (Is 60:19)
Our Beloved is chief among 10,000. Chief in Hebrew means first in time or place. Ten thousand in the Greek and Hebrew occupies the same meaning as an innumerable amount. It is used for many, myriad, abundance, millions. Essentially, this means that He is Chief over all. And so He is! He was there at creation and will reign supreme over completion. He is Alpha and Omega. None can compare to Him. He is the Captain of our sojourning voyages through life. He leads the way for us, presiding and ruling over every movement and moment. He possesses the highest place of honor in the heavenlies (Ph 2). He is our high priest and our Shepherd, supervising our acts of worship as well as leading us into green pastures.
“I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (Is 45:5-6)
Questions:
Pure white signifies perfect holiness. It causes the extinction of darkness, for it reflects light to all that surround it. Light was the first among all God’s creation as we see in Genesis 1 “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’” This is the first depiction given by the Shulamite of the Beloved, and thus sets the precedence for Christ’s perfection, preeminence, and purity. He was there before the foundations of earth and heaven were laid. He spoke and light entered into existence because He Himself is light. “This is the message we heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 Jn 1:5)
The gospel of John chapter one tells us that, “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.” And again in verse nine, “That (or He) was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
Jesus was the light in the very beginning and He will be the light in the very end. The Book of Revelation says that in the last day, when there is a new heaven and a new earth that there will be no need for light or the sun, for He Himself will be our light. “The city had no need of sun or of moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” (Rev 21:23) Imagine that! No more darkness, within or without. All the evil deeds which are done under the cover of night and darkness will be no more, and Christ’s light will completely illuminate our hearts and our world.
White also refers to the absence of spot, blemish, or moral impurity. This is a perfectly fitting description, for Jesus was the spotless lamb slain for the sins of the world. “He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21) In order for the sacrifice of Jesus’ life to be sufficient to purchase our redemption, it needed to be sinless. God says in Isaiah that though our sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. The only way that we, in our scarlet sin, are made white is by the pure sacrifice of Christ.
White is also defined radiant. What a sight it must have been for John, James and Peter upon that mount when their Friend and Lord was transformed before their eyes into an image of brightest white. Matthew’s gospel accounts that His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light. How great was the brightness He shed to descend to the earth, to dwell among man, so that we would be able to approach Him!
This transfiguration glimpse was merely a preview of the glorified Christ enthroned today in heaven. For through His act of pure love, when He gave His life for all mankind, all glory and honor for all time where purchased back for Him. Now we see the glorified Christ is described in the Book of Revelation in all His splendor. The apostle John saw this awe-inspiring sight in a vision while in exile on the island of Patmos. This is His account of our radiant, risen, reigning Lord: “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the lamp stands One like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest. The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full strength.” (Rev1:12-16)
White is also a mark of uprightness, fairness, and harmlessness. Remember how the people marveled at Christ’s gracious words. Recall how gently He dealt with the broken, accused woman caught in adultery with fairness and mercy, justice and grace. Return your minds to when you read His own words saying, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” And, “These words I speak to you are truth.” And consider with me the precious tone He uses with us in the still, perhaps tearful moments of communion with Him. I have never heard the tone of condemnation, criticism, resentment, or despair from my Savior. Nor have I ever read it towards me upon the pages of His Word. To those who love Him, it will never be found. For though He is the God of truth, justice and righteousness, He reigns among His followers, His friends, with grace and tender mercies. He knows that we are but dust. He does not excuse our sin, but paid for it in full in our place. He does not withhold discipline, but administers it as a loving Father, tenderly guiding and correcting His precious children.
“God is light. Where there is light, there can be no darkness.” (1 Jn 1:5) Every human soul has felt the dread of the darkest night at one time or another. There is no hope where there is no light; no direction, no comfort, no perspective. Hopeless and helpless we blindly grope along the walls of life trying to find the switch that will illuminate our world. We look in vain in so many ways for true beauty, for something holy and good, for light for our path. Everything in this world disappoints. Everything proves ugly and powerless at some point. But there are those blessed seekers who, tired of stumbling in the darkness, surrender in the limits of their search, and with unexpected joy find themselves embraced by light. “Those who walk in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is 9:2) That light is seen not by striving, but by surrender; not by force, but by faith. Jesus is the light of all men!
Lord, open our eyes that we might see you, that the light of your radiance would shine upon our hearts and dispel our darkness, as we wait for that blessed day when, “The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. (Is 60:19)
Our Beloved is chief among 10,000. Chief in Hebrew means first in time or place. Ten thousand in the Greek and Hebrew occupies the same meaning as an innumerable amount. It is used for many, myriad, abundance, millions. Essentially, this means that He is Chief over all. And so He is! He was there at creation and will reign supreme over completion. He is Alpha and Omega. None can compare to Him. He is the Captain of our sojourning voyages through life. He leads the way for us, presiding and ruling over every movement and moment. He possesses the highest place of honor in the heavenlies (Ph 2). He is our high priest and our Shepherd, supervising our acts of worship as well as leading us into green pastures.
“I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (Is 45:5-6)
Questions:
1) Prayerfully consider if there is any area of darkness in your heart or life today, and bring it into the life giving light of Christ through confession and prayer.
2) How can you allow God to let His light shine through you more to a dark and hurting world?
