A Robe And A Belt
Revelation 1:13 (NIV) —
‘...and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.’
I recently read a study that concluded most of us form our first impressions of other people within seven seconds of meeting. Impressions, based mostly on physical appearance, form the foundation for how we understand the people around us. Consciously and unconsciously, all of us craft our own appearance to project a first impression we think is favourable.
Well...maybe it will be a relief to hear that it’s not just you in front of the mirror trying to find the perfect fit. In today's passage, Jesus crafted his appearance so that even his first impression would be rich in truth about who he is! What is the first thing John noticed about Jesus? His robe and his belt.
In scripture, we come across quite a few robes. Joseph’s robe demonstrating his father Jacob’s love and approval; the prodigal son’s new robe symbolising the mercy and forgiveness of his Father; and the robes worn by kings displaying their authority over their people. It’s possible these aspects are represented in the robe worn by Jesus in Revelation chapter 1 but, more significantly, Jesus’ robe is like that worn by a priest.
Before Jesus, priests were bridges, mediators, between people and God: teaching the law, entering the Holy of Holies, and offering sacrifices for the atonement of sins. If John's first impression of Jesus was that of a great high priest, it meant Jesus wanted us to know, at our first impression, that he came to bridge the gap between us and God - once and for all. And crucially, Jesus, the great high priest, wore his sash across his chest, symbolising a completed work and a person at rest in the accomplishment of their labour.
Jesus’s first impression is one of a great high priest whose restorative work on the cross is completed.
Prayer — Thank you Jesus for the divine work completed in you. Thank you that you made a way for us to have a relationship with you.