The First and the Last, Revelation 1:17-18a

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen."

     Being the week leading up to Easter, how appropriate that the Lord should speak through His word concerning His glorious resurrection-- And not only His resurrection on earth, but His being alive forevermore in heaven!

     As I read this passage, I was amazed at the power and the grace of Jesus Christ. His awesome majesty, His glorified presence was far more than John had ever seen before: he fell down as though dead at the very sight of Jesus in His glory. John had before seen Jesus in glory, on the mount of transfiguration, but this was far different. This was an unsurpassed, unimaginable glory that we, in our mortal condition, have no capability to handle. So Jesus reaches down with His right hand, touching John.
     Jesus didn't just tell John to get up, and He didn't perform a miracle, raising John to his feet. He reached down and touched John. Even in His glorified state, Jesus is the same: loving, gracious, kind, and merciful. And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we are with Him in heaven, we too will experience the tender touch of our Lord, behold His beauty, and stand in His presence.
     He continues to show kindness and love in saying, "Do not be afraid". Only Jesus has the power to say, "Do not be afraid" with authority: only Jesus has the power to calm our fears, for He is all-powerful and all-knowing, loving and merciful. He is able to handle the smallest and the largest of our problems, and thus we can trust in Him and not be afraid.
     He tells John the reason he should not be afraid: "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore." There is nothing to fear. Death is defeated, Jesus is on the throne. Though man pours out his wrath against God, God has triumphed, and is alive forevermore. Death has no sting, the grave, no victory. We have victory in death, too, for we step out of this world of sin and into the presence of our glorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

     In all our troubles, in all our pain, in all our worries, we have nothing to fear. He who sits on the throne is able and willing and desires to help us and lead us and guide us. Look to Him who is eternal: The power of the resurrection from the dead lies in His hands, and He reaches down with those very hands and touches us, restoring us, reviving us.