One of the difficult things about living with God is that He’s just too much for us. Look at John here—he sees Jesus and falls at His feet as though dead. And I don’t blame him—I couldn’t cope with someone who is like a flame of fire, like the roar of many waters, like the sun shining in full strength. That’s just terrifying!
And knowing He is good doesn’t help a whole lot. Because I’m not good, and I know it. To be in the presence of perfect goodness and holiness—well, it makes all my own darkness stand out, and I want to hide.
Maybe that’s why Jesus lays His hand on John to strengthen and comfort him. Because what does that hand look like? Right. It has a nail hole in it—the mark of His crucifixion. This same holy, perfect, terrifying God is the One who “loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood.”
This is the same Lord Jesus who lived among us as an ordinary human being, serving and caring and being patient with sinners like us, day after day—putting up with our arguments and complaints, even our outright lies, and why? Because He loves us. Because He knows exactly what we are, and He still wants us, so much that He will do whatever it takes to bring us safely home to the family of God—rebels no longer, but now beloved, forgiven children of the Father.
That’s why we don’t need to stay terrified by His goodness and holiness. We can stand before Him, even in His glory—because He came to us first, to forgive and to save and to heal us. And if ever we forget that, we can look at His hands. They are marked by His love for us forever.
WE PRAY: Lord, when I’m afraid of You, remind me of Your love. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Are you ever afraid of God?
2. How would you react if you saw Jesus the way John did?
3. How does God comfort you when you are afraid?