January 1 - Revelation, Names of Jesus, pt. 2

January 1 – Revelation. Names of Jesus, pt. 2

There are a few more names that identify Jesus in Revelation 1.

Son of Man. (Revelation 1:13)

Jesus came into the world as a human being. He was God – made man. We are comfortable with this knowledge. We read throughout the Gospels that Jesus was the Son of God and the Son of Man. But, what exactly does this mean?

Yes, it means that he was born of a woman and lived a life among humanity. But, to the early Christians it meant even more than that.

Daniel 7:13-14 says, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Exactly! It is Jesus. He had to suffer and die. Isaiah and Zechariah prophesy about this as well. Daniel says that he would be given authority, glory and sovereign power. Everyone would worship him. And his kingdom would be everlasting, it will never pass away and never be destroyed.

This verse in Revelation shows the fulfillment of that prophecy. Daniel also said that the one like a son of man would come with the clouds of heaven. Revelation 1:7 fulfills that portion as well.

In Luke 21:27-28, we find that we have a response to His coming in the clouds. We are to Stand up! Lift up our heads! Our redemption draws near.

The First and Last. (Revelation 1:17)

Jesus says he is the first and last – the Alpha and Omega. These actually mean different things. First and last are measurements of time while Alpha and Omega encompass everything. The Greek for first is ‘protos’ (like prototype) and the Greek for last is ‘eschatos.’ The study of end times is called eschatology. It is the finality of time as we know it.

The Living One. (Revelation 1:18)

In Greek, the word that is used for ‘living’ is the same that is used for ‘alive’ just a few words later in the sentence. The word is ‘zao’ and it means to enjoy real life. Not just plain and ordinary life, but real life. It also means to live, breathe and be among the living. In other words, Jesus is alive and living among us.

In John 4:1-26 we find the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. The verses I want to specifically look at are found in John 4:10-14.

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

The word for ‘living’ here is also ‘zao.’ Really alive! Jesus promised that the living water would well up to eternal life.

John 7:38, “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

There is so much more to the words of Jesus than we read in the English language. Zao! Really alive! That is the water that flows from us when we believe in Jesus.

But the story is just beginning. In Revelation 22, we find the river of water flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb. Talk about living water. This will bring healing for the nations.

The curse is lifted, the water is healing and we will see his face.

The names that identify Jesus are filled with symbolism. It is exciting to me to see how He reveals Himself to us.