Jesus Christ – The Same (3) In the glory

Then, after He has returned to glory, He appears to Saul of Tarsus, who is on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians. When Saul is thrown to the ground by this light that surpassed the brilliance of the sun, he asks, "Who are you, Lord?" Then he hears an answer that must have struck him deeply: "I am Jesus the Nazaraean, whom you persecute" (Acts 22:8).

While He was on earth, He often told people, "Do not be afraid!" We see this, for example, with Jairus (see Mark 5:36) or with the disciples who were struggling with the wind and waves on the sea (see Matt 14:27). He does the same after His resurrection when He meets His disciples (see Mt 28:10). And even after He returns to glory, we are shown that He calls out to both Paul and John from there, "Fear not" (see Acts 18:9; 27:24; Rev 1:17). And He still wants to do that for us today - especially in the times we are living in right now!

The letter to the Hebrews shows us His unchanging power (Heb 1), His unchanging priesthood (Heb 7:24) and His unchanging promises (Heb 6). He was inwardly moved here on earth by the suffering and needs of men. Now in glory, as the great High Priest, He has compassion and empathy for our weaknesses. He has not changed!

This means for you and me that His help, His grace, His power and His guidance have been available to us continuously for 2000 years. When He was here, He was the Servant. Now He serves us from heaven, and about the future it is said, "He will gird Himself and make them recline at table, and coming up will serve them" (Luke 12:37). He will remain a servant forever - what grace!

After He was taken up in glory, the angels said to the disciples, "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall thus come in the manner in which ye have beheld him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11). "This Jesus" - He is exactly the same. He will come again to reign here in power and great glory. But before that, He will come to take us Christians - His bride, His church - to Himself in the Father's house. At the end of Revelation, He says: "I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify these things to you in the assemblies. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star" (Rev. 22:16).

Already in the prophet Isaiah, the Son of God is shown sitting on a high and lofty throne and being worshipped by angels. I think we can assume that He is the same One who sits on the throne and is worshipped by the angels in Revelation 4, who cry out, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!" (Rev 4:8).

He is the Lamb of God who was led to the slaughter here (on earth) to redeem us from our sins. As the Risen One, He showed His pierced hands and His side to His disciples. And when we are in the glory of heaven and surround the throne of God, we will see Him, "A Lamb, as slain" (Rev. 5:9). He does not change. The proof of His unchanging love will be seed on Him for all eternity. And there is nothing and no one who is able to separate us from this love. He has promised: "I am with you always" (Mt 28,20). He will not leave us nor forsake us!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!

J.P.S.