Galatians 1:12. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Do you remember the story of Paul’s conversion? You can read about it in Acts 9. On the road to Damscus, Jesus himself appeared to Paul. “Saul, why are you persecuting ME?” the Lord asked. The resurrected Jesus has revealed himself to Paul, and he will never be the same.
The word revelation is the Greek word apocalypto. Paul is describing his personal apocalypse. In Jewish thought, an apocalypse occurs when God himself breaks into time and space and reveals himself, like at the burning bush, or when he sends a plague of locusts. The ultimate apocalypse will be the Day of the Lord, when Yahweh comes to Earth to raise the dead and judge all mankind.
Hebrews 1 describes Jesus as the final and ultimate revelation of God. The creation itself was the first revelation of God. The law and prophets provided an even greater uncovering of God. Then came the person of Christ. He is THE image of God, the firstborn (the greatest) in creation, the living Word who fulfills all the law and prophets. It has all pointed to him – God revealed to us in the man, Jesus of Nazareth.
Like we said, there is another revelation coming –the Day of the Lord. The apocalypse (revelation) of Jesus awaits us all. A day when Jesus Christ, the Son, will be revealed, not just to one man on a desert road, but to all mankind as he rides down from Heaven. On that day, God will be revealed once again in all his glory in the person of Jesus. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Until that day let us never fail to see Jesus as THE revelation of God. Let there be no separation in our minds, no distinctions between the Father and the Son. When we have seen the Son, we have seen the Father. And when we have seen the Son we have seen the gospel of God. The incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus reveal every truth of God that we could ever need to know.
Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? How should I live? What happens when I die? How can I be right with God? Does God love me? Every question and answer in the universe is revealed in Jesus. And now those answers live in you.
You: When and how was Christ first revealed to you?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ answer life biggest questions?
Christ in you: The revelation of God lives in us. What might change in your life the more you believe this truth?
Pray: Father, people are looking for a revelation of you in all the wrong places. Help me to always look to Jesus in order to see you. Amen.
To Live is Christ 