What will it be like to see Jesus? That’s a question that has provided meditative wonder for Christians throughout the millennia. It’s because of that “I just can’t wait to find out” sort of anticipation, that I never cease to be awestruck with John’s description of the risen, reigning, ruling Jesus in Revelation 1. As led by the Spirit . . . and as much as John could put into words . . . John describes the vision of Jesus he saw that Lord’s Day on the island of Patmos. And as I hovered over it this morning . . invoking the imagination . . . experiencing a bit of awe and wonder . . . four words jumped off the page at me . . . four words that conveyed the love of God and amazing relationship I enjoy before Him as a result of the work of redemption. Those words? “Do not be afraid!” (Rev. 1:17)

Four words in my NKJV . . . two words in the original . . . me phobeo . . . No Fear. The context? Coming face to face with “the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8) No fear? Really? Yeah, really. Unreally!!!!

John turned to see the voice that spoke to him. When he did He beheld the One he knew was “the Son of Man.” He was clothed in a garment down to His feet and with a massive golden sash about His chest. At the top, His hair was like white-as-snow wool . . . at the bottom, His feet shone like fine brass refined in a fire . . . and, in the middle, in His right hand He held up seven stars. And then, there was His face — John could barely look into His face. The face of Jesus Christ emitted such light that it was like the sun shining in all its strength . . . and His eyes were like a flame of fire . . . and out of His mouth, a sharp two-edged sword. And, if that wasn’t’ enough to get you quaking in your boots, when He spoke it was like the roar of many waters. Talk about your sensory overload! (Rev. 1:13-16)

So what do you do when bombarded with such an overwhelming sight . . . how do you stand in front of the Lord of Heaven with all His glory literally pouring forth from Him . . . uh, you don’t.

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” (Rev. 1:17)

Yeah . . . I’m guessin’. Facedown. What other response is there to such a magnificent, out of this world, sight. “Amazing” doesn’t cover it . . . “awesome” falls way short . . . what do you say? . . . nothing to say . . . fall at His feet . . . shaken to the core by such an encounter with King of kings and Lord of lords. He is God . . . we are so not. He is Almighty . . . we are all over the place. He is the Creator . . . we, His creation. Fall down before His majestic holiness. And then . . . feel His hand upon you . . . and hear Him say, “No fear.”

No fear . . . for perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18) . . . and Jesus is perfect love. He who is Alpha and Omega is also the Lamb of God . . . He who has loved us with an everlasting love, beginning on that cruel cross of Calvary where He interceded, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34) and then cried triumphantly, “Finished!” (John 19:30). The First and the Last is the one who calls us His brothers and sisters (Heb. 2:11) and has made us joint heirs of His glorious inheritance (Rom. 8:17). He who lives in unapproachable light lays His hand on us . . . coming in contact with us . . . placing a hand of comfort and assurance upon us . . . and says, “Do not be afraid!”

Oh, I’m guessing that when we see Him we’ll still go facedown . . . in awe . . . in reverence . . . in worship . . . in thankfulness. But I’m also thinking we’ll also hear those same words, “No fear.” We’ll be home . . . before the Savior . . . in the presence of the King . . . being loved on, “up close and personal,” like we’ve never known the love of God . . . and it will cast out all fear . . . for our blessing . . . and for His glory . . . amen?