November 17, 2004

THE MAN WITH DYED GARMENTS

"Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?" (Isaiah 63:1, NKJV).

What an arresting symbolic portrait of Jesus in His sweeping triumph at the cross! In striking messianic language, Isaiah speaks of Messiah's decisive victory over all opposition at the end of the great controversy. Though bloodied in conflict, Christ emerges as victor, the One mighty to save!

The impressive imagery of the man with garments stained crimson fittingly describes Christ as He passed through the agony of Gethsemane and the ordeal of Calvary. Despised, falsely accused, and alone, Jesus accepted "His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life."--The Desire of Ages, p. 693. The Man from Bozrah with His bloodstained garments is no other than the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

Jesus is no longer in bloodstained garments, bruised and bloodied, but blessed, exalted, and glorified. He is the One in glorious apparel, who speaks in righteousness, mighty to save (see Isaiah 63:1). He is seated on high as Judge of all the earth, Intercessor of all the saints, and soon-coming King of the universe. At the end of the drama of redemption, the Man with bloodstained garments will appear as the Man of the ages, dressed in dazzling splendor and celestial majesty (see Revelation 1:13-17). Commenting on this picture of Christ, Ellen G. White observes, "Of the stability of his [God's] government there must be no question. And the Son of God himself proposed to carry forward the work to the end and to gain the victory over the prince of darkness and over all his allies."--The Youth's Instructor, April 15, 1897.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I await with eager expectation the triumphant return of the One in glorious apparel who is mighty to save. Amen.