We hear on every hand, through radio and TV, about "Jesus" appearing to men and talking with them. Is this true? Preachers and others use the phrase, "God told me to do that." Is this true?
Years ago I attended a church, and during the course of the service a man raised up in the baptistry and announced, "God told me to get in here and pray." I was a young Christian, but this seemed a little strange to me. What is behind this sort of thing?
I believe the answer is that because of the lack of Biblical knowledge as to the majestic Person of the Lord, very low thoughts of Him have been formed. If you sink your estimate of Him, you shift everything else in the same proportion; and He becomes a good ol' buddy instead of the LORD.
What would be our reaction if the Lord Jesus were to suddenly be in our presence? We can know if we look at John's reaction. Two questions will suffice. What was John's reaction and how was John restored?
He was overpowered! He did not say, "When I saw Him, I leaped for joy." No, John was overpowered, but not with ecstasy. His reaction was fear, for the Lord said to him, "Fear not."
As an exception to the rule, John was permitted to see His Lord; but this flesh and blood was made to feel the sentence of death and to fall as if slain. He feared because of a sense of his own weakness and insignificance in the presence of divine strength. He felt as a gnat flying into the furnace of the sun.
Why did he fear? Was he not the beloved of the Lord Jesus? He was, but he knew he was such infirmity and nothingness that it prostrated him to the earth.
To what extent was John overpowered? He was "as dead." He does not say he was merely overcome. John was not dead but AS DEAD. He could not see - the blaze of the Lord's face had blinded him. He could not hear - the voice like the sound of many waters had stunned his ear. HIS SOUL HAD LOST CONSCIOUSNESS - HE WAS UNABLE TO THINK, MUCH LESS ACT.
It's true that those closest to the Lord think the least of self. Compare Daniel 10:4-9; Isa. 6:1-5; Job 42:5-6. John was overpowered "at His feet." Anyone who has a proper view of the majesty of the Lord Jesus is "at His feet." Not an arm around His shoulder but at His feet.
Isaiah 40:29 - "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength."
The Lord Jesus did not stand at a distance from John but instead touched him. To feel a touch from the Master's hand was the greatest comfort possible; and not only did He touch John, but He spoke comfort. With a touch and a word He gave comfort.
This is to SEE the Lord: to prostrate ourselves at His feet and worship Him "who is alive forevermore and who has the keys of hell and of death."