January 23: ETERNAL TITLE (part 2 of 3)

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16

Yesterday we began to explore the deeper cultural meaning associated with the thigh. The practice of swearing an oath, especially pertaining to family matters, was not only in the Hebrew culture, but many others as well. The English word testify hails from the same root word as testicles.

When Jacob was near death, he asked his son Joseph to bury him in the land of promise, saying, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt” (47:29). Joseph certainly honored the request of his father. Fulfillment of this request not only meant a great deal to Jacob but to Joseph, his brothers, and even the Egyptians who had known him (see Genesis 50:1-14).

The idea of the thigh being at the source of posterity is highly significant in light of anticipated posterity. Isaiah addressed the idea of the Savior having offspring: He was led as a lamb to the slaughter; And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living (Isaiah 53:7b-8a). Yet the loving relationship between the Savior and His committed followers indeed produces offspring; progeny! This is at the heart of witnessing to the Lord’s true character among the nations, bringing new life to the Creator’s command: “Be fruitful and multiply...” (Genesis 1:28), as well as prophetic evidence of fruitfulness:  

…behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice saying “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

Beloved, do you look forward to this breathtaking scene? There are no words to describe its magnitude, yet in reaching to grasp its fullness, we strengthen the spirit of perseverance, endurance, and encouragement necessary to go forth with a bright countenance befitting the bride of Christ, for we have been given:

…exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:4-8