July 24: THE MOVEMENTS OF JESUS
“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.” Daniel 7:13
Even though Christ owns the title of Creator of all things (Colossians 1:16), many believe that His favorite name for Himself is the Son of Man. When Jesus walked the earth, He fervently and faithfully ministered to the needs of those He encountered. He so closely identifies with mankind that He is personally ministered to when His followers look out and care for the needs of others (Matthew 25:40). Such action can be the undoing of the plague of self-centeredness.
The clouds of heaven that accompany the movements of Jesus are angels (Matthew 24:30-31; 26:64; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7). And the clouds are the dust of His feet (Nahum 1:3b). Sometimes dust is used to symbolize an uncountable multitude (see Genesis 13:16; 28:14). Also, there are the clouds and dust of earthly circumstances that darken your way, seeming to contradict God’s sovereignty. But to truly know and trust the Lord’s sovereignty is to understand that His chief concern for people is the building of character. You and I are to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). In your “clouds and darkness” He wants you to unlearn something false that you have previously accepted as true. The movements of Jesus are, without exception, for our benefit. As Daniel was watching…
“Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14
This heavenly vision confirms that true and lasting dominion is held by the Son of Man, whose perfect sacrifice is fully sufficient to secure our place in the one kingdom which shall never end. It is because of the goodness of God that flawed human systems must be brought to a close. Jesus, the risen Lamb, understood all of this. Therefore, He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (Revelation 5:7). The heavenly ministry of our Great High Priest over these last two millennia is all in preparation for His return to earth to rescue and collect His bride from the four winds (Matthew 24:31). Christ receives dominion of His kingdom before His second coming to the earth. Jesus sought to clarify this to His hearers because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately (Luke 19:11). For a fuller clarification, see Luke 19:12-27 and Matthew 25:14-30.
Beloved, are you serious about learning to walk by faith? Are you seeking Jesus in the cloudy, dark circumstances of your life? He is saying something that you need to hear! …while [Peter] was [talking], a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:34-35). Do not be ashamed when you are faced with something you must unlearn in order to gain truth!
For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Hebrews 2:11